Expensify Travel vs. Ramp Travel: A comprehensive comparison for 2025
Business travel is back in full swing, but the tools to manage it haven't kept pace. Most companies still juggle separate platforms for booking travel and managing expenses, creating gaps where receipts get lost, policies get ignored, and finance teams spend hours reconciling transactions.
The resurgence is undeniable – seven in 10 travel buyers say their company's business travel bookings increased last year as economies recover. Yet many organizations remain stuck with fragmented systems that create more problems than they solve.
As companies evaluate business travel management companies, two platforms promise to solve this disconnect: Expensify Travel and Ramp Travel. Both offer integrated booking and expense management, but they take fundamentally different approaches. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right solution for your team's travel needs.
Key takeaways
- Fragmented travel and expense systems create administrative chaos and policy violations for businesses.
- Seven in 10 travel buyers say their company's business travel bookings increased last year as economies recover.
- Both Expensify Travel and Ramp Travel are sought-after travel expense solutions.
- Disconnected booking and expense platforms lead to delayed reimbursements and poor spend visibility.
- For your business travel needs it’s best to choose integrated platforms with diverse inventory, transparent pricing, and automated expense management.
What is Expensify Travel?
Expensify Travel is the fastest, easiest, and smartest way to handle business travel. Built for companies tired of wrestling with complicated travel tools, it offers what Expensify calls "Travel and expense at the speed of chat."
Unlike traditional corporate travel management companies that burden you with complex interfaces, Expensify Travel provides access to multiple inventory sources, including:
Sabre GDS connections for comprehensive flight options
Direct NDC integrations for exclusive airline deals
Expedia.com partnerships for competitive hotel rates
Core innovations built for modern business travel
Trip rooms for realtime collaboration
Forget endless email chains. When someone books travel, Expensify automatically creates a shared chat room with trip details, expense information, and live updates. Your team stays connected without switching between a dozen different apps.
SmartScan technology that just works
Snap a photo of any receipt and watch Expensify automatically extract the merchant, date, amount, and category. No more manual data entry or lost receipts stuffed in wallets.
Predictive pricing that saves money
The platform analyzes historical booking data and tells you exactly when to book for maximum savings. It's like having a travel expert on your team who actually knows what they're talking about.
Advanced capabilities that set the standard
Comprehensive duty of care: Live travel alerts, global analytics, and crisis management that keeps your people safe
Carbon footprint tracking: Built-in sustainability reporting because responsible travel matters
VIP services: Black car service and dedicated travel managers when you need that extra touch
Event booking: Group travel and conference coordination that doesn't make you want to quit
Industry-leading self-service: 85% of flight changes handled without calling anyone
Support that responds: 24/7 assistance with 20-second phone response times
What is Ramp Travel? How does it work?
Launched in June 2024, Ramp Travel represents the company's attempt to expand beyond expense management into travel booking. Built around an exclusive partnership with Priceline, it's designed as an add-on for companies already using Ramp for finance operations.
Core features
Finance platform integration
Automatically generates receipts for bookings and plugs into existing Ramp approval workflows. If you're already living in Ramp's ecosystem, this feels familiar.
Limited but functional travel options
Focuses on flights and hotels through Priceline's network. It covers the basics without overwhelming features.
Basic policy enforcement
Offers standard approval workflows designed with finance teams in mind rather than travel managers.
Target market
Ramp for travel primarily serves companies already using Ramp for expense management who want to add basic travel booking without managing multiple vendors. It's the path of least resistance for existing Ramp customers.
Feature-by-feature comparison: The reality check
When evaluating business travel management tools, the details matter. Here's how these platforms actually compare in real-world use:
| Feature | Expensify Travel | Ramp Travel |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory sources | Sabre GDS, direct NDC connections, Expedia.com – comprehensive access to multiple sources | Priceline Partner Solutions only – limited to single provider |
| Travel options | Flights, hotels, car rentals, rail including UK/EU | Flights and hotels only |
| Mobile experience | Native travel app integration, offline capabilities, mobile-first design | Basic mobile booking through finance platform |
| Policy enforcement | Dynamic policies, hard/soft/passive approvals, flexible controls | Basic approval workflows, finance-focused |
| Self-service | 85% flight changes self-service, comprehensive change management | Basic booking, limited change options |
| Support | 24/7 phone/chat/email, 20-second response, crisis management | Platform support channels, finance-focused help |
| Duty of care | Realtime tracking, live travel alerts, global analytics, crisis management | Basic trip visibility through dashboard |
| Expense integration | Native with trip rooms, SmartScan, automated categorization | Built-in platform integration, automated receipt generation |
| Pricing | $15 per trip covers all bookings together | No platform fees, Priceline rates only |
| Unique features | Predictive pricing engine, carbon tracking, VIP services, event booking | Finance workflow integration, Priceline partnership |
Inventory and booking options: Where variety matters
Expensify's comprehensive approach
Access to multiple inventory sources means better rates, more options, and fewer "sorry, not available" moments. The platform includes UK/EU rail booking with full self-service capabilities – perfect for European business travel that doesn't require agent intervention.
