Brex Banking vs Payhawk
Choose Brex Banking if your US company wants checking, a yield-bearing Treasury option, and corporate spend tools together; choose Payhawk if your priority is managing cards, expenses, and payments across currencies and entities. Both vendors currently offer accounts, cards, and payment workflows, so there is a real buying decision here, but they emphasize different uses of company cash.
Last updated November 1, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Brex Banking | Payhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Account focus | US checking, Treasury, and Vault | Multi-currency business payment accounts |
| Cash yield | Variable return on Treasury money market investments | Not published |
| Funds protection | Up to $6 million FDIC-eligible Vault sweep; Treasury not FDIC-insured | Safeguarded payment-account funds; no deposit guarantee |
| Account currencies | US-dollar checking account | Dedicated account details in six currencies |
| Existing cards | Brex-issued corporate cards | Connect existing cards; Payhawk cards optional |
| Entry pricing | Essentials $0 per user/month; Premium $12 per user/month | Cards & Expenses from $449/month; AP from $349/month |
| International payments | Payments in 30+ local currencies | Payments in 115+ currencies |
| Business eligibility | US incorporation, EIN, operations, and physical address required | Accounts offered across 33 countries |
| Entity support | Up to two on Essentials; unlimited on Enterprise | Multi-entity environment; additional entities as add-ons |
| Accounting integrations | QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, and others | QuickBooks Online, Xero, Exact Online; ERP add-ons |
| Platforms | Web dashboard; iOS and Android apps | Web platform; iOS and Android apps |
| Support and setup | 24/7 support; Enterprise named account manager | Guided implementation available at no additional cost |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Brex Banking if
- US companies seeking checking and a Treasury yield option
- Teams that want a Vault sweep with up to $6 million in eligible FDIC coverage
- Businesses wanting bill pay and same-day ACH in the same platform
- Startups seeking a $0-per-user Essentials plan
Choose Payhawk if
- Teams paying suppliers across multiple currencies
- Companies keeping an existing corporate card program
- Finance teams managing spending across multiple entities
- Businesses seeking modular expense, AP, procurement, and travel tools
The verdict
The deciding factor is whether you need to manage cash or orchestrate global spending. Brex Banking is the better fit for a US business that wants checking alongside a Treasury money market option and an FDIC-eligible Vault sweep. Payhawk is the better fit for a team that needs multi-currency accounts, cross-border payments, and expense controls that can work with its existing corporate cards. Compare the applicable plan and account terms before choosing: Brex’s Treasury investments are not FDIC-insured, and Payhawk’s published module prices are starting prices.
Brex Banking vs Payhawk: common questions
- Is Brex Banking or Payhawk a better fit for managing idle cash?
- Brex Banking offers a Treasury option that invests in a government money market fund and earns a variable return. Those investments can lose value and are not FDIC-insured. Payhawk does not publish a comparable cash-yield offering.
- Can Payhawk replace a Brex business checking account?
- Payhawk offers business payment accounts for holding currencies and making transfers, while Brex Banking offers a US checking account plus separate Treasury and Vault options. They serve overlapping payment needs, but their account structures and protections differ.
- Does FDIC coverage apply to all Brex Banking balances?
- No. Brex says eligible funds swept to partner banks through Vault can receive up to $6 million in FDIC coverage, subject to conditions. Funds invested in Brex Treasury’s money market fund are not FDIC-insured.
- Can I keep my existing corporate cards with Payhawk?
- Yes. Payhawk’s Cards & Expenses offering connects existing corporate card programs and also offers optional Payhawk Visa credit cards. Brex’s published card offering centers on Brex-issued cards.
- How much do Brex Banking and Payhawk cost?
- Brex lists Essentials at $0 per user per month, Premium at $12 per user per month, and custom Enterprise pricing; some Brex services may carry fees. Payhawk lists Cards & Expenses from $449 per month and Accounts Payable from $349 per month, with pricing affected by selected modules and usage.
- Which offers more options for international payments?
- Payhawk advertises payments in more than 115 currencies and dedicated account details in six currencies. Brex advertises payments in more than 30 local currencies; its business checking account is US-dollar based.
- Can a company outside the United States open a Brex business account?
- Brex requires applicants to have US incorporation, a US EIN, US operations, and a US physical address. Payhawk advertises account availability across 33 countries, although specific account and payment features depend on location.
- Do Brex Banking and Payhawk integrate with accounting software?
- Yes. Brex lists direct integrations including QuickBooks Online, Xero, and NetSuite. Payhawk lists live integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Exact Online, with additional ERP integrations offered as add-ons.
