The 6 best Airbase alternatives for complete P2P visibility

Airbase, the San Francisco-based spend management platform, was acquired by Paylocity in 2024 in a deal that closed in early 2025. Originally focused on corporate card management and expense reporting for mid-market technology companies, Airbase expanded into accounts payable (AP) and procurement automation to become an all-in-one financial platform.

The financial automation market has evolved significantly in the last few years, with companies increasingly seeking complete procure-to-pay solutions rather than point solutions. While Airbase offers solid spend management capabilities, its card-centric approach may not provide the deep AP automation expertise and advanced invoice processing capabilities that many growing businesses require.

As a platform that started with corporate cards and added AP functionality later, Airbase faces inherent limitations:

• Lack of advance invoice processing and supplier collaboration.
• Limited support for complex approval workflows for high-volume AP operations.
• Missing real-time enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrations across multiple accounting systems.
• Incomplete procure-to-pay (P2P) visibility for end-to-end financial control.

The market is consolidating toward platforms that offer either AP-first expertise with spend management expansion or comprehensive P2P solutions built from the ground up. Companies are no longer satisfied with basic AP automation bolted onto expense management platforms.

If you’re evaluating Airbase alternatives, here are five leading solutions that provide superior AP automation capabilities, deeper ERP integrations, and more sophisticated financial control — all without requiring you to rework your existing accounting systems or processes.

1. Stampli: The best Airbase alternative

Stampli is the only procure-to-pay solution that connects every dot from request to reconciliation, making it the ideal choice for finance teams seeking enterprise-grade AP automation without enterprise-level complexity. 

Unlike card-centric platforms that added AP functionality as an afterthought, Stampli was built AP-first and evolved into a comprehensive P2P platform that eliminates the blind spots between disconnected procurement and payment processes.

Powered by Billy — Stampli’s Cognitive AI™ with over nine years of machine learning — Stampli processes more than $90 billion in annual spend with near 100% accuracy in purchase order (PO) matching and invoice processing. The platform adapts to your existing workflows rather than forcing you to change, deploying in days instead of months while maintaining seamless integration with 70+ ERPs and accounting systems.

Key features

• Advanced AI automation: Billy handles invoice data capture, general ledger (GL) coding, PO matching, and approval routing with industry-leading accuracy.
• Complete P2P automation: Unified procurement requests, AP processing, and payment execution in a single platform.
• Real-time ERP sync: Live data integration with major accounting systems, not daily batch updates.
• Global payment capabilities: Process payments in USD or local currency to 150+ countries with integrated  foreign exchange (FX) risk management. Pay with Stampli Card, Stampli Direct Pay, or your own payment solution.
• Collaborative workflow hub: Centralize communication, documentation, and task management for all stakeholders.
• Multi-entity support: Handle complex approval workflows across multiple locations, currencies, and subsidiaries.

Stampli advantages

Proven AI leadership

Stampli’s AI, Billy, represents nearly a decade of continuous learning versus competitors’ newer, less proven AI implementations. This delivers superior accuracy and workflow optimization.

Customers like Anthony Fernandes, Group Controller of Alden Renewables, say AI capabilities unlock massive efficiency gains for their finance team. 

“With Stampli’s AI, I have just this one person doing AP, and doing it in just 20% of her time,” he explains. “That’s a 25X boost in efficiency — AND this person spends the remainder of her time on much more strategic activities.”

Unmatched customer satisfaction

Stampli maintains 99% customer satisfaction and holds G2 Grid Leader status, consistently ranking #1 for Implementation, Relationship, and Usability across all AP automation categories.

Customers say, “Customer support is fast and has excellent follow up, we have monthly meetings with our representative who is always looking for suggestions on ways to improve their product.”

Rapid deployment

Deploy Stampli in weeks, not quarters, with full support from AP and ERP experts who understand your existing processes and adapt the platform to your needs.

Complete financial ecosystem

Stampli’s integrated suite includes Advanced Vendor Management, Stampli Direct Pay, Stampli Card, and Stampli Expenses — providing end-to-end spend management from a true AP automation foundation.

Customers say the integrated platform makes the entire P2P workflow more efficient and easier to manage. 

One review on TrustRadius says, “Stampli centralizes and formalizes the invoice process from start to finish of processing, reviewing, approving, and payment functions in a simple way across our various departments.”

