The Context: Accounting Software vs Business Software
Contpaqi and Aspel were born in the desktop era to solve the ACCOUNTING problem: electronic accounting, invoicing, tax payroll — separate modules (Accounting, Banking, Payroll, SAE/Billing) that are each purchased, installed and updated.
Aura was born in the era of the cloud to solve the OWNER's problem: sell through all channels, collect, control inventory, serve through WhatsApp — and have the tax (CFDI, payroll) automatically leave the operation. They are opposite starting points that explain everything else.
Face to face where it hurts
- Installation and access: Contpaqi/Aspel live on a PC or local server (there are partial cloud versions, with cost and limits); backups, versions and "the database was corrupted" are your problem. Aura is 100% cloud: any device, zero installation, automatic backups.
- Purchase model: Contpaqi and Aspel license BY MODULE (SAE + Accounting + Payroll + Banks quickly add up to $15,000-40,000+ MXN/year) plus stamps and annual updates. Aura is a monthly fee of $599 USD with all modules.
- In-depth tax accounting: veterans win here — policies, electronic SAT accounting and the flow of the accounting firm are in their DNA. If your accountant lives in Contpaqi, the inertia is real.
- Sales operation: there is no party here — CRM, WhatsApp with AI, online store, multi-branch POS in the cloud and marketplaces do not exist in the Aspel/Contpaqi world.
- Payroll: Aspel NOI and Contpaqi Payroll are solid tax standards; Aura integrates payroll with attendance, the employee portal and the rest of the system.
The cost that does not appear in the quote
The silent cost of the desktop world is operational: information lives on someone's machine. The owner cannot see sales from his cell phone; the branch captures remote or sends Excel; the seller does not know the actual inventory; and each annual update is a procedure with a local provider.
And the biggest: the DOUBLE catch. Since Aspel/Contpaqi do not operate the sale (WhatsApp, e-commerce, branch), someone re-captures what was sold to be able to invoice and account for it. That person, their mistakes and their hours are part of the real price of the "already paid" software.
Honest verdict
- Accounting firm that has 40 clients: Contpaqi (or Aspel) is still your tool — it is software FROM accountants FOR accountants.
- Business whose only need is to invoice and for the accountant to close: Aspel Billing or similar works cheaply.
- Business that sells, charges, serves and grows — and is tired of islands: Aura, with your accountant receiving reports and receipts instead of capturing them. Try 14 days for $14 USD.
- Typical transition path: operate in Aura and keep Contpaqi only in the accountant's office for closing — everyone their own court, without double internal capture.
Aura Resources Mentioned
Stop sticking tools. Operate your entire business with Aura.
ERP, CRM, point of sale, billing, WhatsApp and more — in a single system with AI that works for you. Try 14 days for $14.
Start your trial →Frequently asked questions
Did Siigo buy Aspel? What does it mean to me?
Yes, Aspel is part of the Siigo group. For the user it means continuity of the product with a push towards the cloud and subscription. Contracts and prices can evolve — extra reason to compare total annual costs, not historical ones.
Can I migrate my data from Contpaqi or Aspel to Aura?
Yes: customer and product catalogs are output via Excel/CSV and imported directly. Your historical CFDIs live in the SAT and can be downloaded. The historical accounting remains as the accountant's file; the new operation starts clean.
Does Aura comply with SAT electronic accounting?
Aura generates operational information (sales, expenses, payroll, CFDI) and reports; Sending formal electronic accounting (XML scales) is done by your accountant with his or her tool. The point: you receive everything ready instead of capturing it.
What happens to my Aspel/Contpaqi paid stamps?
The prepaid ringtones are from that platform. When migrating, use them up in the transition period or negotiate with your distributor. At Aura, ringing is included in the plan, without ringing packages.