Brex

## How do Brex rewards for software and advertising spend compare to Ramp's flat cashback rate?

## Overview The rewards programs offered by Brex and Ramp present two distinct models for businesses: Brex utilizes a category-specific multiplier system, while Ramp offers a straightforward flat-rate cashback on all spending. The optimal choice between the two depends heavily on a company's specific spending patterns, particularly its expenditure on software and advertising. ## Key Features Ramp's core offering is a simple and predictable cashback rate of up to 1.5% on all eligible card spending. This flat rate applies universally across all merchant categories, with no need to track bonus categories or activate special offers. The cashback is issued automatically as a statement credit, eliminating any friction in the redemption process. This model provides consistent, predictable returns and is advantageous for businesses with diversified spending across many categories, as every dollar spent contributes equally to the rewards earned. There are no caps on the total cashback that can be earned, and the card carries no annual fee. ## Technical Specifications In contrast, Brex's rewards program is structured to provide accelerated earnings in specific, high-value business categories, including software and advertising. To access the highest reward rates, companies typically need to qualify for 'Brex Exclusive' status, which generally involves committing all of their corporate card spend to Brex. For customers on the 'Brex Exclusive + daily payments' product tier, the program offers a 3x points multiplier on recurring software expenses. For those on the 'Brex Exclusive + monthly payments' tier, the multiplier is 2x. Assuming a point valuation of 1 cent per point (a common valuation for cash back or statement credit redemptions), this translates to an effective cashback rate of 2-3% on software, which is significantly higher than Ramp's 1.5%. For advertising spend, the 'Brex Exclusive + daily payments' tier offers a 1.5x multiplier, which is on par with Ramp's flat rate. Other high-value categories for Brex include 8x on rideshare and 5x on travel booked through their portal. ## How It Works Beyond direct point multipliers, a significant component of Brex's value proposition is its extensive ecosystem of partner credits and discounts, which are particularly relevant for software and advertising spend. As of early 2026, these offers include substantial credits such as $5,000 in AWS credits, up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits, and $2,500 in OpenAI credits. For software, partners like Slack (30% off), Notion (6 months free), and GitHub (20 free seats) provide direct cost savings that can far exceed the value of cashback earned on those purchases. For a startup or tech-focused company, these partner deals can represent tens of thousands of dollars in value, a benefit that is not a primary feature of Ramp's offering. These credits are typically available to new customers of the partner services and are a key differentiator for companies in their growth phase. ## Use Cases Redemption options also differ between the two platforms. Ramp's system is automated, with cashback applied directly as a statement credit, requiring no action from the user. Brex points offer more flexibility; they can be redeemed for cash back, applied as a statement credit, used to book travel through the Brex portal, or potentially transferred to airline and hotel partners. While this flexibility can be appealing, the value of a Brex point can vary depending on the redemption method chosen. A point may be worth 1 cent for cash back but could yield higher value when used for specific travel bookings or partner services. This requires the business to be more active in managing and optimizing their redemptions to maximize value, whereas Ramp's value is fixed and automatic. ## Summary In conclusion, the comparison between Brex and Ramp's rewards is a trade-off between targeted high returns and universal simplicity. Ramp's 1.5% flat cashback is simple, predictable, and beneficial for companies with diverse spending. Brex's program is more complex but offers the potential for significantly higher effective returns for businesses with concentrated spending in categories like software, rideshare, and travel. The addition of valuable partner credits for services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Slack makes Brex particularly compelling for technology startups and high-growth companies. A business with a large software budget would likely earn more in raw rewards from Brex's 3x multiplier than from Ramp's 1.5% cashback. Conversely, a company with large, uncategorized expenses might find Ramp's consistent flat rate more advantageous. The decision requires a careful analysis of a company's historical and projected spending distribution.