Top Expensify alternatives for US businesses in 2025

By Airwallex Editorial TeamPublished on 25 June 20257 minutes
GuidesFinance
Top Expensify alternatives for US businesses in 2025
In this article

Key takeaways

  • Expensify is a popular option for smaller teams; however, some growing businesses may encounter limitations in areas such as automation, reporting, and international capabilities.

  • If managing expenses is becoming increasingly complex, it may be worthwhile to explore alternative solutions.

  • Airwallex offers an integrated platform with built-in cards, bill pay, reimbursements, and multi-currency support to help streamline spend management.

You’re trying to close the books, but half your team’s receipts are still missing. A vendor payment was processed without the necessary checks. And one colleague has submitted their expenses in three different formats. Month-end is starting to feel more like a maze than a process.

As businesses grow, finance teams often face new challenges, such as more complex approval processes, multi-entity structures, and cross-border spending. Tools like Expensify may meet initial needs, but can feel less flexible when workflows become more complicated or operations expand internationally. This can lead some teams to implement manual checks, workarounds, or additional tools to maintain control.

In this article, we’ll compare five of the best Expensify alternatives for US businesses in 2025. We’ll look at where each tool fits best and what they offer beyond Expensify.

What is Expensify, and what does it do?

Expensify is best known for helping teams track business expenses without getting bogged down in paperwork. It gives users a quick way to capture receipts, submit reports, and get reimbursed, all from a mobile app or desktop dashboard.

The core features are simple. You can scan receipts using a tool called SmartScan, create and submit expense reports, and set up automatic approval flows for basic reimbursement tasks. Expensify also offers its own corporate card, which syncs with the platform in real time. It integrates with popular accounting software, such as QuickBooks and Xero, enabling you to sync expense data alongside accounts payable and accounts receivable workflows.

For freelancers, startups, or small teams with straightforward needs, Expensify ticks the right boxes. It’s lightweight, relatively easy to set up, and keeps day-to-day expense tracking in one place.

However, as your business expands and your processes evolve, the platform’s simplicity may start to limit flexibility and scalability.

Pros of Expensify

  • Clean user interface with a mobile-first experience

  • SmartScan lets employees snap receipts and submit on the go

  • Syncs with Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite

  • Offers corporate cards with real-time expense syncing

  • No per-report fees and flexible pricing plans

Cons of Expensify

  • Approval flows and policy enforcement are fairly limited

  • No support for multi-currency cards or wallets

  • Clunky integrations when workflows become complex

  • Reporting and analytics fall short for growing teams

  • Support options are limited, especially for enterprise accounts

Expenses, invoices, and reimbursements? Solved.

Discover Airwallex Spend

Top 5 Expensify alternatives to consider in 2025

If Expensify is no longer meeting your needs, the good news is you’ve got options. Whether you’re looking for stronger controls, better global support, or automation that saves hours of manual work, there are platforms built for where your business is heading.

Below, we’ve compared five leading alternatives, including when they work best and what you need to watch out for.

Airwallex

Airwallex combines cards, reimbursements, bill payments, and multi-currency business accounts into a single platform. You can track global team spending in real time, automate approvals, and pay vendors in over 200 countries, with the majority using local rails. It’s designed for businesses that operate across borders or plan to do so.

Pros

  • No subscription fees for domestic spend

  • Hold and convert 40+ currencies with interbank FX rates

  • Issue virtual and physical cards instantly

  • Built-in bill pay, reimbursements, and approval workflows

  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite

Cons

  • Third-party integration ecosystem is still expanding

  • May take some setup time if replacing multiple tools

Brex

Brex is a strong option for startups and mid-market companies seeking a comprehensive card and spend management platform. You can assign live budgets, automate travel and team spend, and manage reimbursements from a single dashboard.

