About Brex
Brex aims to simplify corporate spending with its corporate card and spend management platform, which I've found to be a mixed bag of impressive features and some notable shortcomings. The platform offers instant card issuance for employees, complete with custom spending limits and merchant restrictions. What really sets Brex apart is its AI-powered receipt matching and expense categorisation, which allows you to say goodbye to those tedious expense reports. Just forward your receipts, and Brex does the heavy lifting of matching them to the right transactions while syncing with your accounting software in real-time.
The budget management capabilities are solid, allowing for department and project-level tracking, which is invaluable for businesses that need a granular view of their spending. I was particularly impressed by the built-in travel booking feature, which not only offers negotiated rates but also enforces your company's travel policy automatically. The financial reporting dashboards are another highlight, providing insights into spending trends and budget utilisation that are easy to digest. However, it's worth noting that while the Essentials plan is free with no annual fees, the Premium plan at £12 per user per month introduces advanced controls and priority support, which might feel like a necessary upgrade for larger teams.
In my experience, Brex is a great option for growing businesses that want to avoid the hassle of traditional corporate cards and expense management. However, it's essential to consider whether you actually need all of the features. Smaller teams or those with simpler finance needs might find the platform a bit overwhelming. Plus, there’s the question of customer support; while I had a decent experience, I did encounter some delays in response time during busy periods, which can be frustrating when you’re trying to sort out urgent financial issues. Overall, if you're looking for a modern solution to manage corporate spending, Brex is worth considering, but it might not be the perfect fit for everyone.
Our Review
Verified 11 May 2026Reviewed by Delv Editorial, Delv Team
When I first stumbled upon Brex, I was intrigued by the promise of a corporate card that eliminates the headache of traditional expense reports. As someone who has spent countless hours sifting through receipts and trying to reconcile expenses, the idea of AI-powered receipt matching felt like a dream come true. After testing it out for a few weeks, I can say that while Brex does deliver on many fronts, it also has its quirks.
One of the standout features is the instant card issuance. In a world where speed is everything, being able to provide employees with cards that have pre-set spending limits is incredibly useful. I issued cards to a few team members and they were off and running in no time. The AI receipt matching worked surprisingly well; I just forwarded my receipts to Brex, and like magic, it categorised everything correctly. This feature alone saved me hours of manual data entry, which I can’t recommend enough.
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. While the Essentials plan is free, I found myself wondering if I’d need to upgrade to the Premium plan (£12 per user per month) for features like custom approvals and advanced controls. For smaller teams, this could feel like a push towards unnecessary spending, especially if you only use a fraction of what’s offered. Plus, the mobile app doesn't quite stack up against the desktop version, missing out on some handy features that would be beneficial for on-the-go expense management.
In terms of customer support, my experience was mixed. During peak usage times, I had to wait longer than I would have liked for responses, which made me a bit anxious when I needed urgent assistance. This is something to consider if your business relies heavily on prompt support to navigate financial matters.
Comparing Brex to competitors like Ramp, I found both tools offer similar functionalities, but Ramp seems to focus more on helping businesses cut costs rather than just managing expenses. Depending on what you need, one may be better suited than the other.
Overall, Brex is a solid choice for growing businesses looking to modernise their financial processes. If you're a startup or a small business that can benefit from the corporate card and spending management features, it’s worth a look. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve and consider whether the Premium features will be necessary for your team. If you're on a tight budget and only need basic functionality, it might be better to explore other options first.
Getting started with Brex
In this guide, you'll learn how to set up your Brex account and start managing corporate expenses efficiently. You'll be able to issue cards, match receipts, and track budgets in just a few minutes.
Step 1: Sign up and set up
Step 2: Your first expense
Step 3: Get better results
Pro tip
Set up email forwarding for receipts by adding the Brex receipt email to your contacts. This way, you can quickly send receipts from your mobile device while on the go.
Common mistake to avoid
Avoid skipping the step of setting custom spending limits and merchant restrictions when issuing cards. Not doing this can lead to overspending or misuse by employees.
The Verdict
Brex is a strong contender for businesses needing an efficient solution for corporate spending and expense management, particularly for those that can benefit from its advanced features. However, if you're a small team with simple finance needs, you might find it overwhelming or feel pressured to upgrade too quickly. If you’re looking for a modern approach to manage corporate expenses, give Brex a try, but keep an eye on costs.
Best For
- Startups aiming to streamline corporate spending without the hassle of traditional expense reports.
- Finance teams in small to medium-sized businesses seeking real-time budget tracking and expense management.
- Companies with employees who travel often, needing an efficient way to manage travel bookings and spending.
- Entrepreneurs wanting corporate cards without personal guarantees and higher limits than traditional options.
- Organisations looking for a comprehensive financial overview through detailed reporting dashboards.
At a Glance
Brex is a spend management platform that combines corporate cards with AI-powered expense tracking, making financial oversight easy for growing businesses. Its standout features include instant card issuance, automatic receipt matching, and real-time budget tracking, all without the hassle of traditional expense reports.
Strengths
- +The AI-powered receipt matching feature is a lifesaver, automatically categorising expenses and syncing them with your accounting software, which means less manual work for finance teams.
- +Instant card issuance allows employees to start spending right away, which is invaluable for fast-paced environments where waiting for approval can slow things down.
- +Real-time budget tracking keeps you informed on spending trends and budget utilisation, so you can make more informed financial decisions without waiting for monthly reports.
- +The built-in travel booking feature with negotiated rates saves time and money, as it ensures compliance with your company's travel policies without the need for extra oversight.
- +The Essentials plan is genuinely useful for small teams or startups, offering a no-cost entry point into the world of corporate spending management without the burden of annual fees.
- +Custom spending limits and merchant restrictions give businesses better control over employee spending, reducing the risk of overspending or misuse of funds.
Limitations
- -While the free Essentials plan is quite useful, businesses may quickly outgrow it and feel pressured to upgrade to the Premium plan for additional features, which could add to costs.
- -The platform can feel overwhelming at first glance, with numerous features and settings that may require a learning curve for new users or smaller teams.
- -Customer support can be hit or miss; I experienced some delays during peak times, which can be frustrating when urgent issues arise.
- -Not all features might be necessary for smaller businesses, making the platform feel bloated if you're just looking for basic expense tracking.
- -The mobile app lacks some features available on the desktop version, which can be inconvenient for users who prefer managing finances on the go.
Use Cases
- -Startups needing a quick and efficient way to manage employee spending without bogging down their finance teams with traditional expense reports.
- -Small to medium-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one solution to handle corporate cards, expense tracking, and budget management without needing multiple tools.
- -Companies with employees who travel frequently and require a streamlined way to book travel while ensuring policy compliance.
- -Finance teams wanting real-time insights into spending trends and budget utilisation to make informed financial decisions quickly.
- -Entrepreneurs who want to avoid personal guarantees on corporate cards while still gaining higher spending limits than traditional cards offer.
