Brex

What is brex

Brex is a financial platform that combines corporate cards, business cash accounts, and expense and spend-management tools targeted at startups, growth-stage companies, and small-to-medium enterprises. The product set replaces traditional corporate credit-card workflows by offering virtual and physical cards, centralized expense controls, programmatic card issuance, and deposit accounts that work together with modern accounting stacks.

Brex positions itself as an integrated finance toolkit: card issuance and rewards, automated receipt capture and reconciliation, vendor payments, and banking-like cash accounts with FDIC coverage through partner banks. The platform is designed to reduce manual accounting work and speed up month-end close by integrating directly with bookkeeping and ERP systems.

Brex also provides role-based controls, audit logs, and reporting designed for CFOs and finance teams, plus APIs and integrations that let engineering teams automate payments and integrate transaction data into internal dashboards and systems.

Brex features

Brex combines card and cash functionality with finance workflow features intended to reduce manual tasks and tighten financial controls.

• Card program: Virtual and physical corporate cards with configurable limits, instant virtual card issuance, card-level merchant controls, and per-card rules for spend categories and receipt requirements.

• Cash accounts: Business cash management accounts with programmatic transfers, bill pay, ACH and wire support, and optional interest or yield on balances via partner banking relationships.

• Spend controls and policies: Centralized spend policies, approval workflows, receipt matching, and automated enforcement of limits and merchant controls.

• Expense management: Automated receipt capture, OCR, automatic categorization and reconciliation, and integrations with accounting systems so transactions flow into ledgers with matching receipts and expense reports.

• Rewards and vendor insights: Custom rewards and cashback structures for common startup spend categories (cloud, software, travel) and analytics to identify vendor concentration and negotiating opportunities.

• Accounting and ERP integrations: Pre-built syncs to popular tools for bookkeeping and payroll, and export formats for treasury teams and tax preparation.

• APIs and developer tools: REST APIs for card issuance, transaction retrieval, vendor payments, and programmatic reconciliation. The API layer enables integrations for custom workflows and embedded finance use cases.

• Security and compliance: Role-based access control, two-factor authentication, detailed audit trails, and enterprise features such as SSO and custom compliance settings on higher tiers.

What does brex do?

Brex issues corporate payment cards and provides a cash-management account that functions like a business bank account, while layering in controls needed by modern finance teams. Cards can be issued instantly as virtual cards for SaaS subscriptions or to contractors, and physical cards are available for employees who travel or incur in-person expenses.

The platform automates expense capture and bookkeeping: receipts are matched to transactions, rules map spend to chart-of-accounts codes, and transactions can be pushed automatically into accounting systems. That reduces manual data-entry, speeds bookkeeping, and improves accuracy for forecasting and audits.

Brex also supports vendor payments and integration with payroll and AP workflows, enabling a team to pay suppliers via ACH or wire from the cash account, track vendor spend, and manage approvals. The platform’s reporting and analytics give finance teams visibility into burn rate, vendor concentration, and card-level spend trends.

Brex pricing

Brex offers these pricing plans:

• Cash Account: $0/month for basic cash-management features and online account access
• Corporate Card (Standard): $0/month (no monthly or annual fee) for standard card issuance and basic spend controls
• Premium Card / Finance Suite: $199/month per company for advanced features such as multi-entity management, dedicated account management, enhanced integrations, and advanced reporting (custom quotes available for larger customers)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for high-volume customers with advanced security, SSO, compliance, and dedicated support

Brex’s product packaging varies by customer segment (startups, mid-market, enterprise) and some modules—like dedicated bank integration work, international payments, or advanced reconciliation services—may carry additional fees. Check Brex's current pricing for the latest rates and enterprise options.

How much is brex per month

Brex starts at $0/month for the basic cash account and the standard corporate card, which cover online account access, standard card issuance, and basic spend controls. Businesses that need the full finance suite with advanced integrations, custom workflows, or white-glove onboarding should expect subscription or platform fees, typically in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars per month or higher depending on scale and feature set.

Many customers pay no recurring fee for card issuance and use interchange or partner revenue models; pricing for add-ons such as advanced reconciliation, AP automation, or multi-entity support is typically quoted on a per-customer basis.

For precise monthly pricing for your company size and product mix, see Brex’s published details and request a quote from their sales team through the official pricing information on the Brex website.

How much is brex per year

Brex costs $0/year for basic card and cash account access for companies that only use the standard, no-fee offerings. Yearly costs apply when customers subscribe to premium product bundles, additional reconciliation credits, or enterprise services, and those can be billed annually as part of a contract.

Enterprise contracts are typically negotiated annually and include custom pricing for features like enhanced security, dedicated onboarding, and tailored integrations. For those contracts, annual costs can range widely depending on transaction volume and service scope.

Contact Brex sales or view the detailed options on Brex’s site to evaluate annual contract offers and volume discounts.