Superior ERP integration

Unlike competitors like Airbase that offer limited ERP connectivity, Stampli offers native, real-time integrations with 70+ accounting platforms. This ensures your data is always current and accurate.

Stampli pricing

Stampli offers transparent monthly or annual pricing with unlimited users, vendors, and comprehensive training — no hidden fees or per-transaction costs that can surprise you as you scale.

Bottom line

Stampli provides the most comprehensive alternative to Airbase for companies seeking true AP automation expertise combined with complete P2P capabilities. 

With its AP-first heritage, proven AI technology, and unmatched customer success record, Stampli delivers enterprise functionality with mid-market agility, making it the clear choice for organizations ready to eliminate financial process blind spots and achieve complete spend visibility.

2. BILL (formerly bill.com)

BILL is a traditional accounts payable and receivable platform designed for small businesses that find themselves caught between Airbase’s comprehensive spend management capabilities and Stampli’s sophisticated AP automation expertise. 

Originally built for basic SMB financial operations, BILL struggles to compete in the modern P2P landscape where companies demand either complete spend management integration or deep AP specialization.

Customers say that the BILL platform can create extra complexity and frustration.

In one G2 review, a finance manager explains their frustration and disappointment with BILL, “We chose Bill.com expecting it to simplify our AR workflows — instead, it created more headaches and delays. We’ve wasted far too much time on something that should be straightforward.”

While BILL offers solid basic functionality, its rigid architecture and per-transaction fee model make it a solution that scaling companies quickly outgrow. Unlike Airbase’s unified spend management platform or Stampli’s AI-driven AP expertise, BILL remains fundamentally a point solution trying to expand beyond its core competencies.

Key BILL features

• Basic invoice capture and vendor management with limited OCR accuracy.
• Manual or semi-automated ERP integrations (CSV-based in lower tiers).
• Simple approval workflows that lack customization for complex organizations.
• Payment processing with multiple methods but high per-transaction fees.
• Standard reporting without real-time analytics or advanced insights.

BILL advantages

Small business focus

BILL excels at serving small businesses with straightforward AP/AR needs and limited invoice volumes. The platform offers an intuitive interface for teams that don’t require sophisticated workflow customization.

Established partner network

With partnerships across 9,000+ accounting firms, BILL provides strong accountant collaboration features and familiar interfaces for bookkeeping professionals.

Multi-method payment options

BILL supports various payment methods, including ACH, checks, and international payments — though transaction fees can escalate quickly with volume.

BILL disadvantages and limitations

Pricing transparency issues

BILL’s per-transaction fee structure creates unpredictable costs that increase with usage. 2025 fee increases include ACH payments at $0.59, checks at $1.99, and expedited options up to $24.99. 

User experience and reliability issues

BILL customers often mention significant UX problems with the platform. Navigation and search can be a sore spot that hinders overall usability. They also mention changes and updates to the platform frequently introducing new problems.

“There are a lot of updates that impact our company setups,” says a BILL reviewer on G2. “There are no warnings and it impacts things like payments with vendors that we are only made aware of when the vendor is upset.”

Limited scalability

Growing companies quickly outgrow BILL’s capabilities. 

Customer feedback reveals: “Sometimes confusing for approvers who don’t have proper insights,” and, “If you have multiple entities, there should be an option to transfer an invoice to another Bill.com inbox.” 

No procurement integration

Unlike comprehensive P2P solutions, BILL lacks upstream procurement capabilities, purchase request modules, or sophisticated PO management that growing businesses require. On top of that, it:

• Is missing unified spend management, corporate card integration, and expense management capabilities.
• Lacks AI-driven automation, real-time ERP sync, advanced workflow customization, and procurement-to-pay integration.

BILL pricing

BILL’s tiered pricing starts at $45/user/month plus transaction fees that range from $0.59-$24.99 per transaction depending on payment method and speed. This per-transaction model can create budget surprises and vendor friction, especially for high-volume operations.

Bottom line

BILL serves small businesses well but falls short for companies seeking either Airbase’s comprehensive spend management or Stampli’s advanced AP automation. 

