BuildFair vs Cleo Pay
BuildFair
buildfair.com.au
Cleo Pay
cleo-pay.comSide by side
| Figure | BuildFair | Cleo Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | A$208.33/mo | $79/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 8 |
| Spec score · Contractor Payment Software | 8.4 (#6) | 9.4 (#1) |
| Headquarters | Australia | New York, United States |
| Security | BuildFair describes a double-entry, hash-chained ledger, encryption at rest and in transit, multi-factor authentication, and regular penetration testing. | The company says Plaid bank connections use OAuth, credentials do not touch Cleo Pay servers, and sensitive data is encrypted at rest and in transit. |
| Support | BuildFair lists email and phone support for builder subscriptions and says enquiries receive a response within one business day. | The contact page says customer support replies within one business day and provides [email protected]. |
Plans
BuildFair
- OwnerFree
- Subcontractor — monthlyA$250 a month
- Builder Tier 1 — monthlyA$300 a month
- Builder Tier 2 — monthlyA$500 a month
- Subcontractor — annualA$2,500 a year
- Builder Tier 1 — annualA$3,000 a year
- Builder Tier 2 — annualA$5,000 a year
- EnterprisePriced on request
- SupplierPriced on request
Cleo Pay
- Get PaidFree
- Starter$79 a month
- Basic$99 a month
- Venues & Promoters Plus$199 a month
- Growth$239 a month
- Pro$299 a month
- Max$399 a month
- CustomPriced on request
In their own words
BuildFair
BuildFair is web-based payment infrastructure for Australian residential construction. It holds project funds with Kobble and releases them against verified progress and agreed project rules. Approved builder and subcontractor invoices are paid from project funds, with BuildFair describing a seven-day period after invoice approval. Builder tiers include subcontractor and supplier management, invoice approvals, progress payment schedules, bank reconciliation, quoting, contracts, variation and defect tracking, and audit exports. Owners invited to projects can see claims, approvals, payments and remaining funds at no extra cost. Subcontractors can submit invoices, track payments, upload documents, and view project funds and payment status. BuildFair says audit exports are compatible with Xero, MYOB and other major Australian accounting packages; enterprise customers can access API integration. Kobble, operated by Yondr Money Pty Ltd under AFSL 545391, holds the funds, and BuildFair says it does not hold or directly access customer funds. The service is limited to Australian residential construction and does not adjudicate payment disputes.
Cleo Pay
Cleo Pay automates accounts payable for small and mid-sized businesses, including invoice intake, approvals, vendor onboarding, ACH payments, W-9 collection, 1099 compliance, and QuickBooks Online sync. Users can forward invoices by email or upload a photo; AI extracts vendor, amount, and line-item details and maps expenses to QuickBooks accounts. Approval chains can be set by amount, GL code, or vendor, and approvers can act by email or mobile. Businesses can schedule ACH transfers and track their status. Vendors use a web link to submit W-9 information and connect a bank through Plaid, without downloading an app or paying account fees. The two-way QuickBooks Online connection syncs vendor records, invoices, bills, payments, and chart-of-accounts data. Cleo Pay says Plaid uses OAuth, sensitive data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and payment workflows include audit trails. Its free Get Paid plan is for vendors and contractors, with one user seat and incoming payments only. Paid plans begin at $99 a month and include monthly payment allowances, with extra-payment charges. The service also provides a REST API.