Pros

  • Combines corporate cards, cash management accounts, and global spend tracking

  • Offers points-based rewards and built-in travel booking

  • Supports global spending with USD-denominated cards and no added FX fees (uses Mastercard FX rates)

Cons

  • Some advanced features are locked behind paid plans

  • Approval and onboarding can exclude smaller or early-stage companies

  • Rewards program is more complex than flat-rate cashback

  • Requires US-based business with EIN; eligibility may exclude sole proprietors or early-stage startups without funding 

Ramp

Ramp is known for real-time controls and a zero-fee model. It offers unlimited cards, granular policy settings, and AI-powered analytics that help finance teams find savings and reduce waste. There’s no monthly cost for the core platform, which makes it appealing to cost-conscious teams.

Pros

  • Platform is free to use

  • Real-time visibility and policy enforcement

  • AI-driven insights to spot overspending

  • 1.5% cashback on all spend

Cons

  • No support for local currency cards or wallets

  • Limited functionality for international payments

  • Some features require the paid “Ramp Plus” plan

Airbase

Airbase focuses on accounts payable automation. It’s a good fit for companies managing large volumes of vendor payments and seeking to streamline procurement and expense processes. You can automate bill pay, set granular controls, and connect directly to your ERP.

Pros

  • Deep ERP integrations and automatic reconciliation

  • Prepaid and charge cards with up to 2.25% cashback

  • Bill pay support for 200+ countries and 145+ currencies

Cons

  • No ability to hold or manage foreign currency balances

  • Pricing is quote-based and may be high for smaller teams

  • Setup can be complex, especially for lean teams

Tipalti

Tipalti is purpose-built for high-volume payables and enterprise-level compliance. It supports payments in 120 currencies, lets you collect W-8 and W-9 forms, and automates tax, procurement, and vendor onboarding workflows. If compliance is non-negotiable, Tipalti is worth considering.

Pros

  • Strong tax compliance and supplier onboarding tools

  • Payment coverage in 190 countries

  • Built-in fraud screening and PO matching

Cons

  • Interface can feel dated compared to newer platforms

  • Time-intensive implementation

  • Best suited for finance teams with dedicated support

Comparing Expensify to the top 5 alternatives

Expensify¹

Airwallex²

Brex³

Ramp⁴

Airbase⁵

Tipalti⁶

Multi-currency expense management

⚠️ 

Basic support only, no wallet or local currency cards

✅ 

Full support with wallets and cards in 40+ currencies

⚠️ 

Global spend supported via USD-denominated cards; no local currency wallets or cards

❌ 

USD-only cards

⚠️ 

Supports global vendors, but no wallet

⚠️ 

120+ currencies for AP, no wallet

Multi-currency corporate cards

❌ 

US-only

✅ 

Physical and virtual cards in 40+ markets

✅ 

Local currency cards, no FX fees

❌ 

US-issued cards only

❌ 

USD cards only

❌ 

No corporate card offering

Automated approval workflows

⚠️ 

Basic flows for reimbursements

✅ Customizable, multi-step approval rules

✅ 

Real-time controls, pre-set policy enforcement

✅ 

Conditional, pre-spend approvals

✅ 

Advanced routing, policy layers

✅ 

Role-based approvals for AP and onboarding

Expense reports

✅ 

SmartScan + manual submission

✅ Auto-matched to card spend with AI

✅ AI-generated reports and memo suggestions

✅ 

Instant syncing and policy tracking

✅ 

GL sync, amortization, report builder

⚠️ 

Not designed for employee expenses

Bill payment

⚠️ 

Limited functionality

✅ 

Pay global vendors in 200+ countries

✅ 

Built-in bill pay with global transfers

✅ 

Basic AP features included

✅ 

Full AP automation with PO matching

✅ Enterprise-grade AP tools with tax and compliance features

Online payments (E.g., gateways, payment links, etc.)