Ramp's streamlined but limited scope
Limited to Priceline's available inventory, which covers the basics but may miss better rates or preferred options available through other channels. No rail travel options means additional tools for comprehensive European travel.
Mobile experience: Built for travelers vs. adapted for travel
Expensify's mobile-first reality
Built specifically for people who book flights from airport lounges and submit expenses from taxi cabs. Offline capabilities work when WiFi doesn't, and the interface makes sense when you're rushing to catch a connection.
Ramp's functional mobile
Mobile booking through the existing expense platform gets the job done for basic needs, but lacks the specialized travel features that frequent business travelers expect.
Policy management: Dynamic vs. basic
Expensify's intelligent policies
Hard approvals: Bookings get automatically canceled if not approved within your timeframes
Soft approvals: Oversight without delays that frustrate travelers
Passive approvals: Automatic approval unless someone actively objects
Smart customization: Policies adjust based on employee level, destination, and booking patterns
Ramp's straightforward workflows
Basic approval processes that integrate with finance controls. Effective for companies where travel policy simplicity matters more than sophisticated controls.
Support: Travel expertise vs. platform support
Expensify's travel-focused approach
24/7 dedicated travel support across phone, chat, and email. Realtime traveler tracking, live alerts for disruptions, and crisis management capabilities. When flights get canceled at midnight in Frankfurt, you want people who understand travel emergencies.
Ramp's platform consistency
Support through existing finance channels works for basic travel questions but lacks the specialized infrastructure for complex travel situations. Good for simple bookings, limited for travel crises.
Pricing comparison: Transparency vs. "free"
With business travelers spending an average of $1,018 per trip, choosing the right travel management platform significantly impacts your overall costs and administrative efficiency.
Expensify Travel: Simple and transparent
Straightforward pricing that makes sense
$15 per trip flat fee (flight + hotel + car rental = one $15 fee, not three)
All platform features included – no surprise charges
24/7 support and duty of care monitoring built in
Predictable budgeting that finance teams actually appreciate
Ramp Travel: No platform fees, but...
Hidden complexity in "free" model
Uses Priceline's standard rates with built-in markup
Costs fluctuate based on market conditions and availability
Limited to Priceline's pricing structure and negotiating power
Total cost reality check
Expensify's flat fee includes comprehensive support and advanced features that often require additional tools with other platforms.
Ramp's "free" booking may result in higher overall travel costs due to limited inventory access and reduced supplier competition.
The bottom line: Expensify's predictive pricing engine frequently offsets platform costs through optimized booking recommendations, while the comprehensive feature set eliminates the need for additional travel management solutions.
Integration capabilities: Native vs. bolted-on
Among the top corporate travel management companies, integration approach reveals platform priorities and long-term thinking.
Expensify's native travel-expense workflow
Built together, works together
Automatic expense creation when travel gets booked
SmartScan technology captures and categorizes receipts instantly
Trip rooms provide realtime collaboration without switching apps
Extensive Expensify travel integrations with accounting software including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and Sage Intacct
The Expensify Visa® Commercial Card’s ability to handle everything from travel booking to reimbursement within a single ecosystem for both domestic and international business travel
Ramp's finance platform extension
Consistent but limited
Automatic receipt generation for platform bookings
Integration with existing Ramp workflows and approvals
Effective for companies married to the Ramp ecosystem
Fewer third-party integrations compared to specialized travel platforms
User reviews: What people actually say
Real user experiences reveal how these platforms perform when the rubber meets the runway.
