Managing company expenses can be a headache, especially when you're trying to keep track of every dollar spent. As a CFO, you need tools that help you maintain control without adding complexity. Brex, while popular, might not fit every business's needs.
Perhaps you're looking for more specific features, better pricing, or support in different regions. I've reviewed several alternatives to Brex that can address these concerns.
In this article, I'll share my top picks for expense management tools. Brex sits at the intersection of corporate cards, expense management, and financial operations. As a result, alternatives often specialize in one area—such as travel, AP automation, procurement, or banking—rather than replacing Brex one-for-one. Each alternative in this article offers unique benefits that can help your team manage finances more effectively. Let's find the right solution for your business.
What Is Brex?
Brex is expense management software designed to simplify financial operations for businesses. It's typically used by finance professionals, including CFOs and accounting teams, who need efficient tools to manage expenses. Brex offers corporate cards, expense tracking, and spend management features that help control and monitor company spending. The software provides valuable insights and financial control, making it easier for your team to manage budgets and expenses.
Brex Alternatives Comparison Table
This comparison table summarizes pricing details for my top Brex alternative selections:
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for real-time credit card transaction alerts | Free demo available | From $11.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Best for AI-driven financial tasks | Free plan + free demo available | From$49/user/month | Website | |
| 3 | Best for automated expense control | Free trial available | From £9.5/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for corporate travel management | Free plan available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for integrated spend management | Free plan available | From $99/month (+ 3% per booking) | Website | |
| 6 | Best for 100% spending control | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 7 | Best for AP automation | Free demo available | From $99/month | Website | |
| 8 | Best for data privacy focus | 14-day free trial | From $3/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 9 | Best for user-friendly expenses | Free demo available | From $8.50 to $12/active user | Website | |
| 10 | Best for multi-currency management | Free plan + free demo available | From $12/user/month | Website |
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Best Brex Alternatives Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best Brex alternatives that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros and cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
Best for real-time credit card transaction alerts- Free demo available
- From $11.99/user/month (billed annually)
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.6/5
Sage Expense Management (formerly Fyle) is expense management software for finance teams that need to track employee expenses, handle reimbursements, and gain clearer oversight of business spend.
Who Is Sage Expense Management Best For?
Finance teams that need real-time alerts about employee card purchases and quicker visibility into business spending will find Sage Expense Management a good fit.
Why I Picked Sage Expense Management (Formerly Fyle)
I picked Sage Expense Management (formerly Fyle) as a Brex alternative because it earns the label Best for real-time credit card transaction alerts. Visa and Mastercard purchases trigger text alerts within seconds, and employees can reply with receipt photos that the system matches to transactions. I like that finance can check card spend and receipts without waiting on delayed bank feeds.
Sage Expense Management Key Features
- Approval workflows: Route expenses through sequential, policy-based approvals.
- Policy checks: Flag expenses that violate configured spending rules.
- Budget tracking: Set budgets by department, project, cost center, or category.
- Accounting integrations: Sync expense data with Sage, QuickBooks, and Xero.
Sage Expense Management Integrations
Sage Expense Management offers integrations with six accounting products: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage Intacct, Sage 300 CRE, Sage 50, and Xero; it also connects with Gmail, Outlook, and Perk. A Python SDK is available for custom integrations.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Quick capture reduces manual expense entry
- Employees can text receipt photos to transactions
- Card alerts expose purchases in real time
Cons:
- Scans can misread details or create duplicates
- Receipt uploads sometimes miss matching transactions
Learn more about Sage Expense Management (formerly Fyle):
2Best for AI-driven financial tasksBILL
- Free plan + free demo available
- From$49/user/month
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.5/5
BILL supports vendor payments with automation and tracking tools. BILL is accounts payable automation software that helps businesses manage and pay bills efficiently. It's mainly used by finance teams seeking to automate payment workflows and improve cash flow management.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: BILL offers automated bill payments, so your team can handle invoices and payments with ease. Features such as automated approval workflows and real-time payment tracking improve financial management.
