Airbase vs Ramp 2026: Spend Management Compared
Airbase (now part of Paylocity) and Ramp both automate corporate spending, but target different company stages. Here is how they compare on pricing and fit.
Bottom line
Ramp Free is worth evaluating when its card eligibility, accounting connector, and controls fit your workflow. Airbase continues as Airbase by Paylocity within Paylocity for Finance, which offers modular implementation. Compare the required modules and total quoted cost; existing Paylocity HR use alone does not settle the choice.
Try Ramp Free →Is it right for you?
- How many employees will use corporate cards or submit purchase requests?
- Do you need multi-entity or subsidiary spend management?
- Are you already using Paylocity for HR or payroll?
- What accounting system do you use? (NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage, Xero)
- Do you need guided procurement with purchase order workflows?
What happened to Airbase
Airbase
Ramp
Brex
BILL
ExpensifyPaylocity announced its agreement to acquire Airbase on September 4, 2024, for approximately $325 million, subject to customary adjustments, and announced closing on October 1, 2024. Airbase by Paylocity remains part of the current Finance offering [Paylocity acquisition releases, 2024; Finance product page, checked October 12, 2026].
The current Paylocity Finance FAQ allows implementation in whole or in part, with modules added over time. Ask sales to specify the proposed modules, licensing prerequisites, and integrations; the acquisition does not establish that only existing Paylocity HR customers can buy the finance product.
Ramp: pricing and what is free
Ramp Free lists unlimited cards, expense management, bill pay, and QuickBooks/Xero integrations. Its U.S. card application requires an eligible registered corporation, LLC, or LP, an EIN, and at least $25,000 in a business bank account, with approval subject to underwriting. Sales-based underwriting can also assess connected revenue data; a bank balance alone does not guarantee approval [Ramp pricing and corporate card program pages, checked October 12, 2026].
Ramp Plus lists $15 per user per month plus a platform fee based on team size, with a 20% discount for annual billing. NetSuite and Sage Intacct integrations sit in Plus; Enterprise is quoted separately and includes Workday/Oracle and local-currency card issuance. Request the full quote for your required connector and controls [Ramp pricing page, checked October 12, 2026].
For a seed-stage or bootstrapped company, test Ramp Free against the actual expense approvals, receipts, and accounting workflow. Headcount below 100 does not establish that the free tier meets every requirement.
Where Airbase fits after the acquisition
Airbase by Paylocity offers guided procurement, AP automation, expense management, and corporate cards. Its current card product supports existing cards as well as Paylocity-issued cards. Evaluate purchase requests, subsidiary accounting, and card eligibility in the proposed configuration rather than assuming a comparative advantage or no balance requirement [Paylocity Finance product page, checked October 12, 2026].
These capabilities remain available within Paylocity for Finance. Module availability and implementation requirements belong in the sales proposal; they were not all discontinued by the acquisition.
Which to choose in 2026
If you use Paylocity HR, ask for a demonstration of the employee-data connection, including onboarding and offboarding permissions. Confirm what is automated in your selected modules and what still requires administrator action.
If you are evaluating from scratch, compare Ramp and Paylocity Finance on the same purchase and expense scenarios. Include connector tiers, platform fees, implementation, and card approval requirements in the cost comparison.
For differences in card eligibility, repayment, and controls, see our Ramp vs Brex guide. Ramp is a charge-card platform, so this is not a debit-versus-credit choice. For Ramp vs Expensify, see this comparison.
For the full picture on Ramp beyond this comparison, see our Ramp review.
Frequently asked questions
How do Airbase and Ramp compare on review sites? The July 14, 2026 article snapshot recorded Airbase at about 1,821 reviews and 4.7/5, and Ramp at roughly 2,452 reviews and 4.8/5 [historical G2 snapshot]. The retained G2 link points to Ramp. These historical counts and ratings are not a current head-to-head performance test.
How was Airbase priced against Ramp back when it was still an independent company? Historical Airbase deals were quoted individually; this article has no verified standard 500-user pricing floor. For a current comparison, obtain a Paylocity Finance module quote and compare it with Ramp Free or Plus at $15/user/month plus the team-size platform fee, including annual-billing terms [official cost comparison checked 12 October 2026].
What was Airbase's "Guided Procurement" feature? The procurement module routes requests for authorization before a purchase. Paylocity still offers this procurement module; test the stakeholders, documentation, and purchase-order requirements you need rather than treating it as a retired feature [Paylocity procurement offering, verified 12 October 2026].
What size company did each platform target? Paylocity described Airbase as focused on the 100-5,000 employee segment in its September 2024 acquisition announcement. That historical market description is not a current eligibility rule. Ramp offers Free, Plus, and Enterprise; choose a configuration based on approvals, entities, and accounting needs rather than an assumed headcount cutoff.
Can I still buy Airbase today? The Airbase offering is still marketed in the Finance suite, and its FAQ permits adding modules separately. Request a proposal for the finance modules you need. Paylocity reported the completed deal on 1 October 2024, after the September agreement [official ownership and product records, verified 12 October 2026]. Our Navan vs Ramp guide covers a separate travel-and-spend comparison.
Is Airbase now Paylocity? Paylocity owns Airbase following the 2024 acquisition. The product website retains the Airbase brand and lists procurement, AP, expenses, and cards; acquisition ownership does not mean finance modules were discontinued.
Is ramp better than QuickBooks? They are not competitors. Ramp is a corporate card and spend management platform; QuickBooks is accounting software. Most companies run both together, using Ramp for card controls and receipt capture and QuickBooks for the general ledger, syncing transaction data between them rather than picking one over the other. Our Ramp vs QuickBooks guide covers how to divide ownership between the two systems.
Who owns ramp finance? Ramp is a privately held company whose June 4, 2026 announcement reported a $750 million round at a $44 billion valuation. ICONIQ, GIC, and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan led that round; Lightspeed, Founders Fund, and Thrive Capital were among the participating investors. This financing announcement is not a complete ownership table [Ramp-issued funding announcement, June 4, 2026].