← BlogComparisonMarch 20268 min read

EZ Flow vs Stampli: Which AP Automation Tool Is Right for You? (2026)

Stampli has carved out a real niche in the mid-market AP automation space. Its chat-based collaboration model — where finance teams can leave comments directly on invoices and loop in stakeholders without leaving the platform — has earned it a loyal following among teams that treat invoice approvals as a conversation, not just a workflow step.

But mid-market buyers evaluating AP tools in 2026 have more choices than ever, and the right platform depends on what your team actually struggles with. Is it messy invoice data? Slow approvals? PO matching exceptions? Or is it getting the right people to look at the right invoices quickly?

In this comparison, we break down EZ Flow vs Stampli across the dimensions that matter most: AI extraction accuracy, 3-way PO matching, approval workflows, ERP integrations, pricing model, and how fast you can actually get live.

The short version: Stampli excels at invoice collaboration and works well for teams where discussion and annotation are central to the AP process. EZ Flow delivers deeper AI extraction, native automated 3-way matching, and same-day deployment — making it the stronger pick for teams focused on accuracy and throughput at scale.

Quick Comparison: EZ Flow vs Stampli

FeatureEZ Flow vs Stampli
Invoice OCR accuracyEZ Flow 99% AI extraction vs Stampli standard OCR with manual correction
3-way PO matchingEZ Flow: automated native | Stampli: limited, manual-assist
Chat-based collaborationEZ Flow: structured comments | Stampli: core feature, inline chat
Approval workflowsEZ Flow: multi-step, parallel, rule-based | Stampli: collaboration-first routing
ERP integrationsEZ Flow: broad native connectors | Stampli: strong mid-market ERP coverage
Pricing modelEZ Flow: contact for pricing | Stampli: per-user/per-month, varies by tier
Setup timeEZ Flow: same-day | Stampli: days to 2 weeks
Best forEZ Flow: high-volume AP with AI accuracy + matching | Stampli: mid-market teams prioritising invoice discussion

Invoice Processing & OCR Accuracy

Stampli captures invoice data using OCR and applies a layer of AI to assist with coding suggestions. For many mid-market teams, this is sufficient — invoices come in from known vendors in familiar formats, and the system handles them reasonably well.

The friction appears when invoice formats vary significantly, when vendors send multi-page PDFs, or when scanned document quality is inconsistent. Finance teams using Stampli often report spending time correcting field extractions — particularly line-item details and tax breakdowns — before an invoice can move to approval.

EZ Flow was built with AI extraction as its core, not as a supplementary feature. Every field extracted from an invoice carries a confidence score, giving your team immediate visibility into what needs review versus what can flow straight through. Extraction accuracy sits at 99%, across diverse document types, formats, and vendor styles.

For teams processing high invoice volumes where manual correction is a real cost, this accuracy difference translates directly into time saved. See how EZ Flow's AI extraction works.

3-Way PO Matching

Three-way matching — validating an invoice against its corresponding purchase order and goods receipt — is essential for any organisation running a proper procurement-to-pay cycle. It prevents overpayment, catches discrepancies before they become audit findings, and dramatically speeds up month-end close.

Stampli's strength is in the invoice approval and collaboration workflow. Its 3-way matching functionality exists but is not automated by default. Teams using Stampli for PO matching often find they need to manage the cross-referencing step themselves or rely on their ERP to handle it separately — which means switching between systems and adding manual steps back into a process you were trying to automate.

EZ Flow automates 3-way matching natively. When an invoice arrives linked to a PO and a receipt, the system compares all three documents automatically, flags discrepancies with full context, and routes exceptions to the right person without manual intervention. If your procurement and AP processes are tightly connected, this is a meaningful differentiator.

Chat-Based Collaboration

This is where Stampli genuinely leads the market. Its inline comment system allows finance teams, department heads, and vendors to discuss invoice details directly on the document. There's no need to send emails referencing invoice numbers or track down approvers through Slack threads. The conversation lives on the invoice.

For organisations where approvals often get stuck because the right person can't find context quickly enough, Stampli's collaboration model is a genuine productivity improvement.

