Receiving foreign income as a solo founder

Budgeting used to be simple. You earned money, spent money, and tracked what was left. At that time, you had only one account with one currency, which required just one mental model.

Then remote work happened.

Now you might earn in EUR, pay for tools in USD, and travel in between. Discipline isn’t enough for budgeting anymore; you need structure. Without the right structure, even the most careful spender can lose track of where their money is going.

The Grey card comes in as a practical budgeting tool for people who live and spend across borders. I’ll explain.

Why budgeting in multiple currencies breaks down so easily

Most people don’t overspend because they’re irresponsible. Rather, they overspend because their money isn’t organised in a way that reflects how they live.

Here’s what usually goes wrong.

You’re spending across platforms, clients, and countries, but everything is tied to one card. Subscriptions, ads, one-off purchases, and travel expenses all blur together. When something goes wrong, such as a spike in ad spend or an unexpected renewal, it’s challenging to pinpoint the cause quickly.

Add foreign currencies to the mix, and it gets worse. The charges don’t always settle immediately, and these small amounts seem harmless until they quietly add up.

At that point, your budget is broken.

Also read: How to use your Grey card to manage all your subscriptions

What should budgeting look like when you earn and spend globally?

Clarity, separation, and control are the most crucial factors when budgeting across multiple currencies. You should be able to:

• See exactly what each type of spending is costing you.
• Stop or pause spending instantly when needed.
• Protect one part of your budget from another.
• Make changes without disrupting everything else.

The Grey card is designed around solving these exact needs.

How does the Grey card help with budgeting?

Use multiple cards to separate your spending

One of the most effective budgeting habits is separation. Instead of using a single card for everything, you can create multiple cards with clear purposes.

For example, you can create:

• One card for subscriptions and recurring tools
• One card for ads and growth experiments
• One card for travel or everyday spending
• One card per client or project

Each card acts like its own budget lane. You don’t need to guess where the money went; you already know.

This is especially useful if you freelance, manage ads, or run multiple income streams. When spending is separated, budgeting becomes more straightforward.

Also read: How to pay for ads easily with your Grey card

Freeze cards instantly when spending goes off-track

Budgets fail when you can’t act fast enough.

With the Grey card, you can instantly freeze or unfreeze any card in the app. If an ad campaign starts burning cash, freeze the card. If a subscription you forgot about renews unexpectedly, freeze the card. If you’re travelling and want to lock down non-essential spending, freeze the card.

Freezing a card doesn’t affect your other cards or balances. It simply stops that specific spending lane, which is precisely how budgeting should work.

Set limits that protect your budget

Budgets can fail when they’re too rigid. Grey’s spending limits work more like guardrails.

You can set daily or monthly limits per card, receive alerts when you’re approaching your limit, and still stay flexible. The goal isn’t to punish spending. I mean, who wants that? It’s to keep you aware before things drift too far.

For shared cards or subscriptions, limits are especially useful. You know exactly how much can be spent, and nothing sneaks past unnoticed.

Track spending clearly in one place

When you’re budgeting across currencies, visibility matters more than perfection. Every Grey card transaction appears clearly in your app, linked to the card you used. That means you’re not just seeing how much you spent, but why you spent it.

When budgeting time comes around, you’re no longer reconstructing your month from memory. The structure is already there.

Spend confidently across borders

Trust helps with budgeting too. When you’re shopping internationally, paying for ads, or travelling, declined payments and unexpected charges can throw everything off. The Grey Card works across global merchants and even supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, so everyday spending feels normal, even when you’re far from home.

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A quick note on protection when spending abroad

An often-overlooked aspect of budgeting is preparing for contingencies in case things go wrong.

When you pay with your Grey card, you have access to Visa benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranties, and price protection, depending on the transaction and your activation status. It’s not something you think about daily, but it adds a layer of reassurance when you’re buying electronics, booking travel, or shopping internationally.

It’s one less thing to worry about while managing money across borders.

Also read: How to claim your Visa card benefits

What budgeting in foreign currencies is like with the Grey card

When your card and your accounts are aligned, budgeting stops being guesswork. You know what you’re spending, which currency it’s coming from and more importantly, when something changes.

Instead of constantly reacting to your balance, you’re now making decisions with clarity. And that’s what good budgeting should be like, whether you’re at home, travelling, or working remotely.

If you’re ready to make your budget work wherever you are, create or update your Grey card and start spending and budgeting in the ways that matter to you.

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If we give you the short answer, you have to make a pinky promise that you read this article to the end. Trust us, we have more to tell you than just ‘yes, non-residents can open a US bank account online in 2026.’ For the longer answer, there are many other things to consider. Stick with us and let’s go through this together by answering a few questions to give you a clear picture.

Can non-residents open a traditional US bank account online in 2026?

