Paymo
Strong ChoiceIt centralizes operational and finance tasks that otherwise create delivery drag.
Free, paid from $5.90/mo
Prices checked November 2, 2026paymoapp.com pricing page
72/100
Tool matchup
Paymo vs Timely
Paymo vs Timely for consultants. Compare two Ops & Finance tools on pricing, setup speed, strengths, and Curalo score.
Timely
Strong ChoiceIt centralizes operational and finance tasks that otherwise create delivery drag.
From $9/mo
Prices checked November 2, 2026timely.com pricing page
72/100
Verdict
Paymo and Timely are nearly tied.
Decision guidance
- Paymo: Strong on outcomes
- Timely: Strong on outcomes
- Both options are close on total score. Choose based on workflow constraints and setup preference.
Decision shortcuts
Which one fits your practice
Choose Paymo if
- Best fit: Consultants running delivery, billing, and back-office operations
- You want the lower paid entry: Solo at $5.90 vs $9 for Timely.
- You want to start on a free plan (Timely lists none).
Choose Timely if
- Best fit: Consultants running delivery, billing, and back-office operations
Client-ready brief
Get this comparison decision brief
Send a concise summary of winner, trade-offs, and rollout recommendation.
- Paymo: 72/100
- Timely: 72/100
- Paymo and Timely are nearly tied.
Best fit
Who each tool is for
Paymo
Strong ChoiceBest for: Consultants running delivery, billing, and back-office operations.
Why pick it: It centralizes operational and finance tasks that otherwise create delivery drag.
Watch for: Avoid if you already run an integrated finance and operations stack with no tooling gaps.
Timely
Strong ChoiceBest for: Consultants running delivery, billing, and back-office operations.
Why pick it: It centralizes operational and finance tasks that otherwise create delivery drag.
Watch for: Avoid if you already run an integrated finance and operations stack with no tooling gaps.
Swipe sideways to compare all columns.
Paymo | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Quick facts | ||
| Pricing sanity | Free, paid from $5.90/mo | From $9/mo |
| Integrations | 3+ | 3+ |
| Score breakdown | ||
| Outcome fit | 20/25 | 20/25 |
| Setup speed | 13/20 | 13/20 |
| Pricing sanity | 10/15 | 10/15 |
| Integrations | 10/15 | 10/15 |
| UX polish | 11/15 | 11/15 |
| Trust & support | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Summary | ||
| Best for | Consultants running delivery, billing, and back-office operations. | Consultants running delivery, billing, and back-office operations. |
Pricing
Plan-by-plan pricing
Paymo
| Plan | Price | Limits (vendor's wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 1 user; 1 client; 2 projects; unlimited tasks, time tracking and invoices; 1 GB storage |
| Solo | $5.90 per account / month, billed annually$9.90 per account / month, billed monthly | 1 user; 3 clients; 5 projects; flat-rate and retainer projects; calendar and Kanban views; 5 GB storage |
| Plus | $10.90 per user / month, billed annually$15.90 per user / month, billed monthly | Unlimited users, clients and projects; recurring invoices, estimates and expenses; project templates; integrations and API; 50 GB storage |
| Pro | $16.90 per user / month, billed annually$23.90 per user / month, billed monthly | Gantt charts and task dependencies; employee scheduling and workload; timesheet approvals; priority support; 500 GB storage |
Prices checked November 2, 2026paymoapp.com pricing page
Timely
| Plan | Price | Limits (vendor's wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9 per user / month, billed annually$11 per user / month, billed monthly | 20 projects; up to 5 users; automatic time tracking and AI timesheets; API access |
| Premium | $16 per user / month, billed annually$20 per user / month, billed monthly | Unlimited projects; up to 50 users; sync with project management and accounting tools; budgets, costs and team planning |
| Unlimited | $22 per user / month, billed annually$28 per user / month, billed monthly | Unlimited users; capacity management and reporting; live and branded reports; 50+ currencies |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Contact sales; tailored onboarding, team training and priority support |
Prices checked November 2, 2026timely.com pricing page
Cost calculator
What would you pay?
Seats
Billing
Paymo
$5.90 per month · $70.80 per year
Cheapest plan that fits: Solo, $5.90 per seat or user
Timely
$9 per month · $108 per year
Cheapest plan that fits: Starter, $9 per seat or user
Uses list prices from each vendor's pricing page, before tax and discounts. Free plans and custom-quote plans are left out.
Method
How we checked
- Scores: Curalo rates each tool out of 100 on six consultant criteria (outcome fit, setup speed, pricing, integrations, UX, trust and support). See the scoring method
- Paymo: prices checked November 2, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page: paymoapp.com
- Timely: prices checked November 2, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page: timely.com
- Plans, limits and platforms are copied from each vendor's pricing page in the vendor's own terms.
- Anything a vendor does not publish is shown as not listed rather than guessed. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor's page before buying.
Common questions
Questions consultants ask before choosing
Which is better for consultants, Paymo or Timely?
Paymo and Timely both score 72/100 on Curalo's consultant rubric, so choose by workflow fit and price.
Is Paymo or Timely cheaper?
Paymo's cheapest paid plan is Solo at $5.90 per account / month, billed annually. Timely's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $9 per user / month, billed annually.
Do Paymo and Timely have a free plan?
Paymo has a free plan: 1 user; 1 client; 2 projects; unlimited tasks, time tracking and invoices; 1 GB storage. Timely lists no free plan.
What would one user pay for Paymo or Timely?
Paymo: $5.90 a month on Solo. Timely: $9 a month on Starter. Annual list prices where available, before tax.
When is Paymo the wrong choice?
Avoid if you already run an integrated finance and operations stack with no tooling gaps.
When is Timely the wrong choice?
Avoid if you already run an integrated finance and operations stack with no tooling gaps.
Guides
Guides for this matchup
Ops and Finance Automation Guide
A complete operations and finance stack for independent consultants — scheduling, invoicing, bookkeeping, and time tracking with budget tiers, setup sprints, and weekly cadences.
From Solo to Firm: Scaling Your Consulting PracticeYour tool needs change at every growth stage. A practical guide to the technology, processes, and decisions that take you from solo consultant to small firm — without losing what made you great.
The Consultant's Pricing Playbook: From Hourly to Value-BasedA framework to evaluate five pricing models, calculate what to charge, and build tiered packages — with formulas, scripts, and sourced benchmarks for solo consultants.
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