Freedom251 › Accounts Payable Software
Zahara
by Zahara
What Zahara is
Zahara is an accounts payable automation platform connecting purchasing, invoices and payments in finance workflows. Purchase-order tools include multi-step authorisation, budget checks, receipting, order and invoice matching, and audit trails. AI invoice processing reads invoice and line-item data, routes invoices, and includes duplicate prevention and bank account checks. Configurable approval workflows cover purchase orders, invoices, expenses and supplier payments. The Zara assistant answers questions about invoices, budgets and suppliers using live data while respecting user permissions. Zahara offers web, API, iOS and Android access; mobile apps handle approvals, purchase orders, delivery receipting, expenses and mileage claims. Listed integrations include Xero, Business Central, QuickBooks, Sage products, NetSuite and MYOB, alongside open API connections and bespoke export workflows. Zahara says it runs on Microsoft Azure and lists Cyber Essentials Plus certification, annual independent penetration testing, two-factor authentication, single sign-on and encrypted backups created every 15 minutes. Plans start at £159 a month, with no free plan and a 14-day trial. The Teams plan includes up to 10 users, 120 purchase orders per month and 250 AI-read invoices.
Who it suits
Zahara may suit finance teams managing purchase orders, invoices and supplier payments through configurable approval workflows. Its mobile apps also cover approvals, receipting, expenses and mileage claims.
What it does well
- Automates invoice reading, routing and duplicate prevention.
- Approval workflows cover orders, invoices, expenses and payments.
- Offers iOS and Android apps for finance tasks.
- Lists integrations including Xero, QuickBooks and NetSuite.
- Encrypted backups are created every 15 minutes.
What to know first
- No free plan is listed.
- The Teams plan starts at £159 a month.
- Teams includes up to 10 users and 120 purchase orders monthly.
- Monthly plan limits vary by tier.
Limits
The Teams plan allows up to 10 users, 120 purchase orders per month, 250 AI-read invoices, two business units, 10 divisions, 750 suppliers and 4 GB of document storage. Zahara alerts users rather than cutting them off when monthly order or invoice limits are reached, then offers volume top-ups or plan upgrades.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | £159/month · Up to 10 users · 120 purchase orders/month · 250 AI-read invoices · 2 business units · 10 divisions · 750 suppliers · 4 GB document storage | £159 a month |
| Business | £289/month · Up to 18 users · 250 purchase orders/month · 500 AI-read invoices · 10 business units · 80 divisions · 1,000 suppliers · 8 GB document storage | £289 a month |
| Enterprise | £499/month · Up to 35 users · 800 orders/month on plan card (500+ purchase orders/month in comparison) · 1,200 AI-read invoices/month · 10+ business units · 80+ divisions · 2,000+ suppliers · 12 GB+ document storage | £499 a month |
| Enterprise + | Let's Talk · Unlimited users · Custom orders and invoice volume · Tailored usage limits · Custom integrations · Bespoke onboarding | On request |
As zaharasoftware.com lists them, read 29 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Zahara website
- Start the 14-day trial or select a paid plan
- Connect an accounting integration such as Xero, Business Central or QuickBooks
- Use the web interface, API, or install the iOS or Android app
- Configure approval workflows for purchasing, invoices, expenses or supplier payments
Verdict
Zahara links purchasing, invoice processing and payments with configurable approvals and mobile access. Its paid plans have different user, order, invoice and storage allowances, so buyers should check which tier fits their volume.
Questions
How much does Zahara cost?
Paid plans start at £159 per month. The Teams plan is billed at £159/month, Business at £289/month and Enterprise at £499/month; Enterprise+ has no listed price.
Is there a free plan?
No. Zahara offers a 14-day free trial.
Which platforms are supported?
Zahara supports web, API, iOS and Android.
Which accounting systems integrate with Zahara?
Listed integrations include Xero, Business Central, QuickBooks Online, Sage products, NetSuite, MYOB, Sage 200, Exchequer, Twinfield and Pegasus Opera.
Does Zahara provide invoice capture and matching?
Yes. Capture supports OCR, email and upload, with two-way and three-way matching, duplicate detection and supplier payments.
Can data be exported?
Yes. Zahara supports open API connections, bespoke export workflows, local database downloads for order and invoice line data, and return of stored documents when a customer leaves.
Facts from Zahara's own pages
- AI assistant
- Zara is an AI assistant that answers questions about invoices, budgets and suppliers using live data while respecting user permissions. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- API and exports
- Zahara says it supports open API connections and bespoke export workflows for additional finance systems. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Approval workflows
- Configurable multi-step approval workflows support purchase orders, invoices, expenses and supplier payments. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Data portability
- Order and invoice line data can be downloaded to a local database, and stored documents can be returned when a customer leaves Zahara. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Data protection
- Security controls include two-factor authentication, Microsoft and Google single sign-on, password lockouts, and encrypted backups created every 15 minutes. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2016 · zaharasoftware.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · zaharasoftware.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Bath, United Kingdom · zaharasoftware.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include Xero, Business Central, QuickBooks, Sage 50, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, MYOB, Sage 200, Zapier and Power Automate. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Invoice processing
- AI invoice processing reads invoice and line-item data, routes invoices automatically, and includes duplicate prevention and bank account checking. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Mobile apps
- Zahara offers iOS and Android apps for approvals, purchase orders, delivery receipting, expenses and mileage claims. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Pricing limits
- The pricing page says monthly invoice or order limits do not cut users off; Zahara alerts them and offers volume top-ups or plan upgrades. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Purchase orders
- Purchase order features include multi-step authorisation, budget checks, receipting, order and invoice matching, and purchase audit trails. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Zahara is an accounts payable automation platform that connects purchasing, invoices and payments in finance workflows. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Security
- Zahara runs on Microsoft Azure, is Cyber Essentials Plus certified, and states that it conducts annual independent penetration testing. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Support
- The contact page directs existing users to the help centre for help articles, product guidance and support routes. · zaharasoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
Where Zahara stands on Freedom251
- Accounts Payable Software#21 of 97
- Accounts Payable Automation Software#17 of 32