What is Corpay?

Corpay’s spend management solution allows businesses to manage spend and automate accounting reconciliation, approvals, and vendor payments. 

In January 2021, the public global business payments company FLEETCOR acquired Corpay to expand its AP and vendor payments and vehicle and mobility solutions capabilities. Following the acquisition, FLEETCOR rebranded Corpay as Corpay One. 

Corpay use cases and offerings

Corpay’s primary value proposition is allowing managers to monitor business bills effectively using custom controls and timely reporting. Here are the use cases and offerings for Corpay’s three platform solutions.

1. AP automation

Corpay provides procure-to-pay and payment automation capabilities.

Corpay uses OCR text recognition and ML technology to automate data entry when invoices are received. Invoices are matched to POs, and approvers are notified automatically.

Here are some key features:

• Paperless: Streamline all AP workflows by eliminating costly manual processes
• Payments: Businesses can process payments using ACH, check, or virtual card
• Secured transactions: Corpay’s security and compliance infrastructure reduces the risk of fraud and other types of theft

All communications and data are stored in one location so stakeholders can quickly access needed information. A centralized location makes bookkeeping and accounting tasks easier to complete.

2. Cross-border solutions

Corpay offers a trading platform and integrated payment solutions for global payments. Users can work with Corpay to manage currency risk and reduce the impact of currency fluctuations. 

The platform includes these features:

• Workflows: Customize workflows to meet specific approval requirements and other needs
• Hedging tools: Corpay uses a variety of tools, including forwards, swaps, and option strategies to minimize currency risk
• Payment options: Fast and accurate payment processing using wires, ACH, drafts, and other options using the company bank account
• Compliance: Transactions comply with local reporting and regulatory requirements
• Support: Get access to FX and cross-border payment specialists who can answer questions
• Reporting: Access reporting tools that provide real-time information on transactions

Corpay aims to make it easy to move money and support your company’s global operations.

3. Business credit cards (commercial cards)

Corpay’s commercial cards help business owners manage spend, centralize expenses, and automate reconciliations in an all-in-one solution. Corpay Multi-Card consolidates all T&E, fuel, and expense programs to improve travel and purchasing management.

Commercial cards include these features:

• Admin controls: Implement controls for real-time purchasing visibility. Create spending limits and category restrictions that conform with company policies.
• Cash rebates: Enhance cash flow by earning rebates on vendor card payments made using virtual cards. Rebates are based on how frequently your balance is paid.
• Fraud alerts: Cardholders receive automated fraud alerts and notifications for real-time transaction review and approval
• Reconciliations: Automated reconciliations to improve expenses management

Users can add the ExpenseTrack app to Corpay Mastercard to leverage automated coding and approvals from any device. The platform offers over 100 existing integrations, including NetSuite, Sage, QuickBooks, and Microsoft.

Who is Corpay for?

Corpay’s platform is designed for the SMB market and focuses on global operations. It is used by many companies, especially those with distributed workforces, that operate globally and need global payment support and processing.  

Examples include trucking businesses, wholesale distributors, and businesses with traveling sales teams. 

What is a business credit card?

A corporate credit card helps companies manage their business expenses and budgets. It’s often used for expenses like travel, digital ads, client entertainment, cloud computing, SaaS software subscriptions, and more. 

However, the market for corporate credit cards varies widely. Some offer better cashback or points, while others incorporate technology more than their peers. For example, a Capital One or Chase card is what-you-see-is-what-you-get; you pay for expenses and receive a monthly statement. 

Is a corporate card the same as a business card?

These cards are different. Business cards are designed to meet the needs of small businesses, while larger businesses use a corporate cards. 

Review the card issuer's written terms in detail to fully understand the pros and cons of the card you use. Research each card’s payment terms, annual fee, other expenses, and eligible purchases to earn rebates and other rewards.

Here are some important differences between these cards: 

Liability

New businesses may use credit cards to finance purchases rather than apply for a traditional short-term loan, such as a line of credit.

Business owners may be personally liable for paying a business card balance, and owners must provide their credit score when applying for a business card. The card issuer will run a credit check and review credit data from Equifax, Experian, or another credit reporting agency.

Owners do not have personal liability for corporate cards. Instead, the business is liable for payments, and credit application approval is based on the company’s finances. Card issuers will analyze data from Dun & Bradstreet and other providers to assess business creditworthiness. 

Using a corporate card or business card responsibly helps firms build business credit. Beginners who use business credit carefully over time can apply for credit line increases.

Approval requirements 

On average, corporate card users spend more and have more transactions than business card holders. Corporate cards have stricter approval requirements because corporations need larger credit limits.

