Tipalti starts at $99/mo, and users report $4-5K in implementation fees on top. Proper gives you sophisticated approval workflows, clean UX, and setup in 30 minutes for a fraction of the cost.
| Capability | Tipalti | Proper |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-channel approval | ✕ | ✓ Bills qualify for multiple channels |
| Cross-channel auto-approval | ✕ | ✓ One click covers all channels |
| Approver inline edits | ✕ | ✓ Edit GL codes without rejecting |
| Data visibility / access control | Limited | ✓ Node-based org-tree isolation |
| Invoice capture | AI Smart Scan | ✓ AI vision model, no templates |
| Smart GL coding | Basic | ✓ Learns from history + custom rules |
| Global payments (200+ countries) | ✓ Best in class | US focus (international coming later) |
| Multi-currency compliance | ✓ GST, IRP, SOX | USD primary (multi-currency in data model) |
| Vendor onboarding portal | ✓ Strong | Coming soon |
| UX / Interface | Users report a disjointed feel | Clean, single-product design |
| Implementation time | Weeks to months | Under 30 minutes |
| Implementation fees | Users report $4,000-5,000 | $0 |
| Monthly pricing | $99+/mo + transaction fees | $49-349/mo flat, unlimited users |
| Delegation & escalation | Limited | ✓ Full OOO routing + escalation timers |
Tipalti is strong for international payments. But for approval workflows and day-to-day UX, users have consistent complaints.
"The platform seems great and not clunky and pieced together like Tipalti."
Reddit, r/Accounting, user leaving Tipalti for Airbase
"I am a little worried about falling for the sales speech like Tipalti."
Reddit, r/Accounting, user with buyer's remorse
"Implementation fees and transaction costs add up. How was the implementation and hidden costs?"
Reddit, r/Accounting, user asking about real costs
"How is their support team?"
Reddit, r/Accounting, asked by someone specifically leaving Tipalti, implying poor support was a factor
When users describe your AP tool as "clunky" and "pieced together," that's not just an aesthetic problem. It's a productivity problem. Proper was built as one product from day one. Everything works together because it was designed together.
Tipalti starts at $99/month, and users report $4-5K in implementation fees on top, plus transaction costs. If you don't need global payments to 200 countries, you're paying for capabilities you'll never use. Proper starts at $49/month with zero implementation fees.
Weeks of implementation calls, data migration projects, training sessions. Proper connects to QuickBooks in one click and processes your first invoice in minutes. No professional services required.
Tipalti handles basic approval routing. Proper gives you multi-channel approvals where one bill qualifies for multiple independent channels, cross-channel auto-approval, and inline editing. No other tool matches this depth.
Some users report that what they saw in the Tipalti sales demo didn't fully match the day-to-day experience. With Proper, you can sign up for a free trial and see everything yourself before committing. No sales pitch needed.
Running multiple entities and need each team to see only their own data? Tipalti has limited controls. Proper's org-tree hierarchy automatically scopes every query to the user's granted nodes. Entity A never sees Entity B's data.
Tipalti's sticker price is just the beginning. Factor in implementation fees and transaction costs, and the gap gets wide.
Let's be honest. If you're paying contractors in 50 countries, need multi-currency compliance across GST/IRP/SOX, or process mass international payments, Tipalti is purpose-built for that. Proper isn't (yet). But if your primary need is sophisticated approval workflows, data visibility controls, and fast setup for a US-focused multi-entity business, Proper does it better and cheaper. Know your priorities and pick the right tool.
Tipalti is built for enterprise-scale global payments. Proper is built for multi-entity SMBs and mid-market companies that need sophisticated approval workflows without enterprise pricing or month-long implementations. Proper starts at $49/month with no implementation fees. Tipalti starts at $99/month, and users report $4-5K in implementation costs on top.
Users consistently report implementation fees of $4,000-5,000 on top of monthly subscription costs (Tipalti doesn't publish these on their pricing page). Proper has zero implementation fees. Connect QuickBooks with one click and start processing invoices in under 30 minutes.
Some users on Reddit describe the interface as feeling disjointed. One user leaving Tipalti specifically cited this as a reason for switching. Proper was built from scratch as a single product with a clean, modern interface.
If you need global payments across 200+ countries, multi-currency compliance (GST, IRP, SOX), or mass payments to international contractors. If your priority is approval workflows, data visibility, and fast setup at a fraction of the cost, go with Proper.
Users report weeks to months for full implementation, including data migration and training. Proper takes under 30 minutes: sign up, connect QuickBooks, upload your first invoice, configure approval channels, invite your team. Done.
Get in touch today. Set up in under 30 minutes.