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Accounting & Finance · head to head

Melio vs Time Doctor

Melio logo

Melio

Accounting & Finance

Simple business payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Time Doctor logo

Time Doctor

Productivity

Employee time tracking and productivity monitoring

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Melio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only; Time Doctor historical tracking data retention is capped by plan: 3 months on Basic and 6 months on Standard, versus 2 years on Premium and Enterprise
  • They diverge on capability: Melio covers Vendor payments, Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Melio and Time Doctor actually diverge.

Attributes where Melio and Time Doctor differ
AttributeMelioTime Doctor
Starting priceFree$4/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows
CategoryAccounting & FinanceProductivity
Founded20182011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Melio

  • Vendor payments
  • Card to check
  • Payment scheduling
  • Approval workflows
  • QuickBooks sync
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • FreshBooks

Only in Time Doctor

  • Time tracking with timer
  • Activity monitoring
  • Screenshots
  • GPS tracking
  • Webcam monitoring
  • Reports and invoicing
  • Mobile apps
  • Team management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Melio

  • Accounts payable automationnot Time Doctor
  • Bill management and payment schedulingnot Time Doctor
  • Multi-vendor payment processingnot Time Doctor
  • Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot Time Doctor

Time Doctor

  • Productivitynot Melio
  • Collaborationnot Melio
  • Task managementnot Melio
  • Organizationnot Melio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Melio

  • Go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • ACH charges £0.50 per transaction beyond monthly allowance (5-50 free depending on plan)
  • Card payment fees range from 2.9% to 2.9% plus £75 maximum
  • International payments limited to select currencies only
  • NetSuite integration only available in Unlimited plan (£80/month minimum)

Time Doctor

  • Historical tracking data retention is capped by plan: 3 months on Basic and 6 months on Standard, versus 2 years on Premium and Enterprise
  • HRIS and Payroll native integrations are paid add-ons at $200 per integration per month
  • Software Cost Insights add-on costs $3 per user per month on top of the base plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Melio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.

Time Doctor

$4/month
  • Basic$4/month
    • Time tracking
    • Reports
    • Mobile apps
  • Standard$6/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Activity monitoring
    • Screenshots
  • Premium$10/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • GPS tracking
    • Webcam snapshots

Which should you pick?

Choose Melio if

  • You need vendor payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want card to check.
Melio review

Choose Time Doctor if

  • You need time tracking with timer.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
Time Doctor review

Questions people ask

Is Melio or Time Doctor better?
Neither clearly leads. Melio starts at Free and Time Doctor at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Melio or Time Doctor?
Melio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Melio and $4/month for Time Doctor.
Does Melio or Time Doctor run on more platforms?
Melio runs on Web, Mobile app. Time Doctor runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Melio for free?
Yes. Melio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Time Doctor starts at $4/month.
What is Melio best used for?
Melio is most often used for accounts payable automation, bill management and payment scheduling, multi-vendor payment processing, invoice receivables and payment collection. Of those, accounts payable automation and bill management and payment scheduling are not what Time Doctor is typically brought in for.
What can Melio do that Time Doctor cannot?
Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer, Activity monitoring, Screenshots, GPS tracking.
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