Credit cards vs. charge cards

A credit card allows the cardholder to carry over an unpaid balance and pay interest. The Corpay One Mastercard, however, is a charge card. You cannot carry a balance forward, and your spending must be repaid at the end of the statement period. 

What are the risks of corporate credit cards?

Without automation and proper controls, using corporate credit cards may lead to unapproved spending and generate accounting errors.

Paying for unapproved transactions

The business is liable for paying corporate credit card balances, and controls must be in place to minimize unapproved transactions. Cardholders must be alerted to submit receipts immediately so that approvers can quickly review and approve expenses.

If credit card management isn’t automated, many transactions may not be reviewed until the credit card statement is received. Even worse, a company with poor controls may approve a fraudulent credit card transaction payment.

Allocating expenses incorrectly

When credit card transactions aren’t posted to the correct expense accounts, the financial statements are incorrect, and management can’t assess budget performance or profitability. 

Several factors contribute to the problem, including poorly implemented workflows, coding errors, and delays in reviewing budgeted vs. actual spending (variance analysis).

What are the benefits of having a business card?

Business card users can earn rewards for spending and take advantage of discounts and perks the card issuer offers. Owners can pay for products and services without using cash, and the business owner can build their personal credit rating.

Our Corpay review

This section goes into detail on Corpay and how well it serves customers. The discussion is based on verified user reviews from G2  and other third-party review sites.

Corpay for AP automation

Users generally like Corpay’s AP automation platform, the ability to use multiple payment methods, and the real-time expense tracking and reporting capabilities. Customers use the reports to identify areas where the firm can reduce costs.

Several customers use Corpay’s integration with ERPs and other accounting tools. The QuickBooks Online integration is particularly effective, according to reviews.

Some users point out occasional glitches in Corpay processing and delays in extracting data from PDFs and other documents.  Users must email customer support, and Corpay gets mixed reviews on customer support effectiveness. Some feel that the platform could be cheaper.

Corpay for cross-border finances

Reviewers like setting up multiple international transfers using Corpay’s FX conversion rates. Corpay immediately sends confirmation of each transaction, and records are updated in real-time. Overall, users are satisfied with Corpay’s FX support.

Some reviewers comment that Corpay’s exchange rates are slightly less attractive than those of some competitors, but they stick with Corpay for smooth transaction processing.

Corpay business credit cards

Several reviewers feel that customer support is needed more than just credit cards. Some complain about poor communication, why credit limits are reduced, and slow responses to resolve credit card issues. 

Users mention that Corpay does not charge monthly or annual maintenance changes, and there are no minimum balance requirements. According to several reviewers, Corpay One Mastercard’s integration with the bill payment system is helpful.

Corpay charges 2.9% transaction fees for payments made through Corpay One and late payment fees of $75 or 12.25% of the new balance, whichever is greater.  Reviewers feel that these fees are higher than other business credit cards.

Corpay pricing

Corpay offers Plus ($69/month), Pro ($129/mo), Premium ($209/ mo) pricing, and Custom pricing for larger businesses. Pricing is based on the number of transactions processed per month. 

Businesses with complex spend management needs must reach out to their sales team for a custom quote.   

Corpay pros and cons

Here are the pros and cons of using Corpay’s platform:

Corpay pros

Corpay’s AP automation reduces hardcopy documents and manual processing. Many users feel that the platform is intuitive and that navigating the system is straightforward. Corpay’s QuickBooks Online integration is effective.

Corpay cons

Corpay has implementation and performance issues that make managing payments and expenses more challenging. Monthly platform fees and other costs can add up quickly as companies grow and process more transactions.

Point-solution limitations 

AP point solutions make establishing full control and visibility over spending more difficult than integrated finance solutions with AP capabilities, such as Rho. Corpay customers must add other solutions to the tech stack to manage business checking accounts and treasury capabilities.

Weaknesses in customer service

Users must email customer support rather than call. Corpay’s AP automation and global payments support are generally effective, but business card customer support is not. Users complain about confusion over credit limits and business card issues take too long to resolve.

Inconsistent user experience

Users mention glitches and lags with the platform. Some customers report problems with importing documents due to formatting issues. Several reviewers believe that payments should be sent to vendors promptly.

Expensive to use

Corpay’s fee for the core platform is relatively expensive, and customers must pay higher fees to upgrade to other features and tools. Business card transactions and late payment fees exceed business credit card competitors.

What should you look for when picking a business credit card?

Look for a business credit card fully integrated with your payments, accounting, and finance systems. Newer technology companies like Rho have introduced ‘smart’ corporate credit cards that provide additional capabilities, including: 

• Spend controls you can configure to enforce your expense policy before a card is swiped.
• It has automated approval workflows that handle all expense approvals for you.
• A real-time data feed between your corporate credit card expense management platform and your ERP, making it easier to close the books. 
• Real-time spend visibility via smart budgeting tools. 

