Both Equisettle and Chaser automate accounts receivable for UK businesses — but they take very different approaches. Equisettle uses predictive AI to identify at-risk invoices up to 14 weeks in advance and automates outreach via WhatsApp, SMS, and email from £49/month. Chaser focuses on rule-based workflow automation and adds optional human collections escalation, starting from £199/month.
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| Equisettle | Chaser | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £49/month | £199/month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| AI-powered predictions | Yes 14-week forecast, 94% accuracy | No Rule-based only |
| WhatsApp outreach | Yes | No |
| SMS outreach | Yes | No |
| Email outreach | Yes | Yes |
| Cash flow forecasting | Yes 30–90 day | Yes (Complete plan) |
| Human collections escalation | No | Yes (Care add-on, from £324/mo) |
| Xero integration | Yes | Yes |
| QuickBooks integration | Yes | Yes |
| FreeAgent integration | Yes | No |
| Sage integration | Yes | No |
| Multi-entity support | Yes | Yes (Core+ plans) |
| Setup time | 48 hours | Not specified |
| UK-focused | Yes | Yes |
Pricing as of April 2026. Check each vendor's website for current rates.
Equisettle is an AI-powered accounts receivable automation platform built specifically for UK growth companies and SMEs. Its core differentiator is predictive analytics: the platform's machine learning model identifies invoices at risk of late payment up to 14 weeks in advance with 94% accuracy, allowing finance teams to act before an invoice becomes overdue — not after.
Outreach runs autonomously across email, SMS, and WhatsApp without manual intervention, and the platform connects natively to FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage. Teams typically go live within 48 hours.
Best for: UK SMEs that want AI-led, proactive collections without hiring additional credit control resource.
Chaser is a London-based AR automation platform founded in 2014, with over 10,000 users worldwide. It won the Xero App Partner of the Year award in 2023 and is well-regarded in the UK accounting community. Chaser's approach is rule-based: you configure escalation workflows that trigger when invoices hit defined ages, and the platform handles the chasing.
Where Chaser uniquely extends beyond pure software is its Care add-on: an outsourced human collections service (from £324/month) that takes over phone calls, inbox management, and dispute handling for accounts your automation can't resolve.
Best for: Established mid-market UK businesses that want structured, rule-based chasing with an optional human-in-the-loop escalation path — and can absorb higher starting costs.
Equisettle uses a machine learning model trained on payment behaviour data to forecast which invoices will be paid late — and by how much — up to 14 weeks ahead. This means collections outreach can start before a payment is even late, fundamentally shifting from reactive to proactive AR.
Chaser does not offer predictive analytics. Its automation is entirely rule-based: you define what happens when an invoice is 7, 14, or 30 days overdue, and Chaser executes those steps. There's no AI flagging at-risk accounts before they fall due.
Edge: Equisettle
Equisettle reaches debtors via email, SMS, and WhatsApp — meeting customers on the channel they actually respond to. WhatsApp in particular has significantly higher open and response rates than email for payment communications.
Chaser operates via email only. There is no SMS or WhatsApp capability in any plan.
Edge: Equisettle
Equisettle integrates with FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage — covering the four dominant accounting platforms for UK SMEs.
Chaser integrates with Xero and QuickBooks but does not support FreeAgent or Sage natively. This is a meaningful gap for the large number of UK small businesses using FreeAgent (particularly those on BT or EE Business packages, where FreeAgent is bundled free).
Edge: Equisettle (for FreeAgent and Sage users)
Equisettle starts at £49/month — accessible for early-stage businesses and solo finance teams.
Chaser's entry-level Compact plan starts at £199/month, covering businesses with under £4M annual revenue. For businesses over £4M ARR, the Core plan starts at £599/month. The optional human collections Care service adds from £324/month on top.
For a growing SME, Chaser's total cost can reach £923+/month (Core + Care) before any enterprise customisation.
Edge: Equisettle (significantly lower cost at every tier)
Chaser's Care add-on is a genuine differentiator: a team of trained credit controllers who handle phone calls, inbox management, and payment disputes. If your business regularly deals with disputed invoices or difficult debtors, this human layer adds real value.
Equisettle does not offer a human escalation service. Its strength is volume automation and early AI intervention — but for complex disputes that need a human voice, you'd need to manage that in-house or through a third-party collections agency.
Edge: Chaser (for businesses needing human escalation)
Equisettle is designed for rapid deployment — live within 48 hours, with a 5-minute accounting integration setup. There's no assisted onboarding required.
Chaser's Complete plan (£899/month) includes assisted onboarding. Lower-tier plans do not. For complex multi-entity setups, the rule configuration can take time.
Edge: Equisettle
| Plan | Equisettle | Chaser |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £49/mo | £199/mo (Compact) |
| Mid | — | £599/mo (Core) |
| Growth | — | £899/mo (Complete) |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
| Human collections | No | +£324/mo (Care add-on) |
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Equisettle and Chaser are both credible AR automation tools for UK businesses — but they serve different needs and price points.
If you want proactive, AI-powered collections with WhatsApp/SMS reach and FreeAgent or Sage integration, Equisettle delivers more for significantly less. Its 94% prediction accuracy means your team is acting on intelligence, not just age buckets.
If you want structured rule-based workflows with optional human collections escalation and have the budget for a premium platform, Chaser's Care service is genuinely differentiated.
For most UK SMEs evaluating both, the combination of Equisettle's price, AI capability, and channel breadth makes it the stronger default choice.
