Softwr

Accounting & Finance · head to head

Melio vs Zeplin

Melio logo

Melio

Accounting & Finance

Simple business payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Design Tools

Design handoff and developer collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • They diverge on capability: Melio covers Vendor payments, Zeplin covers Design specs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Melio and Zeplin actually diverge.

Attributes where Melio and Zeplin differ
AttributeMelioZeplin
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryAccounting & FinanceDesign Tools
Founded20182014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Zeplin

  • Design specs
  • Asset export
  • Code snippets
  • Design tokens
  • Comments
  • Version control
  • Handoff workflow
  • Accessibility checks

What people use each for

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

Melio

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

Zeplin

  • Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Melio
  • Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Melio
  • Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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)

Zeplin

  • The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
  • Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
  • Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
  • Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
  • Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Melio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.

Zeplin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 workspace
    • Basic specs
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Multiple workspaces
    • Advanced specs
  • Professional$49/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Team collaboration
    • Admin controls

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 Zeplin if

  • You need design specs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want asset export.
Zeplin review

Questions people ask

Is Melio or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. Melio starts at Free and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Melio or Zeplin?
Melio starts at Free and Zeplin at Free.
Does Melio or Zeplin run on more platforms?
Melio runs on Web, Mobile app. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Melio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
What can Melio do that Zeplin cannot?
Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens.
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