Did you know? The Rho corporate credit card offers up to 1.25% cashback on all purchases and has zero platform fees.      

When using corporate cards backed by an integrated expense management platform, managers can solve these headaches and fully control company spending with complete visibility in real-time.  

Benefits include:

1. Better expense tracking, margin control, and cash flow management. 
2. Reduction in overspending, expense policy non-compliance, and fraud-related charges.
3. Employee cardholders submit expense receipts faster thanks to smart notifications and easy uploading. 
4. Faster month-end close by transforming credit card transaction reconciliation from a post-close activity to a pre-close checklist item. 
5. Easier reimbursement management and tax preparation with clear audit trails. 
6. Your team is focusing on higher-impact, engaging work.

Corpay competitors and alternatives

Many competitors offer business credit cards; some provide other accounting and spend management capabilities on the same platform. Here are three competitors in the business credit card market.

1. Rho

Based in New York, Rho is a comprehensive finance automation platform that empowers startups, SMBs, and middle-market companies with tools to boost their bottom line and operate more efficiently. 

In one platform, businesses can access corporate credit cards with spend controls, automated expense management and accounts payable, business banking, and treasury management – all without platform fees. 

Features          

• Rho Corporate Cards have built-in spend controls, expense management capabilities as needed, and the ability to earn up to 1.25% cashback on spending. 
• Rho Expense Management allows users to create custom spending rules, capture real-time receipts, and automate approvals.
• Rho AP automates the end-to-end accounts payable process in just a few clicks and without payment delays that some experience with point solutions thanks to Rho’s integrated business banking.  Rho offers payment reconciliation automation.
• Rho Prime Treasury is a bespoke management solution that helps customers invest their excess cash in short-dated government securities held directly in their company’s name.
• Rho Treasury Management Account, built on a network of over 400 FDIC-insured banks, offers access to up to $75M in FDIC deposit insurance per entity. 
  

Rho integrates with QuickBooks Online, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and Sage Intacct.  Rho also supports flat-file CSV exporting, so you can automatically tailor transaction categorization to your business needs.

Pros

• Responsive business banking: Rho clients enjoy platform fee-free business banking services like Same Day ACHs and responsive customer support. 
• Dedicated customer support: Dedicated customer support is available 24 hours a day, Mon-Fri and 10-7 pm ET on weekends to assist with any customer needs. 
• More comprehensive finance solution: Rho offers not only expense management, corporate cards, AP automation, and accounting but also business banking and treasury management – all in one platform. 
• No tiered payment plans: You don’t have to subscribe to Rho to access advanced features that you would have to subscribe to on many competitor platforms. 
• Dynamic integrations: Rho can easily be integrated with your accounting, HR, and other expense management platforms like Emburse and Certify. 

Cons

• Straight cashback vs. points: Some companies prefer legacy corporate card solutions like American Express, Chase, or Capital One for the point rewards they offer, even if that impacts process speed. 

Pricing

The Rho platform is free, though the Rho Prime Treasury capability does have a small annual management fee, which depends on the amount invested but caps out at 0.60%. Learn more about the latest rates at rho.co/treasury.

Best for

Rho is a great fit for SMBs and startups. Business owners use Rho as a single solution for corporate cards, expense management, payments, banking, and treasury. Startup founders can effectively manage finances with a lean team, saving time and money.

Rho vs. Corpay

Corpay’s implementation process takes longer than that of many competitors. Customer service responses are not always timely, and users often have to wait for follow-up. Some users feel that vendor payments are not processed fast enough. 

Rho helps lean finance teams gain greater control and visibility over their cash and boost their operational efficiency.  Customers are assigned a Dedicated Rho Specialist, and the company provides effective customer support so that users maintain productivity.

2. Brex

Brex provides corporate cards, expense management, travel, and bill pay software solutions.  The platform offers real-time expense tracking and variance reporting. Brex’s customers can do business in several different currencies.

Features

Brex corporate cards can be issued digitally or in physical form.  Spending limits can be set by dollar amount or vendor, and cards can be used for recurring payments. Brex can also pay reimbursements utilizing the employee’s local currency.

Brex automates document collection, and users can set up approval workflows. The platform speeds up the month-end close using automation. Finally, the card offers cashback rewards, and the Exclusive Rewards program pays higher rewards for more card use.

Brex provides ERP integrations with NetSuite, Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks.

Pros

• Mobile functionality: Users can easily take photos of receipts and upload them for expense coding with the mobile app
• Brex corporate card: The corporate card streamlines expense processing, and receipts can be easily posted as card expenses.
• Reimbursements: Brex makes employee reimbursements easier to process

Cons

• Customer support: Several reviews point out that customer support needs to be more responsive
• Balance reporting: Some reviewers feel that they need better reporting on Brex card available balances
• Bank transfers: Brex needs to process bank transfers faster, according to some reviewers

Pricing

Brex requires you to book a sales call to get a specific quote.

