Ramp suits US and UK businesses that want one free spend platform for cards, expenses, bills and accounting sync, with AI doing most of the receipt chasing. Brex suits companies that spend across many countries, with cards accepted in 210+ countries and territories, local cards in 50+ countries, built-in travel and a business account. Both have a plan you can start on for free, so the deciding question is where your team spends.
Ramp and Brex both sell corporate cards with a whole finance stack built around them. I read Ramp's US and UK home and plans pages and Brex's home and plans pages to see where each one puts its weight.
Ramp and Brex at a glance
| Ramp | Brex | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, Free plan per user | Yes, Essentials plan |
| Card reach | Local cards in 30+ countries on Enterprise | Accepted in 210+ countries and territories |
| Expenses | Receipts by SMS, Slack or WhatsApp | AI expense assistant and auto-approvals |
| Bills | Invoice OCR, pay by ACH, card, check or wire | AI invoice entry and vendor cards |
| Accounting sync | QuickBooks Online and Xero on Free | Accounting integrations on Essentials |
| Travel | Book flights, hotels and cars in Ramp | In-app booking, Navan partnership |
| UK version | GBP cards and VAT capture | Not covered on the pages I read |
Who owns Brex now, and why that matters
The small print on Brex's plans page carries a detail that's easy to miss: Brex LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One. Its business account is made up of a checking account at Column N.A. plus treasury and vault services run by Brex Treasury LLC, a Capital One company. If you're choosing a spend platform partly on who stands behind it, that's worth knowing before you book a demo.
Ramp's equivalent detail is its UK launch. Ramp now runs a UK version with GBP cards, VAT captured and coded from receipts, and native Xero and QuickBooks Online sync, though its UK FAQ is clear that it doesn't file or reclaim VAT for you.
Where Ramp stands out
Ramp's Free plan is unusually complete. It includes unlimited physical and virtual cards, travel booking, receipt matching, bill payments, invoicing for customers and a business account, with QuickBooks Online and Xero sync. Ramp says 85,000+ finance teams use it. Its Plus plan adds AI expense reviews and can lock a card automatically when receipts go missing, which saves finance teams from chasing missing receipts.
Where Brex stands out
Brex is built for companies whose people spend abroad. Its cards are accepted in 210+ countries and territories, its local cards and billing run in 50+ countries, and Essentials already covers up to two entities. Brex says 35,000+ companies use it, and its business account pays a treasury return set out in detail on its plans page.
Five things to check before you switch spend tools
- List the countries your team spends in and check each vendor's local card coverage.
- Confirm your accounting system syncs on the plan you'll start on.
- Ask how receipts are collected: SMS, Slack, WhatsApp or app.
- Check how many legal entities you need on day one.
- If you're in the UK, ask how VAT is captured and coded.
If expenses are your main headache, my guide to expense management software covers the wider field, and this piece on why a business credit card helps explains the basics.
My advice on Ramp or Brex
If most of your spending happens in one country and you want the most on a free plan, start with Ramp. If your team travels and buys across many countries, start with Brex and ask for its local card list. Either way, run one month of real receipts through the free plan before you move every card across.
Do you make spend management or corporate card software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Ramp or Brex better for a small business?
Both offer a free starting plan. Ramp's Free plan covers cards, expenses, bills, travel and accounting sync; Brex's Essentials covers cards, bill pay, travel and up to two entities.
Is Brex owned by Capital One?
Yes. Brex's plans page states that Brex LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One, N.A.
Does Ramp work in the UK?
Yes. Ramp runs a UK version with GBP cards, VAT capture and Xero and QuickBooks Online sync. It doesn't file or reclaim VAT for you.
Where are Brex cards accepted?
Brex says its cards are accepted in 210+ countries and territories, with local cards and billing in 50+ countries.
Can I book travel in Ramp or Brex?
Yes. Ramp lets employees book flights, hotels and rental cars, and Brex has in-app travel booking.
Which accounting tools do they sync with?
Ramp's Free plan syncs with QuickBooks Online and Xero, with NetSuite and Sage Intacct on Plus. Brex lists accounting integrations on Essentials and custom ERP integrations on Premium.
