Expense management platforms that also issue corporate cards remove the disconnect between spending and recording: the card transaction, the receipt, and the accounting entry are all handled in one system. This guide covers four strong UK options, each suited to a different business size and accounting stack. If you manage team spending and want to stop chasing receipts at month-end, one of these platforms will fit.
What to look for in an expense management platform
Before comparing individual providers, identify which features matter most for your business. The key dimensions to evaluate are:
- Card types. Does the platform issue both physical and virtual cards? Can virtual cards be created instantly and assigned to specific suppliers or projects?
- Spend controls. Can limits be set per card, per category, per time period? Are merchant category code blocks available?
- Accounting integrations. Does the platform connect directly to your accounting software, and does it push transaction-level detail including VAT codes, or only summary data?
- Reporting. Can you slice spend by team, project, cost centre, or supplier? Does the platform produce reports suitable for month-end review without manual exports?
- Pricing model. Is pricing per user, per card, or a flat monthly fee? What is included in the base plan versus charged as an add-on?
- Receipt capture and approval. How does the platform handle missing receipts? Are approval workflows configurable for multi-level sign-off?
Moss: spend management with UK SME focus
Moss is a spend management platform with strong UK availability, positioned at small and mid-sized businesses that want more control than a basic business bank account but do not need enterprise-grade complexity.
The platform issues both physical and virtual Visa cards. Virtual cards can be created immediately from the dashboard and assigned to a specific supplier, project, or team member. Card limits and category blocks are configurable at the individual card level.
Moss issues credit-based cards rather than prepaid cards. Your business gets a company credit line and settles monthly, which removes the need to pre-load wallets before staff can spend. This suits businesses with uneven cash flow better than platforms that require upfront top-ups.
Receipt capture works via a mobile app: employees photograph receipts immediately after purchase and the platform matches them to transactions automatically. Unmatched transactions are flagged for resolution before month-end. The Xero integration is well regarded among UK users, with support for VAT codes and nominal account mapping. QuickBooks and DATEV integrations are also available.
Pricing is subscription-based with free and paid tiers available. Check the current plan structure directly at getmoss.com, as pricing in this category changes frequently. For paid tiers, pricing is customised by company size and card volume. Request a current quote directly from Moss.
Moss suits UK SMEs that want a clean, well-integrated expense system without heavy implementation overhead. Less suited to very large teams or businesses with complex multi-entity structures.
Payhawk: enterprise-grade controls for growing businesses
Payhawk is a spend management platform built for mid-market and scaling businesses that need more sophisticated controls than SME-focused tools offer. It issues Visa corporate cards (physical and virtual) and combines expense management, invoice management, and accounts payable in a single platform.
The approval workflow engine is one of its strongest features: multi-level approval chains can be configured based on transaction amount, department, or cost centre. This makes it practical for businesses where finance policy requires sign-off from multiple people before expenses are posted.
Payhawk integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics, covering a wider accounting stack than most SME competitors. The reporting layer is detailed, with the ability to build custom spend reports by team, entity, or project.
For businesses with significant international spending: Payhawk’s FX markup starts at 0.3% above the mid-market rate on major currencies. Note that travel insurance on EEA-issued Payhawk Visa cards was discontinued from 1 October 2024. Businesses that relied on this benefit for employee travel should arrange separate cover.
Pricing is not publicly listed and is provided on request, typically based on the number of users and the modules required. Payhawk is generally priced above SME-focused alternatives, reflecting the broader feature set. Cashback of up to 1.5% is available on card spend, but it is capped at the value of your monthly subscription fee and requires an annual plan. It suits businesses with 20 or more employees, those with multi-entity structures, or those that need invoice and AP functionality alongside card expense management.
Soldo: prepaid cards with category management
Soldo is one of the longer-established expense card platforms in the UK market, offering prepaid Mastercard cards for employees alongside a web and mobile management dashboard. The business pre-loads wallets, employees spend within their allocation, and transactions are visible in real time.
The platform is particularly strong on pre-spend controls. Category blocks, spending rules, and per-card budgets are easy to configure and adjust. Soldo also supports team wallets, where a shared budget is distributed across a group of cards, which is useful for project-based or departmental spending.
Accounting integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and NetSuite, with automated transaction sync and VAT code mapping. Receipt capture is handled via the Soldo mobile app.
