- Why businesses are looking for Airwallex alternatives
- At a glance: Airwallex alternatives compared
- Best overall Airwallex alternative: Ramp
- Airbase
- Spendesk
- Expensify
- Ramp vs. Airwallex: a closer look
- Ramp isn’t just an Airwallex alternative—it’s an upgrade
Airwallex is known for its global payments infrastructure, multi-currency business accounts, and API-first architecture. With a 4.5-star rating on G2 from 40+ reviews, it’s a solid choice for small to mid-sized companies managing international payments and virtual card spend.
But while Airwallex performs well for cross-border finance operations, businesses scaling up their finance tech stack—or needing more advanced expense management, AP automation, or ERP integration—often look elsewhere.
This guide compares five of the best Airwallex competitors based on real user reviews, G2 ratings, and feature sets to help you find the right platform for your business needs.
Why businesses are looking for Airwallex alternatives
Despite its strengths, users report recurring friction points that lead finance teams to explore Airwallex alternatives:
Limited ERP integrations
Airwallex offers integration with Xero, but many users cite the lack of deeper ERP connectivity—especially with tools like NetSuite or QuickBooks—as a limitation. One mid-market user noted, “It restricts connection to any other software than Xero…which increases a lot of manual import of data.”
Mobile app functionality gaps
Several users praise the desktop interface but say the mobile app lacks depth. One review reads, “The mobile app is quite basic and lacks many options… Expanding functionality would greatly enhance the experience.”
Confusing wallet and reconciliation structure
Airwallex’s wallet-based approach, where each currency or card has its own balance, can make financial reconciliation challenging. Reviewers mention that “it becomes tricky when you’re looking at it holistically.”
Missing T&E-specific features
While Airwallex handles card spend and reimbursements well, it lacks traditional travel and expense (T&E) features like per diems or mileage tracking. Users also want more robust approval chains and auditing capabilities.
Customer support and onboarding delays
Most reviewers acknowledge Airwallex support is helpful, but a few mention long setup times or inconsistent assistance during peak hours.
At a glance: Airwallex alternatives compared
Not all Airwallex competitors have the same scope. Some focus primarily on expense management and compliance, while others, like Ramp, take a broader approach to cover spend management across cards, expenses, bill pay, and procurement.
Platform | G2 Rating | Best For | Key Features | Starting Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ramp | 4.8 | Startups | Expense management | $0 – Unlimited free tier |
Airbase | 4.7 | Mid-market | Procurement | N/A – All pricing is quote-based |
Spendesk | 4.6 | Startups Mid-market | Virtual cards Invoice management Expense management | N/A – All pricing is quote-based |
Freshbooks | 4.6 | Small businesses | Invoicing | $6.30 - Lite plan |
Expensify | 4.5 | Small business Mid-market | Expense management Corporate cards | $5 per month/use |
Best overall Airwallex alternative: Ramp
Ramp is a comprehensive finance automation platform that combines corporate cards, expense tracking, bill pay, and procurement in a single, unified experience. It’s designed for scale, with deep automation, tight ERP integrations, and no per-seat fees at the base tier.
While Airwallex centers on international payments and virtual cards, Ramp is focused on helping teams automate finance from end to end without switching banks. With a 4.8-star G2 rating from 2,000+ reviews, Ramp is the top-rated platform in this category.
Key features
- Real-time policy enforcement and receipt matching at the point of spend
- AI-powered invoice matching and line-item coding with 99% accuracy
- One-click reimbursements and custom approval workflows
- Built-in procurement tools for vendor requests and contract tracking
- Seamless ERP sync with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, Sage, and more
Ramp vs. Airwallex
Where Airwallex focuses on international payments and FX savings, Ramp delivers broader finance automation. Its consolidated approach helps teams speed up month-end close, reduce tool sprawl, and enforce spend policies at the point of transaction. Ramp also supports global payments through AP automation, though it does not offer multi-currency wallets like Airwallex.
Best for
Organizations of all sizes—from startups and small businesses to mid-market and enterprise companies—across industries such as SaaS, healthcare, education, retail, real estate, professional services, and nonprofits.
Pricing
Ramp’s core platform is free with unlimited seats and cards. Ramp Plus, which adds advanced fields, custom workflows, and procurement features, starts at $15 per user per month.