Expensify ratings: Travel-focused feedback
Strong marks from actual travelers
What users love
"The mobile app makes business travel actually manageable"
"SmartScan is like magic – snap and done"
"Trip rooms keep our team coordinated without email chaos"
Seamless booking to expense workflow that just works
Ramp ratings: Finance platform strength
High marks for core platform
User perspective
Strong ratings for expense management and corporate card features
Limited travel-specific feedback (feature launched June 2024)
Basic travel functionality appreciated by existing Ramp users
The insight that matters
Expensify users specifically mention travel management capabilities in their reviews, while Ramp users focus primarily on expense management with travel as an afterthought.
Expensify has significantly more feedback specifically about travel functionality, reflecting its position among the best corporate travel management software options.
✈️ Expensify Travel in real life: Learn how Precon Events streamlined their travel management with Expensify Travel and cut costs by 30% while improving expense accuracy.
“If you're looking for a travel management platform, Expensify Travel makes compliance easier, improves user experience, and simplifies administration. Our team has been able to book confidently without the issues we faced with other providers. It just works—and that's all we need.”
Which platform fits your business?
When evaluating business travel management tools, your specific needs and priorities determine the right choice.
Choose Expensify Travel when you want comprehensive solutions
You need travel management that actually manages travel
Comprehensive options: flights, hotels, car rentals, and rail
Frequent travelers who demand robust self-service capabilities
24/7 dedicated travel support as a business requirement
Multiple inventory sources beyond a single provider's limitations
You value advanced features that work
Mobile-first experience with offline capabilities for real travelers
Predictive pricing and carbon tracking for smart, responsible travel
VIP services and event booking for when business demands more
Comprehensive duty of care and crisis management because traveler safety matters
Choose Ramp Travel if integration trumps innovation
You prioritize ecosystem consistency
Already using Ramp for expense management with deep integration
Straightforward travel needs (primarily flights and hotels)
Finance workflow integration more important than specialized travel features
Priceline's inventory consistently meets your company's requirements
You prefer simple over sophisticated
No platform fees matter more than comprehensive travel management features
Basic travel support meets your team's requirements
Limited travel complexity and support needs
Get the tool built for travel success
Among corporate travel management companies, Expensify Travel delivers comprehensive features, superior inventory access, and proven reliability that other alternatives simply can't match.
Why Expensify Travel wins for serious business travel
More comprehensive: Travel options and inventory access beyond single-source limitations
Better mobile experience: Built for travelers, not retrofitted from finance platforms
Advanced capabilities: Self-service features that reduce administrative burden and traveler frustration
Proven track record: Extensive travel-specific user feedback and continuous platform improvement
Complete duty of care: Crisis management and traveler safety features that matter when things go wrong
The investment in dedicated travel management typically pays for itself through improved efficiency, better rates, and reduced administrative overhead. When travel matters to your business, choose tools built specifically for travel success.
Ready for travel management that actually works?
Stop settling for basic travel booking that creates more problems than it solves. Expensify Travel's superior inventory access, 24/7 expert support, predictive pricing optimization, and seamless expense integration eliminate travel headaches while saving time and money.
Join hundreds of companies who've discovered why Expensify Travel outperforms travel management alternatives.
Start your free trial today and experience the difference comprehensive travel management makes.
FAQs about Expensify Travel vs. Ramp Travel
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Absolutely. Expensify Travel integrates seamlessly with the Expensify platform and offers extensive third-party integrations with popular accounting software including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and Sage Intacct.
The platform's API capabilities support custom integrations for specific business requirements, making it one of the most flexible options among business travel management companies.
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Ramp Travel's main advantage is integration with Ramp's existing finance platform, appealing to companies already using Ramp for expense management.
However, it's limited to Priceline's inventory and lacks specialized travel features offered by dedicated travel management platforms. It's essentially Ramp for travel rather than travel for business.
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Expensify Travel was built mobile-first, offering comprehensive booking capabilities, offline functionality, and travel-specific features optimized for mobile devices.
Ramp Travel provides mobile booking through its finance platform but lacks the travel-specific mobile optimizations that frequent business travelers require for efficient on-the-go management.
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Both support international travel booking, but with different capabilities.
Expensify Travel offers global inventory access through multiple sources, comprehensive duty of care features, and crisis management for international travelers.
Ramp Travel supports international bookings through Priceline's network but with more limited inventory, support options, and traveler safety features.