Soldo’s Standard plan starts at £21/month and includes three users; additional users are charged at £7/user/month. The Plus plan is £33/month with additional users at £11/user/month. An Enterprise plan is available for larger businesses with custom requirements. Pricing verified on soldo.com, May 2026.
Soldo suits businesses that want simple, reliable pre-spend control without complex approval workflows. A good fit for businesses with field teams, distributed staff, or departments that need ring-fenced budgets. Sole traders are not eligible; Soldo requires a UK-registered incorporated entity (Ltd, LLP, or registered charity).
Wallester: flexible card issuance for fintechs and businesses
Wallester is an Estonian-founded platform that operates as both a card issuer and a spend management tool. It is distinctive in offering white-label card programmes alongside its standard business product, making it relevant both to businesses that want corporate cards and to fintechs or platforms that want to embed card issuance into their own products.
For standard UK business use, Wallester Business provides virtual and physical Visa cards with configurable limits, real-time transaction monitoring, and receipt management. The platform supports high card volumes, which makes it practical for businesses that need to issue a large number of cards quickly.
Wallester offers a free tier for up to 300 virtual cards, which is unusual in the market and makes it accessible to smaller businesses or those wanting to trial the platform at low cost. Paid plans add physical cards, higher transaction limits, and additional management features.
Accounting integrations are less extensive than Payhawk or Soldo. Wallester lacks deep native integrations with accounting software such as Xero: businesses typically need to export transaction data manually for reconciliation. This is a meaningful operational drawback if your team runs a high volume of transactions. Businesses with complex accounting requirements should verify current integration capabilities before committing.
Wallester suits businesses that need a high volume of virtual cards, fintechs exploring card programme integration, or smaller businesses looking for a cost-effective entry point into expense card management.
Card liability: check who is responsible for the debt before issuing cards. Corporate card arrangements vary: corporate liability means the company owes the debt; individual liability means the employee is personally responsible; joint liability means both are on the hook. For directors of smaller businesses this distinction has direct personal financial implications. Check the liability structure in your contract terms before cards are issued.
How the platforms compare
| Provider | Best for | Pricing model | Card types | Key integrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moss | UK SMEs wanting credit-based cards and clean Xero integration | Custom subscription, tiered by users and cards | Physical + virtual (Visa) | Xero, QuickBooks, DATEV |
| Payhawk | Mid-market and scaling businesses, multi-entity | Custom pricing on request | Physical + virtual (Visa) | Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, Dynamics |
| Soldo | Pre-spend control, distributed teams | From £21/month (3 users); £7/user/month additional | Physical + virtual (Mastercard) | Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite |
| Wallester | High card volumes, fintech integration, cost-conscious SMEs | Free tier (up to 300 virtual cards); paid plans for physical | Physical + virtual (Visa) | Limited native integrations; CSV export available |
All pricing information is indicative as of June 2026 and subject to change. Request current quotes directly from each provider before making a final decision.
Other platforms worth considering
The four platforms reviewed above cover the main options for UK businesses wanting integrated corporate cards with full expense management. Several others are worth evaluating depending on your requirements.
- Pleo is a widely used expense platform with a strong UK presence, known for its intuitive app, automated receipt capture, and tiered pricing. It issues Mastercard cards and suits businesses that prioritise ease of use and quick onboarding.
- Capital on Tap issues Visa business credit cards with limits of up to £250,000 and 1% uncapped cashback on all spend. It is better suited to businesses wanting a straightforward credit card with rewards than a full expense management platform, but the cashback rate is among the strongest available to UK SMEs.
- Airwallex is a strong option for businesses with significant international activity. It offers multi-currency accounts, competitive FX fees, and up to 2% cashback on card spend. Suits teams that want to hold and pay in multiple currencies alongside corporate card functionality.
- Revolut Business combines multi-currency business banking with corporate cards and expense management tools. Widely used by UK businesses and suits teams that want banking and cards in a single platform.
- Ramp offers an interchange-funded free tier focused on automated spend controls and cost-saving recommendations. Originally US-only, Ramp has been expanding availability. Verify current UK eligibility at ramp.com before considering it.
Final verdict
Moss is the strongest pick for most UK SMEs: credit-based cards remove the pre-loading friction that limits Soldo and Wallester, and the Xero integration is among the best in the category.
