Zahara
Zahara · Bath, United Kingdom · founded 2016
What it is
Zahara is an accounts payable automation platform connecting purchasing, invoices, and payments in finance workflows. Purchase order tools cover multi-step authorisation, budget checks, receipting, matching, and audit trails. Invoice processing reads invoice and line-item information, routes invoices automatically, and includes duplicate prevention and bank account checks. Configurable approvals apply to purchase orders, invoices, expenses, and supplier payments. Its Zara assistant answers questions about invoices, budgets, and suppliers using live data subject to user permissions. Mobile apps for iOS and Android handle approvals, purchase orders, delivery receipting, expenses, and mileage claims. Integrations include Xero, Business Central, QuickBooks, Sage products, NetSuite, and MYOB; open API connections and bespoke exports are also listed. Zahara runs on Microsoft Azure and lists Cyber Essentials Plus certification, annual independent penetration testing, two-factor authentication, single sign-on, password lockouts, and encrypted backups created every 15 minutes. There is no free plan; Teams starts at £159/month, and a 14-day trial is available. Invoice and order limits do not cut off users, though Zahara may offer top-ups or upgrades.
For and against
For
- Automates invoice reading, routing, and duplicate prevention
- Approval workflows cover purchases, expenses, and payments
- Offers iOS and Android apps
- Supports listed finance integrations and open API connections
Against
- No free plan is listed
- Teams starts at £159/month
- Plans specify monthly invoice or order limits
The verdict
Zahara brings purchase orders, invoice handling, approvals, and supplier payments into connected finance workflows. Consider the stated plan limits and monthly cost alongside its integrations and mobile approval tools.
Who it suits
Zahara suits finance teams that want purchasing, invoice processing, approvals, and supplier payments connected in one workflow. Its listed plans include different user and transaction limits for teams of varying sizes.
Plans and prices
Teams
Up to 10 users · 120 purchase orders/month · 250 AI-read invoices · 2 business units
Read 29 Sep 2026 · zaharasoftware.com
Business
Up to 18 users · 250 purchase orders/month · 500 AI-read invoices · 10 business units
Read 29 Sep 2026 · zaharasoftware.com
Enterprise
Up to 35 users · 800 orders/month on plan card (500+ purchase orders/month in comparison) · 1,200 AI-read invoices/month · 10+ business units
Read 29 Sep 2026 · zaharasoftware.com
Enterprise +
Unlimited users · Custom orders and invoice volume · Tailored usage limits · Custom integrations
Read 29 Sep 2026 · zaharasoftware.com
On the record
- AI assistant
- Zara is an AI assistant that answers questions about invoices, budgets and suppliers using live data while respecting user permissions.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- API and exports
- Zahara says it supports open API connections and bespoke export workflows for additional finance systems.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Approval workflows
- Configurable multi-step approval workflows support purchase orders, invoices, expenses and supplier payments.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Data portability
- Order and invoice line data can be downloaded to a local database, and stored documents can be returned when a customer leaves Zahara.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Data protection
- Security controls include two-factor authentication, Microsoft and Google single sign-on, password lockouts, and encrypted backups created every 15 minutes.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include Xero, Business Central, QuickBooks, Sage 50, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, MYOB, Sage 200, Zapier and Power Automate.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Invoice processing
- AI invoice processing reads invoice and line-item data, routes invoices automatically, and includes duplicate prevention and bank account checking.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Mobile apps
- Zahara offers iOS and Android apps for approvals, purchase orders, delivery receipting, expenses and mileage claims.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Pricing limits
- The pricing page says monthly invoice or order limits do not cut users off; Zahara alerts them and offers volume top-ups or plan upgrades.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purchase orders
- Purchase order features include multi-step authorisation, budget checks, receipting, order and invoice matching, and purchase audit trails.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Zahara is an accounts payable automation platform that connects purchasing, invoices and payments in finance workflows.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Security
- Zahara runs on Microsoft Azure, is Cyber Essentials Plus certified, and states that it conducts annual independent penetration testing.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Support
- The contact page directs existing users to the help centre for help articles, product guidance and support routes.zaharasoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