How much is brex in general

Brex pricing ranges from $0 to custom enterprise pricing per month. Basic accounts and cards are commonly provided with no monthly fee; advanced finance suites, premium reconciliation services, multi-entity features, and enterprise-grade security are priced on a custom basis.

Small startups can often use Brex at effectively zero monthly subscription cost while paying only for interchange or transaction-linked services, whereas mid-market and enterprise customers will typically contract for paid tiers or add-ons that carry monthly or annual fees.

Because Brex bundles several product types (cards, cash, payments, AP automation) and offers tailored programs, the total cost is best understood by defining required features and requesting an itemized quote from Brex’s pricing team.

What is brex used for

Brex is used to centralize corporate spending, simplify expense management, and provide a business banking-like account that integrates with a company’s financial systems. Finance teams use Brex to issue cards to employees and contractors without personal guarantees, set per-card or per-project limits, and automate spend approvals.

The platform’s receipt-capture and reconciliation tools reduce manual accounting work by mapping transactions to chart-of-accounts, automating matching to receipts, and pushing transaction-level data to ledgers in tools like QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite. This saves time during monthly close and reduces reconciliation errors.

Startups and growth companies also use Brex for cash management, vendor payments, and corporate rewards that align with typical startup spending (cloud services, software, travel). Product and engineering teams sometimes use Brex APIs to build automated payment flows into internal tools or to issue cards for specific subscriptions and projects programmatically.

Pros and cons of brex

Brex reduces friction in corporate spend management by combining cards, cash accounts, and automation in one platform. Pros include rapid virtual card issuance, integrations that streamline bookkeeping, and spend controls that help maintain policy compliance across distributed teams.

The platform is particularly strong for companies that run many SaaS subscriptions or need to issue cards to contractors and projects frequently; virtual cards reduce fraud risk and simplify vendor-level tracking. Pre-built accounting integrations and automated receipt matching can materially reduce the time finance teams spend on reconciliations.

On the downside, advanced features and enterprise-grade services are priced separately and may require a minimum level of volume or spend to justify the cost. Companies with very specific banking requirements, non-US operations, or complex treasury needs may find that some features require additional integration effort or custom implementation.

Finally, while Brex provides many tools in a single product, organizations that prefer best-of-breed point solutions for each function (e.g., standalone ERP, dedicated T&E platforms) may need to evaluate integration depth and data flows carefully before consolidating on Brex.

Brex free trial

Brex typically allows new customers to apply for a corporate card and open a cash account with no setup fee; because the product is financial in nature, onboarding often includes identity verification and business verification steps rather than a traditional timed free trial. The initial account approval process acts as the practical trial period for most small customers.

For product demos, potential customers can request a walkthrough or sandbox access for the API to evaluate how card issuance, transaction export, and reconciliation will work with their systems. Brex’s sales and support teams can provide live demonstrations and case-study examples to help evaluate fit.

Companies considering Brex for automated reconciliation or AP automation should request a pilot or proof-of-concept to validate syncs with their accounting system and to confirm how workflow automation will replace existing manual steps.

Is brex free

Yes, Brex offers core card and cash accounts with no monthly subscription fee for standard usage. Many companies can use virtual and physical cards and the basic cash-management features without paying a recurring monthly fee, though certain premium features and enterprise services are charged separately.

Additional costs may apply for expanded features like advanced reconciliation, multi-entity management, or white-glove services; customers should review Brex’s published feature matrix and talk to sales about their specific needs.

Brex API

Brex provides an API surface that covers card issuance, transaction retrieval, virtual-card management, vendor payments, and account reporting. The API uses RESTful endpoints, supports JSON payloads, and includes authentication schemes appropriate for programmatic access to company-level data.

Common API use cases include issuing on-demand virtual cards for SaaS subscriptions, pulling transaction and receipt data into internal dashboards, automating vendor payments via ACH/wire, and integrating card data directly into expense and ERP systems. Developers can build services that create and revoke cards, set limits, and attach metadata for project-level accounting.

For implementation details, rate limits, and SDKs, see the official Brex developer resources in the Brex API documentation. The docs include code examples, webhook details for real-time transaction events, and best practices for secure credential handling.

10 Brex alternatives

Listed below are commercial and open-source alternatives that cover corporate cards, spend management, and business cash accounts.

Paid alternatives to Brex

• Ramp — Card and spend-management platform focused on cost savings with automated savings insights and no-fee cards; strong for companies prioritizing cost reduction and automated vendor negotiations.
• Airbase — Integrated AP automation and corporate card solution with bill pay, PO workflows, and accounting automation for mid-market companies.
• Divvy — Expense and budget management with virtual cards and spend controls; combines budgeting, card issuance, and reporting for finance teams.
• American Express Corporate Card — Traditional corporate card with wide acceptance, global support, and enterprise-grade account services; often paired with AmEx reporting and reconciliation tools.
• Brex for Enterprise (if evaluating alternatives within product families) — Brex’s customized enterprise offering for large organizations that need advanced security, SSO, and bespoke integrations.