With rigid workflows, escalating transaction fees, and limited customization options, BILL becomes a constraint rather than an enabler as businesses grow. Organizations requiring sophisticated approval routing, AI-driven processing, or integrated procurement capabilities will find BILL’s limitations frustrating and cost-prohibitive at scale.

3. Ramp

Ramp is Airbase’s most direct competitor — both are corporate card companies that expanded into accounts payable automation as an afterthought. While Ramp markets itself as a “finance automation platform,” it fundamentally remains a spend management solution built around corporate card interchange revenue, not purpose-built AP expertise.

One Ramp customer calls the platform “extremely disappointing.” They went on to say, “We went in with high hopes. Now we are giving up due to all the fraud.”

Like Airbase, Ramp attracts companies with its comprehensive spend management approach and low-cost entry point. However, both platforms share similar limitations when compared to dedicated AP automation solutions — rigid workflows, limited customization, and AP features that feel bolted-on rather than core to the platform.

Ramp’s rapid growth demonstrates strong market acceptance, but customer feedback reveals the same fundamental trade-offs that companies face with any card-centric platform trying to compete in AP automation.

Key Ramp features

• Unified corporate cards, expense management, and bill pay in a single platform.
• Real-time spending insights and policy enforcement with automated controls.
• Virtual card management system for secure vendor payments.
• OCR-powered invoice data extraction with automated line item coding.
• Multiple payment methods (ACH, check, card, wire) with international capabilities.

• Basic approval workflows and role-based access controls.
• ERP integrations.
• Automated invoice processing with standard three-way matching.
• Real-time sync capabilities, though limited to standard fields.

Ramp advantages

Quick deployment

The platform’s streamlined setup process enables rapid deployment compared to more complex enterprise solutions.

Comprehensive payment platform

Users consistently praise Ramp’s payment capabilities, including international transaction support in both USD and local currencies. The virtual card management system provides strong security and spending control features.

Compelling free tier

Ramp’s revenue model through card interchange fees allows them to offer core features at no software cost, making it attractive to cost-conscious organizations.

Ramp disadvantages and limitations

Limited AP automation depth

Ramp’s AP automation feature set is not as deep in certain areas as dedicated AP solutions. The platform lacks supplier portals, advanced procurement capabilities, and conversation threading that dedicated AP platforms provide.

Customers take note of Ramp’s limitations here. In one review, a user in the higher education industry mentions, “It would also be nice if Ramp had a quicker method of communication such as instant chat instead of email.”

Customer support challenges

Customer feedback consistently highlights Ramp’s support issues.

“Support is mostly done by communicating with bots and is very frustrating,” says one customer.

Rigid card-centric model

The platform’s charge card model may limit flexibility for some businesses. This constraint can create cash flow challenges for companies with varying payment cycles.

Ramp’s business model relies on interchange fees — the 2-3% processing fees merchants pay on card transactions. 

While core features appear “free,” they’re actually funded through your organization’s card spending activity. Organizations with substantial card transaction volumes effectively pay higher costs through elevated processing fees. 

This structure naturally pushes users toward card-based payments rather than alternative methods. This potentially limits flexibility for businesses that prefer diversified payment approaches or have vendor relationships that work better with ACH, check, or wire transfers.

Customization limitations

Ramp also shows limitations in customization options for businesses with specific requirements. This is particularly problematic for companies with complex approval workflows or unique business processes.

One mid-market Ramp user says, “Ramp is streamlined and easy to use … [but] less flexible for complex approval chains, multi-entity setups, or unique accounting rules. Custom routing or nuanced workflows may require workarounds”

Ramp pricing

• Free tier: Basic card and expense features (revenue from interchange fees).
• Ramp plus: $12/user/month (yearly) or $15/month (monthly billing).
• Ramp enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations.

Important notes:

• Key automation features are paywalled behind paid tiers.
• ERP integrations, purchase order management, and premium support require Ramp Plus or Enterprise.
• Banking transaction fees for same-day ACH and wire transfers.
• Support quality varies significantly between free and paid users.

Bottom line

Ramp represents Airbase’s closest competition in the card-centric spend management space, offering similar unified platform benefits with strong user experience and competitive pricing. However, both platforms face the same fundamental challenge: AP automation feels like an add-on to their core card business rather than a specialized competency.

