Virtual Credit Cards for Business 2026: Ramp, Brex, Divvy
Virtual business cards let you issue single-use or recurring cards for vendors and subscriptions. Here is how the major platforms handle them.
Is it right for you?
- Issue vendor-specific virtual cards so one compromised card number cannot affect other vendors.
- Set per-card spending limits for subscription management.
- Use single-use virtual cards for one-time purchases.
- Cancel individual virtual cards when a vendor relationship ends without canceling the physical card.
- Review active virtual cards quarterly and cancel unused ones.
Quick verdict
Ramp is the strongest default for most businesses: unlimited virtual cards on its free tier, full MCC controls, and per-vendor card issuance that keeps a compromised or expiring card from disrupting every subscription at once. Brex is the better fit when a company wants virtual cards drawing against a credit line rather than a charge card, and its category rewards (8x rideshare, 5x Brex Travel, 4x restaurants) matter more than Ramp's flat 0-1.5% cashback for travel-heavy teams. Airbase, now part of Paylocity, and BILL Spend remain relevant mainly for companies already anchored to their broader AP or spend ecosystem. The clearest use case across all of them is subscription and ad-platform spend, where per-vendor limits give real visibility that a shared card statement cannot.
Ramp: unlimited virtual cards on the free tier
Ramp
Brex
Airbase
BILLRamp allows unlimited virtual card creation on the free plan. You can create a virtual card for every SaaS subscription, each with its own spending limit. When you cancel a SaaS tool, cancel the virtual card and no future charges can come through.
This is particularly useful for subscription sprawl. Many companies have dozens of SaaS tools charged to a single company card. If that card expires or is compromised, every subscription needs to be updated. With per-vendor virtual cards, card changes affect only the specific vendor.
Ramp virtual cards are Visa cards with full merchant category code (MCC) controls. You can restrict a card to specific merchant categories or specific vendors by name.
Brex and Airbase virtual cards
Brex supports virtual cards on its credit line. Unlike Ramp (which is a charge card), Brex virtual cards draw against the company's credit limit. This matters for companies that manage cash flow carefully and prefer credit over debit.
Airbase (now part of Paylocity after acquisition) was an early innovator in virtual card management for spend controls. The product is still available and handles virtual cards alongside its broader spend management features.
BILL Spend (formerly Divvy) also offers virtual cards. If you are already using BILL for AP and want to add virtual cards for expense management, BILL Spend keeps it in one ecosystem.
When virtual cards are most valuable
Virtual cards solve three main problems: vendor-specific card numbers for security, subscription management without physical card updates, and departmental spending limits without issuing additional physical cards.
Marketing teams that manage multiple advertising platforms benefit especially from virtual cards. Each ad platform (Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn, etc.) gets its own virtual card with a spending limit. The marketing manager can see exactly what each platform is spending without digging through credit card statements.
Virtual cards are less useful for in-person purchases where a physical card or mobile payment is needed. They are primarily valuable for online purchases, SaaS subscriptions, and vendor payments.
For the full spend management platforms behind these virtual cards, see our best expense management software roundup.
Frequently asked questions
How do Ramp and Brex compare on user satisfaction? Ramp holds a 4.8/5 G2 rating across more than 2,000 reviews [G2, 2025-2026]. Brex's reported NPS is around 15, below the ~30 SaaS benchmark, with user complaints centered on login flow and UX [G2/comparison sources, 2025].
What does Ramp cost? Ramp's core platform, including cards, expense management, AP, and reporting, is free; Ramp Plus adds greater control for $15/user/month [Ramp/G2, 2025]. There's no personal guarantee required to get a Ramp card.
What does Brex cost, and how does it compare at the enterprise tier? Brex Premium adds advanced controls at $12/user/month, and Brex Enterprise is custom-priced, typically cited at $75,000 to $250,000+ annually for 500+ employee deployments [industry comparison sources, 2025]. Brex was acquired by Capital One in April 2026.
What are the eligibility requirements for a virtual/corporate card from each? Ramp is available to most incorporated companies with at least $25,000 in the bank [Ramp comparison sources, 2025]. Brex requires venture or angel investment, or annual revenue in the millions, making it less accessible to bootstrapped companies.
What rewards do these virtual card programs offer? Ramp's reward rate varies by customer, from 0% to 1.5% [comparison sources, 2025]. Brex offers category multipliers: 8x on rideshare, 5x on Brex Travel, 4x restaurants, 3x software, with no personal guarantee [Brex, 2025]. Virtual cards solve the spend-control side of the problem, but you'll still need to reconcile every charge against a receipt, our receipt management software guide covers tools built for that half of the workflow.