Most Recommended Spend Management Platforms by Consultants—Which Ones Stand Out?

Consultants often get a front-row seat to how companies of all sizes manage spend, from early-stage implementation to enterprise optimization. I want to start a discussion about the spend management platforms consultants most frequently recommend to clients.

Based on G2’s Spend Management Software category, here are some of the platforms that consistently come up in expert circles:

• Spendflo – Marketed as a SaaS buying and optimization solution, Spendflo helps finance and procurement teams consolidate contracts, benchmark costs, and track renewals. Is it delivering strong ROI for clients managing dozens of software vendors?
• Airbase – Known for unifying expense management, approvals, and reimbursements. Consultants often recommend it to clients seeking centralization without enterprise complexity. How well does it support audits and policy enforcement?
• Coupa – Offers deep procurement and expense analytics, often used by larger clients needing compliance and supplier visibility. Is Coupa too feature-heavy for mid-sized implementations, or is the scalability worth the learning curve?
• Brex – Frequently chosen for its ease of setup, fast underwriting, and startup appeal. Consultants seem to value its integration options—but does it keep up with client needs as they grow beyond early-stage?
• Rippling – Best known for HR and IT automation, but increasingly used to manage reimbursements and expense policies. Does it serve as a reliable standalone tool for spend, or is it best deployed as part of a broader Rippling stack?

If you’re a consultant—or have worked with one—what tools do you consistently recommend or see in client environments? Which ones provide quick wins, and which have proven durable over time?