Ramp Review: Corporate Card and Spend Management for Startups
Expense reports are a waste of founder time. Chasing receipts, reconciling transactions, and manually categorizing spend—it’s administrative work that doesn’t grow your business.
Ramp eliminates most of this. It combines corporate cards with automated expense management, giving you real-time visibility and control over company spend. The platform is free for basic features, which sounds too good to be true until you understand the business model.
This review covers what Ramp actually offers, who it’s best for, and how it compares to alternatives like Brex and traditional corporate cards.
What Is Ramp?
Ramp is a corporate card and spend management platform designed specifically for businesses. Founded in 2019, it has grown rapidly to serve over 25,000 businesses managing billions in annual spend.
The core value proposition: “The corporate card that helps you spend less.” Unlike traditional card issuers that profit when you spend more, Ramp’s software actively identifies ways to reduce your costs—duplicate subscriptions, better vendor rates, and spending anomalies.
How Ramp makes money: Interchange fees. When your team uses Ramp cards, merchants pay a processing fee (typically 2-3%). Ramp keeps a portion. This aligns their incentives with yours—they want you using the cards, not paying software fees.
Who Ramp Is For
Ramp targets US-based businesses with real revenue or funding:
- Startups and growth-stage companies needing spend control as they scale
- Teams of 5-500 employees issuing multiple cards
- Businesses tired of expense reports and manual reconciliation
- Cost-conscious organizations wanting visibility into spend
Ramp requires a US business entity (corporation, LLC, or LP) and at least $25,000 in a US business bank account. Sole proprietors are not eligible.
Ramp Core Features
Corporate Cards
Ramp provides unlimited physical and virtual Visa cards at no cost.
Physical cards work anywhere Visa is accepted. Issue them to employees who need to make in-person purchases.
Virtual cards are instant and ideal for subscriptions, online vendors, and one-time purchases. You can create vendor-specific virtual cards with custom limits—if a vendor is compromised, only that card is affected.
Each card can have:
- Custom spending limits (daily, monthly, per-transaction)
- Category restrictions (only software, only travel, etc.)
- Merchant restrictions (whitelist or blacklist vendors)
- Expiration dates for temporary needs
No personal guarantee required for qualified businesses. Credit limits are determined by business revenue and cash flow, not personal credit scores. This matters for founders who want to separate personal and business liability.
Expense Management
Ramp’s expense management is where the platform shines. Most features are automated:
Receipt matching: AI automatically matches receipts to transactions. Forward receipts via email, snap photos in the mobile app, or let Ramp pull them from your email. Most expenses require zero manual entry.
Real-time tracking: Transactions appear instantly. No waiting for monthly statements or wondering if a charge went through.
Approval workflows: Set rules for who can approve what. Purchases over $500 need manager approval. New vendors need finance review. Customize to your organization’s needs.
Policy enforcement: Spending outside policy is flagged automatically. If someone tries to use a card at a prohibited merchant, the transaction can be declined or flagged for review.
Mobile app: Employees can submit expenses, capture receipts, and check balances on the go. Managers can approve expenses from their phone.
Bill Pay and Accounts Payable
Beyond card transactions, Ramp handles vendor payments:
- Invoice processing: Upload invoices or forward them via email. Ramp extracts details automatically.
- Payment methods: Pay vendors via ACH, check, or card (when accepted).
- Approval workflows: Same approval logic as card expenses.
- Payment scheduling: Schedule payments to optimize cash flow.
This consolidates card spend and bill payments in one place, giving complete visibility into outgoing cash.
Accounting Integrations
Ramp syncs bidirectionally with major accounting platforms:
| Platform | Sync Type | Auto-Categorization |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Two-way | Yes |
| Xero | Two-way | Yes |
| NetSuite | Two-way | Yes |
| Sage Intacct | Two-way | Yes |
Transactions flow automatically to your accounting software with proper categorization. Month-end close becomes significantly faster when you’re not manually entering hundreds of transactions.
