Expensify vs. Concur: Which is a better fit?
For any company of any size, managing expenses efficiently is crucial for success. Expense management software streamlines financial processes and enhances productivity. Among the top contenders in this space are Expensify and SAP Concur, both offering unique features tailored for different business needs.
In this guide, we'll compare Expensify vs. Concur, examining their key features, operational similarities and differences, and the best use cases for each solution.
Key features
Expensify and SAP Concur offer comprehensive solutions for handling business expenses, travels, and invoices, adapting to a range of business sizes and industries. Let's break things down into more detail:
| Feature | Expensify | SAP Concur |
|---|---|---|
| Expense reporting | Automated entry with SmartScan technology featuring live OCR preview for instant verification. Supports offline mode, batch scanning, drag-and-drop uploads, and text-to-expense commands via Concierge AI. | Automated entry and approvals with policy compliance checks. Requires more manual data entry with no live OCR preview or text-to-expense commands. |
| Receipt capture | Multiple options: in-app camera, text to 47777, drag-and-drop desktop, batch scanning for processing multiple receipts simultaneously. | Standard receipt upload with manual attachment required. |
| AI automation | Concierge AI auto-categorizes expenses, flags prohibited spend, and responds to text commands like "Create a $50 expense for dinner with ACME." | Limited AI capabilities requiring more manual classification and data entry. |
| Policy enforcement | Transparent policy engine with soft approvals, giving admins full visibility into enforcement logic and flexible rule configuration. | Black-box policy engine with hard approvals only and limited admin visibility into enforcement logic. |
| Offline capabilities | Submit, approve, and pay expenses without internet connectivity for uninterrupted productivity. | Requires internet connection for most functions. |
| Invoicing and bill pay | Streamlined invoicing capabilities with automated bill pay and one-click accruals. | Robust bill pay solutions. |
| ACH payments | Available for direct deposit reimbursements with next-day payment option. | Available for direct deposit reimbursements. |
| Corporate cards | Expensify Visa Commercial Card with instant virtual card provisioning, automatic receipt matching, realtime accounting sync, and cash back rewards that offset subscription fees. | Physical card delivery in 7–10 business days with manual receipt attachment required. |
| Card reconciliation | One-click card statement matching and automatic bank reconciliation with realtime sync. | Standard reconciliation process requiring more manual effort. |
| Spend management | Detailed reporting with built-in spend controls, custom columns, and real-time visibility. | Comprehensive reporting that may require additional tools for spend control. |
| Travel | NDC + Expedia + GDS inventory for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and trains. Features 85% self-service flight changes, in-app alerts, automatic rewards program integration, built-in chat, and full rail support with split-ticketing. | GDS-only inventory with travel management services including booking and approvals. Most changes require agent assistance with email-only alerts via SAP GATE. |
| Integration sync | Realtime API sync to 30+ accounting systems and ERPs including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and Sage Intacct with live data updates. | Batch/CSV connectors requiring overnight processing and often middleware for integration. |
| Additional features | Group Chat and Split Expense for business and personal use. Split costs by percentage or date. Bulk edit multiple expenses. SAML login. Duplicate recurring expenses. | Comprehensive suite of tools including expense analytics and insights for cost optimization. |
| Target audience | Ideal for businesses of all sizes from solopreneurs to mid-market and enterprise customers seeking user-friendly, efficient expense management. | Designed for large enterprises with complex organizational structures and established workflows. |
| User interface | Intuitive and user-friendly with minimal learning curve, known for ease of use. | Comprehensive suite of tools with a steeper learning curve and more complex navigation. |
| Integrations | Free realtime integrations with 30+ accounting software, ERP systems, and HR platforms. | Integrates with accounting systems but may offer limited options requiring middleware. |
| Support | 24/7 in-app chat support with sub-minute response times and extensive self-help resources. Always free with no additional fees. | Broad customer service network via email and phone, but response times may vary and standard support requires additional fees. |
| Pricing | Transparent pricing starting at $5 per user with no transaction fees, add-ons, or hidden costs. | Pricing varies based on features, company size, and expense report volume, potentially significantly higher than Expensify. |
| Customer service | Highly responsive online support with extensive self-help resources and 24/7 chat. | Broad customer service network, but response times may vary. |
| User ratings | Generally high user satisfaction, praised for usability (average of 4.4 out of 5 with over 1,000 reviews). | Good user satisfaction with some concerns about ease of use (average of 4.2 out of 5 with over 500 reviews). |
| Choose if… | You prioritize user-friendliness, transparent policy control, realtime integrations, instant card provisioning, and a cost-effective solution that works offline and on-the-go. | You’re a large enterprise with established workflows, comfortable with agent dependency, and willing to invest in a more complex system with higher costs. |
“...the best feature is the visibility into the approval flow that I have. I know exactly if there is an issue and everything is nicely organized for my approver to quickly signoff.”