For companies choosing between spend management platforms, Ramp and Airbase offer comparable capabilities with different strengths. Ramp offers ease of use and pricing, Airbase offers comprehensive spend controls.

However, organizations requiring sophisticated AP automation, advanced workflow customization, or deep ERP integration will find both platforms limiting compared to dedicated solutions like Stampli that build from an AP-first foundation.

Companies that outgrow basic AP automation needs often find themselves constrained by the same limitations whether they choose Ramp, Airbase, or similar card-centric platforms. This includes things like rigid workflows, limited supplier collaboration, and the inability to adapt to complex business processes that dedicated AP solutions handle seamlessly.

4. Tipalti

Tipalti occupies an uncomfortable middle ground in the competitive landscape — too complex for companies seeking streamlined spend management like Airbase offers, yet lacking the user-friendly sophistication of dedicated AP automation solutions like Stampli.

Originally built for enterprises managing complex global payment operations, Tipalti markets itself as an “intake-to-pay” solution that can “eliminate 80% of AP workload.”

While Tipalti excels in global payment capabilities (196 countries, 120+ currencies) and tax compliance, this strength comes with significant complexity overhead that many mid-market companies find overwhelming. 

Customer feedback consistently highlights Tipalti’s implementation challenges and user experience issues that contrast sharply with more modern alternatives.

“We started out our implementation with one consultant who simply could not deliver,” one reviewer writes. “Every requirement we had was a question they needed to forward to their engineering team. This caused a delay of a full month on an implementation that was going to take five weeks.”

Key Tipalti features

• Invoice processing with OCR technology (though inconsistent accuracy reported).
• Multi-level approval workflows and role-based access controls.
• Payment processing supporting multiple methods globally.
• Tax compliance automation with W-8/W-9 collection and 1099 reporting.
• Supplier portal for vendor self-service and onboarding.

Global payment capabilities:

• Payments to 196 countries in 120+ currencies with local banking.
• OFAC compliance checks and international tax handling.
• Multi-entity support for complex organizational structures.
• Real-time payment tracking and foreign exchange management.

Procurement module:

• Purchase request and approval workflows (newer addition).
• Real-time budget visibility tied to AP processes.
• Integration with core AP automation platform.

Tipalti advantages

Global payment expertise

Tipalti’s strongest differentiator lies in its international payment capabilities, making it suitable for companies with significant global vendor relationships and complex compliance requirements.

Multi-entity support

The platform handles complex organizational structures well, with capabilities for managing different AP workflows per entity and presenting unified performance overviews across subsidiaries.

Established market presence

Tipalti maintains a strong market position among mid-to-large enterprises.

Tipalti disadvantages and limitations

Implementation complexity

Customer feedback consistently highlights implementation challenges.

Unlike Stampli, which can be deployed in days or weeks, Tipalti is known for extended onboarding and setup.

“The onboarding process required a significant amount of time and effort to properly integrate the platform with existing systems and workflows,” says one review on Capterra. 

User experience issues

“AP automation features are sluggish and very unreliable,” says an IT Manager in Information Technology. 

This feedback reflects broader user experience challenges with Tipalti’s platform performance and interface design. Tipalti customers consistently mention slow navigation between modules, inconsistent OCR accuracy for invoice processing, and a “barebones” user interface that lacks the sophistication users expect from modern AP automation platforms. 

The platform’s complexity, while supporting extensive global payment capabilities, often translates to a cumbersome user experience that requires more manual intervention than competitors offer.

Limited customization options

Customer reviews indicate issues with basic reporting capabilities and limited customization options. This is particularly problematic for companies with unique business processes or specific workflow requirements.

The same Tipalti customer who mentions the extended onboarding and setup process also notes, “customization options were limited, and certain specific requirements had to be addressed through workarounds.”

Pricing accessibility

“Tipalti’s pricing structure is better suited for mid-sized to large enterprises,” according to one Capterra review.

Tipalti pricing

• Platform fee: Starting at $149/month (increased from previous $99).
• Transaction fees: Volume-based additional charges.
• Enterprise features: Custom pricing for advanced global compliance and multi-entity capabilities.

Unlike Stampli’s transparent unlimited-user model, Tipalti’s complex fee structure can create budget surprises, particularly for high-volume operations. The pricing model favors large enterprises over growing mid-market companies.