Opening a traditional US bank account, such as a Chase or Wells Fargo account, might be difficult due to their requirements. Here are the key reasons why this is next to impossible:

• Requires your physical presence: Major traditional banks often require you visit a US branch to verify your identity and complete the process.
• Requires Social Security Number (SSN): While some banks may allow an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) in place of an SSN, many automated online systems strictly require an SSN, which you might not have as a non-resident.
• Proof of US address: A physical US address is almost always required to open a traditional bank account in compliance with "Know Your Customer" (KYC) regulations.
• Traditional banks are strict on compliance: They adhere to strict regulations (KYC/AML) and find it easier to reject international applications than to verify their legitimacy remotely.

In summary, you cannot open a traditional bank account online as a non-resident living abroad. Even if a bank’s website says “open online,” the system usually blocks or flags non-US residents during the SSN/address checks.

Also read: Best banks for non-residents to open UK and US accounts

Why do non-residents open US bank accounts?

If opening a traditional US bank account can be difficult, who do people bother?

• Protects against local inflation: Keeping your earnings in USD protects against the volatility of your local currency.
• Easier international payments: A USD account lets you receive USD and make international payments with ease. Whether you are a freelancer with international clients or paying for global subscriptions or tools, a USD account makes it more straightforward.
• Reduces losses: When you receive international payments with your local account, the conversion is often done at unfavourable rates. Using a USD account help you time your conversion better and avoid losses.

How can non-residents open a US bank account online in 2026?

While non-US residents cannot open a traditional US bank account, they can still manage USD transactions seamlessly with fintech payment solutions that let you create an account from anywhere, without a physical visit. While these USD accounts might have some limitations, they are reliable and secure for receiving USD payments. They also let you keep USD, make international payments, and withdraw to your local bank account.

Which USD online banking options can non-residents use?

If you want to manage USD with ease, these are some of your best options.

Grey

This offers multicurrency accounts supporting USD, EUR, and GBP, allowing you to manage USD transactions as you would with a traditional USD account. It also seamlessly integrates with freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to withdraw your earnings. Grey offers you US banking details to receive USD with ease. It is pretty straightforward to create an account, and you can get started with Grey within minutes.

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Wise

Wise provides USD accounts with US routing and account numbers. Wise is known for transparent fees and mid-market exchange rates. It works well for freelancers and remote workers, though some features may vary depending on your country of residence.

Payoneer

Payoneer is widely used on global freelancing marketplaces. It provides USD receiving accounts and allows withdrawals to local banks. While reliable, its fees and exchange rates are generally higher and less transparent than those of newer fintechs.

PayPal

PayPal allows you to receive USD payments, but you cannot truly hold USD long-term in many countries. Withdrawals often force conversion to local currency at unfavourable rates. It works for occasional payments, but not as a long-term USD banking solution.

Why do people open US bank accounts online with Grey?

Grey remains a favourite among frequent international travellers, freelancers with global clients, and everyone managing multiple currencies. Here are the reasons non-residents open a US bank account online in 2026.

• Low fees: Grey offers a transparent fee structure with low transaction fees.
• Competitive exchange rates: Convert fees at market rates, with no hidden markups.
• Swift transactions: Transactions are processed and completed within minutes to a few hours.
• Virtual cards: Access multiple virtual cards for your international payments without requiring top-ups. These cards also work with Apple Pay and Google Pay for contactless payment.

Also read: How freelancers choose the right platform to work with

How do you open a US bank account online with Grey?

Opening a US bank account with Grey is straightforward. Follow these steps and your USD accounts will be up and running within minutes.

• Sign up on Grey’s website or on the mobile app
• Complete your ‘Know Your Customer’ verification by uploading a valid ID, a selfie, and proof of address.
• Once verified, request your USD account details.
• Share the details with clients, employers, or platforms and start receiving USD payments.

While non-residents cannot open traditional US bank accounts online from abroad, global payment solutions like Grey offer multicurrency accounts that support USD transactions without physically visiting a bank or wading through paperwork. Manage your USD at low cost and withdraw to your local accounts at competitive exchange rates.

Download the app and sign up on Grey today to manage USD transactions without breaking a sweat.

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For too long, managing payments, compliance, and expenses has been complicated for global teams and businesses.  Paying contractors abroad ,  handling  multiple currencies, or even just tracking team expenses can quickly become overwhelming.

We set out to change this at Grey.

We’re excited to introduce Grey Business: an expanded suite of tools built to help you manage your company’s global finances with more control, clarity, and confidence.

Starting today, if your team in Indonesia needs to collect payments from clients in London, or your start-up in Nairobi needs to pay partners in New York, you can do it all seamlessly from your Grey Business dashboard.

Managing everything from multi-currency accounts and expenses to wage payouts and APIs is now simpler with Grey. All the tools you need to power your global operations  in one simple, easy-to-use  dashboard.

Here's a closer look at what Grey Business can help you achieve:

Foreign accounts for your business

With Grey Business, you can open and manage foreign bank accounts in USD, just like a local company would.

