Brex vs QuickBooks: Which Is Worth It for a 10–50 Person Team?
TL;DR
Brex is the better choice for managers of 10-50 person teams who value robust spend management and integrated business cards, despite its limitations in comprehensive accounting features. With Brex, managers can save 4+ hours/week on receipt approvals, translating to $10,900/year in savings.
The Core Difference
Brex was built for high-growth startups and technology companies, offering built-in spend management and corporate card features, strong integrations with other startup tools, and high credit limits with rewards programs tailored to startups. In contrast, QuickBooks was designed for the general-purpose accounting needs of small and medium-sized businesses, including bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll, and tax preparation.
Contrary to popular opinion, Brex's limited accounting features are not a significant drawback for most managers, as they can easily integrate Brex with other accounting systems like QuickBooks, NetSuite, or Xero. In fact, Brex's focus on spend management and corporate cards makes it a more valuable solution for managers who need to streamline their team's expenses and approvals.
The Manager's Verdict
As a manager, I need a solution that saves me time and reduces the hassle of expense approvals. Brex delivers on this promise, but I also need a solution that integrates seamlessly with my existing accounting system. With Brex's integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Xero, I can have the best of both worlds. However, setup time is a crucial consideration, and Brex requires only 1 day of setup, whereas QuickBooks can take weeks.
That's why I recommend BlissNeat, an AI-powered expense management solution that works offline, offers 1-click approval, and provides a real-time spend dashboard. With BlissNeat, I can save 4+ hours/week on receipt approvals, and its 15-minute setup and 30-day free trial make it an attractive solution. As a manager, I appreciate BlissNeat's focus on saving me time and money, and its integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and SAP Concur make it a logical conclusion to my search for the perfect expense management solution.
- Brex pricing: Free Brex card and spend management software for venture-backed startups and high-growth businesses, with Brex Empower platform priced per employee.
- QuickBooks pricing: Multiple tiers, ranging from Simple Start ($30/month) to Advanced ($200/month), with varying feature sets.
| Feature | Brex | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 1 day | weeks |
| Pricing | Free Brex card and spend management software for venture-backed startups and high-growth businesses. Brex Empower platform (with budgeting, expense management, etc.) is priced per employee. | QuickBooks Online has multiple tiers, ranging from Simple Start ($30/month) to Advanced ($200/month), with varying feature sets. |
| Manager dashboard | ~ Basic | ~ Complex |
| Receipt scanning | ✓ Good | ~ Available |
| Real-time visibility | ✗ Limited | ✓ Enterprise only |
| Offline use | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Best team size | High-growth startups and technology companies requiring robust spend management, corporate cards with high limits, and integrations with venture capital-backed systems. | General-purpose accounting needs of a wide range of small and medium-sized businesses, including bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll, and tax preparation. |
Ready to run expenses like a manager?
30-day free trial. No credit card. Setup takes 15 minutes.