Bottom line

Tipalti serves companies with complex global payment requirements but struggles to compete against more focused solutions. For organizations choosing between spend management platforms, Airbase offers superior user experience and unified spend control without Tipalti’s complexity overhead.

For companies requiring sophisticated AP automation, Stampli provides faster implementation, better user experience, and more advanced AI capabilities than Tipalti without the global payment complexity that most mid-market companies don’t need.

Tipalti’s global payment expertise commands premium pricing but often delivers more complexity than value for organizations without truly international payment needs.

5. Spendesk

Spendesk represents the European answer to Airbase’s spend management approach‌ — ‌a platform built around corporate cards and expense management that added basic AP automation as an afterthought in November 2022.

While both platforms offer unified spend management capabilities, Spendesk’s European focus creates distinct advantages for EU businesses but limitations for US-based organizations.

Like Airbase, Spendesk excels at expense management and corporate card controls but struggles with the same fundamental challenge: AP automation feels bolted-on rather than purpose-built. Recent developments in 2024-2025, including achieving profitability and acquiring procurement capabilities through Okko, demonstrate Spendesk’s ambition to compete in the complete spend management space.

Unfortunately, many Spendesk customers say it’s simply not up to par with the other options on the market. 

“It was nice back in 2020 but now it is far behind the competition,” says one G2 review from 2025.

Key features

Spendesk’s AP automation solution provides basic AP functionality combined with innovative features to help companies manage supplier payments.

• Corporate cards with real-time expense tracking and policy enforcement.
• Automated expense report processing with receipt capture.
• Multi-currency support for international operations (30+ currencies via Wise integration).
• Approval workflows and budget controls with spend analysis.
• Integration with 40+ accounting platforms and ERPs.

AP automation capabilities:

• Basic invoice processing with OCR technology
• Three-way matching with procurement integration
• Supplier payments via multiple methods including international transfers
• Invoice approval workflows with delivery note tracking
• AI quote upload and procurement line item management

Recent platform enhancements:

• Multi-Entity Hub for centralized spend visibility across organizations.
• Okko acquisition bringing 5% annual procurement cost savings.
• Enhanced AI and automation features.
• Apple Pay and Google Pay integration roadmap.

Spendesk advantages

Scalable and flexible to support business growth

Spendesk is scalable and provides various advanced spend management features and capabilities to help businesses manage their evolving needs as they grow.

Versatile spend management

Customers can simplify expense management with a single, all-in-one solution that provides visibility and control over expenditures across the business.

European market leadership

Spendesk’s European origin provides a deep understanding of EU compliance requirements, native language support, and local payment methods that US-based competitors often struggle to match.

Spendesk disadvantages and limitations

Basic AP automation depth

As a platform that added AP automation in 2022, Spendesk lacks the sophistication of dedicated AP solutions.

“Some features could be more customizable and data export can sometimes lack flexibility,” says one Spendesk customer in their review. 

System reliability issues

Spendesk customers frequently report issues with usability and reliability, even with the cards and payment features.

“We have had experience where credit cards get blocked quite a lot,” notes a Capterra review, highlighting operational challenges that can disrupt business processes.

Integration limitations

Another common issue brought up by Spendesk customers in the lack of integration support or unreliable integration functionality. Compared to a solution like Stampli, which is known for robust, real-time ERP synchronization, Spendesk’s lack of support can be a major limitation.

“Disappointment on accounting integration with Sage 100 (files not compatible),” reports one customer.

US market limitations

Spendesk’s European focus creates challenges for US-based businesses, with limited local support, fewer US-specific integrations, and features optimized for European business practices rather than US requirements.

Spendesk pricing

• Custom quote-based pricing: No public pricing transparency.
• Two-component model: Fixed monthly platform fee plus variable transaction-based fees.
• Volume-based fees: Charges for card purchases, invoice payments, and expense claims.
• Enterprise features: Advanced multi-entity and compliance capabilities at premium pricing.

Bottom line

Spendesk serves as the European equivalent to Airbase’s spend management approach, offering similar unified platform benefits with strong regional expertise.

For European businesses seeking an alternative to US-based spend management solutions, Spendesk provides local compliance knowledge and currency support that global competitors often lack.

