Rillet vs Campfire: AI-Native ERP Comparison for Startups (2026)

Rillet vs Campfire Feature Comparison

Rillet and Campfire both provide AI-native ERP solutions, but choosing between the two depends on your organization’s specific needs. The feature-by-feature comparison table below may clarify which solution is best-suited to your use case.

Revenue Recognition Capabilities

Rillet delivers native ASC 606 and IFRS 15 automation built specifically for SaaS subscription models. The platform supports allocation, scheduling, and tracking across revenue structures.

Campfire automates some workflows like journal preparation and unbilled receivables, providing effective coverage for smaller organizations. For companies with materially complex revenue accounting demands, ERPs like NetSuite may offer greater specialization and depth.

General Ledger Automation

Rillet focuses on structured GL automation that reduces manual accounting effort. This approach emphasizes process control and operational efficiency by standardizing ledger activity.

Campfire combines automated ledger functionality with conversational interaction, allowing users to query and navigate financial data with natural language. Rillet concentrates on reducing accounting workload, while Campfire emphasizes data accessibility and interaction. Both platforms aim to reduce the time required for the month-end close.

AI and Natural Language Features

Rillet’s Aura AI supports accounting teams by helping to draft entries, summarize data, and answer technical questions. Generally, Rillet focuses on augmenting professional workflows and improving execution efficiency. 

Campfire’s Ember AI enables conversational access to financial information, improving utility for team members outside of finance thanks to natural-language queries. Ember differentiates Campfire in cross-functional accessibility, while Rillet is more closely tied to finance team operations.

Integrations and API Connectivity

Both platforms integrate with modern finance-stack tools like Salesforce, Stripe, and Rippling.However, both companies are expanding their partner networks and base their value propositions on future integration depth across a range of financial tools. Rillet emphasizes integrations that reinforce accounting control, reporting rigor, and financial process depth. Campfire integrates broadly across operational data sources.

How Rillet and Campfire Compare to Legacy ERPs

Enterprise ERPs are more configurable and offer greater scope relative to new AI-native vendors, but that may not make a difference for small companies. NetSuite, for instance, acts as a unified ERP for all business operations, including functions like HR, CRM, and supply chain. 

The type of smaller business that’s a good fit for Rillet or Campfire often doesn’t need robust solutions to solve these needs. But, as a company grows, its use of an AI-native ERP may pose bottlenecks to diversification and expansion.

Additionally, ERP systems like NetSuite and Sage Intacct generally leverage  an existing consultant ecosystem for post-implementation support and configuration. While AI-native ERPs generally offer less configurability, finance teams can customize their settings on a self-serve basis with limited assistance from the vendor’s customer success team. ‍

Given these considerations, do legacy systems handle the core functions of a financial ERP more effectively than AI-native tools like Campfire and Rillet? The examples below illustrate the difference in scope and structure between a few of the most popular tools. ‍

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What Makes AI-Native ERPs Different

The AI-native ERP is an emerging category. Rillet and Campfire are both new companies competing to define the space, which creates challenges for anyone trying to create strict rules governing what does and doesn’t constitute an “AI-native” platform.

Nevertheless, the category of AI-native ERP can be defined as those ERPs that are designed to leverage AI within the general ledger.

Thanks to this novel architecture, companies that use AI-native ERPs unlock certain benefits. Rillet and Campfire were designed with startups in mind, so at present, many of their proven benefits are unique to this segment. A deeper dive into a few of these benefits follows below.

Real-Time Data vs Batch Processing

AI-native ERPs maintain continuous, real-time connections to banking platforms, payment processors, and other external tools through native integrations. Data flows automatically into the general ledger as transactions occur. 

Under standard configurations, legacy ERPs like NetSuite and Sage often rely on batch processing, scheduled data imports, and end-of-day reconciliations. The lag time introduced by these limitations slows down reporting and period-end close processes. Furthermore, finance teams often must manually import and export data from the relevant sources.

Real-time visibility transforms finance from a backward-looking reporting function into a proactive strategic partner. But AI-native ERPs aren’t the only tools that can generate real-time data flows; modern AI-powered tools like Numeric can be leveraged on top of an ERP like NetSuite to automatically reconcile transactions and produce real-time outputs.

Embedded AI vs Bolt-On Tools

AI-native ERPs embed AI directly into core accounting workflows, which can help to automate certain tasks. These automation capabilities take place within the general ledger itself, operating on clean, structured data that flows through native integrations.

By contrast, legacy ERPs are able to add third-party AI tools to address specific accounting needs. For example, Numeric offers AI-powered close management and automated reconciliations that integrate with NetSuite or Sage. While such tools provide targeted AI capabilities, they’re separate applications.

