ApprovalMax vs. Brex

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
ApprovalMax
Score 8.1 out of 10
N/A
ApprovalMax provides approval workflow automation for cloud accounting platforms such as Xero and QuickBooks Online. It replaces paper- and email-based approval processes with multi-step and multi-role automated approval workflows that enable automated notifications to approvers, automated audit trails, and mobile approvals. Approval workflows include: Invoice approvals / bill review and bill approval Purchase order approval, including the functionality to create…
$54
per month per organization
Brex
Score 9.6 out of 10
N/A
Brex headquartered in San Francisco offers a corporate card for expenses, ecommerce, as well as rewards card, and travel expense management.
$0
per month per user
Pricing
ApprovalMaxBrex
Editions & Modules
ApprovalMax Standard
$54
per month per organization
ApprovalMax Advanced
$83
per month per organization
ApprovalMax Premium
$121
per month per organization
Essentials
$0
per month per user
Premium
$12
per month per user
Enterprise
Custom Pricing
per month per user
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
ApprovalMaxBrex
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional DetailsDiscount available for annual pricing and for management of multiple organizations.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
ApprovalMaxBrex
Considered Both Products
ApprovalMax
Brex
Chose Brex
We use and thoroughly enjoy both. One we use as our main bank and Brex as our credit card provider. I'd say they serve different purposes (with Brex we get points), whereas Mercury we mostly use for wire transfers. We did initially start using Mercury because we needed a …
Chose Brex
Brex was one of the first corporate cards. It seems like there are many copy cats out there - hard to know how different they are but I appreciate Brex's customer service and easy to use UI. I think worth evaluating competitors as this market grows, but we're pretty locked into …
Chose Brex
I was not a decision-maker, but I believe it's the card reporting analysis that is best for the company.
Chose Brex
Divvy allows you to get hyper focused in on how much individuals are allowed to spend. Honestly it is comparable to Brex, but is more well suited for micromanaging organizational spend.

Brex is good because I am able to give my employees limits that match our budgets and I don't …
Chose Brex
Brex has been a great choice for our business and truly is a holistic software solution than a line of credit for a growing business. I also like how Brex is continuing to develop more features rather than maintaining a static product offering.
Features
ApprovalMaxBrex
Payment Management
Comparison of Payment Management features of Product A and Product B
ApprovalMax
8.0
Ratings
6% above category average
Brex
-
Ratings
Customizable Approval Policies9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Financial Document Management9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Payment Status Tracking9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Payment Audit Trail9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Duplicate Bill Detection4.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Accounts Payable
Comparison of Accounts Payable features of Product A and Product B
ApprovalMax
8.5
Ratings
25% above category average
Brex
-
Ratings
Automated Accounts Payable Processes9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Vendor Management8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
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ApprovalMaxBrex
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User Ratings
ApprovalMaxBrex
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.4
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
ApprovalMaxBrex
Likelihood to Recommend
As mentioned previously - able to send invoice based on amount , program code and division code ,supplier is very useful feature ; If an invoice does not fit into approval process than it is rejected and an email is received mentioning the reason
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A great corporate card for startups. Easy to use and set up, easy search and track spending. I would recommend it to tech companies looking for an interface and experience that vastly improves on existing banks. Also great to have a large line of credit compared to what's offered traditionally
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Pros
  • choice based on Program codes / division codes - we use Xero accounting system and we have 22 program codes and 11 divison codes ; once invoice is entered in Xero depending on relevant program code and divison code, Approval max automatically send invoice to relevant person depending on approval workflow process . One manager could be handling multiple divison and program codes; if our approval work flow process is properly designed - it is accurate in sending invoice to relevant manager.
  • invoice can also send to various managers based on General ledger codes ; this flexibility makes useful when manager is handling only certain nature of expenses regardless of program codes / divisionl.
  • Approval process can also be designed based on level of amount ; and level of amount is derived from our Delegation policy. it makes audit of application of delegation policy easy ; we give copy of delegation policy and print of approval work flow process to auditor.
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  • Rewards - The rewards were the main reason for us switching. Our previous card provider did not have a good rewards program.
  • User Interface and experience - When a charge is recorded on the Brex card, users immediately receive a text notification asking them to send a picture of their receipt. Brex automatically attaches the receipts to the charge which has saved our users a significant amount of time.
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Cons
  • date and time of change in approval process ; for example if Mr. A was responsible for all expenses above $1000 in Oct 23 and from Nov 23 it is changed to $5000 . in Dec 23 if it is checked - it will show approval limit of $5000 ; but will not show from which date limit was changed. Auditor always asks this question when the limit was changed in approval max - we cannot prove it.
  • If there is audit trail of who made the changes , when and what changes were made ; will be good.
  • when we are in main page of seeing invoices awaiting approval - there are hundreds of invoices - searching for one invoice from particular supplier is very cumbersome job - we have to go by each and every invoice in order to find that invoice ; it will be good if we have search function on main page itself ; in current scenario we have to go to report section - input all filters and than search for that particular invoice.
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  • Their Quickbooks integration just updated and is now a nightmare.
  • It would be nice if I got more fraud review activities for my employees.
  • I want them to go back to their old export system into Quickbooks
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
Prompt and always extremely fast to respond. I also think the intuitiveness of their solution negates the need for much support
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Alternatives Considered
Read full review
We use and thoroughly enjoy both. One we use as our main bank and Brex as our credit card provider. I'd say they serve different purposes (with Brex we get points), whereas Mercury we mostly use for wire transfers. We did initially start using Mercury because we needed a checking account, but Brex has been nice because of the rewards and the way it works to track expenses and cards.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • It has certainly made a positive impact ; it is definately worth its value ; when we are processing hundreds of invoices every fortnight ; getting approval of invoices in timely manner for all invoices is of paramount importance . as approval max has its own app - approval can be done on mobile phone also ; this is particularly helpful when staff is travelling .
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  • No fee wire transfer.
  • Net 60 credit card terms is good for our cashflow.
  • Fast and easy employee credit cards saves us time.
Read full review
ScreenShots

ApprovalMax Screenshots

Screenshot of where approval processes are set up  – no matter how simple or complex.Screenshot of the interface to build approval steps that follow any business rules – whether approvals happen one after another, all at once, or only in certain cases. The user can also control who approves based on things like amount, supplier, account code, or category.Screenshot of where to approve bills and purchase orders the way that works best.Screenshot of the interface that matches bills to approved purchase orders from the same supplier to keep coding accurate and control spending. Unmatched bills can also be stopped from being approved.Screenshot of where to mention others in comments to bring them in or get their input – even if they’re not part of the original approval. If they don’t have access, a prompt to add them as a Watcher is sent. Mentions work on web and mobile, sending notifications as soon as access is granted.Screenshot of where to raise purchase orders, approve requests, and extract key details from bills and purchase orders – all on the go with the ApprovalMax mobile app for iOS and Android.