Each account comes with a unique IBAN, routing number, and SWIFT code, making it easier and faster to send and receive payments internationally.

No hidden charges. No long waiting times. No complicated paperwork.

All of this is built on a foundation of security and compliance. Every business account goes through  KYC/KYB checks, with fraud prevention and transaction monitoring built in to keep your funds safe.

Empower your team with smart virtual cards

Stop playing "pass the credit card" or waiting for OTPs just to pay for a software subscription. With Grey Business, you can issue unlimited virtual USD cards instantly. Whether you need to cover digital ad spend, manage SaaS subscriptions, or equip your team for operational expenses, you can create dedicated cards in seconds.

But such speed doesn’t mean you lose control. You can set custom spending limits for each card, assign them to specific team members, and freeze or delete them instantly if a project ends.

Individual and bulk payouts made easy

As your business scales, your administrative load shouldn't have to keep pace. We built our payout engine to handle volume without the friction.

• One-off payments: send money to partners or vendors instantly with just a few clicks.
• Bulk payouts: Use our "Bulk upload" feature to ingest a simple CSV file and process mass payments simultaneously.

Whether you’re paying one vendor or a hundred, Grey Business gives you the flexibility you need.

• Individual payouts: Send one-off payments to partners or contractors in over 100 countries. Get real-time foreign exchange rates before confirming and choose between bank transfers or mobile money.
• Bulk payouts: Need to send multiple payments at once? Upload a CSV file, review everything in one dashboard, and let Grey handle the rest. You can even track payment statuses and retry failed ones instantly.

Whether it’s fiat or crypto, individual or bulk, local or global, Grey brings you speed, visibility, and reliability in one place.

Native USDC Support for the modern business

We know that for many modern companies, Fiat is only half the story. With Grey Business, you can hold a dedicated USDC balance alongside your fiat currencies, giving you total control over how you store your capital.

Need to move funds fast? You can deposit or withdraw USDC via the BEP20 network and send funds to any compatible wallet in seconds. It is the stability of the dollar with the speed of the blockchain, fully integrated into your dashboard.

APIs that grow with your business

If your company handles high-volume or automated payments, our developer APIs give you more control than ever.

You can now initiate payouts automatically through the Grey API — perfect for platforms, marketplaces, and payment-driven businesses that need to pay users regularly .

By integrating Grey directly into your systems, you can trigger local and international transfers with just a few lines of code.

We’ve also built P2P GreyTag APIs that let you verify user identities and send peer-to-peer payments directly from your platform.

This means you can embed Grey’s payment capabilities right into your product, with the same reliability and compliance we’re known for.

A unified dashboard for your finances

No need to toggle between different banking apps and spreadsheets to piece together your financial health. We built the Grey Business dashboard to give you a single, holistic view of your operations.

From one screen, you can track inflows, manage your USD balance, and monitor the real-time status of every payout. And when tax season arrives, you can easily generate detailed statements instantly, giving your accounting team exactly what they need without the headache.

Why Grey Business matters

Grey Business started as a way to help businesses make seamless cross-border payments.

But as our users grew, so did their needs. They didn’t just need to send payments; they needed to manage everything that comes with it: teams, approvals, accounts, reporting, and compliance.

Grey is no longer just a payments platform; we’re becoming the financial command centre for modern global businesses.

Whether you’re a start-up expanding into new markets, a remote team paying global talent, or a platform handling thousands of transactions, Grey Business is built to help you operate confidently across borders.

Start your global journey with Grey Business

The future of global business banking is here: faster, simpler, and built for the way modern teams work.

Open your Grey Business account today and experience:

• Instant access to USD and USDC accounts
• Smarter controls for teams and treasury
• Virtual USD cards for teams
• Powerful automation with APIs
• A unified dashboard track all your balances

Get started at grey.co/business

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If you are weighing up Claude’s subscription options, pricing is usually the first question. Claude plans range from free to $200 per month, and the right choice depends on how often you use it and whether usage limits are getting in the way of your work.

This guide covers every Claude plan and what each one costs in 2026. It also covers how to pay from Nigeria, India, Ghana, or any country where a local bank card may be declined or marked up on a USD-priced checkout. A Grey virtual card funded in USD handles that cleanly.

All pricing below is sourced from Anthropic’s official pricing page and plan documentation. Verify on claude.ai/pricing before subscribing, as prices are subject to change.

Claude plans at a glance

Pricing and features are subject to change at Anthropic’s discretion. Verify current pricing at claude.ai/pricing.

Free plan

The Free plan is the right starting point if you want to try Claude before committing to a paid subscription. You get access to Claude on web, iOS, Android, and desktop, with the ability to search the web, generate code, write and edit content, create files, and use memory across conversations. Usage is limited compared to paid plans and you may encounter limits during busy periods.

The Free plan does not include Claude Code, Cowork, or Research. Most users who rely on Claude for work find the usage limits restrictive within a few days of regular use.