Savings Insights
Ramp actively looks for ways to reduce your spend:
Duplicate subscriptions: Multiple employees signed up for the same tool? Ramp identifies overlapping subscriptions.
Price increases: Vendors quietly raised prices? Ramp flags unusual spend increases.
Vendor negotiations: Ramp can negotiate rates with vendors on your behalf, leveraging aggregate spend across their customer base.
Benchmark comparisons: See how your spend compares to similar companies. Paying 3x market rate for a service? You’ll know.
Companies report average savings of 5% on overall spend from these insights alone.
Ramp Pricing
Free Tier
Ramp’s core platform is genuinely free:
- Unlimited corporate cards (physical and virtual)
- Expense management and receipt matching
- Bill pay and accounts payable
- Accounting integrations
- Mobile app
- Basic reporting
- 1.5% cashback on all purchases
No annual fee. No monthly fee. No per-user fee. No foreign transaction fees.
Ramp Plus ($15/user/month)
For growing teams needing more control:
- Advanced accounting automation
- Custom approval policies
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Priority support
- Custom roles and permissions
- Procurement workflows
There’s a platform fee based on team size in addition to the per-user cost. A 30-day free trial is available.
Ramp Enterprise
For large organizations (custom pricing):
- Dedicated account management
- Custom integrations
- Advanced security features
- SLA guarantees
- Implementation support
What’s the Catch?
The free tier is genuinely useful and not artificially limited. Ramp profits from interchange fees—typically 2-3% of each transaction paid by merchants. They need you to use the cards, which aligns incentives with providing a good product.
The paid tier makes sense when you need advanced customization or have compliance requirements. Most startups under 50 employees operate comfortably on the free plan.
Ramp Rewards
Ramp offers straightforward cashback:
- 1.5% cashback on most purchases
- Higher rates on specific categories (varies by customer)
- Partner discounts: Over $400K in software discounts through partner deals
Rewards are automatically applied as statement credits. No points to manage, no complex redemption options, no expiration dates.
Some promotional offers provide enhanced rates:
- 7x on rideshare (promotional)
- 2x on recurring software (promotional)
The $250 welcome bonus has no minimum spending requirement—one of the easier bonuses to earn.
Ramp Pros and Cons
Pros
Genuinely free: The free tier includes features that competitors charge for. Most startups never need to upgrade.
Excellent automation: Receipt matching and categorization work surprisingly well. Expense reports become rare.
Real-time visibility: Know exactly what’s being spent, when, and by whom. No surprises at month end.
No personal guarantee: Qualified businesses don’t put founders’ personal credit at risk.
Strong integrations: Two-way sync with major accounting platforms eliminates manual data entry.
Unlimited cards: Virtual cards for each vendor means better security and easier tracking.
Cashback on everything: 1.5% back with no spending caps or category restrictions.
Cons
US only: No support for international businesses or international cards.
Business requirements: Need a real business entity (no sole proprietors) and $25,000+ in the bank.
Credit limits: Early-stage startups often receive lower limits initially. Limits increase as you build history.
Some features require paid plan: Advanced approval workflows and custom roles need Ramp Plus.
No travel rewards: If your team travels heavily, points-based cards might offer better value.
Ramp vs Competitors
Ramp vs Brex
Brex is Ramp’s closest competitor, also targeting startups with corporate cards and expense management.
| Feature | Ramp | Brex |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | Free | Free |
| Rewards | 1.5% cashback | Points (variable) |
| Expense management | Included | Included |
| Primary focus | Cost reduction | Rewards and perks |
| Best for | Cost-conscious teams | Travel-heavy teams |
Choose Ramp if: You prioritize cost savings and straightforward cashback.
Choose Brex if: Your team travels frequently and values point redemptions for flights and hotels.
