This page compares Planyard with LiveCosts so you can choose the right fit for your team. We look at ease of use, rollout speed, pricing clarity, and how each tool handles UK and Ireland needs such as valuations, retentions, and CIS.
You will also see where LiveCosts focuses on digitising purchase orders and invoices, and when Planyard helps you move beyond spreadsheets with forecasting, subcontractor claims, and client applications built in.
On this page
Current public ratings from the Xero App Store and Capterra.
| Programme | Rating | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard |
4.6 / 5.0 |
 Praised for ease of setup, user friendliness, and time savings. |
| LiveCosts (Xero App Store) |
5.0 / 5.0 |
Widely positive for invoice automation and support response. |
| LiveCosts (Capterra) | Listed |  Lack of presence on Capterra. Most social proof is on the Xero marketplace. |
If you are comparing options, here is the short version to help you decide quickly.
| Aspect | Planyard | LiveCosts |
|---|---|---|
| Time to implement | Days to pilot a live job |
Days to weeks depending on scope |
| Complexity of implementation | Low. Connect accounting and import budgets |
Low to medium. Configure budgets, PO and invoice flows |
| Training required | Light for QS, PM, commercial, and finance |
Light for site and accounts payable teams |
| Ease of use | Intuitive for QS, commercial, PM and FD |
Simple interface for recording costs and approvals |
| Reporting | Real time CVR and forecasting in app |
Live budget vs actuals. Some teams export to Excel for detailed forecasting |
| Accounting fit | Connects to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting | Connects to Xero and Sage. Check current QuickBooks Online support |
| Pricing | Public per user plans and free trial |
By quote or demo request. Plans not listed publicly |
| Best for | Firms escaping spreadsheets with full commercial control | Contractors who want fast PO and invoice digitisation on Xero or Sage |
Where it fits. LiveCosts is a good option if you want simple job cost tracking tied to Xero or Sage. It shines at digitising purchase orders and processing supplier invoices with OCR and matching.
Common drawbacks. Many teams still export to Excel for cost to complete forecasting or to track subcontractor valuations and retentions. Pricing is provided by quote, and most buyers start with a demo rather than a free trial.
See how they compare on cost to complete, commitments and POs, variations, and valuations, including UK specifics like CIS and retention.
You need a live view of cost to complete, early warning on overruns, and a forecast you can trust without rebuilding it in spreadsheets.
Shows real time CVR and forecast updates as orders, invoices and variations are approved. You see issues early without touching Excel.
Provides live budget vs actuals and committed costs. Many teams model detailed cost to complete in Excel when they need a full margin projection.
One source of truth for committed spend, clear approvals, and clean hand off to accounts so the general ledger stays tidy.
Lets PMs and QSs raise and approve POs and subcontracts in the app, then syncs only approved costs to Xero, QuickBooks Online or Sage Accounting.
Digitises POs and matches invoices to POs and deliveries. Approval steps are simple and push approved data to Xero or Sage.
No credit card required. No sales or IT support needed.
Variations must be logged fast, approved with an audit trail, and instantly reflected in the forecast and margin.
Logs and approves variations with a clear trail and updates budgets and forecasts automatically. The impact is visible without spreadsheet edits.
Supports simple change tracking alongside budgets and POs. Detailed margin impact is often modelled in Excel.
Smooth valuations, accurate retention schedules, and a clear status for what is certified, due or released.
Generates valuations and retention schedules inside the app and keeps the budget and forecast in sync as certificates arrive.
Tracks subcontractor costs as POs and invoices. Many contractors run valuation status and retention schedules in spreadsheets alongside LiveCosts.
Here is what to expect before you go live. Planyard usually pilots in days and LiveCosts is often live after a short configuration and a demo led onboarding.
| Product | Typical duration | Typical steps |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard | A few days to a week |
|
| LiveCosts | Days to weeks |
|
Actual timelines vary by scope and data quality.
LiveCosts is praised for quick wins in PO and invoice automation and for responsive support on the Xero marketplace. Planyard reviews highlight ease of setup, clean Xero syncing, and real time budget control. Both are modern and cloud based. Planyard goes deeper on forecasting and subcontractor workflows so you can avoid Excel.
Planyard is the easy, quick to roll out choice for full commercial control that replaces Excel and sits next to your ledger. LiveCosts is strong at PO and invoice digitisation on Xero and Sage but many teams keep forecasting and retentions in spreadsheets.
Sources and last updated. Ratings and positioning from public vendor pages, Xero App Store and Capterra listings. Last reviewed 29 September 2025.
We've got your questions covered. If you can't find the answer below, then feel free to contact us via the chat.
Planyard usually pilots in days and rolls out in weeks. LiveCosts often goes live after a short configuration and team training.
It reduces duplicate entry with Xero or Sage and gives live budget vs actuals. Some teams export specific data to Excel for tasks like Sage imports or bespoke analysis. LiveCosts positions itself to reduce spreadsheet use, while Planyard adds built-in forecasting, subcontractor claims, and retention schedules that further limit the need for external sheets.
Planyard replaces spreadsheet based cost control with in app budgeting, CVR, commitments, variations, valuations, and retention schedules. LiveCosts can report well on spend and commitments, but many teams use spreadsheets for cost to complete or retention status.
Planyard has transparent per user plans and a free trial, so budgeting is straightforward. LiveCosts pricing is provided by quote after a demo.
Yes. Planyard sits alongside your ledger and syncs approved costs to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting.
Yes. Planyard supports valuations and retention schedules in one place. CIS workflows are supported together with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. LiveCosts tracks costs well; many contractors manage detailed retention schedules externally.
Yes. Most teams connect accounting, import a live budget and trial Planyard on one project first. This keeps risk low and helps you plan a smooth rollout.
No credit card required. No sales or IT support needed.