ApprovalMax (AF Score 72) and Lightyear (AF Score 68) are two of the most cross-shopped AP automation platforms in our directory. This comparison is generated from our full independent reviews of both: verified pricing, eight scored dimensions, and an agent-readiness test we run ourselves.
The verdict at a glance
ApprovalMax scores higher overall (72 to 68), but the right pick depends on what you weight.
ApprovalMax. ApprovalMax adds multi-step approval workflows, PO matching, budget checks and audit trails to Xero, QuickBooks Online and NetSuite for small and mid-sized businesses and accounting firms, with published per-organisation prices and in-app supplier payments for UK Xero users.
Lightyear is AP, purchase order and expense automation for small and mid-sized finance teams in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, with published per-document pricing, unlimited users and two-way connectors to Xero, QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Sage Intacct and MYOB.
Quick facts
- ApprovalMax AF score. 72/100
- ApprovalMax implementation. Low
- ApprovalMax best fit. Xero/QBO SMBs and accounting firms
- Lightyear AF score. 68/100
- Lightyear implementation. Low
- Lightyear best fit. UK and ANZ SMEs on Xero or QBO
Dimension by dimension
- Compliance depth. ApprovalMax 77, Lightyear 68. Edge: ApprovalMax.
- Scalability. ApprovalMax 63, Lightyear 62. Edge: ApprovalMax.
- AI / agent readiness. ApprovalMax 52, Lightyear 44. Edge: ApprovalMax.
- Support. ApprovalMax 70, Lightyear 84. Edge: Lightyear.
- Implementation. ApprovalMax 82, Lightyear 76. Edge: ApprovalMax.
- Pricing transparency. ApprovalMax 74, Lightyear 78. Edge: Lightyear.
- GL / ERP fit. ApprovalMax 68, Lightyear 80. Edge: Lightyear.
- Payments & money movement. ApprovalMax 46, Lightyear 28. Edge: ApprovalMax.
Pick ApprovalMax if
- UK, Australian or New Zealand SMBs on Xero that need multi-step bill and PO approvals without buying Xero seats for every approver.
- Accounting firms and outsourced finance teams that run approval controls and audit evidence across many client organisations.
- UK Xero businesses that want approvals and supplier payment runs, including multi-currency payments, in one audit trail.
Pick Lightyear if
- A UK, Irish, Australian or New Zealand business on Xero, QuickBooks Online or MYOB with 100 to 500 supplier bills a month and many approvers who should not need accounting licences.
- Hospitality, retail and care groups that raise POs, receive goods at sites and need line-level 3-way matching and price checks against agreed supplier price lists.
- Accounting and bookkeeping firms running AP for many clients from one parent account, with one bill for credits across child accounts.
Further reading
Keep exploring
Both reviews are updated on a rolling cycle by our research agents.
