Circula

A detailed review of Circula's expense management software with pricing, comparisons to competitors, key information, and FAQs.

Updated on January 6th, 2023

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Circula is expense management software that helps companies from around the world manage expenses and corporate benefits with ease. Catering to small, mid-sized, and large finance teams throughout Germany, the platform's key features include corporate cards, custom approval flows, and tax-related services.

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At-a-Glance:

Feature

Circula

Starting price

€97.75 +VAT /mo.

Free trial

Expense reporting

Corporate cards

GoBD compliance

Reimbursements

Invoicing and billing software

x

Employee benefits management

Live chat support

Review:

Circula offers Germany-based companies a comprehensive expense management software built to streamline spending and reconciliation processes. The platform caters to more than 1,200 businesses and has several paid packages available to suit different team sizes and expense needs.

The software includes AI-powered receipt data extraction, mileage tracking, travel management, reimbursements, multilevel approval workflows, custom configurations, and automated compliance. Additional services, such as employee benefits management and corporate credit cards, are available.

Pros:

  • There is a free trial of the software.
  • The platform offers corporate credit cards with AI-powered accounting tools, cashback on transactions, and spending limits.
  • Various expense tasks, such as receipt submissions, reporting, and expense policies can be automated for efficiency.
  • Users can submit expenses, track mileage, scan receipts, and report out-of-pocket purchases with Circula's mobile app.
  • Companies can set individual expense policies and spending rules for departments and teams.
  • The platform offers advanced approvals based on your organization's structure, cost centers, and projects.
  • Users can manage employee benefits, such as meal allowances, travel rewards, and team incentives.
  • The software integrates with a wide variety of ERP, travel, and payroll platforms to streamline HR tasks.
  • Other tools include reimbursements, reconciliations, offline access, custom categorizations, and live chat support.
  • Several well-established companies, including CoachHub and Ebner Stolz, use Circula.

Cons:

  • Circula does not offer a free plan — only a limited free trial.
  • There is no phone support.
  • Unlike some of its competitors, such as Pleo, the platform lacks built-in invoice management.
  • While users outside Germany have access to Circula, the platform offers very limited global solutions.

Reputation:

On G2, Circula has a 4.6-star rating based on more than 120 reviews. The majority of users were satisfied with the software's auto-fill receipt capturing tool, user-friendly mobile app, and easy navigation of the website. However, some reviewers noted its lackluster approval tool.

On the App Store, Circula's mobile app has a 4.4-star rating based on more than 20 reviews, with most users approving of its expense management features.

Pricing:

Plan*

Monthly Pricing

Annual Pricing

Basic

€97.75 +VAT

€1,020.00 +VAT

Professional

€149.50 +VAT

€1,560.00 +VAT

Enterprise

Contact for quote.

Contact for quote.

Credit Cards

Contact for quote.

Contact for quote.

Lunch Benefit

€10.00 +VAT /user.

n/a

Mobility Benefit

€6.00 +VAT /user.

n/a

Internet Benefit

€4.00 +VAT /user.

n/a

Relax Benefit

€1.00 +VAT /user.

n/a

*Plans include a minimum of 10 user licenses.

Standout Features:

1. Corporate credit cards.

Circula offers both physical and virtual corporate credit cards to efficiently track and manage company spending. Users receive 1% cashback on each transaction and admins can top up cards from the mobile app to ensure employees never have to pay out-of-pocket.

Each card includes custom spending limits and budgets, as well as automated card statements, VISA exchange rates, and optional travel insurance for employees frequently traveling.

2. Employee benefits management.

With Circula, companies can easily manage employee benefits with its suite of modular, tax-optimized solutions. Various rewards, such as digital meal vouchers, internet allowance, and vacation subsidizations are available to incentivize employees and show your appreciation for teams reaching their budgetary goals.

All employee benefits are tax-optimized and can be submitted as an expense report with ease, thanks to Circula's robust automation and compliance solutions.

Circula vs. Soldo
Circula vs. Soldo:

Like Circula, Soldo offers expense reporting and multilevel approvals. However, each platform has unique standout features: for robust employee benefits management and automation, Circula is the more attractive option, while Soldo is better-suited to users in search of company wallets and onboarding assistance.

Circula vs. Soldo Comparison:

Feature

Circula

Soldo

Starting price

€97.75 +VAT /mo.

Free and paid options.

Free plan

x

Compliance

Employee benefits management

x

Onboarding assistance

x

Travel management

x

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Email and live chat.

Circula vs. Pleo
Circula vs. Pleo:

Circula and Pleo both feature expense tracking, reimbursements, team budgets, and mileage tracking. While Circula only has paid plans, Pleo offers a free plan, making it a budget-friendly option. However, Circula offers robust employee benefits management, which Pleo lacks.

Circula vs. Pleo Comparison:

Feature

Circula

Pleo

Starting price

€97.75 +VAT /mo.

Free and paid options.

Free plan

x

Expense reporting

Automation

Invoicing tools

x

Employee benefits management

x

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Email and live chat.

Circula vs. Rydoo
Circula vs. Rydoo:

While Circula primarily caters to Germany-based companies, Rydoo has a global presence. Both platforms offer a free trial, real-time reporting, ERP integrations, per diem allowances, and advanced approval workflows, but only Circula features employee benefits management.

Circula vs. Rydoo Comparison:

Feature

Circula

Rydoo

Starting price

€97.75 +VAT /mo.

$12.00 /user /mo.

Free trial

Expense reporting

Mileage tracking

Employee benefits management

x

Onboarding assistance

x

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Email, phone, and live chat.

Key Information:

Legal Name

Circula GmbH

Founder

Nikolai Skatchkov

Founding Date

Jan 01, 2017

Address

Schönhauser Allee 148, Berlin 10435 Germany

Number of Employees

85

Number of Customers

1200

Email

info@circula.com

Website

https://www.circula.com/en

FAQs:

What is Circula?

Circula provides Germany-based companies with intuitive expense management solutions to efficiently streamline spending tasks and compliance processes.

What does Circula cost?

Circula's pricing starts from €97.75 +VAT per month (billed monthly).

Is there a Circula app?

Circula's mobile app is available for iOS and Android users.

What are some Circula alternatives?