ClearDebit vs Powens
ClearDebit
cleardebit.com
Powens
powens.comSide by side
| Figure | ClearDebit | Powens |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Direct Debit Processing Software | 7.6 (#9) | 8.2 (#4) |
| Company history | ClearDebit says it has helped businesses with Direct Debit since 1993. | Powens says it was founded as Budget Insight in 2012 and rebranded as Powens in 2022. |
| Founded | 1993 | The company says it was founded as Budget Insight in 2012 and rebranded as Powens in 2022. |
| Headquarters | 107 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6DN, UK | Paris, France |
| Integrations | ClearDebit says it is integrated with a range of membership CRMs, but the page does not name them. | For business account aggregation, Powens says it connects to PSP wallets such as PayPal, Stripe and GoCardless. |
| Security | ClearDebit says its Bacs Approved Bureau and software follow data protection rules and regulations set out by the FCA and Bacs. | Powens says it is ISO 27001 certified and that its security and compliance frameworks are independently tested and audited each year. |
| Support | ClearDebit lists support by email at [email protected] and provides separate software support contact details. | Enterprise plans include a dedicated account manager and priority assistance from integration and technical support teams. |
| What it does | ClearDebit provides services and software for businesses to process Direct Debits with Bacs. | Powens describes itself as an Open Finance and embedded payments platform that connects financial data and payment workflows through APIs. |
| Who it serves | Mosaic software is presented for businesses with internal resources to submit Direct Debits and for businesses that want to manage them in-house. | Powens lists lending, accounting and invoicing, wealth management, property management, cashback and rewards, retail banking, and payments among its target sectors. |
Plans
In their own words
ClearDebit
ClearDebit provides Direct Debit processing services, software, and training for businesses collecting payments through Bacs. Its Mosaic options address different levels of involvement: Mosaic Submit sends files to Bacs and returns reports with an audit trail, while Mosaic Managed supports the wider Direct Debit cycle, including advance notice letters and transaction codes before processing. Businesses can collect one-off, regular, or variable payments and manage payment timing and changes in the software. Mosaic reporting includes payer and payment details, customer and Bacs reports, historical data, and automatically applied Bacs messages. ClearDebit says its Bureau, Mosaic software, and training are Bacs Approved, and that its Bureau and software follow data-protection rules set out by the FCA and Bacs. For in-house software users, processed collections go directly to the business’s bank account; ClearDebit says it does not hold funds. Bureau integrations can use SFTP or an API to submit files and retrieve reports. The service requires a Service User Number (SUN), and ClearDebit says it cannot support businesses without one. Pricing is on request.
Powens
Powens is an Open Finance and embedded payments platform that connects financial data and payment workflows through APIs. Its aggregation service syncs accounts, transactions, savings, loans, and investments from more than 1,800 banks across 12 EU countries. Accounts refresh daily, while available transaction history varies by bank from 3 to 24 months; live connections can be maintained for six months with daily refreshes. Payment services include IBAN accounts, Direct Debit, Pay by Bank, and instant SEPA transfers through one API and dashboard. Powens says beneficiaries receive funds from its instant SEPA transfers within 10 seconds. It also offers real-time bank identity checks and Spanish IBAN ownership verification. Developers can access API documentation, integration guides, SDKs, connection widgets, an admin console, and a free self-service sandbox. Pricing is on request. Enterprise plans include dedicated hosting and can include an account manager and priority technical and integration support. Powens lists Android, iOS, web, and API access, and says it was founded as Budget Insight in 2012 before adopting the Powens name in 2022.