Corporate Cards & Expense Accounts in Europe (2026)

The complete guide for fast-growing European businesses

European companies are spending more on software, travel, advertising and remote teams than ever before. But traditional banks were never designed to handle modern expense management — which is why corporate cards and expense platforms have become one of the fastest-growing segments in European fintech.

In 2026, these platforms are no longer just cards. They are full financial operating systems that control how money flows through your business.

This guide explains how they work, which platforms dominate the market, and which one is right for your company.

What is a corporate card & expense account?

A corporate card is a business payment card issued to employees, linked to a central company account. An expense platform wraps software around those cards to track, approve, categorise and reconcile spending in real time.

Instead of waiting for staff to submit receipts, finance teams can see every transaction instantly, assign budgets, block unauthorised purchases and export everything to accounting software.

In practice, these platforms replace:

• Petty cash

• Reimbursements

• Paper receipts

• Legacy business credit cards

For modern businesses, they are becoming as important as a bank account.

Why European businesses are switching in 2026

Three forces are driving adoption:

1️⃣ Remote and hybrid work

Employees no longer sit in one office. Teams need cards that work globally, with limits, controls and instant reporting.

2️⃣ SaaS and online spending

From cloud hosting to digital advertising, companies now run on subscriptions. Corporate card platforms make it easy to track, approve and cancel services.

3️⃣ Compliance and audit pressure

Tax authorities and investors expect clean records. Automated receipt capture and categorisation reduces fraud and saves finance teams hundreds of hours.

How corporate card platforms actually make money

Most platforms don’t charge interest like traditional credit cards. Instead, they earn money from:

• Interchange fees every time a card is used

• Subscription plans for software features

• FX markups on international spending

• Value-added services like credit, bill pay and analytics

This means their incentives are aligned with growing businesses — the more you spend, the more they earn.

The leading corporate card platforms in Europe

The European market is dominated by a handful of powerful players.

Soldo

One of Europe’s largest prepaid corporate card platforms, focused on budgeting and control.

Pleo

Popular with startups and mid-sized companies for its user-friendly expense tracking and receipt automation.

Spendesk

Strong in continental Europe, offering virtual cards, physical cards and invoice management in one platform.

Wise Business

Often used for multi-currency corporate cards with low FX costs.

Revolut Business

A fast-growing challenger offering cards, expense management and integrated business banking.

Each platform has a different pricing model and target audience — from startups to multinational firms.

Corporate cards vs traditional business credit cards

Traditional business credit cards are built by banks. Corporate card platforms are built by software companies.

Here’s the difference:

For most companies in 2026, the software matters more than the card.

Who should use corporate card platforms?

These platforms are ideal for:

• Startups needing fast onboarding

• Scale-ups managing dozens of employees

• Remote teams across Europe

• Marketing teams spending on ads

• Finance teams who hate chasing receipts

They are less suitable for:

• Sole traders

• Cash-heavy businesses

• Companies that only spend locally

How to choose the right platform

Ask these five questions:

1️⃣ Where do you spend?

If you operate in multiple currencies, FX fees matter more than card fees.

2️⃣ How many employees?

Some platforms charge per card or per user.

3️⃣ Do you need credit?

Some offer prepaid cards only; others provide real credit lines.

4️⃣ Which accounting software do you use?

Look for integrations with Xero, QuickBooks or Sage.

5️⃣ How strict are your controls?

Some companies want complete spending lockdowns, others prefer flexibility.

What this means for European fintech

Corporate cards are becoming one of the most valuable fintech verticals in Europe. They generate recurring revenue, lock in customers and sit at the centre of business finance.

They are also a gateway into:

• Lending

• FX

• Payroll

• Invoicing

• Treasury management

That’s why banks, venture capital and Big Tech are all fighting for control of this market.

The future of business spending

By the end of the decade, most European businesses will no longer issue traditional expense cards. They will run everything through software-driven finance platforms that provide instant visibility and control.

For founders and finance leaders, the question is not whether to adopt these tools — but which one will become the financial nervous system of their company.

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