Brex vs Ramp vs Divvy: Best Corporate Cards for SaaS & Software Publishers
For Software Publishers and SaaS companies, corporate cards aren't just a perk; they're essential infrastructure for managing developer tools, cloud hosting, and marketing spend. Brex, Ramp, and Divvy all provide physical and virtual cards with spend controls, receipt capture, and accounting integrations. This guide will break down their differences in rewards, credit limits, and eligibility to help your tech startup choose wisely.
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The Quick Answer
Ramp is the strongest choice for most growing SaaS companies focused on cost control for cloud spend (AWS, Azure, GCP), software licenses (GitHub, Jira, Salesforce), and ad campaigns (Google Ads, Meta). It's best for automating these recurring expenses. Brex wins for VC-backed SaaS startups that need high limits to cover large annual software licenses, server migrations, or sales team travel to industry conferences. Divvy (now BILL Spend and Expense) is the right fit for bootstrapped software publishers needing a credit line for early operational costs, like initial app store fees or dev environment setup, without venture capital.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
Ramp: Free platform. This is a charge card, meaning you pay monthly in full. Credit limits are based on cash in your bank account, typically 50-75% of your cash balance. This works well for managing predictable SaaS expenses like AWS credits, monthly Zapier subscriptions, or dev tool licenses. It offers 1.5% cashback on everything, helping offset these costs. Ramp has best-in-class receipt matching, especially for digital invoices for subscriptions, and strong accounting automation. No personal guarantee is required.
Brex: Free for qualifying startups, otherwise it costs $12/user/month for premium features. This is also a charge card. Credit limits are based on your funding and cash position, offering high limits for well-funded startups. These high limits are crucial for large annual enterprise software licenses (e.g., Salesforce Enterprise, HubSpot), cloud infrastructure commitments, or major marketing campaigns. It offers tiered rewards, often including software and travel points, useful for dev team travel or SaaS conference attendance. No personal guarantee is required for VC-backed companies.
Divvy (BILL Spend and Expense): Free platform. This is a revolving credit line, meaning you can carry a balance. Credit is determined by BILL underwriting and is more accessible to businesses without institutional funding. Limits for bootstrapped software publishers can start lower, for example, $10K-$25K, but grow over time. This is useful for managing irregular expenses like contract developer payments, initial app store submissions, or small ad spend without tying up your cash. Rewards are earned by paying weekly rather than monthly. A personal guarantee is sometimes required for unfunded tech businesses.
When to Choose Ramp
Choose Ramp if: You consistently manage significant cloud hosting bills (e.g., $10K+ monthly on AWS, GCP, or Azure) and want your credit limit tied to that cash. You want to track and control every software subscription, from Slack to GitHub Enterprise, to avoid unapproved software purchases. You prioritize automating expense reports for developer tool licenses and recurring SaaS platform fees (e.g., Intercom, Segment) to free up your operations team. You use QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite for your SaaS accounting and need seamless syncing of your server costs and subscription payments.
When to Choose Brex
Choose Brex if: Your SaaS company has recently closed a significant funding round (e.g., Seed, Series A) and needs a high credit limit of $100K+ to match your monthly spending. Your sales and dev teams travel often to client sites, tech conferences (like SaaStr, AWS re:Invent), or for team offsites, and you want strong travel rewards. You require high limits for large, one-time software purchases, annual cloud commitments, or major agency contracts for marketing and SEO. You want a corporate card that is well-known in the tech startup ecosystem when paying vendors or signing up for new enterprise software trials.
When to Choose Divvy
Choose Divvy if: You are a bootstrapped software publisher or a small SaaS company under $1M in yearly revenue, needing a credit line for operational expenses without relying on venture capital. You need flexibility to carry a balance for up to 30 days to smooth out cash flow gaps, perhaps between subscription renewals or when waiting for delayed client payments. You are already using BILL for vendor payments or invoicing and want an integrated spend management solution. You can commit to weekly payment cycles to maximize rewards, which might suit a recurring revenue model where cash comes in frequently.
The Verdict
For most growing SaaS companies (post-seed funding): Ramp is best for automating and saving on recurring tech expenses like cloud hosting and software licenses. Choose Brex if you're a VC-backed company with a high spending rate and need matching credit limits, especially for team travel to conferences or large software commitments. For bootstrapped software publishers under $1M in yearly revenue that need a true credit line: Divvy is the go-to. The platform is free in all three cases; the key differences for SaaS are in how they support your unique spending patterns, funding status, and need for credit.
How to Get Started
Ramp: Apply online in under 10 minutes. Connect your business bank account, which holds your operational funds. Ramp uses your cash balance to set the initial credit limit, which is useful for managing your SaaS runway. First cards are issued within 1-3 business days.
Brex: Apply at brex.com. If your SaaS company is VC-backed, be ready with your latest funding documentation and investor details. Limits are set at onboarding and can be increased as your cash position grows or you raise new funding rounds.
Divvy: Apply through BILL. The underwriting process takes 1-3 days. For early-stage software publishers, limits may start conservatively (e.g., $5K-$15K) but can increase as your recurring revenue grows and you build a strong payment history.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Ramp
Free expense management + corporate cards
Brex
Corporate cards for startups and growth companies
Divvy
Business credit + expense management by BILL
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do Ramp and Brex require a personal guarantee?
Generally no, for charge cards. Ramp and Brex use your business cash position or funding to underwrite limits without requiring a personal guarantee. Divvy may require one for newer businesses or lower credit profiles.
Can I use these alongside my existing bank account?
Yes. None of these are banks (except Brex, which has its own cash management product). You keep your business bank account and use the card platform on top of it.
What happens to my Brex account if I run out of runway?
Brex monitors cash position and can reduce limits if cash falls significantly. If you shut down, any outstanding balance is due immediately. Charge cards require full payoff and cannot be used as a bridge.