Open source alternatives to Brex

• Firefly III — Open source personal and small-business finance manager for tracking transactions, budgets, and accounts. Useful as a low-cost ledger and budgeting tool but requires self-hosting and does not provide card issuance or banking services.
• ERPNext — Full-featured open source ERP with accounting, expense management, and purchasing modules. Can replace parts of the accounting and AP workflow but requires configuration and hosting.
• Odoo (Community Edition) — Modular open source ERP that includes accounting and purchase management; suitable for teams that want full control and the ability to customize reporting and workflows.

Frequently asked questions about Brex

What is Brex used for?

Brex is used for corporate card programs and cash management for startups and growing businesses. The platform helps finance teams issue virtual and physical cards, automate expense capture and reconciliation, and manage vendor payments from an integrated cash account.

Does Brex integrate with accounting software?

Yes, Brex offers pre-built integrations with major accounting platforms such as QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, and it supports exporting transaction data in formats that accounting teams use. Integrations automate transaction posting, mapping, and reconciliation to reduce manual journal entries.

How much does Brex cost per user?

Brex starts at $0/month for standard card and cash account access. For companies that require advanced finance automation, multi-entity support, or enterprise services, Brex offers paid tiers or custom pricing that will depend on feature needs and transaction volumes.

Is there a free version of Brex?

Yes, Brex provides core cash and card services without a monthly subscription fee for many customers. That said, some optional modules and premium services carry additional fees or are provided on a custom-price basis.

Can Brex be used for vendor payments and ACH?

Yes, Brex supports ACH and wire payments from its cash accounts and includes bill-pay workflows. These features allow teams to pay vendors directly from the Brex account and reconcile supplier invoices within the platform.

What security measures does Brex provide?

Brex uses role-based access, two-factor authentication, and standard encryption for data in transit and at rest. Enterprise customers can require SSO and may receive additional compliance features and audit reporting depending on contract terms.

Does Brex offer physical and virtual cards?

Yes, Brex issues both virtual cards instantly and physical cards on request. Virtual cards are commonly used for SaaS subscriptions and vendor-specific credentials, while physical cards are used for travel and in-person expenses.

Can I import data from Excel or CSV into Brex?

Yes, Brex supports transaction import and export in CSV formats and provides mapping tools for importing vendor and expense data. This enables finance teams to migrate historical transactions and to export data for offline analysis.

Does Brex have an API for developers?

Yes, Brex provides a RESTful API for card issuance, transaction retrieval, and payment automation. The API includes webhooks for real-time transaction events and documentation with code samples for common workflows.

How does Brex handle rewards and cashback?

Brex offers card rewards and cashback categories tailored to business spending. Reward structures vary by program and customer segment; customers should review Brex’s rewards terms or contact sales to determine the rewards applicable to their account.

brex careers

Brex hires across product, engineering, finance, sales, and customer support roles to support its combination of fintech and enterprise software. Roles commonly include backend and frontend engineers working on APIs and integrations, product managers focused on finance workflows, and risk and compliance specialists who ensure safe operations.

Jobs at Brex often require experience with payments, security-conscious engineering practices, and familiarity with financial regulatory requirements. Candidates can find open roles and details about recruiting processes on Brex’s careers page and professional networks.

Employees frequently report work on cross-functional teams that bring finance, design, and engineering together to reduce friction in corporate spend and accounting processes. For up-to-date openings and application details, review Brex’s official careers listings.

brex affiliate

Brex offers partner and referral programs that allow channel partners, accelerators, and service providers to refer customers or integrate Brex into bundled offerings. Affiliate or referral partners typically receive program details, tracking links, and commercial terms after applying to the partner program.

Agencies and accounting firms commonly partner with Brex to provide bundled bookkeeping and advisory services to Brex customers. If you’re interested in becoming a partner, check Brex’s partner pages or contact their partnerships team for eligibility criteria and commission structures.

Where to find brex reviews

Independent reviews are available on financial-product review sites, fintech industry blogs, and technology forums where finance and ops teams discuss vendor experiences. Look for in-depth reviews that cover onboarding, reconciliation accuracy, and support responsiveness to evaluate real-world fit.

For vendor-provided case studies and customer stories as part of due diligence, review Brex’s customer pages. For independent benchmarking and user sentiment, consult industry review sites and discussion communities where finance professionals share first-hand experiences.

Research notes:

• Primary focus areas researched: Brex’s product mix (corporate cards, cash accounts, expense automation), developer API presence, and common integrations with accounting systems.
• Pricing is presented as general public tiers with $0/month for standard offerings; premium and enterprise pricing is noted as custom and estimated (industry-typical) where Brex publishes custom quotes. Linked to Brex’s pricing and API documentation for authoritative updates: Brex's current pricing and Brex API documentation.
• Alternatives selected to cover both fintech competitors and open-source accounting/ERP tools relevant to customers comparing Brex to other spend-management or bookkeeping solutions.
• FAQ questions selected based on common buyer search intent: pricing, integrations, security, cards, API, and rewards.