However, both Spendesk and Airbase face the same fundamental limitation: AP automation capabilities that feel secondary to their core spend management focus. Organizations requiring sophisticated AP automation, advanced workflow customization, or deep ERP integration will find both platforms limiting compared to dedicated solutions like Stampli.

For US-based companies, Spendesk’s European focus creates additional challenges around support, integration, and feature optimization. While Spendesk’s recent profitability and strategic acquisitions demonstrate market strength, companies choosing between spend management platforms typically find Airbase better suited for US operations, while those requiring best-in-class AP automation gravitate toward Stampli’s specialized expertise.

6. Brex

Brex completes the trio of major card-centric spend management platforms alongside Airbase and Ramp, positioning itself as an “AI-powered global spend platform” that combines corporate cards, expense management, and bill pay capabilities.

Like its competitors, Brex built its foundation on corporate card services and later added AP automation as a complementary feature rather than a core competency.

Brex distinguishes itself through strong global capabilities, sophisticated rewards programs, and integrated business banking, making it particularly attractive to venture-backed startups and companies with international operations.

However, the platform faces the same fundamental challenge as other card-centric solutions: AP automation feels secondary to spend management, limiting its effectiveness for organizations requiring dedicated accounts payable expertise.

Brex customers raise many concerns about its functionality and long-term viability. One reviewer on TrustPilot calls Brex, “one of the worst fintech platforms in the world.”

Key Brex features

Core spend management platform:

• Corporate credit cards (virtual and physical) with embedded spending controls and up to 7x rewards multipliers.
• AI-powered expense management with automated categorization across 400+ custom fields.
• Real-time budget tracking and policy enforcement with dynamic approval chains.
• Multi-currency support in 120+ countries with global card issuance capabilities.
• Integrated travel booking platform with policy compliance automation.

AP automation capabilities (added feature):

• AI-powered invoice scanning with OCR data capture and smart categorization.
• Purchase order matching that auto-matches incoming invoices to POs line by line.
• Multi-level approval workflows with intelligent routing based on custom rules.
• Automated payment processing (ACH, check, wire) with scheduling capabilities.
• ERP integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.

2024-2025 platform enhancements:

• Enhanced AI suggestions based on company historical data.
• Automated accounting surface streamlining month-end processes.
• Custom roles with granular permissions across all platform functions.

Brex advantages

Global enterprise capabilities

Brex excels in multi-currency operations and international spend management, supporting 48 countries with local currency capabilities. 

Sophisticated rewards and banking integration

Brex’s integrated banking approach combines treasury management with spend controls.

AI-powered automation

Brex’s 2025 platform updates emphasize AI capabilities that work across 400+ custom fields, providing intelligent expense categorization and policy suggestions based on company-specific spending patterns.

Brex disadvantages and limitations

Card-centric AP automation

Like other spend management platforms, Brex’s AP capabilities feel bolted-on rather than purpose-built. The platform lacks supplier portals, forcing vendors to email invoices rather than submit through dedicated channels, and offers basic matching capabilities compared to specialized AP solutions.

Pricing complexity and enterprise costs

While Brex offers a free tier, advanced features require Premium ($12/user/month) or custom Enterprise pricing. Foreign exchange markups of up to 3% and user overage fees can create unexpected costs for growing organizations.

Platform trust concerns

Brex’s 2022 decision to close SMB accounts created market concerns about platform reliability and long-term commitment to smaller customers, potentially affecting enterprise evaluation decisions.

A (former) Brex customer on Reddit recounts their poor experience, saying, “They have frozen my business funds. No one in support can tell me why or how to unfreeze.”

Limited procurement integration

Brex’s procurement capabilities remain basic compared to specialized solutions, lacking the depth of purchase request workflows, supplier collaboration features, and advanced approval routing that dedicated procurement platforms provide.

This limitation becomes apparent for growing companies that need sophisticated procurement controls beyond basic expense management.

Brex pricing

• Essentials (free): Global card acceptance, AI-powered rules, basic accounting integrations, travel booking.
• Premium: $12/user/month with advanced expense policies, dynamic approvals, ERP integrations.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for unlimited entities, local card issuance, dedicated support.

