[01] Side by side
| Capability | Prism | Cledara |
|---|---|---|
| Works without changing how you buy | Spend flows through Cledara cards | |
| Per-model AI API cost breakdown | ||
| Approval workflows & procurement | ||
| Virtual cards per vendor | ||
| Detects existing/forgotten subscriptions | Visibility for card-routed spend | |
| Catches AI usage spikes | ||
| Time to value | Minutes | Org-wide card migration |
| Designed for | Founders & small teams | Finance/ops teams standardizing procurement |
Based on public documentation as of June 2026. Spot an inaccuracy? Email zach@brightwayai.com and we'll fix it.
[02] The honest take
These tools can genuinely coexist: Cledara controls how new spend gets approved; Prism tells you what your current stack actually costs — especially metered AI usage, which no card-based tool can break down per model. If you're at the stage where a finance team enforces purchasing policy, look at Cledara. If you're at the stage where the problem is 'I don't actually know what we spend', start with detection.
[03] Which one is for you
Pick Cledara if…
- You have a finance/ops team standardizing purchasing
- You want approval workflows and card-level control
- Procurement compliance matters more than usage analytics
Pick Prism if…
- You want visibility this afternoon, not a card migration
- AI API costs are a major, growing line item
- The goal is finding waste in the stack you already have
Decide with your own numbers in front of you.
7-day Premium trial · No credit card required