Pro plan: $20 per month

Pro is the right plan for most people who use Claude regularly for work. It gives you meaningfully more capacity than the Free plan and includes the full Claude toolkit. Monthly billing is $20 per month. The annual subscription brings that down to $17 per month, billed as $200 upfront.

Pro includes everything in the Free plan plus:

• At least 5x more usage per session than the Free plan
• Claude Code for terminal-based coding workflows
• Claude Cowork and Claude Design
• Access to all available Claude models
• Access to Research
• Unlimited projects for organising conversations and documents
• Priority access during high-traffic periods
• Early access to new features

Usage limits reset on a session basis (every five hours), and there is also a weekly usage limit across all models. If you regularly hit Pro limits, the Max plan is the next step.

Only credit and debit cards are accepted for Pro plan payments. Apple Pay is available via the iOS App Store, but adds approximately 30 percent to the subscription cost due to Apple’s platform fee.

Max plan: $100 or $200 per month

Max is for users who regularly push through Pro’s limits and need substantially more capacity. If you find yourself waiting for usage to reset or cutting work short because of limits, Max is the upgrade to consider. It comes in two tiers:

Team plan: from $20 per seat per month

The Team plan is the right choice when you need Claude across a group, with centralised billing and admin controls. It requires a minimum of five members and a maximum of 150. It includes all Pro features plus SSO, role-based permissions, and a 200k context window for longer documents and conversations.

Team plans offer two seat types:

Seat typeMonthly priceAnnual priceUsageStandard$25/seat/month$20/seat/month1.25x more per session than ProPremium$125/seat/month$100/seat/month6.25x more per session than Pro

Teams can mix Standard and Premium seats, assigning Premium to power users who need higher capacity. Usage limits are per-member, not shared across the team.

Enterprise plan

Enterprise is the right fit for larger organisations that need security controls, compliance features, and predictable usage-based billing. Unlike Team, the seat fee covers access only and all usage is billed separately at API rates, with no per-seat usage limits. Admins can set spend caps at the organisation and user level to manage costs.

Enterprise adds audit logs, SCIM, custom data retention, compliance and analytics APIs, customer-managed encryption keys, and US-only inference. Self-serve Enterprise requires a minimum of 20 seats. Sales-assisted Enterprise requires a minimum of 50 seats.

Enterprise pricing is not listed publicly. Refer to Anthropic’s pricing page or contact their Sales team for current rates.

Claude API billing

API access is separate from the consumer subscription plans. API usage is billed via prepaid credits, not a monthly subscription. You purchase credits in advance, and they are drawn down as you make API calls. Failed requests are not charged.

Credits expire one year from the purchase date and are non-refundable. Auto-reload can be set to purchase additional credits automatically when your balance falls below a defined threshold. API billing accepts credit and debit cards only.

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How to pay for Claude from Nigeria, India, or Ghana

Claude’s payment page accepts major credit and debit cards in USD. For users in Nigeria, India, Ghana, and most emerging markets, two problems arise commonly:’

• Your local bank card is declined on a foreign USD checkout
• Your bank applies a foreign transaction fee of 2 to 5 percent on top of the listed price, making a $20 subscription cost $20.40 to $21

Pay with a Grey virtual card. Grey gives you a virtual card linked to your USD balance. When you subscribe to Claude Pro, Max, or any other USD-priced plan, the charge processes in USD from your Grey account. No foreign transaction markup from a Nigerian or Indian bank, no declined card on a foreign checkout. The card works on Anthropic’s payment page the same way a standard debit card does.

If you subscribe to the annual Pro plan, your Grey card handles the $200 charge in one transaction and renews automatically the following year.

Note: subscribing via the iOS App Store costs approximately 30 percent more due to Apple’s platform fee. The direct web subscription at claude.ai/upgrade is the most cost-effective route for most users.’

Frequently asked questions

How much does Claude Pro cost?

Claude Pro costs $20 per month on a monthly subscription, or $17 per month when billed annually ($200 per year). Prices are in USD and subject to change.

What is the difference between Claude Pro and Max?

Pro provides 5x more usage than the Free plan. Max 5x provides 5x more usage than Pro, and Max 20x provides 20x more usage than Pro. Max also includes higher output limits and earlier access to new features. Max is available at $100 per month (5x) or $200 per month (20x).

Can I pay for Claude with a Nigerian or Indian bank card?

Nigerian and Indian bank cards are sometimes declined on USD-priced foreign checkouts, and may apply a foreign transaction fee of 2 to 5 percent on successful transactions. A Grey virtual card funded in USD processes the payment without those issues.

Is there a free version of Claude?

Yes. Claude’s Free plan is available at claude.ai with no payment required. It includes access to Claude on web, iOS, Android, and desktop, with limited usage compared to paid plans.

Does Claude offer an annual discount?

Yes, for the Pro plan and Team Standard and Premium seats. Annual Pro billing costs $200 per year, equivalent to $17 per month, compared to $20 per month on a monthly basis. Max plans are currently available on monthly billing only.