Why Expensify?
Expensify stands out for its user-friendly interface, powerful automation, and realtime capabilities that keep pace with how modern teams actually work.
Smart receipt capture
SmartScan with live preview: Realtime OCR preview in the mobile app confirms accurate capture before submitting, which is a capability competitors lack
Multiple upload options: Snap photos in-app, text receipts to 47777 (US numbers only), drag-and-drop on desktop, or batch scan multiple receipts simultaneously
AI-powered automation: Concierge auto-categorizes expenses, flags prohibited spend, and responds to text commands like "Create a $50 expense for dinner with ACME"
Work anywhere, anytime
Offline mode: Submit, approve, and pay expenses without internet connectivity for uninterrupted productivity
Mobile-first design: Full expense management accessible on-the-go with an intuitive mobile app
Realtime expense reports: Instant report creation enables rapid approval and reimbursement
Transparent policy control
Clear enforcement logic: Unlike black-box systems, admins have full visibility into policy rules and how they're applied
Flexible approvals: Soft approvals allow employees to proceed while flagging issues, rather than hard-blocking workflow
Customizable workflows: Configure expense policies that match how your business actually operates
Instant corporate cards
Immediate provisioning: Virtual cards issued instantly — no seven- to ten-day wait for physical cards
Auto-receipt matching: Automatically pairs card transactions with receipts, eliminating manual attachment
Realtime sync: Card expenses sync to accounting systems instantly rather than overnight batch processing
Cash back rewards: Earn rewards that offset subscription costs
Seamless integrations
Realtime API sync: Live data updates to 30+ ERPs including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and Sage Intacct
One-click reconciliation: Automatic bank matching and card statement reconciliation
Free integrations: No additional fees for connecting accounting software, ERP systems, or HR platforms
Built for modern teams
One-click reimbursement: Next-day payment option gets employees reimbursed fast
Chat and Split Expense: Keep expense conversations centralized and easily divide costs by percentage or date
Custom columns and bulk editing: Personalize views and update multiple expenses simultaneously
SAML login: Enterprise-grade security with simplified access
By emphasizing speed, transparency, and ease of use, Expensify delivers efficient expense management without the complexity, agent dependency, or hidden fees of traditional enterprise platforms.
Why Concur?
SAP Concur offers extensive travel and expense management features designed for large enterprises with complex organizational structures and established workflows.
Key capabilities include:
Multi-currency and language support for organizations with international operations
SAP ecosystem integration for companies already using SAP products
Compliance features with audit trails designed for strict regulatory requirements
Policy compliance checks integrated into travel booking and expense reporting
Important limitations to consider:
Black-box policy engine: Limited visibility into enforcement logic makes it difficult for admins to understand why expenses are flagged or approved
Agent dependency: Most travel changes and support requests require contacting agents rather than self-service options
Batch processing delays: Accounting updates happen overnight rather than in real time, delaying financial visibility
Slow card provisioning: Seven to ten business days for physical cards with manual receipt attachment required
Email-only alerts: Travel notifications delivered via SAP GATE instead of in-app
Additional support fees: Standard support services require extra costs beyond base subscription
The bottom line
Concur's comprehensiveness comes with complexity. Businesses should carefully evaluate whether its enterprise-grade approach aligns with their operational needs, or if a more transparent, user-friendly platform with real-time capabilities and self-service options would better serve their teams' productivity and finance department's efficiency requirements.
Similarities: SAP Concur vs. Expensify
Here are some of the similarities Expensify and Concur share:
Audit trail provided
Credit card synchronization
Expense management features
Foreign currency support
Third-party integration options
Travel booking and overall management
Web and mobile-based (iOS and Android) options
Differences: SAP Concur vs. Expensify
Here are some of the key differences between Expensify and Concur:
User experience and learning curve:
Concur has a complex interface with a steep learning curve, while Expensify prioritizes a clean, intuitive interface that's easy to navigate even for those who aren't tech-savvy.
Support and pricing structure:
Concur tacks on additional fees for support, but with Expensify, support is always free with 24/7 in-app chat.
