Cledara vs Pleo
Choose Cledara if managing software subscriptions is your main task; choose Pleo if you need to manage subscriptions alongside employee expenses and other company spending. Both offer cards, spend controls and accounting integrations, but Cledara organizes work around each software tool, while Pleo organizes it around company-wide spending.
Last updated November 1, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Cledara | Pleo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Software subscription management | Company-wide spend and expense management |
| Subscription management | Software directory and renewal alerts on Basic | Recurring-vendor tracking on Build; renewal management on Optimise |
| Software usage insights | Seat-utilization insights with Spend Optimisation add-on | Not published |
| Cards | Virtual card per subscription; physical cards with Cledara Spend | Physical and virtual employee cards; vendor cards |
| Employee expenses | Cards and reimbursements through Cledara Spend | Expense tracking, reimbursements and mileage on Build |
| Published starting price | £75/month for Basic; US price not published | $14/user/month for US Build, billed yearly |
| Published limits | 20 software apps on Basic; 75 on Premium | Three-user minimum on US Build and Optimise |
| Approvals | Purchasing and approval workflows on Premium | Approval workflows on US Build |
| Accounting integrations | Xero and QuickBooks on Basic; NetSuite on Premium | Accounting integrations on US Build, including Xero, QuickBooks and NetSuite |
| Platforms | Web app; iOS and Android apps for Cledara Spend | Web app; iOS and Android apps |
| Card foreign-exchange fee | 1.99% for payments outside the account currency | 1.75% on US Build; 1.49% on US Optimise |
| Support | Email and chat on every plan; video calls on Premium | Email on US Build; live chat on US Optimise |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Cledara if
- Finance teams managing many software subscriptions
- Teams that want a separate virtual card for each software tool
- Buyers who need software renewal alerts on the Basic plan
- Teams seeking optional software seat-utilization insights
Choose Pleo if
- Teams managing subscriptions and everyday expenses together
- Businesses issuing physical and virtual employee cards
- Teams handling employee reimbursements and mileage
- Buyers seeking recurring-vendor tracking within a broader spend platform
The verdict
The deciding factor is the scope of spending you need to manage. Cledara fits teams that want a software directory, renewal alerts and optional seat-utilization insights. Pleo fits teams that want employee cards, reimbursements and recurring-vendor tracking in the same spend platform. Check plan requirements before choosing: some of the features that distinguish each product are not included in its entry plan.
Cledara vs Pleo: common questions
- Should I use Cledara or Pleo for software subscriptions?
- Choose Cledara if software subscriptions are the main spending category you need to organize: its Basic plan includes a software directory and renewal alerts. Choose Pleo if you want recurring-vendor tracking alongside employee expenses; its US Build plan includes that tracking, while renewal management is on Optimise.
- Can Cledara and Pleo both track subscription renewals?
- Yes. Cledara lists software renewal alerts on Basic. Pleo lists renewal management on its US Optimise plan; recurring-vendor tracking is available on Build.
- Do Cledara and Pleo show unused software seats?
- Cledara lists software usage and seat-utilization insights in its paid Spend Optimisation add-on. Pleo does not publish an equivalent automated seat-utilization feature.
- Which is better for employee expenses, Cledara or Pleo?
- Pleo is the more direct fit if employee expenses are the main requirement: its US Build plan includes reimbursements and mileage alongside company cards. Cledara offers employee cards and reimbursements through Cledara Spend, while its core plans focus on software.
- How do Cledara and Pleo prices compare?
- Cledara publishes Basic at £75 per month but does not publish a US price on its pricing page. Pleo publishes US Build at $14 per user per month when billed yearly, with a three-user minimum. Those listed prices are in different currencies and use different pricing models, so they are not a like-for-like total.
- Do Cledara and Pleo integrate with QuickBooks and NetSuite?
- Yes. Cledara lists QuickBooks on Basic and NetSuite on Premium. Pleo lists QuickBooks and NetSuite integrations and includes accounting integrations on its US Build plan.
- Are Cledara and Pleo available on mobile?
- Pleo offers iOS and Android apps for cardholders and expenses. Cledara offers iOS and Android apps for Cledara Spend receipts and transaction history; its software management is available through its web app.
- Can I use either Cledara or Pleo for vendor-specific cards?
- Yes. Cledara provides a virtual card with its own limit for each software subscription. Pleo offers vendor cards for recurring payments, with controls such as vendor locks.