Can I pay for Claude via Apple Pay or Google Pay?

Apple Pay is available when subscribing via the iOS App Store, but this route adds approximately 30 percent to the cost due to Apple’s platform fee. Anthropic’s direct web payment page accepts credit and debit cards only.

What is the cheapest way to subscribe to Claude from Nigeria?

Subscribe directly at claude.ai/upgrade on the annual Pro plan ($200 per year, $17 per month equivalent). Pay with a Grey virtual card funded in USD to avoid foreign transaction fees from a Nigerian bank card.

Expense management, to many of us, is like watching paint dry. You are stuck in a rut of tracking expenses, collating invoices, and managing cash inflow. It is one of those essential administrative tasks that looks simple, but it can get complex when managing team expenses. A solo freelancer tracking expenses in a spreadsheet works fine at twenty transactions per month. But an ordinary spreadsheet is unlikely to work for a marketing team of ten people scattered across five countries processing hundreds of transactions in four currencies.

This is where expense management apps come in handy. This category has grown accordingly, with products ranging from free personal trackers to enterprise corporate expense platforms. The best expense management apps let you track spending, generate reports, and control team budgets from one place. The right choice depends on your team size, whether you pay in multiple currencies, and how much you want to automate. This list covers 21 options across every use case.

This guide covers 21 options, evaluates them on the criteria that actually matter, and clarifies which ones work best for remote and international teams.

What makes a good expense management app?

We used five criteria to determine whether an expense management app is worth recommending.

• Ease of use: If submitting an expense requires more than three steps, employees will submit them late or not at all. The best apps capture expenses in seconds via receipt photo or card swipe.
• Integrations. Expense data needs to flow into the accounting system. QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite integrations are the most commonly required.
• Multi-currency support. International teams incur expenses in multiple currencies. The app needs to handle currency conversion and reporting without manual intervention.
• Receipt capture and OCR. Automated extraction of data from photos of receipts reduces data entry and error rates. This is now table-stakes for any credible product.
• Reporting and policy controls. Finance leads need to see spending by category, by team member, by project, and against budget in real time. Policy enforcement, such as flagging out-of-policy expenses automatically, saves hours of manual review.

The 21 best expense management apps

1. Expensify

One of the most widely used expense management platforms, built around SmartScan receipt capture and automatic reconciliation.

• SmartScan receipt OCR, automated expense reports, corporate card management
• Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and Sage
• Mobile-first with web dashboard
• Best for: Small to medium teams wanting a well-established, integration-rich solution
• Pricing: Free for individuals; paid plans from $5/user/month

2. Ramp

Ramp combines corporate cards with expense management and is free to use. It earns revenue through card interchange rather than subscription fees.

• Unlimited virtual and physical cards, real-time expense tracking, automated receipt matching
• Integrates with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, Sage
• Built-in spend analysis and vendor negotiation insights
• Best for: US-based companies wanting a no-fee corporate card with integrated expense management
• Pricing: Free

3. Brex

Brex offers corporate cards and expense management targeting startups and growth-stage companies. Strong on global payments and multi-currency spend.

• Global corporate card programme, multi-currency support, real-time tracking, AI-powered expense categorisation
• Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Workday
• No personal liability required for the corporate card
• Best for: Startups and mid-market companies with international spend and multiple currencies
• Pricing: Free Starter plan; premium from $12/user/month

4. Zoho Expense

Part of the Zoho suite. Offers strong value at lower price points with broad feature coverage.

• Receipt capture, mileage tracking, per diem management, multi-currency support
• Native integration with Zoho Books and Zoho CRM; third-party integrations via API
• Auto-scan and AI-based categorisation
• Best for: Teams already using the Zoho ecosystem or those wanting solid expense management at low cost
• Pricing: Free up to 3 users; paid from $4/user/month

5. SAP Concur

Enterprise-grade expense, travel, and invoice management. The most widely adopted at large enterprise level globally.

• Full travel and expense integration, policy enforcement, audit trail, global compliance
• Integrates with major ERP systems including SAP, Oracle, Workday
• High implementation overhead; designed for large organisations
• Best for: Large enterprises with complex compliance requirements and global operations
• Pricing: Custom pricing; typically higher cost per user than SMB alternatives

6. Spendesk

Spendesk is a spend management platform combining corporate cards, invoice management, and expense reimbursements in one product. Strong in Europe.

• Real-time spend visibility, virtual and physical cards, approval workflows, invoice processing
• Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage, Datev
• Multi-currency card support
• Best for: European SMBs and mid-market companies wanting a unified spend management platform
• Pricing: Custom pricing; starter plans available for smaller teams

7. Pleo

Pleo issues smart company cards to employees, automates receipt collection, and generates reports without manual expense claims.

