Expensify vs Ramp: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Expensify vs Ramp.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Ramp edges ahead with a 4.8/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Expensify | Ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $25/mo | $0/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $50/mo | $0/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ Free plan for individuals. SmartScan 25 receipts/month. Basic expense reports. | ✅ Free corporate cards, expense management, bill pay, and accounting integrations. No per-user fees. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Expensify | Ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Collect | $5/mo | $0/mo |
| Control | $9/mo | $12/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Expensify | Ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Cards | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
Pros & Cons
Expensify
✅ Pros
- Best-in-class OCR receipt scanning (SmartScan)
- One-click expense report creation
- Free Expensify Card with cashback
- Automatic mileage tracking via GPS
- Direct integration with QuickBooks and Xero
❌ Cons
- Free plan limited to 25 SmartScans/month
- Can be confusing to set up approval workflows
- Expensify Card required for some features
- No inventory or invoicing features
- Customer support can be slow
Ramp
✅ Pros
- Completely free — corporate cards, expense management, bill pay included
- 1.5% cashback on all purchases
- AI-powered spend intelligence identifies savings opportunities
- Real-time expense categorization and policy enforcement
- Seamless QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite integration
❌ Cons
- Requires a US EIN (not available for sole proprietors in some states)
- Minimum revenue requirements for approval
- International currency support is limited
- Plus features ($12/user) needed for advanced controls
- Not suitable for personal use or freelancers
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Expensify if...
- You are a freelancers tracking business expenses for tax deductions
- You are a small teams needing expense approval workflows
- You are a road warriors with frequent travel expenses
🚫 Skip if...
- Businesses needing full accounting (use QuickBooks)
- Teams that rarely have expenses to track
- Solo devs working from home with minimal expenses
✅ Choose Ramp if...
- You are a us startups and growing businesses
- You are a finance teams wanting automated expense management
- You are a companies looking to reduce saas and vendor spend
🚫 Skip if...
- Freelancers or sole proprietors
- International businesses
- Very early-stage companies with no revenue
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Expensify (4.4/5) and Ramp (4.8/5) are excellent tools in their category. Ramp takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Expensify better than Ramp?
It depends on your needs. Expensify excels in some areas while Ramp has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Expensify pricing compare to Ramp?
Expensify starts at Free / $5/mo, while Ramp starts at Free / $0/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Expensify to Ramp?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Ramp typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Expensify.
Which is easier to use, Expensify or Ramp?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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