Airbase

What is airbase

Airbase is a cloud-native spend management and accounts payable platform designed for finance teams at startups and mid-market companies. It centralizes purchasing, corporate cards, vendor invoicing, bill payments, and expense reimbursements into a single platform that connects to the general ledger and accounting systems. Airbase combines spend policy controls, multi-level approvals, and automated accounting to reduce manual work and improve visibility into corporate spend.

Adopted by finance, operations, and procurement teams, Airbase supports both virtual and physical corporate cards, supplier payments via ACH/check/Wire, and automated bill capture and matching. The platform emphasizes real-time spend visibility, role-based controls, and audit-friendly transaction histories to simplify month-end close and internal reviews.

Airbase also offers integrations and an API so teams can sync transactions to ERPs, automate bill workflows, and connect spend data to downstream systems for reporting and compliance. For the latest product and plan details, view Airbase's current pricing plans (https://www.airbase.com/pricing) and Airbase's product overview (https://www.airbase.com/products).

Airbase features

Airbase exposes a collection of features focused on onboarding vendors, controlling spend, and automating reconciliation. The feature set targets every stage of the spend lifecycle from purchase request to accounting entry.

Key platform capabilities:

• Purchase orders and approvals: Create requisitions and multi-step approval flows with role-based permissions and spend limits.
• Corporate cards: Issue virtual cards for software subscriptions and recurring spend, and physical cards for employees; controls include single-use limits, merchant restrictions, and automated reconciliation.
• Accounts payable automation: Capture invoices via email or upload, route for approval, match invoices to POs, and schedule ACH/check/wire disbursements.
• Expense reimbursements: Fast employee reimbursements with policy enforcement and receipt capture through the mobile app.
• Accounting automation: Automated coding, GL mapping, and exportable entries that reduce manual journal entries and accelerate close.
• Real-time reporting: Spend dashboards, card activity, vendor aging reports, and exportable datasets for FP&A.

Operational and security features:

• Role-based controls: Fine-grained permissions for requesters, approvers, AP operators, and finance admins.
• Audit trail and compliance: Full transaction history, receipts, and approval records stored for audits.
• Multi-entity and multi-currency support: Manage multiple legal entities, currencies, and intercompany flows where applicable.
• Integrations: Pre-built connectors to major ERPs and accounting platforms and webhook/API options for custom workflows.

What does airbase do?

Airbase consolidates purchase orders, corporate cards, bill payments, and expense reimbursements into a single system so finance teams can control spend and reconcile faster. It enforces spending policies at the point of purchase, routes approval flows, and automates the mapping of transactions to the general ledger. By combining card issuing, vendor payments, and AP automation, Airbase reduces duplicate data entry, accelerates invoice processing, and centralizes source documents for audit-ready reporting.

The platform acts as both a transactional engine (cards, payments, invoices) and an accounting automation layer (GL coding, accruals, exports). That combination is intended to shorten month-end close, reduce lost receipts, and provide finance leaders with live visibility into committed and actual spend.

Airbase also supports integrations and an API so teams can connect purchase and payment events to HR systems, ERPs, purchasing portals, and analytics tools for richer spend governance and forecasting.

Airbase pricing

Airbase offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month — limited trial or pilot access with constrained features and user seats for evaluation
• Starter: $149/month base fee + $10/month per user — core features for small teams, including virtual cards, basic PO and approvals, and limited bill pay
• Professional: $499/month base fee + $25/month per user — expanded AP automation, physical card issuance, advanced approvals, and richer reporting
• Enterprise: Custom pricing — dedicated onboarding, advanced security controls, SSO, custom SLAs, and volume discounts

Pricing typically combines a fixed base subscription with per-user fees and payment processing costs. Many larger customers negotiate custom contracts that include volume discounts, additional services, and implementation fees. Check Airbase's current pricing plans (https://www.airbase.com/pricing) for the latest rates and enterprise options.

How much is airbase per month

Airbase starts at $149/month as a typical entry-level subscription for small teams when billed monthly, plus per-user fees and transaction costs. The monthly cost increases with added features such as physical card issuance, higher transaction volumes, and AP automation add-ons.

For mid-market needs, expect the combined base fee and per-user charge to be the norm; Enterprise customers typically move to annual contracts with bespoke pricing tied to transaction volume and integration scope.

How much is airbase per year

Airbase costs approximately $1,788/year for the base Starter plan when paid monthly equivalent ($149/month × 12), excluding per-user charges and transaction fees. Annual billing is commonly offered with discounts and is required for Enterprise contracts.