• Smart physical and virtual cards, real-time notifications, automatic receipt requests to cardholders
• Integrates with major European and international accounting platforms
• Popular across UK and European teams
• Best for: UK and European teams that want to eliminate paper receipts and manual reports
• Pricing: Free Starter (up to 3 users); Essential from £45/month; paid tiers above that

8. Airbase

Airbase is a comprehensive spend management platform covering AP automation, corporate cards, and expense reimbursements.

• Full procure-to-pay workflow, virtual cards, bill payments, reimbursements, advanced reporting
• Integrates with NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, and others
• Designed for mid-market companies scaling finance operations
• Best for: Mid-market finance teams wanting to consolidate AP, cards, and expenses into one platform
• Pricing: Custom pricing

9. Divvy (Bill.com)

Divvy is a free expense and corporate card platform owned by Bill.com. It generates revenue through card interchange rather than subscription fees.

• Unlimited cards, real-time budget tracking, automated receipt collection, reporting
• Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero
• Spend limits set per card and per category
• Best for: US-based SMBs wanting a free corporate card and expense management combination
• Pricing: Free

10. Navan

Navan (formerly TripActions) combines travel booking with expense management. Strong on T&E (travel and expense) for companies with regular travel spend.

• Integrated travel booking (flights, hotels, car), expense tracking, policy controls, real-time reporting
• Integrates with major accounting and HR platforms
• Rewards programme for employees who book within policy
• Best for: Companies with significant travel budgets who want travel and expense in one platform
• Pricing: Custom pricing; transaction fees on bookings

11. Fyle

Fyle integrates directly with Gmail and Outlook for real-time expense capture from within email.

• In-email expense capture, credit card integration, project-based tracking, policy engine
• Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage
• Mobile app with receipt OCR
• Best for: Teams that manage expenses primarily through email and want minimal workflow disruption
• Pricing: From $6.99/user/month

12. Weel

Weel is an Australian expense and virtual card platform built for SMBs in Australia and New Zealand.

• Virtual cards with spend controls, receipt capture, approval workflows
• Integrates with Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks
• Best for: Australian and New Zealand SMBs wanting a local expense management solution
• Pricing: Custom pricing

13. Mesh Payments

Mesh Payments is a corporate card and spend management platform with strong API integrations and SaaS subscription management.

• Virtual and physical cards, SaaS spend visibility, vendor management, automated reconciliation
• Integrates with NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage, and others
• Useful for tech companies managing many software subscriptions
• Best for: Tech companies and startups with high SaaS spend who want subscription-level visibility
• Pricing: Custom pricing

14. Payhawk

Payhawk is a European spend management platform with multi-currency card support and advanced policy controls.

• Physical and virtual multi-currency Visa cards, receipt capture, approval workflows, AP automation
• Integrates with NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, Datev, and others
• Strong compliance features for European regulatory environments
• Best for: European mid-market companies with international operations needing multi-currency control
• Pricing: From €149/month plus per-user fees

15. Soldo

Soldo issues prepaid Mastercard cards to team members with set spending limits. Popular in the UK and Europe for controlling discretionary spend.

• Prepaid cards with individual limits, real-time visibility, receipt capture, management dashboard
• Integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Sage
• Mobile and web app for managers and cardholders
• Best for: UK and European teams wanting to distribute controlled spending cards across employees
• Pricing: From £19/month for Starter; scales with number of cards and users

16. Rydoo

Rydoo is a travel and expense management app with strong European adoption and multi-language support.

• Receipt scanning, mileage tracking, per diem calculation, multi-currency support
• Integrates with SAP, Oracle, Workday, QuickBooks, and Xero
• Available in 10 languages
• Best for: International teams, particularly those with European operations, needing multi-language expense management
• Pricing: From $10/user/month

17. Happay

Happay is an Indian expense management platform widely used by mid-to-large Indian enterprises.

• Prepaid cards, expense claims, approval workflows, real-time analytics
• Strong integration with Indian banking and ERP systems
• Mobile-first with offline receipt capture
• Best for: Indian companies and those with significant India operations seeking a local expense management solution
• Pricing: Custom pricing

18. Emburse

Emburse is a portfolio of expense management products including the former Abacus and Certify brands, now consolidated under the Emburse name.

• Multiple product tiers from SMB to enterprise, card programmes, expense reimbursement, analytics
• Integrates with major ERP, accounting, and HRIS platforms
• Audit trail and compliance features for regulated industries
• Best for: Companies that previously used Abacus or Certify, or those wanting an established enterprise-level solution
• Pricing: Custom pricing

19. Center

Center combines corporate cards with automated expense management and focuses heavily on reducing manual finance work through real-time expense reconciliation.

• Corporate cards with automatic receipt matching and expense categorisation
• Real-time policy enforcement and approval workflows
• Mobile-first expense capture and reporting
• Integrates with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and other accounting systems
• Designed to minimise end-of-month reconciliation work for finance teams
• Best for: US-based companies wanting tightly integrated corporate cards and automated expense workflows
• Pricing: Custom pricing

20. Expensya

Expensya is a European expense management platform known for AI-powered receipt scanning, mileage tracking, and strong support for multilingual and multi-currency teams.

