Brex vs Mesh Payments (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Brex if

• Fits if you're a startup that wants cards and expenses with no software bill
• Works for developers who want an API on the free plan

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need several expense policies or approval chains without paying $12 a user
• Pricey if your team buys a lot in foreign currencies, with an FX markup of up to 3% on card purchases
• Not for you if you only want some users on Premium, since everyone must be on the same plan
• Tight if you run more than two entities, as Essentials stops there and the rest needs Premium
• Watch out: the pricing page doesn't say whether Premium's $12 is billed monthly or yearly

Pick Mesh Payments if

• Fits if you're a small team of 3 or fewer who want cards and expenses at no cost
• Works for companies with spend in many countries that sync to an ERP

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you have more than 3 users: past that you're on Premium at $13 a user
• Skip it if you want native mobile apps, as none are listed
• Watch out: cashback needs $50K of monthly spend
• Watch out: card issuing depends on region, with a different bank partner in each
• Watch out: the pricing page doesn't say if $13 is billed monthly or yearly

Brex

• Card purchases that need a currency conversion carry an FX markup of up to 3%; Brex charges no fee of its own for ACH, checks or wires.
• Brex LLC is owned by Capital One, N.A.; checking is provided by Column N.A., and the cards are issued by Emigrant Bank, Fifth Third Bank or Sutton Bank.
• Essentials allows up to two entities; multiple expense policies, approval chains and custom ERP or HR integrations need Premium.
• All users on an account must be on the same plan, and the pricing page does not say whether Premium is billed monthly or yearly.

Mesh Payments

• The pricing page does not say whether the $13 per user figure is billed monthly or annually.
• Cashback on payments is advertised with a $50K monthly spend minimum.
• Card issuing depends on the region: the site names SoFi Bank in the US, Peoples Trust Company in Canada, Adyen in Europe and the UK, and NIUM in Australia and Singapore.
• The vendor lists no native mobile apps on the pages we read; employee requests run through WhatsApp, Slack or email.

Brex

Corporate cards

Unlimited cards accepted in 210+ countries and territories, with local-currency cards and billing in 50+ countries on higher plans.

Expense policies

AI-powered rules check spending; Premium adds category rules, role-based exceptions, auto-approval and audit detection.

Bill pay

Automated bill pay by ACH, check, domestic wire or international wire in local currency or US dollars, with no Brex fee per payment.

Travel booking

Book business travel inside Brex, free on Essentials, with group travel and advanced travel rules on Premium.

Business account

Checking provided by Column N.A., plus Treasury and Vault cash management run by Brex Treasury LLC.

Accounting and API

Transactions sync to QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct and Dynamics 365, and an API is included on every plan.

Mesh Payments

Corporate and virtual cards

Issue cards with controls built in, including cards locked to a single vendor and specialized traveler cards.

Expense management

Collect receipts, route approvals, and handle out-of-pocket and mileage expenses, with spending policies enforced before, during and after a purchase.

Global reimbursements

Pays employee reimbursements in local currencies straight to bank accounts in 100+ countries, according to the vendor.

Accounts payable

Invoice capture and automated payments, plus a ProcurePay product for procurement payments.

ERP sync and coding

Syncs journal entries, vendor bills, reimbursements and accruals to an ERP such as NetSuite, with unlimited custom fields.

Employee assistant

An assistant takes receipts, card requests and policy questions from employees through WhatsApp, Slack or email.

Brex

• Essentials$0

  For startups: global cards, AI custom rules, up to two entities (one global), bill pay, reimbursements, free travel booking and real-time reports.

• Premium$12

  per user / month, billing term not stated

  Adds multiple expense policies, review and approval chains, AI audit checks, US and international entities, ERP and HR integrations, VAT documents and live budgets.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Unlimited entities, local card issuing, collections and reimbursements in other countries, an admin center and a named account manager.

Mesh Payments

• Pro$0

  for up to 3 users

  Spend management for a small team, free for up to 3 users.

• Premium$13

  per user / month, billing period not stated

  Tools to control and scale spend management and operations as the company grows.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Spend and travel control for complex needs, priced through sales.