Compare approaches
Paybond vs policy engines
Policy engines evaluate allow/deny rules in your control plane. They do not fund an intent, bind spend to tool operations, or settle against signed completion evidence.
Paybond vs Policy engine
Focused slice of the comparison matrix for delegated agent spend — not model token caps or generic API authentication alone.
Policy engine comparisonSwipe to compare columns
| Dimension | Paybond Kit | Policy engine |
|---|---|---|
Delegation model Who can spend what, under which scope, and for how long. | Capability-scoped intent with bounded budget, allowed operations, and tenant-bound run binding. | Attribute-based allow/deny rules; scope is app-defined and not spend-bound by default. |
Evidence Proof that paid work completed and matches the agreed predicate. | Signed completion evidence with preset validation, receipts, and ledger provenance. | Decision audit logs; no canonical completion artifact for settlement. |
Settlement lifecycle Fund, authorize, execute, release, refund, or hold for review. | Funded intent → authorize tool spend → submit evidence → release, refund, review, or dispute. | Evaluate and allow/deny; no settlement or fund reservation lifecycle. |
Disputes Structured path when outcomes, amounts, or completion disagree. | Built-in dispute cases, evidence export, refund flows, and operator review workspace. | Not provided. |
Cross-runtime Same spend controls across agent frameworks and orchestrators. | Tool boundary across OpenAI, Claude, LangGraph, MCP, and custom orchestrators with one policy file. | App-integrated evaluation; each runtime wires its own enforcement point. |
Secrets exposure Where payment, tenant, and authorization credentials live at runtime. | Capability token bound to intent; tenant ID never taken from unauthenticated tool arguments. | Policy service credentials and policy data in your control plane. |
Related guides
Deeper write-ups that match this approach comparison.
FAQ
- Can I use a policy engine alongside Paybond?
- Yes. Keep attribute-based allow/deny for app and infra decisions. Use Paybond when the decision is whether this agent run may spend from this intent on this paid tool right now — with evidence and settlement afterward.
- Why is policy audit not enough for agent spend?
- Decision logs show what was allowed. They do not reserve funds, verify completion criteria, or drive release, refund, review, or dispute against a spend agreement.