Brex vs Emburse: Which Is Worth It for a 10–50 Person Team?
TL;DR
Brex and Emburse are two expense management solutions catering to different needs, with Brex being more suitable for startups and small businesses, while Emburse is geared towards mid-sized companies with complex expense policies. Brex's integrated corporate card and expense management solution offers a streamlined experience, but Emburse's advanced features and customization options make it a better choice for companies requiring robust AP automation and compliance.
The Core Difference
Brex was built for startups and rapidly growing small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seeking a comprehensive financial platform with integrated corporate cards and expense management. It offers a rewards program, easy-to-use interface, and robust expense management software, making it an attractive choice for companies with simple expense policies. However, Brex's strict eligibility requirements and limited customizability may not make it the best fit for all businesses.
Emburse, on the other hand, is designed for SMBs and mid-sized companies requiring robust expense management and AP automation with strong compliance features. It offers advanced expense policy enforcement, strong AP automation capabilities, and high customizability, making it a better choice for companies with complex expense policies. Contrary to popular opinion, Emburse's more complex setup and implementation may actually be a benefit for companies that require a high degree of customization and control over their expense management processes.
The Manager's Verdict
As a manager of a 10-50 person team, I need an expense management solution that saves me time and reduces costs. Brex's solution can save me around 4 hours per week on receipt approvals, which translates to $10,900 per year. However, Emburse's advanced features and customization options may be overkill for my team's simple expense policies, and the potentially higher cost may not be justified.
That's why I would recommend BlissNeat, an AI-powered expense management solution that saves managers 4+ hours per week on receipt approvals, works offline, and offers a real-time spend dashboard. With a 15-minute setup and a 30-day free trial, BlissNeat is an attractive choice for managers like me who value simplicity and ease of use. Plus, its integration with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and SAP Concur makes it a logical conclusion for teams seeking a streamlined expense management experience. With BlissNeat, I can expect to save around $10,900 per year, which is a significant reduction in costs for my team.
| Feature | Brex | Emburse |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 1 day | weeks |
| Pricing | Free and paid plans available. Free plan offers expense management with limited features. Paid plans unlock premium features and higher spending limits. Fees based on number of users and features. | Subscription-based pricing. Cost varies depending on the number of users, features selected, and contract length. Can be relatively expensive for very small businesses. |
| Manager dashboard | ~ Basic | ~ Complex |
| Receipt scanning | ✓ Good | ~ Available |
| Real-time visibility | ✗ Limited | ✓ Enterprise only |
| Offline use | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Best team size | Startups and rapidly growing SMBs seeking a comprehensive financial platform with integrated corporate cards and expense management. | SMBs and mid-sized companies requiring robust expense management and AP automation with strong compliance features. |
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