• AI receipt OCR, automatic categorisation, mileage calculation, approval workflows
• Multi-currency and multi-language support
• Corporate cards and travel expense management features
• Integrates with accounting and ERP systems including Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and SAP
• Strong adoption across France, Spain, Germany, and other European markets
• Best for: European companies and international teams needing multilingual expense management and travel expense control
• Pricing: Custom pricing based on company size and features

21. Grey

Grey is a multi-currency financial account rather than a dedicated expense management tool, but it serves a specific gap that most expense management apps do not address: receiving income and managing expenses across currencies for international freelancers and distributed teams.

• Virtual USD, GBP, and EUR accounts with real foreign banking details
• Grey Plus Card (Visa) for international spending without foreign transaction fees
• Real-time visibility of multi-currency balances
• Low conversion fees: deposits at 0.8% (capped at $10) and conversions at 1% (capped at $6 for applicable pairs)
• Best for: International freelancers and distributed teams managing income in one currency and expenses in another; teams whose primary payment infrastructure gap is receiving and converting international income rather than corporate AP workflows
• Pricing: No monthly fee; transaction-based fees only

For a deeper look at how distributed teams use virtual cards to manage expenses across locations, see how distributed teams manage expenses with virtual cards.

Best expense management apps for remote and international teams

Remote and international teams have specific requirements that narrow the shortlist considerably. The most important are multi-currency card support, integrations with global accounting platforms, and the ability to reimburse employees in different countries.

Brex is the strongest option for US-headquartered companies with international employees. Its global card programme supports spending in local currencies and its reporting handles multi-currency reconciliation natively.

Spendesk and Payhawk both serve European teams with multi-currency needs particularly well, with card programmes covering EUR, GBP, and other major European currencies.

Rydoo is the best choice for teams operating across multiple European countries where multi-language support and familiarity with local compliance requirements matter.

Pleo suits UK and European remote teams wanting to eliminate the paper receipt and manual expense report workflow entirely. Its real-time notification and receipt request flow works well for employees who are rarely in the same office.

For teams managing income from international clients and needing to control spending across currencies, Grey's virtual card and multi-currency account fills a gap that most of these platforms leave open. Where Brex and Spendesk manage outbound corporate spend, Grey handles the inbound foreign income side. Grey for business teams covers both receiving income in foreign currencies and controlling how that income is spent and converted.

Open a Grey account and give your team a smarter way to manage international expenses.

How to choose the right expense management app

The decision comes down to four variables.

Team size. Ramp and Divvy are free and well-suited for companies up to around 200 people. SAP Concur and Airbase scale to thousands of employees with complex approval hierarchies. Pleo, Spendesk, and Zoho Expense serve the 5 to 100 employee range well.

Budget. Several strong options are free or very low cost: Ramp, Divvy, Zoho Expense (free tier), and Grey all have no monthly subscription. If your team has straightforward needs and a limited budget, these options should be evaluated first.

Currency and geography. If your team operates in a single country with one currency, almost every option on this list works. If you have employees in multiple countries spending in different currencies, the shortlist narrows to Brex, Spendesk, Payhawk, Rydoo, and Grey.

Accounting integrations. Confirm that your accounting platform, whether QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, or another, is supported before committing. Most platforms in this list cover the major systems, but niche or regional accounting software may not be integrated. For best invoicing tools for freelancers working with international clients, the integration requirements differ from corporate expense management.

Open a Grey account and give your team a smarter way to manage international expenses.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free expense management app?

Ramp and Divvy are both fully free for core expense management and corporate card features, generating revenue through card interchange rather than subscription fees. Zoho Expense offers a free tier for up to three users with solid core functionality. Expensify has a free individual plan. For international teams that need multi-currency account management rather than just expense tracking, Grey has no monthly subscription.

What is the difference between expense management and accounting software?

Expense management software handles the capture, approval, and categorisation of spending. Accounting software records those transactions in the general ledger, manages invoicing, and produces financial statements. Most expense management platforms integrate with accounting software rather than replacing it. The typical workflow is: employee submits expense via expense app, manager approves, the transaction syncs to QuickBooks or Xero, and the accountant handles the rest.

Can these apps handle multiple currencies?

Most enterprise and mid-market options handle multiple currencies. Brex, Payhawk, Rydoo, and Spendesk have the strongest multi-currency card programmes. Expensify and Zoho Expense handle multi-currency expense reporting but do not issue cards in multiple currencies natively. Ramp and Divvy are US-focused. Grey handles multi-currency income and spending with explicit balance management in USD, GBP, and EUR.

How do virtual cards help with expense management?

Virtual cards let managers set spending limits per card, per category, or per time period and issue them instantly without physical card delivery. Each transaction is automatically tracked in real time. Employees cannot overspend their allocated budget. Receipt matching is often automated. Fraudulent charges are easy to trace to a specific card. For remote teams without a shared office or shared physical cards, virtual cards are the most practical expense control mechanism.

