Replacement Guide

How to Build Your Own Airbase

Replace Airbase with a custom build. Financial control platform for modern companies

Few Days
39 features30 integrations3-5 days

Estimated Timeline

Based on 39 features at Few Days difficulty, expect about 3-5 days with AI-assisted development.

1
Architecture & setup
Half day
2
Core features
2-3 days
3
Testing & polish
1 day

Recommended Tech Stack

Next.js 14

Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components

Supabase

PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions

Tailwind CSS

Utility-first styling for rapid UI development

Key Features to Replicate

Top features across 8 categories. See all 39 features

Payments(6 features)

ACH Transfers

Initiate and track ACH payments directly from the platform to vendors and employees.

Bill Pay

Schedule and authorize bill payments with approval workflows and payment history.

Card ControlsPremium

Set spending limits, merchant categories, and transaction restrictions on virtual cards.

Multi-Currency SupportPremium

Manage expenses and payments across multiple currencies with real-time exchange rates.

Scheduled Payments

Automate recurring bill payments and vendor remittances on a set schedule.

+1 more in this category

Procurement(5 features)

Purchase OrdersPremium

Create and manage purchase orders with multi-level approval workflows.

Spend Management

Automate purchase requests, approvals, and payments across the organization.

Subscription ManagementAIPremium

Track recurring subscriptions, identify unused services, and manage SaaS spending.

Vendor Management

Centralize vendor information, track payments, and manage vendor relationships.

Vendor OnboardingPremium

Streamline vendor setup with automated W-9 collection and bank information capture.

Accounting(4 features)

Accounting Integration

Automatically sync transactions and categorize expenses to your accounting system.

Bank ReconciliationAI

Match transactions and reconcile bank accounts automatically.

Cost Center Tracking

Allocate expenses to specific cost centers and projects for detailed financial analysis.

Quarterly Close SupportPremium

Automated workflows and checklists to support faster financial close processes.

Analytics(4 features)

Cash Flow ForecastingAIPremium

Project future cash positions based on historical spending patterns and pending transactions.

Duplicate DetectionAIPremium

Automatically identify and flag potential duplicate transactions or payments.

Real-Time Dashboard

Monitor cash flow, spending trends, and budget status with customizable dashboards.

Spending AnalyticsAIPremium

Analyze spending trends, identify cost-saving opportunities, and benchmark against peer data.

Compliance(4 features)

1099 ManagementPremium

Track 1099 vendor payments and generate annual reports for tax filing.

Audit Trails

Track all changes and transactions with comprehensive audit logs for compliance.

Compliance ReportsPremium

Generate SOX, tax, and regulatory compliance reports for audits.

Merchant Category BlockingPremium

Prevent purchases from specific merchant categories or vendors automatically.

Expenses(4 features)

Expense TrackingAI

Capture and categorize all expenses with receipt scanning and automatic reconciliation.

Receipt ScanningAI

Automatically extract and categorize expense data from receipts using OCR technology.

Reimbursement Processing

Automate employee reimbursement requests and approvals with direct deposit.

Travel & ExpensePremium

Manage business travel expenses including flights, hotels, and mileage reimbursement.

Administration(2 features)

Department Hierarchies

Organize teams and set budget allocations across multiple organizational levels.

Document Management

Store and organize supporting documents for all expenses and transactions.

Security(2 features)

Team Permissions

Set granular role-based access controls for different team members and departments.

Two-Factor Authentication

Secure accounts with multi-factor authentication and SSO integration.

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Airbase

Monthly$299/mo
Yearly$3.6k/yr
5-Year Total$17.9k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~4 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyEasy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $3.3k
SaaS
$3.6k
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $10k
SaaS
$10.8k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $16.7k
SaaS
$17.9k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 39 features at easy complexity.

Ready to Build?