Best for

While it has attempted to move upmarket to enterprise-size businesses, Brex largely caters to venture-backed startups. A Brex account also generally requires customers to maintain a cash balance of at least $25,000 to maintain any credit limit.

If you are not a venture-backed business, consider evaluating Rho for your corporate card, business banking, expense management, or AP needs.

Brex vs. Corpay

Brex targets VC-backed startups, and Brex does not support traditional small businesses that are not venture-backed.

Corpay focuses on the SMB market, particularly businesses that process global payments. Both Brex and Corpay users report problems with access to customer service, and both firms charge platform fees.

Brex has a complicated card rewards structure based on payment frequency and card use. Corpay’s reward structure is less complex, but the platform charges higher fees for late payments. Reviewers comment that fees can quickly add up on both platforms.

How does Brex compare to Rho and Ramp? Read our latest post comparing all three modern finance solutions to learn more. 

3. Ramp

Based in New York, Ramp is a fintech company initially launched in 2019 as a corporate card and expense management platform combo and has since expanded its product capabilities to include bill payments, procurement, and accounting integrations. 

Ramp’s mission is to help build healthier businesses through its platform, which allows companies to control spending, save time, and automate busy work. 

Features

Ramp’s products include Visa corporate cards that offer up to 1.5% cashback, expense management, procurement, accounts payable, vendor management, working capital, a mobile app, and other core features built into their platform.  

Key features include:

• Expense management users can upload a snapshot of receipts using the mobile app. 
• The platform auto-collects and matches receipts in minutes with integrations for Gmail, Uber, Amazon Business, and Lyft.  
• Ramp’s automation handles approvals, global reimbursements, and AI-powered reconciliations.
• Ramp Flex is a financing solution embedded in Ramp Bill Pay that adds additional float for vendor payments.
• Ramp will pay vendors when requested and can choose to repay Ramp over 30, 60, or 90 days. Ramp Flex fees for financing are based on the customer’s current cash balances, revenue and commerce data, and credit bureau information. Fees may change from one invoice to the next.

Pros

• Receipt matching: Users can easily match receipts sent by text or email
• Reporting: Ramp provides a useful set of real-time reports
• UX intuitive: The platform is intuitive and easy to navigate

Cons

• Xero integration: Some users report problems with the Xero payment integration
• Customer support: Ramp does not provide live phone support to Ramp and Ramp Plus customers
• Expense categories: The platform needs to provide more customization for expense categories, according to some reviews

Pricing

Some of Ramp’s basic features are free to use. It’s important to note that Ramp customers must sign up for Ramp Plus to access many of the platform’s marquee features, including ERP integrations, purchase order management, and premium customer support. 

As of this article’s publishing date, Ramp Plus is $12 per user per month (when billed yearly; $15 per month otherwise). However, larger enterprise organizations must contact Ramp Sales for a more specific quote if they want important features like multi-entity support. 

Best for

The Ramp Card is a great corporate card program for startups, with many resources specifically geared toward the VC-backed community. If your company is a Series A to Series C-funded business, Ramp can support your operation as you add more cardholders and approvers.

Larger growth companies that need streamlined approvals, expense management, and structured workflows should consider Rho.

Ramp vs. Corpay

While Ramp has positioned itself as a strong credit card and spend management solution for VC-backed startups, it is most effective for businesses with narrower financial needs. Corpay also offers a strong global payment solution and focuses on customers who need it.

Corpay and Ramp offer a corporate card solution, expense management, and AP capabilities. These solutions effectively support startups in the early stages while saving time for processes like month-end close. 

However, Corpay and Ramp fall short in customer support and comprehensive financial management. With customer support confined to email for Corpay, Ramp, and Ramp Plus customers, response times may be slower than desired. 

Furthermore, lacking built-in business banking or treasury management capabilities means businesses must pair Corpay and Ramp with a separate banking solution, leading to potential inefficiencies.

Wrap-up: is a Corpay business credit card right for you?

After reviewing the Corpay business credit card and other business credit card solutions on the market, think about the features and tools that are most important for your business.

And if you still need help choosing a business credit card, let's make this easy.

If:

• End-to-end functionality to capture, record, approve, and pay expenses
• Full integration with corporate cards for easier expense management
• A scalable platform that grows as you grow

All wrapped up in unbeatable pricing and 24/7 customer support sounds nice to you, so you should consider Rho.

Schedule time with a Rho payments expert today!

Competitive data was collected as of March 9. 2024 and is subject to change or update.