Soldo is the right call when pre-spend controls matter more than accounting depth. The £21/month flat fee is predictable, and the per-card budget model suits field teams and distributed staff better than post-spend approval platforms.
Payhawk fits businesses of 20 or more employees that need multi-level approval chains, multi-entity reporting, and a wider accounting stack. The broader feature set carries a higher price tag and longer implementation time.
Wallester is the pick for businesses that need a high volume of virtual cards at low cost, or for fintechs exploring white-label card issuance. The limited native accounting integrations are a genuine constraint for high-transaction teams and should be weighed carefully before committing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a corporate prepaid card, a charge card, and a credit card?
Corporate credit cards offer a revolving line of credit: you spend up to a set limit and can carry a balance, subject to interest. Charge cards must be paid in full each month and typically offer higher limits than credit cards. Prepaid or debit cards use funds you have already loaded into the account, so there is no credit line and no risk of debt: your team can only spend what is in the wallet. Moss and Payhawk issue credit-style corporate cards; Soldo and Wallester issue prepaid cards.
Do expense management platforms replace accounting software?
No. Expense management platforms handle spend capture, receipt matching, and approval workflows. They sync transaction data to accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage, but they do not replace the accounting layer. The integration means that expense data flows into the accounts automatically, reducing manual entry, but the accounts themselves are still maintained in the accounting software.
Can these platforms handle multi-currency spending?
Most platforms support card use abroad on the Visa or Mastercard network, and transactions in foreign currencies are converted to sterling. FX margins and fees vary between providers. Payhawk’s FX markup starts at 0.3% above the mid-market rate on major currencies. Soldo and Wallester convert at the point of transaction with their respective FX rates. Businesses with significant international spending should check the full FX fee structure (including any separate markup, conversion fee, and cross-border charge) before committing to a platform.
How long does it take to set up one of these platforms?
For SME-focused platforms such as Moss and Soldo, initial setup including company verification and first card issuance can typically be completed within a few business days, subject to KYC checks. Payhawk implementations for larger businesses tend to take longer due to configuration of approval workflows and accounting integrations. All providers require company verification documents and director identification as part of the onboarding process.
Are sole traders eligible for these platforms?
Eligibility varies by provider. Soldo requires a UK-registered incorporated entity (Ltd, LLP, or registered charity) and explicitly excludes sole traders. Moss and Payhawk also focus on incorporated businesses. Wallester’s eligibility for UK sole traders should be confirmed directly with the provider. Sole traders looking for expense management tools with card issuance may find a business current account (Tide or Revolut Business) a more accessible starting point.
What are the risks of using a corporate card platform?
The main risks to review before committing. Liability: confirm whether the card is corporate, individual, or joint liability (see the callout above). Unexpected fees: FX markups, out-of-plan transaction charges, and add-on module costs can add up quickly. Platform risk: smaller fintechs can change pricing, withdraw products, or in rare cases fail. Access risk: these platforms connect to your accounting software, so check their data-handling and access-revocation practices. Verify that your chosen provider holds the appropriate FCA authorisation or e-money licence for the products it offers.
How we reviewed these platforms
We evaluated four UK expense management platforms (Moss, Payhawk, Soldo, and Wallester) on the criteria that most directly affect day-to-day usability for UK finance managers and business owners: card types and issuance speed, spend controls, accounting integrations and VAT mapping depth, pricing transparency, reporting capability, receipt capture, and approval workflow flexibility.
Our comparison was built from each provider’s own website and product documentation. We set up Wallester’s free tier (up to 300 virtual cards) to test the card controls directly. Soldo pricing was verified at soldo.com in May 2026; Payhawk cashback terms and FX markup rates were checked at payhawk.com in June and July 2026. Where pricing is not publicly listed (Moss, Payhawk), we note this and direct readers to request a current quote.
No provider paid to be included or reviewed. Moss, Soldo, and Wallester participate in the BusinessExpert affiliate programme, meaning BusinessExpert may earn a commission if you sign up through a link on this page. Payhawk is not currently an affiliate. Affiliate status does not affect scoring, editorial ordering (which follows the affiliate-ordering rule only where quality is equal), or the content of any section. See our editorial policy for full details on how we handle commercial relationships.
Pricing in this market changes frequently. All figures on this page should be treated as indicative and confirmed directly with the provider before you commit. Feature availability may vary by plan; some capabilities listed may require a paid or enterprise tier.