Head-to-head
Ramp vs Brex: which one in 2026?
Ramp and Brex are US corporate card and spend management products that bundle cards, bill pay and expense software at a $0 entry tier. Ramp's paid tier is $15 per user plus a platform fee, while Brex's Premium is $12 per user, and both reserve local-currency cards outside the US for custom-priced Enterprise or Smart Card contracts.
Verdict
Ramp is eighth and Brex ninth in the ranking, a narrow gap. Ramp gets the nod for the broader free tier and a clearer integration ladder. Brex counters with a cheaper first paid tier, API access at $0 and more countries for local cards. European teams should treat both as US products first, since the local features sit behind custom pricing, and read Brex's Capital One ownership line before signing a long contract.
Ramp and Brex side by side
| Ramp | Brex | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $0 per user per month for Free | $0 per user per month for Essentials |
| What the $0 tier contains | Free lists unlimited cards, expense management, accounts payable and receivable, banking, and QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations. | Essentials lists global card acceptance, AI-powered custom rules, bill pay, reimbursements, reporting and Brex API access. |
| First paid step | Plus is $15 per user per month plus a platform fee by team size, which the pricing page does not quantify; there is a 30-day trial. | Premium is $12 per user per month, adding multiple expense policies, dynamic review chains, multi-entity support and live budgets. |
| AI features by tier | AI expense reviews and auto-coded line items start on the Plus tier, not on the Free tier. | AI-powered custom rules sit in Essentials, and Brex lists AI compliance audit detection on Premium. |
| Entities and accounting links | NetSuite and Sage Intacct arrive on Plus, with Workday and Oracle Fusion only on the custom-priced Enterprise tier. | Essentials covers up to two entities with one global entity; the accounting integrations list was not named on the pricing page. |
| Cards outside the US | Local currency card issuing in 30+ countries is listed only under the Enterprise tier, with custom pricing. | Local-currency cards in 50+ countries are listed under Smart Card and Enterprise, both custom priced. |
| VAT handling for European teams | The pricing page names no VAT feature, and the plans are framed around US accounting and FDIC-insured banking. | Automated VAT tracking is listed for the Enterprise tier only, per the plan comparison table on the pricing page. |
| Security and certification | The security page states annual SOC 2 Type II audits, PCI standards, SSO and required MFA; ISO 27001 is not stated. | The security page cites SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II, PCI-DSS and AES-256 at rest; ISO 27001 is not stated. |
| Ownership and privacy policy | The maker is not stated on the pages opened, and the privacy policy could not be retrieved, so data use was not checked. | Brex's privacy policy calls Brex, LLC a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., and says AI training is not mentioned. |
Where each one wins
Ramp wins on
- Unlimited cards and accounts receivable on the $0 tier, plus a 30-day trial before paying for Plus
- Integrations named up the ladder, from QuickBooks and Xero to NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Workday and Oracle Fusion
- Security page adds SSO with Okta, Google and Microsoft Azure and required MFA for every user
Brex wins on
- Premium is $3 per user per month cheaper than Ramp Plus and carries no platform fee on the pricing page
- AI-powered custom rules and API access are included at $0, where Ramp reserves AI reviews for Plus
- Local-currency cards in 50+ countries and automated VAT tracking are listed, which matters to European teams
Which to pick
Pick Ramp if
You are a US-based team that wants a free tier with unlimited cards and receivables, and expects to grow into NetSuite or Workday integrations later.
Pick Brex if
You need AI rules and an API at $0, a lower per-user price on the first paid tier, or a path to local cards and VAT tracking abroad.
Each tool in context: Ramp, Brex, and the full Best AI Expense Management Software in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Ramp Plus or Brex Premium?
Brex Premium is $12 per user per month, while Ramp Plus is $15 per user per month plus a platform fee based on team size that Ramp does not publish. Ramp offers 20% off annual billing, so run both quotes for your headcount before comparing.
Does the free plan of Ramp or Brex include AI features?
Brex Essentials lists AI-powered custom rules at $0. Ramp's AI expense reviews and auto-coded line items are listed on Plus, which costs $15 per user plus a platform fee. Each vendor's pricing page describes the features in its own terms, so test them on real receipts.
Can Ramp or Brex issue cards in euros for a European team?
Both reserve local-currency issuing for custom-priced contracts. Ramp lists it in 30+ countries under Enterprise, and Brex lists 50+ countries under Smart Card and Enterprise. Neither pricing page shows what that costs, so ask each for a written quote covering your countries.
Is Brex owned by Capital One?
Brex's privacy policy describes Brex, LLC as a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., and its affiliates. The Brex homepage did not mention Capital One when reviewed, so confirm the current ownership with Brex before signing, especially for a multi-year contract.