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Airbase
Airbase is a finance automation platform built for mid-market companies that need strong compliance, detailed audit trails, and multi-entity support. With a 4.7-star G2 rating from 350+ reviews, it’s a leading option for finance teams that have outgrown lighter spend solutions.
Key features
- Procurement workflows and vendor management
- Expense management and card controls
- Multi-level approvals and audit logs
Airbase vs. Airwallex
While Airwallex is centered on payments and FX infrastructure, Airbase emphasizes internal governance. It offers deeper visibility and approval rigor for finance leaders managing multiple entities or complex spend policies.
Best for
Mid-market companies (50–1,000+ employees) in industries like technology, finance, legal, and consulting where compliance and audit readiness are top priorities.
Pricing
Airbase pricing is fully quote-based.
Spendesk
Spendesk is a spend management platform designed for startups and mid-market companies looking to streamline employee expenses and invoice management. It has a 4.6-star G2 rating from 400+ reviews and is widely adopted across Europe.
Key features
- Virtual and physical card issuance with spend limits
- Centralized invoice processing and approvals
- Real-time spend tracking and receipt capture
Spendesk vs. Airwallex
Spendesk focuses on managing internal company spend, while Airwallex prioritizes cross-border payments. For teams looking for centralized expense controls and budget visibility, Spendesk offers stronger tools for day-to-day employee expenses.
Best for
Startups and mid-market firms that want greater visibility over recurring spend, subscriptions, and travel expenses.
Pricing
Spendesk does not publish standard pricing. Custom quotes are available based on company size and needs.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is accounting software designed for small businesses and freelancers who need easy invoicing and expense tracking. It holds a 4.6-star G2 rating from 900+ reviews and is known for its simple setup and user-friendly design.
Key features
- Invoicing with recurring billing and client management
- Expense and receipt tracking for tax readiness
- Time tracking and project profitability reporting
FreshBooks vs. Airwallex
Unlike Airwallex’s global payments focus, FreshBooks is optimized for service-based businesses managing billing and bookkeeping. It’s a lighter, easier-to-use solution for small teams that don’t need complex ERP integrations.
Best for
Freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses focused on invoicing and project-based work.
Pricing
Plans start at $6.30/month for the Lite plan, scaling up with more clients and features.
Expensify
Expensify is an expense management platform that helps companies of all sizes simplify reimbursements, receipt capture, and reporting. With a 4.5-star G2 rating from over 5,000 reviews, it’s widely adopted for its mobile-first design and ease of use.
Key features
- Smart receipt scanning and auto-categorization
- Expense reporting and reimbursements
- Corporate cards and policy enforcement
Expensify vs. Airwallex
Expensify focuses on employee expense management, while Airwallex is geared toward international payments. Companies choose Expensify for simplified reimbursement workflows and mobile-friendly reporting.
Best for
Small businesses and mid-market teams that want to eliminate manual expense reporting and speed up reimbursements.
Pricing
Plans start at $5 per user per month, with both free and paid options depending on features.
Ramp vs. Airwallex: a closer look
Airwallex is designed primarily for international money movement—ideal for businesses holding and sending funds across currencies, issuing virtual cards, and automating FX payments.
Ramp, by contrast, is built for scaling finance teams that want automation across all non-payroll spend. It consolidates cards, expenses, bill pay, and procurement without requiring a change in banking.
Airwallex is a strong fit if you:
- Need local currency accounts in multiple countries
- Want to minimize FX fees on transfers
- Prefer an API-first setup for embedding payments
- Are focused on payments infrastructure over finance automation
Ramp is a strong fit if you:
- Need corporate cards with real-time spend controls
- Want automated expense categorization and invoice ingestion
- Require built-in procurement workflows
- Rely on deep ERP integrations for faster close
Ramp also supports international payments through AP automation, though it doesn’t offer native currency wallets. Where Airwallex focuses on global payments infrastructure, Ramp focuses on making finance teams faster and more efficient.
Companies using Ramp report 5% cost savings, books closed 86% faster, and significant time saved on expense reports and reviews.
Ramp isn’t just an Airwallex alternative—it’s an upgrade
Airwallex delivers speed and savings for global payments, but growing teams often need deeper automation, richer integrations, and full finance workflow support.
Ramp provides that in one centralized platform—advanced controls, automation, and integrations that scale. For businesses focused on modernizing their finance operations, Ramp offers more value with less friction.
Learn how Ramp’s expense management solutions can help your finance team drive reach not just the next level, but scale beyond that.
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