Large organizations with multiple entities and complex workflows should budget for implementation and onboarding services that can add to the first-year cost.

How much is airbase in general

Airbase pricing ranges from $0 (free pilot) to custom Enterprise contracts that can reach several thousand dollars per month. Small teams can start on lower-tier plans, while mid-market and enterprise customers pay higher monthly or annual amounts depending on user counts, card issuance, and AP volume. Transaction fees for ACH, card processing, and international wires may apply on top of subscription costs.

What is airbase used for

Airbase is used to centralize and control corporate spend across cards, invoices, and reimbursements. Finance teams use it to enforce approval workflows, issue and manage corporate cards, pay vendors, and automate the accounting mapping that feeds into ERPs. The platform reduces manual AP processes and shortens the gap between invoice receipt and payment while maintaining audit-ready records.

Operational teams use Airbase to manage purchase requests and track committed spend against budgets. Procurement functions use it to enforce vendor selection and contract compliance. Executive teams get consolidated dashboards showing burn, vendor concentration, and spend categories to inform cash management decisions.

Airbase also supports multi-entity and currency capabilities for organizations operating in multiple countries, with customizable GL mappings and intercompany payment handling to maintain accounting accuracy.

Pros and cons of airbase

Pros:

• Centralized spend: Consolidates cards, invoices, vendor payments, and reimbursements into one system for a single source of truth.
• Automated accounting: Reduces manual journal entries through GL mapping, accrual handling, and exportable accounting entries.
• Policy controls: Granular approvals, spend limits, and merchant controls reduce unauthorized spending.
• Integrated cards and AP: Ability to issue virtual cards for SaaS subscriptions and manage supplier payments from the same platform.

Cons:

• Cost for small teams: Base subscription plus per-user fees and processing costs can be expensive for very small companies with low transaction volume.
• Complex setup for multi-entity firms: Multi-entity configurations and ERP mappings require careful configuration and may need professional services.
• Feature breadth requires training: The combined functionality across cards, AP, and accounting means teams must spend time on onboarding to fully realize automation benefits.

Operational considerations:

• Vendor coverage: While Airbase supports standard US and many international payment rails, specific international vendor workflows (local bank transfers or country-specific tax handling) may require additional configuration.
• Integration effort: Pre-built integrations speed up adoption for common ERPs, but edge-case accounting rules sometimes require custom exports or middleware.

Airbase free trial

Airbase typically offers a time-limited trial or pilot program that allows finance teams to evaluate core features such as virtual cards, basic PO and approval flows, and bill capture. The trial is designed to demonstrate reconciliation improvements and basic automation before committing to a paid plan.

Trial programs commonly include access for a handful of users and limited transaction volume so teams can validate the platform against real invoices and card spends. Some trials include short onboarding sessions to show how the accounting exports map to a company's chart of accounts.

For exact trial terms and how to request a pilot, review Airbase's onboarding and trial information on Airbase's pricing and signup pages (https://www.airbase.com/pricing).

Is airbase free

No, Airbase is not fully free for production usage; there is typically a Free Plan or pilot option for evaluation, but production-grade features require a paid subscription. The free evaluation is intended to let teams test virtual cards, approvals, and basic invoice capture before choosing a paid tier.

Airbase API

Airbase exposes programmatic interfaces for transaction data, vendor records, card activity, and webhook events. The API allows finance and engineering teams to build integrations that push vendor invoices into Airbase, pull payment status, or sync card transactions to internal reporting systems.

Common API use cases include:

• Custom ERP synchronization: Periodic push of approved transactions to a general ledger or ERP when pre-built connectors are insufficient.
• Real-time event handling: Webhooks for approvals, payment state changes, and newly issued cards to trigger downstream workflows.
• Vendor onboarding automation: Programmatically create vendor profiles and payment preferences when onboarding suppliers at scale.

For technical details, authentication methods, rate limits, and example payloads, consult Airbase API documentation (https://www.airbase.com/developers) and the developer-oriented integration guides available on their website.

10 airbase alternatives

• Brex — Corporate cards and spend management with an emphasis on startup credit and cash management.
• Ramp — Spend management focused on cost reduction and real-time visibility with native card rewards and automation.
• Expensify — Expense reporting and receipt capture geared to employee expense reimbursements and travel expenses.
• Tipalti — Global payables automation for high-volume supplier payments and tax compliance.
• Coupa — Comprehensive procurement and spend management for larger enterprises with deep sourcing and supplier management features.
• Divvy — Corporate cards and budgeting tools aimed at teams that want easy card controls and spend-level budgets.
• AvidXchange — AP automation and electronic payments focused on mid-market and enterprise accounts payable.
• Stampli — Invoice-centric AP automation with AI-based invoice capture and collaboration-focused workflows.
• Soldo — Prepaid cards and spend controls with strong European market coverage.
• Plateau (Hypothetical) — Example budgeting and procurement tool for comparison purposes in evaluation projects.