❌ 

Not supported

✅ 

Includes payment links, checkout, and gateway

❌ 

Not supported

❌ 

Not supported

❌ 

Not supported

❌ 

Not supported

Real-time financial insights

❌ 

Basic reports

✅ 

FX tracking, real-time dashboards

✅ 

Empower dashboard with live budget control

✅ 

Vendor insights, live spend tracking

✅ 

Budget views, multi-entity dashboards

✅ 

Audit logs, compliance tracking, vendor risk insights

Accounting integrations 

✅ 

Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite

✅ QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and more

✅ 

ERP integrations include QuickBooks, NetSuite

✅ 

Syncs with major accounting platforms

✅ 

Deep ERP integrations, 2-way sync

✅ 

Full ERP sync, tax, and audit compliance ready

Pricing

$5 USD/user/month for the Collect plan; $9 USD/user/month for Control.⁷

Free Essentials tier. Traditional quote-based model for mid-market/enterprise.⁸

Essentials plan is free. Premium plan is $12/user/month.⁹

Free to use. Optional premium plan (“Ramp Plus”) is $15 USD/user/month.¹⁰

Free Essentials tier. Traditional quote-based model for mid-market/enterprise.¹¹

Quote-based only, high implementation cost

How to choose the best Expensify alternative

If you’ve outgrown Expensify, the right replacement depends on what your team needs now and where you’re heading. Begin by identifying your most significant challenges. Do you need stronger automation to reduce manual admin? Better insights to manage budgets more confidently? Or support for global teams and cross-border payments? Features like AI-powered categorisation, role-based approval flows, and multi-currency accounts can make a big difference as you scale. Think beyond expense reports and ask whether a platform can support the way you work.

Not every tool suits every business. Ramp offers real-time controls and robust analytics, making it a good fit for lean finance teams focused on cost savings. Airbase and Tipalti are both strong on accounts payable automation and compliance, especially for mid-sized companies or enterprise-level operations. Brex is a popular option for startups that want cards, spend tools, and travel features in one place, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

But if you’re managing spend across currencies, countries, and business entities, most platforms still leave gaps. Airwallex is the only provider in this group that combines global payments, multi-currency wallets, corporate cards, and spend management into a single system. That means less complexity, fewer fees, and faster workflows. It’s built for the modern finance team, especially if you’re thinking globally.

Why growing US businesses should consider Airwallex 

As your business grows, managing expenses gets more complex. You need more than just a tool to track receipts. You need a system that helps you control costs, stay compliant, and move faster across teams and markets.

Most platforms only solve part of the problem. Some handle reimbursements well. Others offer strong card controls. But when payments, approvals, and reporting are split across different systems, your finance team ends up doing more manual work, not less.

Airwallex keeps everything in one place. You can issue multi-currency cards, automate approval flows, pay global vendors, and manage spend in real time. It integrates with your accounting tools, supports over 40 currencies, and provides the visibility you need to scale with confidence. If you’re ready to simplify spending without sacrificing control, Airwallex is ready to help.

Upload, approve, pay, and reconcile global invoices. All in one place.

FAQs

Why would a business switch from Expensify?

Many businesses start with Expensify because it’s easy to use, but they often encounter limits as they grow. Approval flows, reporting, and global support often fall short for teams with more complex needs.

Which Expensify alternative is best for global businesses?

Airwallex is built for businesses that operate across borders. It combines multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, bill payments, and expense management in one platform.

Does Expensify offer accounts payable features?

Expensify offers basic bill pay tools, but it’s not designed for full accounts payable (AP) automation. If you need PO matching, vendor onboarding, or tax compliance, tools like Airbase or Tipalti offer more.

How do I choose the right spend management platform?

Start with your current pain points. Look for platforms that offer strong automation, real-time visibility, and support for your accounting tools, currencies, and payment needs.

Sources

  1.  https://www.expensify.com/

  2.  https://www.airwallex.com/us/spend-management

  3.  https://www.brex.com/

  4.  https://ramp.com/

  5.  https://www.airbase.com/

  6.  https://tipalti.com/

  7.  https://www.expensify.com/pricing

  8.  https://www.airbase.com/pricing

  9.  https://www.brex.com/pricing

  10.  https://ramp.com/pricing

  11.  https://www.airbase.com/pricing

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex was not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only. Readers should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

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Airwallex Editorial Team

Airwallex’s Editorial Team is a global collective of business finance and fintech writers based in Australia, Asia, North America, and Europe. With deep expertise spanning finance, technology, payments, startups, and SMEs, the team collaborates closely with experts, including the Airwallex Product team and industry leaders to produce this content.

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