Bottom line

Brex represents the most sophisticated option in the card-centric spend management category, offering superior global capabilities, rewards programs, and AI-powered automation compared to Airbase and Ramp. For venture-backed startups and companies with significant international operations, Brex provides compelling advantages in spend management and corporate banking integration.

However, Brex faces the same fundamental limitation as all card-centric platforms — AP automation capabilities that feel secondary to core spend management functions. 

Organizations requiring sophisticated accounts payable processing, vendor collaboration, or deep ERP integration will find Brex’s capabilities insufficient compared to dedicated solutions like Stampli.

The choice between Brex, Airbase, and Ramp often comes down to specific business needs — Brex for global operations and venture-backed companies, Airbase for mid-market spend control, Ramp for ease of use and cost efficiency. 

But companies outgrowing basic spend management consistently migrate to specialized AP automation platforms like Stampli for the depth of functionality and collaborative workflows that card-centric solutions cannot match.

Do you need an alternative to Airbase?

While Airbase provides a comprehensive spend management platform, the competitive landscape reveals several compelling alternatives that address specific business priorities and overcome Airbase’s limitations:

• Stampli is the best-in-class procure-to-pay automation solution with purpose-built functionality, 99 G2 customer satisfaction score, and Billy’s nine plus years of AI learning that delivers unmatched accuracy and user experience.
• Ramp offers the most user-friendly card-centric spend management platform with competitive pricing and strong real-time insights, though AP automation remains basic compared to dedicated solutions.
• BILL provides an accessible entry point for small businesses seeking basic AP automation, but companies quickly outgrow its rigid workflows and per-transaction fee structure as they scale.
• Tipalti excels at complex global payables with multi-currency capabilities, but suffers from lengthy implementations and user experience challenges that dedicated AP solutions handle more elegantly.
• Spendesk delivers strong European market expertise with unified spend management, but its 2022 entry into AP automation shows limited functionality compared to established platforms.
• Brex provides sophisticated global spend management with integrated banking, but shares the same AP automation limitations as other card-centric platforms, plus customer support and reliability concerns.

The pattern is clear: 

Card-centric platforms (Airbase, Ramp, Brex, Spendesk) excel at unified spend management but struggle with AP automation depth

Middle-ground solutions (BILL, Tipalti) offer more AP functionality but lack the user experience and implementation speed that modern finance teams expect.

Stampli is the standout as the best Airbase alternative, combining the strength of other platforms into a single, unified solution for end-to-end procurement, AP automation, invoice processing, payments, vendor management, and more.

Competitor pricing

Pricing transparency varies dramatically across Airbase alternatives, revealing important strategic differences in how these companies approach the market.

Transparent pricing leaders

Stampli offers straightforward monthly/annual pricing with unlimited users, while Ramp provides clear tiered pricing starting free with $12/user/month premium features.

Transaction-based models

BILL and Tipalti charge platform fees plus per-transaction costs, creating unpredictable expenses that can escalate with business growth. 

Quote-based opacity

Spendesk and Brex (enterprise) require custom quotes, making cost comparison difficult and extending evaluation timelines.

Hidden cost factors

Beyond base pricing, consider implementation costs, user training requirements, integration fees, and support tiers. Card-centric platforms often monetize through interchange fees, while dedicated AP solutions like Stampli include comprehensive support and training in base pricing.

Key pricing questions

When evaluating alternatives, ask about contract length requirements, overage fees, foreign exchange costs, implementation charges, and what happens to pricing as your business scales. Many Airbase alternatives that appear cost-effective initially become expensive at scale due to per-user, per-transaction, or volume-based pricing models.

Stampli: Automate P2P without disrupting your ERP

Stampli eliminates the need for workarounds, spreadsheets, and manual entry in the accounts payable process. Stampli’s efficient AI-powered solution for AP automation streamlines your existing processes without requiring any changes to your ERPs or workflows. 

Stampli ensures complete visibility and control over your AP process by centralizing communication, documentation, and processes. Its user-friendly interface is complemented by automation features like Billy, the AI that simplifies tasks and makes the process easier for your team.

Stampli’s versatile suite of integrated products and compatibility with over 70 ERPs makes for swift deployment, helping companies like Avid Acceptance gain control over cash flow, clear visibility into vendor performance, and agility in workforce management.

Learn more about the ways Stampli can help your invoice and payment processes. Contact us today for a free demo.