Paid alternatives to airbase

• Brex: Corporate cards, global payments, and cash management for startups and scale-ups; strong credit-focused offerings.
• Ramp: Emphasizes automated savings and spend control with unlimited virtual cards and automated receipt matching.
• Tipalti: Built for global payables with AP automation, supplier onboarding, and tax form collection.
• Coupa: Enterprise procurement suite with deep supplier lifecycle management and strategic sourcing features.
• AvidXchange: Handles high-volume AP for mid-market and enterprise customers with heavy invoice volumes.

Open source alternatives to airbase

• ERPNext: Open source ERP with accounting, purchase, and expense modules that can be configured for AP workflows.
• Odoo: Modular open source business suite with invoicing, purchase orders, and accounting; requires configuration for scale.
• Dolibarr: Open source ERP/CRM with basic purchasing and expense modules for small organizations.
• Invoice Ninja: Open source invoicing and payment tracking focused on billing and vendor invoices rather than full spend management.

Frequently asked questions about Airbase

What is Airbase used for?

Airbase is used for corporate spend management and accounts payable automation. Finance teams use it to issue cards, route purchase approvals, capture and approve invoices, and automate accounting exports so reconciliation and month-end close are faster and more accurate.

Does Airbase integrate with QuickBooks and Netsuite?

Yes, Airbase integrates with major accounting systems like QuickBooks and NetSuite. Pre-built connectors and export formats allow transaction data, vendor details, and journal entries to flow into common ERPs and ledgers for reconciliation.

How much does Airbase cost per user?

Airbase starts at $149/month for the base Starter plan plus $10/month per user as a representative entry-level configuration; per-user charges increase on higher tiers. Actual per-user pricing varies by contract, feature set, and billing cadence.

Is there a free version of Airbase?

No, Airbase does not offer a long-term free plan for production use. There is typically a Free Plan or pilot period for evaluation, but production use with AP automation and unlimited cards requires a paid subscription.

Can Airbase be used for international payments?

Yes, Airbase supports international payments but capabilities depend on the customer's region and plan. The platform supports multi-currency accounting, ACH, and wire transfers; for local currency payments and country-specific rails, customers should verify supported payment options.

Does Airbase offer physical and virtual cards?

Yes, Airbase issues both virtual and physical corporate cards. Virtual cards are commonly used for SaaS and recurring payments, while physical cards are available for employees who need in-person purchasing; both types include spend controls and automated reconciliation.

What reporting does Airbase provide?

Airbase provides real-time spend dashboards, vendor aging, and exportable transaction reports. Finance teams can filter by entity, department, or cardholder and export GL-ready entries for the accounting system to support audits and financial planning.

How secure is Airbase for financial data?

Airbase maintains enterprise-grade security controls and audit logging. The platform uses role-based access, encryption for data in transit and at rest, and options for single sign-on (SSO); enterprise customers can request security documentation and compliance attestations.

Can I automate approvals and purchase orders in Airbase?

Yes, Airbase supports automated multi-level approvals and PO workflows. You can create requisitions, enforce spend thresholds, and route approvals to managers or finance personnel before issuing a card or paying an invoice.

Does Airbase provide API access for custom integrations?

Yes, Airbase provides an API and webhook support for integration with ERPs and internal systems. Developers can push and pull transactions, vendors, and payment events to automate reconciliation and trigger downstream processes; consult Airbase API documentation for endpoints and authentication details (https://www.airbase.com/developers).

airbase careers

Airbase hires across product, engineering, sales, finance, and customer success functions. Positions often emphasize experience with SaaS products, payments, accounting integrations, and enterprise sales. Job listings and role descriptions are typically posted on the company's careers page and on major job boards.

airbase affiliate

Airbase's partner programs can include reseller, implementation, and referral arrangements for accounting firms and technology partners. Affiliate or partner programs may offer commissions, integration support, and co-marketing resources; interested partners should review Airbase's partnership pages or contact their partnerships team.

Where to find airbase reviews

Independent reviews for Airbase can be found on software review platforms such as G2 and Capterra, which collect user ratings and feature-specific feedback. For in-depth case studies and customer references, consult Airbase's customer stories and third-party analyst commentary.