Softwr

Accounting · head to head

Avalara vs Brex

Avalara logo

Avalara

Accounting

Tax compliance done right

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Brex logo

Brex

Accounting

The financial stack for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Brex has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Avalara pricing varies significantly based on products, integrations, transaction volume, and jurisdictions; Brex the free Essentials tier is limited to two legal entities
  • They diverge on capability: Avalara covers Tax calculation, Brex covers Corporate cards.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Avalara and Brex actually diverge.

Attributes where Avalara and Brex differ
AttributeAvalaraBrex
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20042017

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Avalara

  • Tax calculation
  • Returns filing
  • Exemption management
  • Document management
  • Real-time rates
  • Shopify
  • Magento
  • GDPR

Only in Brex

  • Corporate cards
  • Business accounts
  • Expense management
  • Bill pay
  • Travel
  • Xero
  • PCI DSS
  • FDIC insured

Both cover

  • QuickBooks
  • NetSuite
  • SOC 2
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Avalara

  • Real-time sales tax calculation at checkoutnot Brex
  • Multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determinationnot Brex
  • VAT, lodging, communications and excise tax calculationnot Brex
  • Feeding tax results into an ERP or ecommerce platform through the APInot Brex

Brex

  • Corporate cards with spend controls for startupsnot Avalara
  • Expense management and reimbursementsnot Avalara
  • Travel booking inside the spend platformnot Avalara
  • Bill pay and accounting system syncnot Avalara
  • Multi-entity spend management on the paid tiersnot Avalara

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Avalara

  • Pricing varies significantly based on products, integrations, transaction volume, and jurisdictions
  • No free tier or trial period published
  • Enterprise sales model requires contacting sales specialists for customized quotes

Brex

  • The free Essentials tier is limited to two legal entities
  • Premium is $12 per user per month, so cost scales with headcount using the card
  • Enterprise and Smart Card pricing is not published
  • Eligibility criteria are not stated anywhere on the pricing page, which matters for a product that extends credit

Pricing, plan by plan

Avalara

$29/month
  • AvaTax$50/month
    • Tax calculation
    • Exemption certificates
    • Returns filing

Brex

Free
  • EssentialsFree
    • Global card acceptance
    • Accounting integrations
    • Real-time reporting
  • Premium$12/month
    • per user
    • Custom expense policies
    • Dynamic approval chains
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Custom pricing

Which should you pick?

Choose Avalara if

  • You need tax calculation.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want returns filing.
Avalara review

Choose Brex if

  • You need corporate cards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want business accounts.
Brex review

Questions people ask

Is Avalara or Brex better?
Neither clearly leads. Avalara starts at $29/month and Brex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Avalara or Brex?
Brex has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Avalara and Free for Brex.
Does Avalara or Brex run on more platforms?
Avalara runs on Web, Api. Brex runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Brex for free?
Yes. Brex has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Avalara starts at $29/month.
What is Avalara best used for?
Avalara is most often used for real-time sales tax calculation at checkout, multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determination, vat, lodging, communications and excise tax calculation, feeding tax results into an erp or ecommerce platform through the api. Of those, real-time sales tax calculation at checkout and multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determination are not what Brex is typically brought in for.
What can Avalara do that Brex cannot?
Avalara covers Tax calculation, Returns filing, Exemption management, Document management. Brex covers Corporate cards, Business accounts, Expense management, Bill pay. Both handle QuickBooks, NetSuite, SOC 2, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Avalara: What are the starting prices for Avalara services?

Avalara Tax Calculation and Returns Compliance Package starts at $699. License Guidance is available for as low as $119. Sales Tax Registration costs $403 per location.

Source
Brex: Does Brex have a free plan?

Yes. Brex Essentials is free for startups and growing companies and includes global card acceptance, AI-powered rules, accounting integrations, real-time reporting, and bill pay.

Source
Avalara: How does Avalara's pricing scale?

Avalara uses volume-based pricing that varies based on the number of integrated business applications, volume of monthly sales transactions, number of states or jurisdictions for tax collection, and Streamlined Sales Tax enrollment. Pricing scales with business growth and transaction volume.

Source
Brex: What is Brex Premium pricing?

Brex Premium costs $12 per user per month and is designed for mid-sized companies. It adds custom expense policies, dynamic approval chains, AI compliance auditing, multi-entity support, and live budgets.

Source
Brex: What countries accept Brex cards?

Brex cards are accepted in 210+ countries. The Smart Card plan offers local-currency cards in 50+ countries for companies focused on procurement simplification and international payments.

Source
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