Cleo Pay is a hospitality-focused AP automation platform with $0 ACH transaction fees and same-day payments. Melio is a general SMB bill pay tool that charges $0.50 per ACH payment after a limited free monthly allocation, takes 3 business days for standard transfers, and starts at $25/month with per-user fees on most plans. For restaurants, venues, and hotels, Cleo Pay offers purpose-built features like AI category matching, one-link vendor onboarding, and multi-location P&L segmentation that Melio does not provide.
Book a DemoAssumptions
5 users (3 GMs + 1 finance lead + 1 approver), 200 vendor payments/month, QuickBooks Online sync.
| Cost Item | Cleo Pay | Melio |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | Flat fee (contact for pricing) | Unlimited plan: $80/mo (or $64/mo billed annually). Only plan with unlimited users and ACH. |
| ACH Transaction Fees | $0 (200 payments) | $0 on Unlimited plan (unlimited free ACH). Boost plan: $0.50 x 150 overage = $75/mo |
| Expedited Payments (10/mo) | $0 | Same-day ACH: 1% per payment (capped at $30). Est. ~$100/mo for 10 payments |
| Monthly Total | Flat fee only | ~$180/mo (Unlimited plan + same-day fees) |
| Annual Total | Flat fee only | ~$2,160/year (Unlimited annual + same-day fees) |
| 3-Year Cost (no growth) | Flat fee only | ~$6,480 minimum |
Estimated annual savings vs Melio
$2,160+
in transaction and per-user fees your team keeps
Melio's Unlimited plan removes per-payment ACH fees, but same-day ACH still costs 1% per payment (capped at $30). Lower-tier plans hit overage fees quickly at 200 payments per month. For a restaurant group that needs fast vendor payments, the same-day surcharges alone can add over $1,200 per year.
Ready to see how Cleo Pay works for your business?
Book a demoBoth Cleo Pay and Melio integrate with QuickBooks Online, but the depth and hospitality focus differ. Cleo Pay uses AI-powered category matching designed specifically for hospitality charts of accounts, while Melio provides auto-sync that pre-fills categories, classes, and locations from QBO. Melio requires Boost or Unlimited plans for QuickBooks Desktop support, and each location needs a separate Melio account with its own QB connection, which creates management overhead for multi-unit operators.
| Feature | Cleo Pay | Melio |
|---|---|---|
| QBO Support | Yes, native integration | Yes, two-way sync |
| QB Desktop Support | On roadmap | Boost and Unlimited plans only. Requires web connector installation |
| Category Mapping | AI-powered automatic matching | Auto-sync from QBO (pre-fills category, class, location) |
| Vendor Sync | Automatic bi-directional | Automatic bi-directional |
| Payment Reconciliation | Auto-marked as paid in QB | Auto-syncs payment details back to QBO |
| Multi-Location Mapping | Native class/location code mapping | Each location needs a separate Melio account with its own QB connection |
| Setup Complexity | OAuth connect in minutes | QBO: a few clicks. QB Desktop: web connector install with single-user mode required |
Both platforms support 1099 workflows, but the integration depth varies. Cleo Pay automates W-9 collection during vendor onboarding with real-time TIN verification, automatic 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC generation, and direct e-filing to the IRS. Vendors provide their tax info through the self-service portal, so W-9s are captured before the first payment is ever made. Melio offers automated W-9 collection with AI extraction and TIN matching against IRS records. However, Melio relies on a third-party Tax1099 integration for e-filing rather than providing native filing. For hospitality businesses managing dozens of contractors (musicians, event staff, freelancers), Cleo Pay's end-to-end approach reduces year-end complexity.
Cleo Pay provides a one-link vendor portal. Share a single URL with vendors and they enter their own banking details, W-9 information, and payment preferences. No back-and-forth emails, no spreadsheets. Vendors are payment-ready the moment they submit. Melio also allows vendors to receive a link and choose their preferred payment method (ACH or check) without needing a Melio account. However, Melio is limited to B2B transfers only, meaning you cannot pay individual contractors like musicians, DJs, or freelance event staff directly. This is a significant gap for venues, event spaces, and production companies.
Customer support is a meaningful differentiator for hospitality businesses that operate on tight timelines. Melio holds a 4.4/5 on Trustpilot (1,583 reviews) and 4.5/5 on G2, but free-tier users frequently report email-only support with multi-day response times. Live chat is available Monday through Friday for paid plans, and phone callback is restricted to Boost and Unlimited tiers. Cleo Pay offers a dedicated hospitality support team founded by operators who understand the urgency of vendor payments in events and F&B. Direct access with no ticket queues or callback scheduling, and a 4.9/5 customer rating.
See how Cleo Pay stacks up against other AP automation platforms.
Cleo Pay is a hospitality-focused AP automation platform with $0 ACH transaction fees and same-day payments. Bill.com is a broad SMB solution that charges $0.59 per ACH payment, takes 4 business days for standard transfers, and starts at $45/user/month. For restaurants, venues, and hotels, Cleo Pay offers purpose-built features like AI category matching, one-link vendor onboarding, and multi-location P&L segmentation that Bill.com does not provide.
CompareCleo Pay is a hospitality-focused AP automation platform with $0 ACH transaction fees and same-day payments. Ramp is a corporate finance suite built around a corporate card with bill pay, expense management, and procurement features. Ramp's free plan includes basic bill pay, but same-day ACH costs $10 per payment and advanced automation requires the $15/user/month Plus plan. For restaurants, venues, and hotels, Cleo Pay offers purpose-built features like AI category matching, one-link vendor onboarding, and multi-location P&L segmentation that Ramp does not provide.
CompareCleo Pay is a hospitality-focused AP automation platform with $0 ACH transaction fees, same-day payments, and full 1099 compliance. Relay is a small business banking platform that includes bill pay as a secondary feature. Relay's free plan offers basic bill pay, but same-day ACH costs $5 per transaction, there is no 1099 generation or e-filing, and the platform lacks hospitality-specific features. For restaurants, venues, and hotels, Cleo Pay offers purpose-built features like AI category matching, one-link vendor onboarding, and multi-location P&L segmentation that Relay does not provide.
CompareZero transaction fees. Same-day ACH. Built for hospitality teams that move fast.
Comparison based on publicly available information as of 2026-03. Features and pricing may change.