Best Corporate Card for Startups 2026
Startups need corporate cards solutions that balance powerful features with startup-friendly pricing. Early-stage companies typically operate with limited budgets and small teams, making it essential to find tools that provide enterprise-grade capabilities without the enterprise price tag. The right solution should scale seamlessly as your startup grows from a handful of users to dozens or hundreds.
The best solutions for startups combine affordable pricing with robust feature sets. Look for platforms offering generous free tiers or pay-as-you-grow models that align costs with your growth trajectory. Key features include quick setup (hours, not weeks), modern APIs for custom integrations, and pricing transparency without hidden implementation fees or mandatory consulting hours.
The best corporate card for startups in 2026 is Ramp because it's completely free with 1.5% cashback on all purchases, unlimited virtual and physical cards, and powerful automation that saves finance teams 5+ hours weekly. Ramp requires $25K minimum in your business bank account but delivers the highest ROI for startups through cash-back rewards and time savings. For venture-backed pre-revenue startups that don't meet Ramp's requirements, Brex offers the most founder-friendly approval process.
Our Rankings
Divvy (BILL)
Best for credit-building startups needing lower approval thresholds with credit lines from $1K-$5M and flexible billing cycles
- Free tier available
- Strong integration ecosystem
- Reliable performance
- Mid-tier pricing may be steep for small teams
Pleo
Best for international startups needing multi-currency support but has monthly fees starting at £9.50 and limited US presence
- Affordable pricing starting at $9.5/user/month
- Specialized capabilities for specific use cases
- May lack some features of top competitors
- Smaller community compared to leaders
Airbase
NOT RECOMMENDED for early-stage startups - custom pricing with no transparency, better suited for mid-market companies with dedicated finance teams
- Free tier available
- Specialized capabilities for specific use cases
- May lack some features of top competitors
- Smaller community compared to leaders
Evaluation Criteria
- free tier
- ease of approval
- cashback rewards
- integration simplicity
How We Picked These
We evaluated 3 products (last researched 2026-01-30).
Total cost including hidden fees and scalability costs
Availability and generosity of free tier or trial
Time to productive use without IT expertise
Ability to grow from 1-100+ users smoothly
Core functionality needed for startups
Frequently Asked Questions
01 What's the best free corporate card for startups?
Ramp is the best free corporate card for startups, offering 1.5% cashback on all purchases with zero annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or card replacement fees. Unlike competitors, Ramp combines unlimited cards with sophisticated spend controls and receipt matching automation. The platform is completely free for the core product, though requires a minimum $25,000 in your U.S. business bank account for approval.
02 Which corporate card approves pre-revenue startups?
Brex has the most favorable approval criteria for pre-revenue startups, especially venture-backed companies. Brex pioneered corporate cards for startups by evaluating based on cash runway and investor backing rather than requiring profitable business history. They've issued cards to thousands of seed-stage companies with no revenue. Divvy (BILL) also offers lower thresholds with credit lines starting at just $1,000.
03 How much cashback can startups earn with corporate cards?
Ramp offers the highest cashback at 1-1.5% on all purchases with no caps or restrictions. For a startup spending $50K monthly, that's $7,500-$9,000 in annual cash back. Brex and Divvy do not advertise standard cashback rates, focusing instead on rewards programs. Airbase offers competitive cashback but requires custom pricing. Pleo doesn't emphasize cashback rewards for their starter plans.
04 Do corporate cards require personal guarantees from founders?
Most startup corporate cards operate as charge cards (not credit cards) and require business-level evaluation rather than personal guarantees, though policies vary. Ramp evaluates based on business bank account balance ($25K minimum) without requiring personal credit checks for approval. Brex assesses venture backing and runway. Divvy offers credit lines from $1K-$5M with flexible underwriting. Always verify current guarantee requirements as they can change.
05 What's the minimum business bank balance needed for corporate cards?
Ramp requires a minimum $25,000 cash in a U.S. business bank account for approval. Brex evaluates cash runway holistically for venture-backed companies without a strict published minimum. Divvy (BILL) offers the lowest barriers with credit lines starting at $1,000, making it accessible to very early-stage startups. Pleo and Airbase don't publicly disclose specific balance requirements.
06 Should startups pay for corporate card platforms?
Most startups should start with free platforms like Ramp or Brex before considering paid solutions. Paid features (like Brex Premium at $12/user/month) only become valuable when you need advanced capabilities like custom approval workflows, ERP integrations, or VAT documentation for international operations. Startups should avoid Airbase's custom pricing until mid-market scale when finance team sophistication justifies the investment.
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