EZ Flow supports structured comments and approval notes within its workflow engine. It's not a chat-first product, but approvers can flag questions and add context at each step. The philosophy is different: EZ Flow optimises for throughput and minimising the need for discussion in the first place — by ensuring invoice data is clean and matched before it reaches an approver.

The right choice here depends on your team's culture. If invoice approvals are inherently collaborative and discussionheavy in your organisation, Stampli's model may suit you. If you want approvers to see clean, pre-validated data and move quickly, EZ Flow's approach is the better fit.

Approval Workflows

Stampli's approval routing is designed around its collaboration model. You can configure approval chains and set up routing rules, but the platform is oriented toward getting the right people into the conversation rather than enforcing strict rule-based approval logic.

EZ Flow's approval workflows are rule-driven and highly configurable. Multi-step chains can be defined by invoice amount, department, cost centre, vendor type, or any combination. Approvals can run sequentially or in parallel. The system enforces your policy automatically — meaning approvals move at the speed your rules allow, not at the speed of a Slack reply.

For mid-market teams with defined approval policies, delegated authority matrices, or regulatory requirements around sign-off levels, EZ Flow's structured workflow engine offers more control.

ERP Integrations

Both platforms offer integrations with major mid-market ERPs. Stampli covers QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, and others. Its ERP sync is well-regarded and part of what makes it attractive to mid-market finance teams already invested in these systems.

EZ Flow also connects with major ERP and accounting platforms, supporting both real-time and batch posting workflows. GL account mapping is configurable, and posting can be triggered automatically at the point of approval. For teams that want invoice data flowing directly into their ERP without manual journal entry, both platforms deliver this — the difference is largely in how much automation sits upstream before the ERP posting step.

Pricing Model

Stampli's pricing is not publicly listed and varies by the size of your team, invoice volume, and modules required. It is generally positioned as a mid-market product, and pricing reflects that — expect conversations with their sales team before getting a number. Users on review platforms report per-user per-month pricing with add-ons for advanced features.

EZ Flow pricing is also available on request. See EZ Flow pricing. The distinction is in what is included as standard: AI extraction, automated 3-way matching, and multi-step approval workflows are core features in EZ Flow, not upsells. Teams evaluating Stampli should clarify what is included at their tier before comparing total cost of ownership.

Ease of Setup

Stampli typically takes a few days to two weeks to get fully configured, depending on ERP integration complexity and how many approval rules you need to set up. The onboarding experience is generally considered straightforward for a mid-market tool, and Stampli provides implementation support.

EZ Flow is designed to be operational the same day. Upload a document, see the AI extraction in action, configure your approval chain, and start processing. There are no implementation consultants, no multi-week onboarding projects, and no professional services costs to factor in. For teams that have already spent months in drawn-out software implementations, this matters.

Who Should Choose Stampli

  • Mid-market teams that want invoice collaboration via comments
  • Companies already using Stampli's vendor network
  • Finance teams that don't need deep PO matching
  • Organizations where invoice discussion and annotation is a priority

Who Should Choose EZ Flow

  • Teams that need high-accuracy AI extraction (99%)
  • Companies requiring automated 3-way PO matching
  • Organizations wanting same-day deployment
  • Finance teams processing high invoice volumes without manual cleanup

The Verdict

Stampli is a well-built product with a clear identity: it makes invoice approval a collaborative process and has earned genuine loyalty among mid-market finance teams that value that approach. If your primary pain point is getting the right people engaged on invoices quickly, and discussion is central to how your team operates, Stampli is worth a serious look.

EZ Flow is the stronger choice if your priorities are AI extraction accuracy, automated 3-way PO matching, and speed of deployment. For teams where the volume of invoices is high, where manual correction is already a drain on the team, or where PO matching exceptions are a daily reality — EZ Flow's approach reduces the work rather than just reorganising it.

Both are legitimate mid-market AP tools. The right one depends on whether you want to make collaboration easier, or reduce the need for it in the first place.

See the difference for yourself

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