This page compares Payapps with Planyard so you can choose the right fit for your team. We look at user experience, rollout time, UK workflows (valuations, retentions, CIS), reporting, and pricing clarity for the UK and Ireland.
Payapps specialises in valuations between contractors and subcontractors. Planyard covers that workflow and also replaces spreadsheets for budgets, forecasting/CVR, variations, and purchase orders – all in one tool.
On this page
Public ratings from Capterra UK.
| Programme | Rating | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard | 4.6 / 5.0 |  Praised for ease of use, fast setup, and live integration with Xero/Sage/QuickBooks. Users highlight instant clarity vs. error-prone spreadsheets. |
| Payapps | 4.5 / 5.0 | Good for digitising valuations; limited beyond that. Several reviews mention doing the ‘real’ assessments in Excel and friction over subcontractor fees. |
Quotes used below are taken from public Capterra UK reviews.
Here is the short version to help you decide quickly.
| Aspect | Planyard | Payapps |
|---|---|---|
| Time to implement | Days to pilot a live job |
Fast rollout for payment workflows |
| Scope | Budgets, CVR, forecasting, POs, subcontractor valuations, retentions |
 Focused on valuations and approvals |
| User experience | Intuitive for QS, commercial, PM and finance |
Intuitive for subs to submit valuations and for admins to certify |
| Reporting | Real-time CVR, profit and cash-flow forecasting in app |
Payment-cycle dashboards; limited beyond valuations |
| Accounting fit | Syncs approved costs to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting |
Posts approved valuations to ERP/accounting; budgeting stays elsewhere |
| Pricing | Public per-user plans with free trial |
By quote for contractors; subscription/pay-per-application for subcontractors |
| Best for | Firms replacing spreadsheets with full commercial control | Teams that need only the valuations workflow digitised |
“Planyard is basically a live CVR and saves time by making Excel unnecessary.”
| Feature | Planyard | Payapps |
|---|---|---|
| Subcontractor valuations | Collect and approve valuations; warns on over-billing; updates budget on approval |
Create, submit, assess and certify valuations with audit trail |
| Client valuations | Generate valuations and certificates; keep forecast in sync |
Supports certification workflows |
| Retentions tracking and release | Retention schedules across contracts; automatic calculation and release |
Track retention balances and release reminders |
| Variations / change control | Log and approve client/subcontract variations with impact on forecast |
Record and track variations within claim cycles |
| Budgets vs actuals (live) | Live view of spend, commitments, EAC and profit |
Not included |
| CVR and forecasting | Real-time CVR and cash-flow forecasting |
Not included |
| Commitments and purchase orders | Raise/approve POs and subcontracts; sync only approved costs |
Not included |
| CIS (UK) support | CIS handled with your accounting system |
Compliance reminders/docs; CIS handled in accounting |
| Approvals and audit trail | User-level approvals and logs across budgets, POs, valuations and invoices |
Approvals and audit for valuations |
| Integrations | Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage Accounting |
ERP/accounting integrations (e.g. Xero, certain ERPs) |
| API / extensibility | API and accounting integrations |
Integrations; API availability varies by plan |
| Multi-company / multi-currency | Supported |
Supported (for valuations context) |
Note: Payapps focuses on valuations. Budgeting, CVR and forecasting remain in your ERP/accounting or spreadsheets. Planyard brings those into one system so teams do not need separate tools.
See how they handle valuations, retentions, forecasting, variations and POs for UK and Ireland teams.
You need a live view of EAC, early warning on overruns, and a forecast you can trust without rebuilding it in spreadsheets.
Real-time CVR and cash-flow forecasting update as orders, invoices and variations are approved, so issues are visible early without Excel.
Focuses on the payment cycle. Forecasting and CVR remain in ERP/accounting or spreadsheets.
One source of truth for committed spend, clear approvals, and clean handoff to accounts so the general ledger stays tidy.
Raise and approve POs and subcontracts in the app; sync only approved costs to Xero, QuickBooks Online or Sage Accounting.
Does not manage POs. Approved valuations post into ERP/accounting for invoicing.
No credit card required. No sales or IT support needed.
Keep valuations and retention schedules clear and up to date across all jobs.
Collects subcontractor valuations, generates client valuations/certificates and tracks retention. Approvals update the budget and forecast automatically.
Digitises valuations and certifications with audit trails and reminders; retention balances visible and scheduled for release.
Variations must be logged fast, approved with an audit trail, and instantly reflected in the forecast and margin.
Logs and approves client/subcontract variations with a clear trail and updates budgets/forecasts automatically.
Records and tracks variations within claim cycles; complex BOQ or cost impacts are handled outside the tool.
No credit card required. No sales or IT support needed.
UK teams need CIS correctly calculated and recorded, with the evidence to back it up.
Handles CIS together with your accounting system so deductions and verifications are consistent and auditable.
Supports compliance documents and reminders; CIS calculations remain in accounting.
What to expect before you go live.
| Product | Typical duration | Typical steps |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard | A few days to a week |
|
| Payapps | Days to weeks |
|
Actual timelines vary by scope, data quality and internal capacity.
Planyard is the easy, quick-to-roll-out choice for full commercial control next to your ledger. Payapps is a great point solution for valuations; Planyard includes that workflow and adds budgeting, CVR and forecasting, POs and variations so you do not need extra tools.
Sources and last updated. Product sites and Capterra UK listings for Planyard and Payapps. Last reviewed 30 September 2025.
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We've got your questions covered. If you can't find the answer below, then feel free to contact us via the chat.
Planyard typically pilots in days and rolls out in weeks. Payapps can be live quickly for valuations workflows; timelines depend on subcontractor onboarding and any ERP connection.
Planyard replaces spreadsheet-based cost control with in-app budgeting, CVR, commitments, variations, valuations and retention schedules. Payapps removes claim-by-email spreadsheets but budgeting and forecasting remain in your ERP/accounting or sheets.
Planyard has transparent per-user plans and a free trial. Payapps contractor pricing is by quote; subcontractors can use subscription tiers or pay-per-application.
Yes. Planyard sits alongside your ledger and syncs approved costs to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting.
Yes. Planyard supports valuations, retention schedules and CIS workflows together with your accounting system. Payapps supports valuations and retentions; CIS is handled in accounting.
Yes. Most teams connect accounting, import a live budget and trial Planyard on one project first to keep risk low and plan a smooth rollout.
No credit card required. No sales or IT support needed.