Ramp vs Expensify
Expensify focuses primarily on expense reports, with corporate cards available through partners.
| Feature | Ramp | Expensify |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate card | Native | Via partners |
| Expense reports | Automated | Manual + auto |
| Pricing | Free | $5-18/user/month |
| Focus | All-in-one platform | Expense reporting |
Choose Ramp if: You want cards and expense management unified in one free platform.
Choose Expensify if: You need expense reports for cards you already have, or need specific receipt scanning features.
Ramp vs Traditional Corporate Cards (Amex, Chase)
Traditional corporate cards offer rewards but lack modern expense management:
| Feature | Ramp | Traditional Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Free | Often $95-495 |
| Expense software | Included | Separate purchase |
| Real-time tracking | Yes | Statement-based |
| Spending controls | Granular | Limited |
| Receipt matching | Automated | Manual |
Choose Ramp if: You want integrated spend management without paying for separate software.
Choose traditional cards if: You value specific rewards programs or have existing banking relationships.
Who Should Use Ramp
Ideal For
- Startups with 5-100 employees needing multiple cards with controls
- Companies wanting spend visibility without hiring an accountant
- Teams eliminating expense reports through automation
- Cost-conscious organizations that want savings insights
- Remote teams needing easy virtual card issuance
Not Ideal For
- Sole proprietors (not eligible)
- Non-US businesses (no international support)
- Companies needing immediate high credit limits (limits grow over time)
- Heavy travelers wanting hotel/airline points
- Businesses with under $25,000 in the bank
Getting Started with Ramp
Application Process
- Apply online (10-15 minutes): Basic business information, EIN, ownership details
- Connect bank account: Ramp verifies cash on hand via Plaid
- Credit evaluation: Based on business revenue and cash flow
- Approval: Often same-day for qualified businesses
- Card issuance: Virtual cards immediately; physical cards ship in 5-7 days
Onboarding Recommendations
Week 1:
- Connect accounting software before issuing cards
- Set up basic approval workflows
- Create spending policies
Week 2:
- Issue virtual cards for subscriptions
- Train team on mobile app and receipt capture
- Test expense submission and approval flow
Week 3:
- Review first batch of expenses
- Adjust categories and policies as needed
- Check accounting sync accuracy
Ongoing:
- Review savings insights monthly
- Audit spending by category quarterly
- Adjust card limits based on usage patterns
Common Questions
How is Ramp different from a business credit card?
Ramp combines the card with expense management software. Traditional cards just provide payment capability—you need separate tools for tracking, categorization, and receipt management.
Does Ramp affect personal credit?
No. Ramp doesn’t run personal credit checks and doesn’t report to personal credit bureaus. Your credit limit is based entirely on business financials.
What happens if an employee leaves?
Deactivate their cards instantly from the dashboard. Any pending transactions still process, but the card can’t be used for new purchases.
Can I set different limits for different employees?
Yes. Each card (physical or virtual) can have custom limits—per transaction, daily, monthly, or total. Managers might have higher limits than individual contributors.
How does receipt matching work?
Ramp uses AI to match receipts to transactions. Forward receipts to a unique email address, snap photos in the app, or let Ramp pull receipts from connected email accounts. It matches based on amount, date, and merchant.
Verdict: Is Ramp Worth It?
For US-based startups wanting modern expense management without the price tag, Ramp is the best option available. The free tier genuinely competes with paid alternatives.
The bottom line:
- Free is actually free (no hidden costs)
- Expense automation saves real administrative time
- Savings insights often pay for themselves
- Modern interface that employees actually use
If you’re still doing expense reports with spreadsheets or paying for separate expense software, Ramp is worth testing. The switch from traditional corporate cards typically takes a few weeks and the ROI shows up in reduced administrative time immediately.
The main limitations are US-only availability and early-stage credit limits. If you’re a newly formed company with minimal revenue, expect lower limits initially—they increase as you build transaction history.
For cost-conscious founders who want to control spend without adding complexity, Ramp delivers on its promise.