Do these apps integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes. Expensify, Ramp, Brex, Zoho Expense, Divvy, Fyle, Pleo, Soldo, and Spendesk all integrate with QuickBooks. SAP Concur, Airbase, Navan, and Emburse also support QuickBooks alongside larger ERP systems. Verify the specific QuickBooks version, QuickBooks Online versus QuickBooks Desktop, with each provider before committing, as some integrations work with only one version.

Earning in euros or dollars while living in India is a common goal for many remote workers, digital nomads, and expats. This often translates to higher earning potential, especially when converted to rupees. Unfortunately, high fees, payment delays, complex paperwork and forced currency conversions often make getting paid from Europe and the US while living in India very challenging.

However, there are various ways to manage international payments seamlessly while working in India. Here is how professionals in India efficiently receive payments from Europe and the US, and keep more of their earnings.

Why getting paid from Europe and the US can be tricky

Most traditional Indian banks are designed for just domestic transactions rather than foreign payments. When payments arrive via international wire, they may pass through multiple intermediary banks and incur extra charges. On top of that, you are forced to convert from EUR or USD to INR immediately the money lands in your accounts, and the rates are often not that great.

Due to processing and the transaction network, it may take a few days for the payment to reach your account. Lack of control over fees, transaction speed, and conversion can be frustrating for many professionals. The uncertainties make financial planning somewhat difficult.

Also read: Why Bengaluru is India’s unofficial capital for remote work and startups

How to get paid from Europe and the US while living in India

Here are the popular options for managing international payments from Europe and the US while living in India

Bank transfers and SWIFT payments

Many European and US companies opt for international bank transfers via SWIFT because it is reliable. This method is widely trusted and works well for both large payments and regular salaries. However, it has drawbacks. Transfers may take several business days, and fees are deducted before the money even gets to your account. You may also need to provide additional documentation to access your earnings, which can be cumbersome.

While SWIFT transfers are acceptable for occasional payments, they are rarely the most cost-effective option for frequent international income.

Using digital payment platforms

Platforms such as PayPal, Payoneer and Skrill are popular because they are easy for foreign clients to use. Payments arrive quickly, and you can withdraw funds to your Indian bank account.

However, convenience comes at a cost. You need to be mindful of platform fees, withdrawal charges, and currency conversion mark-ups that can significantly reduce your earnings. Some users also experience account limitations or compliance reviews that temporarily restrict access to funds. This is why it is best to compare options before choosing a digital payment solution.

• Payoneer: Ideal if you work through international freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr. It provides multi-currency accounts and integrates seamlessly with these platforms, making withdrawals straightforward.
• Razorpay: An India-based payment gateway that allows businesses and some freelancers to accept international card payments in over 130 currencies directly into their Indian bank account.
• PayPal: Widely used and trusted by global clients. However, while PayPal supports swift transfers, it comes at a higher cost.

Also read: Payment methods Indians often miss: alternatives beyond PayPal and bank transfers

Multi-currency accounts

For many Indians earning from Europe and the US, multi-currency accounts have become the most efficient payment solution. These payment platforms help you open accounts in various currencies such as USD, EUR, and GBP. This way, clients can pay you as if they were making a local transfer within their country.

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You also don’t have to convert your earnings to INR immediately, as a multi-currency account allows you to hold foreign currency and convert when exchange rates are favourable. You can also spend foreign currencies directly to pay for your subscriptions, trips, and online purchases. This level of control protects your income because fees are typically low, transactions are swift, and there are no hidden fees.

• Grey: Tailored to remote workers in India with international clients. Users can access USD, EUR, and GBP account details for international payments within minutes. Transaction fees are generally low with mid-market exchange rates, and transactions are nearly instant. You can also get a USD debit card for your online payments and automated invoicing to streamline your finances. Grey also integrates seamlessly with global freelancing platforms (like Fiverr and Upwork) and online marketplaces (like Etsy and Amazon), allowing you to access your earnings without delay.
• Wise: Offers local account details (USD, EUR, GBP) so clients can pay you via a local transfer, avoiding SWIFT fees. Funds are converted at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees, ensuring you keep more of your earnings.
• Winvesta: A fintech company providing cross-border payments and multi-currency accounts for Indians. Users can manage payments in USD, EUR, GBP and other foreign currencies.

Also read: How remote workers in India can switch from traditional banks to Grey.

Managing your global income with Grey

Getting paid from Europe and the US while living in India does not have to be stressful. With the right tools, you can maximise your earnings and streamline your finances. Grey provides multi-currency accounts supporting USD, EUR, and GBP. This allows professionals in India to receive payments from Europe and the US easily. You can hold foreign currency, convert at competitive rates, and withdraw to your Indian bank account when it suits you.

Sign up on Grey today or download the app to get started.

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