You can set up recurring payments and simplify the payment process for vendors. This focus on automation and efficiency makes BILL a viable alternative to Brex for businesses looking to streamline their payment processes.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable approval workflows, ACH invoice payments, automated invoice capture, and real-time payment tracking. These features help your team manage finances more effectively. The platform also provides detailed reporting tools to aid in financial analysis.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Detailed reporting tools
- Customizable, intuitive workflows
- Automated bill payments
Cons:
- Slow reimbursement and reconciliation
- Low-rated customer support responsiveness
Learn more about BILL:
3Best for automated expense controlPleo
- Free trial available
- From £9.5/month
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.8/5
Pleo reduces manual work with real-time spend categorization. Pleo is an expense management platform designed for businesses to manage company spending with ease. It's mainly used by finance teams and employees to automate expense reporting and track spending through smart company cards.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Pleo offers smart expense management features that make it easy for your team to handle company spending. With features like prepaid company cards and automatic spending categorization, you can reduce manual work and improve financial oversight.
The platform's real-time spending insights help maintain control over expenses. These functionalities provide ease of use for managing expenses, making Pleo a strong alternative to Brex.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic spending categorization, prepaid company cards, and real-time spending insights. The platform also offers receipt capture, reducing the need for manual data entry.
Integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite, Fortnox, DATEV, Visma e-conomic, SAP SuccessFactors, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Ease of use for employees and finance teams
- Real-time spending insights
- Automatic spending categorization
Cons:
- Lack of advanced expense features
- Limited US availability
Learn more about Pleo:
Best for corporate travel management- Free plan available
- Pricing upon request
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.7/5
Navan simplifies business trips with built-in controls and live insights. Navan, formerly known as TripActions, is an all-in-one travel and expense management platform that simplifies business travel bookings and expense tracking. It mainly serves corporate travel managers and finance teams by providing tools to manage travel itineraries and expenses.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Navan provides integrated travel booking and expense tracking, which helps your team manage both processes in one place. It offers real-time expense reporting, ensuring you always know where your budget stands.
The platform also features automated policy compliance that reduces the manual effort of managing travel expenses. Navan's user-friendly interface simplifies the travel booking process for your employees.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a mobile app for on-the-go travel management, detailed analytics for better decision-making, and automated expense approvals. You can easily book flights, hotels, and cars on one platform. Navan also offers 24/7 support to assist your team with any travel-related issues.
Integrations include Concur, Oracle NetSuite, Workday, Expensify, Xero, Sage Intacct, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Dynamic policy controls
- Real-time travel data
- Integrated travel and expense tracking
Cons:
- Inconsistent customer support responsiveness
- Limited customization options
Learn more about Navan:
5Best for integrated spend managementPerk
- Free plan available
- From $99/month (+ 3% per booking)
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.6/5
Perk travel analytics dashboard with total spend, bookings, and spend by service. Perk (formerly Yokoy) is an expense management platform designed to automate and optimize financial processes for businesses. It's typically used by finance teams looking to simplify expense reporting, invoice processing, and spend management.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Perk offers advanced automation in expense management, making it ideal for teams needing efficient financial workflows. With features such as AI-driven invoice processing and automated approval workflows, you can reduce manual tasks and improve accuracy.
The tool's analytics provide insights into spending patterns for more informed decision-making. These capabilities offer a complete solution for expense management, differentiating Yokoy from Brex.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include AI-driven invoice processing, automated approval workflows, and detailed analytics. The platform also offers spend management tools, providing control over financial operations.
Integrations include monday.com, Expensify, BILL, Pleo, Sage, Spendesk, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unified travel and expense platform
- Automated approval workflows
- AI-driven invoice processing
Cons:
- Limited expense reporting
- Complex interface
Learn more about Perk:
Best for 100% spending control- Free demo available
- Pricing upon request
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.7/5
Spendesk offers smart controls and automation for company spending. Spendesk is expense management software designed for finance teams to streamline operational spending. It offers tools such as corporate and virtual cards, automated accounts payable, and receipt-free expense management that enhance efficiency and provide control over expenses.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Spendesk offers smart card controls that help you manage company spending more effectively. Features such as automated accounts payable and virtual cards allow for secure and efficient payments.