The embedded AI in platforms like Rillet and Campfire streamlines workflows as a native function of the system. However, because these AI-native ERPs are currently tailored to SaaS use cases, mid-size companies may be disappointed by their configurability or complexity management features.

Modern UX vs Legacy Interfaces

AI-native ERPs prioritize easy-to-use interfaces. Campfire and Rillet feature clean, centralized dashboards and self-service customization that require minimal training to use effectively. Finance teams can drill down from consolidated statements into transaction-level details, and non-finance team members can access financial data through Ember AI (Campfire) and Aura AI (Rillet).

Meanwhile, legacy ERPs like NetSuite and Sage were built to prioritize functionality over user experience, resulting in interfaces that are powerful but potentially difficult to learn. These platforms offer extensive configurability, but making major changes often requires deep knowledge of specific modules and workflows, or support from external consultants.

The streamlined design of AI-native ERPs makes them a potential fit for organizations where department heads or executives want access to financial insights without needing to become ERP experts. However, because these platforms are relatively new and optimized for straightforward workflows, companies with highly customized processes, integrations, or non-standard accounting treatments may find that the simplified interface comes at the cost of the superior functionality that other ERPs have built over decades.

How to Choose Between Rillet and Campfire

For startups in SaaS, an AI-native ERP could meet many of the company’s needs. Automated processes unburden the finance team while conversational AI tools democratize access to the most relevant financials, all while maintaining real-time connectivity.

But between Campfire and Rillet, which AI-native ERP is right for you?

Company Stage and Complexity

Both companies claim to work well for startups from seed stage to Series B, but realistically, AI-native ERPs in their current form are best suited to smaller companies with less complexity and more straightforward revenue streams:

• Early-stage startups (pre-revenue to $5M ARR): For lean companies prioritizing execution of core business functions, Campfire's fast implementation and light configuration overhead could be ideal. Rillet’s SaaS focus and greater flexibility may also prove valuable.
  
  
• Scaling startups ($5M-$50M ARR): As companies scale up, AI-native ERPs may not be able to keep up with accounting needs and configurability requirements. Legacy ERPs meet these needs and can be supplemented with additional AI-powered tools.
  
  
• Complex accounting needs: Companies at a further stage of growth, with complex accounting needs like usage-based billing or multiple entities, should consider augmenting their legacy ERP instead of rip-and-replacing for an AI-native solution.

Industry and Use Case Fit

In specific cases based on industry or product type, Rillet and Campfire can offer unique advantages:

• SaaS companies with complex revenue recognition: Rillet's native ASC 606 automation is a clear advantage. The company was founded by accountants and finance professionals to solve this specific problem.
  
  
• Companies prioritizing cash management and forecasting: Neither Campfire nor Rillet offer cash management and forecasting; modern tools like Numeric offer these capabilities while integrating directly with ERPs like NetSuite.
  
  
• Cross-functional finance visibility: Campfire's conversational interface makes financial data easily accessible to non-finance teams. However, Rillet’s reporting function is arguably more sophisticated, enabling richer accounting insights.

With little to no pricing information publicly available for either company, a direct comparison on ROI or value isn’t feasible. However, a clear distinction exists between organizations who should consider an AI-native ERP, and those who shouldn’t. If your company is a startup or growth-stage SaaS vendor, Rillet or Campfire may be a fit. However, larger or more complex organizations might find that Enterprise ERPs better support their long-term goals.

Final Thoughts For Scaling With Confidence

Choosing between Rillet and Campfire depends on your company's specific needs, current systems, and growth trajectory. Generally, AI-native ERPs are best suited for small companies with a SaaS focus. If you’re deciding between Rillet and Campfire, consider the following:

Choose Rillet if:

• You're a SaaS company using many vendors that Rillet integrates natively
• You prioritize workflow automation over conversational interfaces
• You want support from seed stage toward series B
• You value some degree of configurability

Choose Campfire if:

• You prioritize user experience and intuitive interfaces
• Your team values natural language queries and accessibility
• You need rapid, light-weight implementation
• You operate in vertical SaaS and don’t expect to diversify

Consider alternatives if:

• You're not ready to replace your ERP 
• You have complex structure (e.g., multi-entity, multi-account, multi-geography)
• You have inventory or manufacturing needs beyond what a financial-only ERP can offer
• You're in a highly regulated industry requiring specific certifications

For teams using NetSuite, Sage, or Xero who want to modernize their close process without replacing their ERP, platforms like Numeric offer AI-powered automation that sits on top of your existing ERP. This provides the benefits of modern close automation (including reconciliation, flux analysis, and transaction monitoring) while avoiding migration risk.

Want to modernize your close without replacing your ERP? Schedule a demo with Numeric to see how AI-powered automation can transform your month-end process within your existing systems.