Corporate Cards and Expense Accounts in Europe (2026)

Corporate cards and expense accounts represent one of the most dynamic areas of the European fintech landscape. For growing companies, especially with distributed teams and hybrid work models, these tools allow you to control spending, report in real time, and integrate financial management with other business functions. In this context, corporate cards and expense accounts become tools not only for payment but for operational management.

In practice, we move from traditional solutions offered by banks to software platforms that include workflows, reporting tools, and automation. The objective is more efficient expense management, with per-user limits, approval rules, and immediate visibility into every transaction. For founders, understanding the differences among the various models and the success metrics is crucial to scale in a controlled way.

European panorama of corporate cards and expense accounts

In Europe, the market is led by a small number of providers competing for companies of all sizes: among the best-known players are Soldo, Pleo, and Spendesk, focused on budgeting, expense control, and accounting integration. Other solutions like Wise Business or Revolut Business offer valid options for companies with multi-currency operations and competitive exchange costs. Each platform adopts a different pricing model that includes subscription plans for software features, card transaction interchange fees, and possible FX markups. The common objective remains offering granular control of expenses, reducing human errors, and real-time traceability for accounting, with a focus on compliance and audits. For founders it's useful to observe real-use cases: budget allocation to international teams, management of travel and SaaS expenses in multiple countries, and the possibility of automating accounting reconciliation with ERP or cloud accounting systems.

Main platforms in Europe

Soldo stands out for a strong focus on budgeting and control, offering rechargeable cards for teams and precise spending controls. Pleo and Spendesk are known for usability and automation of receipts, while Wise Business supports multi-currency operations with relatively low exchange costs. Revolut Business offers a range of services from card issuance to expense management and integrated banking services. Each platform has a niche: management of large networks of employees, tailor-made solutions for growing startups, or high standards of compliance for large enterprises. In the analysis it's worthwhile evaluating opening accounts for global teams, speed of card issuance, reporting tools, compatibility with accounting systems, and APIs for integration with enterprise workflows. To gain a practical picture, it's useful to consult the main providers: Soldo, Pleo, Spendesk, Wise Business and Revolut Business.

These solutions show the evolution of the European fintech ecosystem: less card and more digital workflow, less friction, more data for quick decisions. Useful links to the main providers: Soldo and their website are available at soldo com, Pleo at pleo io, Spendesk at spendesk com, Wise Business at wise com business and Revolut Business at business revolut com.

Pricing models, control and operational data

The value proposition of corporate card and expense account platforms lies in the convergence between actual spend and accounting control. Typically revenues come from diverse sources: interchange fees every time a card is used, subscriptions for advanced software features, FX markups on international expenses, and value-added services like credit, bill management, and analytics. For startups it's essential to evaluate not only current costs but also potential savings in terms of hours of accounting and compliance. Real-time access to transactions, automatic categorization, and automatic reconciliation reduce errors and delays. Moreover, integration with accounting tools and ERP systems is available via API, to automate expense-approval workflows and monthly closings.

Concrete use cases for startups

For a growing startup, corporate cards and expense accounts enable managing budgets for distributed teams, controlling travel expenses, SaaS subscriptions, and multinational suppliers in a centralized way. The need to have granular control for different business units lends itself to rapid scalability. Modern solutions allow setting per-user limits, customizable approval workflows, and real-time notifications to accounting and finance. Furthermore, with the adoption of multi-currency solutions, startups can simplify international expenses and reduce exposure to FX volatility. The impact goes beyond accounting: less time spent managing expenses means more resources dedicated to innovation. It can also be integrated with ERP or accounting tools, facilitating internal and external audits and improving expense governance.

Different opinions and critical reflections

On the topic, divergent viewpoints emerge. On one hand, platforms offer concrete benefits: rapid card issuance, expense control, automated accounting, and real-time visibility into cash flows. On the other hand, concerns arise about the risk of technological lock-in: switching providers may require significant data migration and re-integration work. Some founders harbor doubts about privacy and data protection: which expense data are accessible to providers, how they are stored, and who has access to reports at the decision-making level? Other considerations include hidden costs, such as team training and change management, or discrepancies between data generated by different accounting sources. Finally, it should be acknowledged that not all companies need advanced features: for early-stage startups, a lighter solution could offer a better cost-benefit ratio. Examining success stories, ERP integrations, and compatibility with accounting and analytics tools is useful to understand what level of automation is truly necessary and sustainable over time.

Conclusion: a strategic choice for growth across Europe

For startups operating in Europe, adopting a corporate card and expense account solution means gaining operational control, reducing friction in expenses, and improving governance. The various market offerings allow aligning spending with the company's growth pace, with potential accounting integrations and workflow automation. The key is to define needs upfront: how many people will use the cards, what expense categories are anticipated, what level of automation is needed, and which integrations are indispensable. In short, the right platform can accelerate financial management, free up resources for innovation, and foster a corporate culture focused on spending accountability. To get started, review the offerings of the major providers, compare plans, and plan a pilot phase with a small team before scaling.

Fonte europeanbusinessmagazine.com