These functionalities provide better control over finances to address the needs of finance teams seeking enhanced oversight. Spendesk's focus on smart controls and automation makes it a strong alternative to Brex.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated expense policies, real-time spend insights, and customizable approval workflows. These features give your team the ability to manage expenses efficiently. The platform also offers centralized expense tracking, which helps maintain financial oversight.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, NetSuite, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, Slack, Google Workspace, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Centralized expense tracking
- Customizable approval workflows
- Automated expense policies
Cons:
- Limited card acceptance in some situations
- Less advanced receipt automation
Learn more about Spendesk:
Tipalti simplifies complex payouts with automation and compliance tools. Tipalti is an accounts payable automation platform designed to help businesses manage global payments efficiently. Finance teams often use this software to automate payment workflows and improve financial compliance.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Tipalti offers automated payment processing, which is ideal for teams needing to manage complex payments. With features such as global payment capabilities and compliance support, you can improve your financial operations.
The software's focus on reducing manual tasks helps improve accuracy and efficiency. These functionalities make Tipalti a strong alternative to Brex for businesses dealing with high-volume payments.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include tax compliance support, global payment capabilities, and automated invoice processing. These features help your team manage payments efficiently and ensure regulatory compliance. The platform also offers payment reconciliation, enhancing financial oversight.
Integrations include Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP Business One, Workday, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Bulk invoice uploads
- Global payment capabilities
- Automated payment processing
Cons:
- Payment reliability can be inconsistent, requiring manual work
- Difficulty integrating with popular tools like NetSuite
Learn more about Tipalti:
Best for data privacy focus- 14-day free trial
- From $3/user/month (billed annually)
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.3/5
Zoho Expense simplifies reporting with scanning and spend oversight. Zoho Expense is expense management software that helps businesses automate and simplify expense reporting. It's designed for finance teams and employees to track and manage expenses efficiently.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Zoho Expense offers easy expense reporting, which makes it a great choice for hassle-free expense management. With features such as automatic receipt scanning and policy compliance, you can streamline expense processes.
The platform's expense tracking feature provides real-time visibility into company spending. These functionalities help maintain financial control, differentiating Zoho Expense from Brex.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic receipt scanning, policy compliance, and real-time expense tracking. The platform also offers multi-currency support, which is beneficial for international transactions.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, Slack, Microsoft Office 365, Dropbox, Google Workspace, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Native integration with the Zoho ecosystem
- Automatic receipt scanning
- Rich feature set at a competitive price
Cons:
- Delayed integrations and feeds
- Limited customization options
Learn more about Zoho Expense:
Best for user-friendly expenses- Free demo available
- From $8.50 to $12/active user
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.4/5
WebExpenses adapts to your policies with custom tracking features. WebExpenses is an expense management solution that can help businesses automate and simplify their expense reporting processes. It's primarily used by finance teams and employees who need to track, manage, and report expenses efficiently.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: WebExpenses offers flexible expense management, allowing you to customize expense categories and policies according to your needs. With features such as automated receipt capture and real-time reporting, you can simplify the expense management process.
The tool’s focus on flexibility and customization helps improve compliance and control over expenses. These features make WebExpenses a viable alternative to Brex for businesses seeking adaptable expense solutions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated receipt capture, real-time reporting, and customizable expense categories to help your team manage expenses efficiently. The platform also offers mileage tracking, which is beneficial for businesses with traveling employees.
Integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Google Workspace, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Real-time tracking of submissions and approvals
- Customizable expense categories
- Mobile receipt capture
Cons:
- Inconsistent mobile app performance
- Some outdated features
Learn more about Webexpenses:
Best for multi-currency management- Free plan + free demo available
- From $12/user/month
Visit WebsiteCustomer Rating:4.4/5
Airwallex handles global payments with multi-currency account support. Airwallex is a financial technology platform that can help businesses manage international payments and local currency exchanges. It is primarily used by companies looking for efficient ways to handle cross-border transactions and manage multi-currency accounts.
Why it's a good Brex alternative: Airwallex excels in managing international transactions, which is beneficial for global teams. With features such as multi-currency accounts and competitive exchange rates, you can simplify cross-border payments.
The platform's global payment capabilities help reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency. These features make Airwallex a strong alternative to Brex for businesses engaged in international operations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include global payment capabilities, multi-currency accounts, and competitive exchange rates. These features help your team manage international transactions efficiently. The platform also provides real-time transaction tracking, enhancing financial oversight.
Integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite, Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, and Adobe Commerce.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Global payment capabilities
- Competitive exchange rates
- Efficient international transactions
Cons:
- Inconsistent customer support responsiveness
- Complex setup process with strict compliance checks
Other Brex Alternatives
Here are some additional Brex alternatives that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
Related Reviews
How I Evaluate Brex Alternatives
I evaluate tools on two layers: a baseline each must clear—corporate cards, expense automation, bill pay, and accounting sync—and the differentiators that separate one platform from the next.
Core Functionality (Table Stakes For This List)
When I'm selecting tools for my list, I rank each one on a scale from 0 (does not offer the functionality) to 5 (excels in this area) for each core functionality listed below. Then, I calculate the tool's total score into a percentage. Each tool needs to achieve a minimum total score of 75% to be considered for inclusion.
- Corporate Card Issuance & Controls: I check whether a platform supports both physical and virtual cards with granular controls, like locking a card to a specific vendor for a recurring SaaS subscription.
- Expense Management & Automation: Receipt capture, auto-categorization, and approval routing matter here, especially for teams processing high volumes of employee-initiated transactions each month.
- Bill Pay & AP Workflows: I look for invoice ingestion, multi-step approvals, and payment execution across methods like ACH and international wire, covering everything from landlord payments to contractor invoices.
- Accounting Software Integrations: Real-time sync with platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite is what I evaluate, including whether GL coding maps correctly without manual journal entry cleanup.
- Spend Policies & Enforcement: I look at how each tool lets admins define rules by role, department, or category and whether violations are flagged automatically before a transaction clears.
- Business Banking & Cash Management: Having an integrated business account for holding operating funds and initiating transfers keeps cash flow visible alongside card spend and payables data.
Once I have a list of tools that meet this criteria, I consider what sets each platform apart.
Differentiating Factors (What Sets Vendors Apart)
Here's how I compare and contrast different vendors:
Standout Features
Multi-entity support matters when your company runs subsidiaries or regional offices that each need their own card programs, budgets, and reporting hierarchies. I also evaluate AI-driven automation—some platforms auto-code transactions to the correct GL account based on historical patterns, which saves hours during month-end close. Rewards and cashback programs vary widely, so I check whether a platform's earn structure aligns with your team's actual spending categories like SaaS, travel, or advertising.
Beyond Features
Pricing structure is a big differentiator—some platforms monetize through interchange and offer free tiers, while others charge per-user SaaS fees that add up as you scale headcount. I also evaluate compliance posture, checking for SOC 2 Type II certification and FDIC insurance coverage, since these platforms hold real operating funds. Target business size matters too; a platform built for seed-stage startups with cash-collateralized limits may not suit a mid-market team that needs credit-based underwriting.
Why Look For a Brex Alternative?
While Brex is a good choice for expense management software, there are a number of reasons why some users seek out alternative solutions. You might be looking for a Brex alternative because…
- You need more customizable features
- You want better international support
- Your team requires scalable solutions
- You need enhanced reporting capabilities
- You want lower transaction fees
- Your business needs offline access
If any of these sound like you, you’ve come to the right place. My list contains several expense management software options that are better suited than Brex for teams looking for alternative solutions.
Brex Key Features
Here are some of the key features of Brex to help you contrast and compare the alternative solutions:
- Corporate credit cards: Provide high credit limits and no personal guarantee, helping your team manage expenses easily via physical cards and virtual cards.
- Expense management: Automates expense tracking and approval flow with AI, saving time and reducing manual work.
- Real-time budget controls: Offer real-time insights into spending, helping you maintain control over budgets.
- Banking services: Include business accounts with competitive interest rates, supporting your financial operations.
- Accounting automation: Streamlines accounting processes, reducing errors and improving efficiency.
- Multi-currency support: Facilitates international transactions by supporting multiple currencies and international wire transfers, beneficial for global operations.
- Vendor management: Utilizes virtual cards to manage vendor payments securely, enhancing financial security.
- Travel management: Integrates travel expenses with corporate cards, simplifying travel-related financial management.
- Comprehensive reporting: Provides detailed financial reports, aiding in strategic decision-making.
- Compliance support: Ensures adherence to financial regulations, reducing compliance risks for your team.