Concur's pricing is based on expense report volume and can be significantly higher. Expensify keeps it simpler and more predictable with transparent monthly user pricing starting at $5.
Implementation and setup:
Concur typically has long and expensive integration timelines, which can waste valuable time. Expensify offers self-serve setup with dedicated support every step of the way.
Policy management:
Expensify offers transparent policy enforcement with soft approvals, giving admins full visibility into enforcement logic. Concur uses a black-box policy engine where admins have limited visibility into why expenses are flagged and only hard approvals are available.
Corporate cards:
Expensify provides instant virtual card provisioning with automatic receipt matching and realtime accounting sync. Concur requires seven to ten business days for physical card delivery with manual receipt attachment.
Integration capabilities:
Expensify uses realtime API sync to 30+ ERPs for live accounting updates. Concur relies on batch/CSV connectors requiring overnight processing and often middleware.
Travel management:
Expensify offers 85% self-service flight changes through in-app alerts with NDC + Expedia + GDS inventory, including full rail support with split-ticketing. Concur's GDS-only approach requires agent assistance for most modifications with email-only alerts via SAP GATE.
Automation and AI:
Expensify's Concierge AI responds to text commands, auto-categorizes expenses, and provides live OCR preview for receipt capture. Concur requires more manual classification and data entry with no live preview capability.
Reimbursement speed:
Expensify offers next-day reimbursement, paying employees back as soon as the next business day. Concur follows standard reimbursement timelines.
Offline capabilities:
Expensify allows users to submit, approve, and pay expenses without internet connectivity. Concur requires internet connection for most functions.
Choosing between Expensify and Concur
Get the information you need to make a smart decision. Let’s check out the pros and cons of Expensify and Concur.
| Expensify | SAP Concur | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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“Expensify’s user-friendly interface makes dealing with expenses easy. I particularly love their email forwarding function, which makes keeping track of expenses while I’m on the go painless. Direct reports’ expenses are also easy to keep track of, even from the mobile view. I use it all the time while I’m offsite for work and I can’t imagine switching to a different platform at this point.”
Who is Expensify for?
Expensify is particularly well-suited for startups, small to mid-sized businesses, and individuals who require a straightforward expense tracking tool. It's praised for its receipt scanning capabilities and smooth integrations with various accounting software, simplifying expense reporting for teams on the go or on the grow.
For instance, during their rapid growth, Philz Coffee leveraged Expensify to cut down on immense paper trails and handle their expense reporting via the Netsuite integration. Thanks to Expensify, their expense reporting process was cut from three to four days to two to three hours.
Who is SAP Concur for?
On the other hand, SAP Concur is designed with larger enterprises in mind, offering a comprehensive suite of services. Businesses with a global footprint or more complex organizational structures may find SAP Concur's advanced features like policy compliance checks and in-depth reporting tools more suitable for their needs.
When it comes to Concur vs. Expensify pricing, keep in mind that Concur tends to be more complicated for users and adds on fees for pretty standard features, which Expensify already includes in a subscription.
FAQs about Expensify vs. Concur
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Expensify delivers better value for businesses of all sizes that prioritize ease of use, realtime integrations, and transparent pricing starting at $5 per user. Key advantages include instant virtual card provisioning, live OCR preview, AI-powered automation, and 24/7 free support.
Concur suits enterprises already invested in the SAP ecosystem, though it requires higher costs, agent dependency for most tasks, and comes with a steeper learning curve.
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Expensify is Concur's primary competitor, alongside Brex, Ramp, and Divvy. Expensify consistently receives higher user ratings than Concur on review platforms like G2 (4.4 vs. 4.2 stars) and Software Advice, with users praising its intuitive interface and responsive support.
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The 300% rule in Concur allows travelers to book hotels that exceed per diem rates when no lower-cost options exist nearby. For example, if per diem is $105 but the lowest available rate is $110, checking the "Use 300% Rule" box approves the higher expense.
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Expensify combines SmartScan technology with live OCR preview, AI-powered automation via Concierge, instant virtual card provisioning with auto-receipt matching, and realtime API sync to 30+ accounting systems.
The platform offers offline mode, next-day reimbursements, transparent policy enforcement, and 24/7 free support, all starting at $5 per user with no transaction fees or add-ons.
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Yes. Unlike Concur, Expensify allows users to submit, approve, and pay expenses without internet connectivity, ensuring productivity isn't interrupted by connectivity issues.
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Expensify Visa Commercial Cards are issued in virtual form instantly, while physical cards arrive within days. Concur requires seven to ten business days for physical card delivery.
