astrada.com

What It Is

Astrada positions itself as a “data layer for autonomous finance.” It is not an acquirer, wallet, or payment processor; instead, it provides real-time, structured card transaction data APIs for expense management, travel management, accounting, and ERP platforms. Its key message is that it connects directly to card networks and captures data at the point of transaction authorization, rather than waiting for bank statements or batch syncs from aggregators.

Core Capabilities

Its core products include the Live Transaction Data API and Auto-Reconciliation, which is currently in Early Access. According to the website, employees can register any personal or corporate card — a BYOC model — helping platforms close the gap where they would otherwise only see spend from cards they issue themselves. In terms of data depth, Astrada says each transaction includes 10+ structured fields, such as MCC, merchant ID, terminal ID, currency, and status. These can be used for automated categorization, matching card transactions with bank statements, real-time policy enforcement, and zero-day close.

Payment Methods, Coverage, and Compliance

The site explicitly mentions Visa and Mastercard, stating that real-time transaction data from both major card networks can be accessed through a single API. Its examples also include multi-currency and cross-region merchant scenarios, but the website does not clearly list supported countries, banks, or currencies. On compliance, Astrada discloses that it has obtained PCI DSS v4 Level 1 certification, has joined Mastercard StartPath, and is a Visa Ventures portfolio company. However, it does not disclose any payment license or specific regulatory status.

Pricing and Integration

Pricing is not public. The main entry points are Contact Sales and Get API Access, so it likely uses enterprise sales and customized commercial terms. On the technical side, it provides Documentation and API Reference entry points, making it suitable for API-based integration into existing expense management, ERP, or spend management platforms. Auto-Reconciliation is still in early access, so its maturity and availability need further confirmation.

Pros, Cons, and Best Fit

The main advantages are real-time data and structured fields, which are better suited than traditional bank statements with 24–48 hour delays for AI-based categorization, automated reconciliation, and risk controls at authorization time. BYOC also helps capture spend outside the platform’s own issued-card ecosystem. The limitations are that pricing, coverage, SLA, and support tiers are not publicly disclosed, and Astrada solves a data-layer problem rather than directly handling collections, payouts, or fund settlement. It is better suited to mid-to-large expense management, travel, ERP, and financial software platforms, rather than ordinary merchants.

Access from China

Website accessibility from mainland China is unknown. The product also does not disclose support for the China market, local bank cards, or local payment methods. For China-related business scenarios, teams may also evaluate data aggregation or card data solutions such as Plaid, Fidel API, Tink, and TrueLayer, or consider alternatives such as direct local bank integrations, bank-enterprise connectivity, and enterprise expense management systems.