logo
Search for anything...
About

Spend Management Software

Spend management software gives businesses control over company expenses - issuing corporate cards, enforcing spending policies, streamlining approvals, tracking budgets, and reducing manual work across receipts, invoices, and reimbursements.

This is a category overview

Looking for a side-by-side comparison of all Spend Management tools?

View all Spend Management tools

Spend Management comparisons

Compare all Spend Management tools
Ramp logo

Ramp vs. other Spend Management tools

Brex logo

Brex vs. other Spend Management tools

Moss logo

Moss vs. other Spend Management tools

Pleo logo

Pleo vs. other Spend Management tools

Payhawk logo

Payhawk vs. other Spend Management tools

Expensify logo

Expensify vs. other Spend Management tools

Mesh logo

Mesh vs. other Spend Management tools

Spendesk logo

Spendesk vs. other Spend Management tools

Rydoo logo

Rydoo vs. other Spend Management tools

Soldo logo

Soldo vs. other Spend Management tools

FAQs

What is Spend Management Software?

Spend management software helps businesses track, control, and optimize company spending in real time. When choosing a platform, consider ease of use, integrations, scalability, and pricing. Avoid tools that are overly complex, lack automation, or don’t integrate with your financial systems. The key features of spend management software usually include:

  • Approval Workflows – Customizable multi-level approval processes to control spending before it happens.
  • Virtual & Physical Cards – Issue company cards with built-in spending controls, limits, and automated reconciliation.
  • Automation & AI Insights – Auto-match receipts, flag policy violations, and generate AI-powered recommendations for cost savings.
  • Integrations with Accounting & ERP Systems – Seamless syncing with tools like QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and other financial platforms.
  • Real-Time Reporting & Analytics – Gain visibility into company-wide spending with detailed reports, trend analysis, and budget tracking.

What should I consider when buying Spend Management Software?

Start by assessing your current and future spend management needs. Do you need real-time tracking of company expenses? Are you looking for tighter budget controls, automated approvals, or integrations with your accounting system? Here are the key factors to consider before making your decision.

  • Your Spend Management Needs. Begin by evaluating your company’s spending patterns and financial workflows. Do you need real-time expense tracking? Do you want corporate cards with built-in controls? Are you managing spending across multiple teams or locations? Identifying your priorities will help you choose the right tool.
  • Ease of Use. Spend management software should simplify financial operations, not add complexity. Look for an intuitive platform that employees can use with minimal training. Overly complicated systems can lead to adoption issues, errors, and inefficiencies. Stackfix rates every platform on ease of use. Click into each product above to see how they compare.
  • Integration with Your Financial Stack. Your spend management software should sync seamlessly with accounting, ERP, and payroll systems. If you’re using QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite, check for native integrations or whether third-party connectors are required. Lack of integration can lead to manual reconciliation and extra admin work.
  • Scalability & Flexibility. As your business grows, so will your financial complexity. Ensure that the software can scale with your needs, support multi-entity operations, and offer features like custom approval workflows, spend limits, and policy automation. Reviewing the vendor’s product roadmap can help determine if they’re continuously improving their platform.
  • Pricing & Hidden Costs. Many spend management platforms charge based on users, transactions, or premium features like AI-driven insights or advanced analytics. What seems cost-effective now could become expensive at scale. Look closely at pricing structures, including per-user fees, add-ons for integrations, and premium support costs.
  • Customer Support from the Vendor. Managing company finances requires reliability, so what happens if the software malfunctions or you need urgent assistance? Some vendors offer 24/7 support, while others only provide email or chatbot responses during business hours. Stackfix rates each platform on support quality. Click into each product to see how they compare.

What are the common mistakes to avoid when buying Spend Management software?

Some platforms offer impressive features but are too complex for growing businesses. Make sure you’re choosing a tool that fits your workflow, not just one with an extensive feature set. Here are some of the biggest mistakes businesses make—and how to avoid them.

  • Choosing based on features, not usability. Many spend management tools come packed with advanced capabilities but can be difficult to implement and use. A platform with every possible feature won’t help if your team struggles to adopt it. Look for software that simplifies spending control, rather than adding complexity.
  • Ignoring automation. Manually tracking expenses, approvals, and reimbursements slows down operations. Look for tools with automation features like real-time expense tracking, automated approvals, receipt matching, and AI-driven insights. Automation reduces admin work and helps prevent unnecessary spending.
  • Overlooking spend controls. Some businesses focus only on tracking expenses instead of proactively controlling them. Features like virtual cards with spending limits, approval workflows, and policy enforcement can prevent issues before they happen. Make sure the software helps control spend, not just report on it.
  • Not planning for scaling. A spend management tool might work well for a small team but struggle when your company grows. Can it support multiple departments, global transactions, and complex approval structures? Ensure the platform can scale with your business needs.
  • Overlooking integration depth. A platform might claim to integrate with your accounting or ERP system, but does it sync transaction data in real time? Does it support two-way data flow? Poor integrations can create manual work and reconciliation headaches. Always test integrations before committing.

How much does Spend Management Software typically cost?

Several providers (like Ramp, Brex, Pleo, and Mesh) offer free plans with core functionality, though these typically restrict the number of cards issued, integration capabilities, or advanced approval workflows.

For enterprise plans and above, you can expect to speak to sales for a bespoke price. These custom quotes typically factor in transaction volume, integration requirements, and compliance needs. To skip the demo calls, be sure to check out our pricing calculator.