Airbase vs Coupa:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Coupa had more branded searches than Airbase among spend management platforms worldwide. Coupa had about 201,000 branded searches, while Airbase had 40,500. Coupa made up 18.5% of all spend management platform searches we track, and Airbase accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about spend management platforms, Airbase appeared in four of the five answers and Coupa in two. Airbase was mentioned before Coupa in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Coupa, about 5 searches for every 1 for Airbase
Who does AI mention more?
Airbase, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Coupa in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Airbase, named ahead of Coupa in 3 of 4 answers
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Top spend management platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Airbase was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Coupa was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Airbase was listed before Coupa in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Ramp1st
Brex2nd- BILL Spend & Expense3rd
SAP Concur4th- Airbase5th
- Coupa6th
- Rippling Spend7th
Expensify8th
Navan9th
Mesh Payments–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Brex5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ramp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Airbase4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- SAP Concur3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- BILL Spend & Expense3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Coupa2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Expensify2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Rippling Spend2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Navan1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Mesh Payments0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about spend management platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which spend management platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best spend management platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best spend management platform for a finance team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“spend management platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best spend management software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Airbase or Coupa more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Airbase and Coupa by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten spend management platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Coupa, Airbase. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Navan | SAP Concur | Coupa | Expensify | Brex | Airbase | Ramp | Mesh Payments | BILL Spend & Expense | Rippling Spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34.6% | 22.5% | 18% | 12.2% | 8.5% | 3.6% | 0.29% | 0.21% | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.5% | 23.4% | 18.8% | 12.7% | 10.4% | 4.6% | 0.31% | 0.27% | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 24.8% | 23.9% | 19.3% | 16% | 10.7% | 4.7% | 0.31% | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 28.1% | 18.2% | 14.6% | 12.2% | 22% | 4.4% | 0.25% | 0.21% | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Feb 2026 | 28.2% | 22.3% | 17.9% | 12.3% | 12.1% | 6.6% | 0.37% | 0.26% | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.5% | 22.4% | 17.9% | 12.4% | 10% | 8.1% | 0.37% | 0.21% | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.4% | 23.8% | 19.1% | 10.7% | 10.6% | 4.7% | 0.32% | 0.23% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| May 2026 | 34% | 21.9% | 17.6% | 11.8% | 9.8% | 4.3% | 0.35% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.3% | 24.6% | 19.7% | 10.8% | 9% | 4% | 0.32% | 0.24% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Jul 2026 | 33.8% | 21.9% | 17.7% | 11.8% | 9.9% | 4.3% | 0.29% | 0.26% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Aug 2026 | 38.2% | 20.4% | 16.5% | 11% | 9.1% | 4% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | 35.5% | 23% | 18.5% | 10.1% | 8.5% | 3.7% | 0.3% | 0.22% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
How has the Airbase and Coupa comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Coupa was ahead of Airbase in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Airbase’s share of searches among spend management platforms worldwide moved from 3.6% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Coupa’s share of searches among spend management platforms worldwide moved from 18% to 18.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 201K.
How did search popularity change for spend management platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Coupa gained share of searches among spend management platforms worldwide, from 16.5% to 18.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Airbase’s and Coupa’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among spend management platforms
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