Petl Pay

Petl Pay connects project invoicing with the allocation and payment of contributors. It is best suited to agencies, studios, consultancies and UK construction subcontractors managing several payees. Its main appeal is keeping billing and payouts tied to projects; the free plan stops short of paying anyone.

Overview

Petl brings multi-party invoices, contributor allocations, approvals and payout records into one project workflow. That is a more targeted fit than a general payroll system for teams that need to divide project receipts among contributors. Teams can also use ChatGPT, Claude, Slack or WhatsApp to create projects, raise invoices, generate payment links and prepare pay runs.

Completed pay runs and statements can be pushed to Xero. Payment workflows use bank and stablecoin rails across the UK, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and South Africa, subject to availability. Transfer fees range from 0.2% to 1.2%, depending on transfer type, corridor and volume, so subscription costs are only part of the cost of international payouts.

Key features

Project billing and contributor payments

Multi-party invoicing and contributor allocations link client billing with what contributors are owed. Approval steps and project-linked payout records help teams control and track distributions. Money movement requires the appropriate approval and verification, a useful control for shared workflows that also means payments are not entirely hands-off.

Cross-border payments and compliance

The supported regional payment workflows give distributed project teams more than one rail, though coverage is subject to availability and fees vary with corridor, transfer type and volume. For eligible UK construction workflows, Petl calculates and tracks CIS deductions, but does not file with HMRC; subcontractors still need to handle that filing separately.

Security and records

Petl says it is non-custodial, uses licensed payment providers and does not hold customer funds. It also says it does not store card numbers, bank login credentials, private wallet keys or government-issued identity documents. KYC/KYB checks apply where required, while audit trails cover bills, invoices, approvals, payments and payouts. These controls are relevant for teams handling shared financial workflows, but do not remove the verification steps required before money moves.

Pricing

Petl is freemium, with paid plans from $10/user/mo. The subscription tiers differ materially in whether they enable payees and payment functions:

The Free plan's unlimited project and invoice automation may be useful for preparation, but the absence of payees, wallets and payouts makes it unsuitable as a complete contributor-payment workflow. Solo enables payments but caps active payees at three. Business raises that limit to 20 and adds reconciliation and API/MCP access. Transfer fees of 0.2% to 1.2% still apply according to transfer type, corridor and volume.

Platforms

Petl is available on the web and through an API. It also supports workflows through ChatGPT, Claude, Slack and WhatsApp. Its supported currencies are USD and EUR; cross-border payment availability varies by region. The published contractor limit is three, which makes the larger plan payee allowances worth checking against the team's intended setup.

Who it's for

Petl is a sensible choice for project-based businesses that invoice clients and distribute money to multiple contributors, especially agencies, studios and consultancies that want approvals and payout records attached to projects. Eligible UK construction subcontractors may value CIS calculation and tracking, provided they do not expect Petl to file with HMRC.

It is less suitable for teams seeking a broad payroll or accounting replacement, or anyone who needs the free tier to make payouts. Xero receives completed pay runs and statements, but accounting integrations are not included in the product's integration offering.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Project invoices, contributor allocations, approvals and payout records are connected, which suits teams distributing client payments across a project group.
• Pro: Solo and Business add payee and payout capabilities, while Business includes reporting, reconciliation, audit trails and API/MCP access.
• Pro: Bank and stablecoin workflows cover several regions, with USD and EUR account details on Solo.
• Con: Free excludes active payees, payment links, wallets and payouts, so it cannot complete the core contributor-payment job.
• Con: Solo allows only three active payees and Business up to 20, which may constrain teams with larger contributor rosters.
• Con: Transfer fees add 0.2% to 1.2% depending on the payment, and Petl tracks but does not file CIS deductions with HMRC.

Alternatives

For a broader set of contractor-payment options, browse Contractor Payment Software.

• Cleo Pay is worth considering when incoming payments and a free one-seat plan matter more than outbound payments, which its free Get Paid plan does not include.
• Zoho Payroll may fit readers looking for payroll for up to 10 employees on a free plan, with a free trial also offered.
• PayWow is an alternative for contractors who can be paid by check: its free Basic plan allows unlimited contractors, while reports are limited.
• BuildFair is a web-based option to consider for construction project access, with free access for owners invited by a builder.
• Plane Contractor Management may suit teams prioritizing hiring and onboarding, a contractor and employee directory, reports, holidays and time tracking on its free HRIS plan.
• Payoneer Payer is another option for businesses with higher payment volumes; pricing is custom and fees vary by method and location.
• IRIS Practice Engine is a paid alternative to consider.
• TLC IT is another alternative, with paid plans and a free plan.

Verdict

Choose Petl Pay if your agency, studio, consultancy or eligible UK construction business needs client invoices, contributor allocations and controlled payouts connected to projects. The clearest reason to choose it is that joined-up workflow; the clearest reason to look elsewhere is that Free cannot pay contributors, while paid plans impose payee caps and transfer fees. Teams needing general payroll, or more than 20 active payees without custom terms, should compare other options.