Snapshot
Mercury and Brex compared on the points that usually decide a business account: account type, monthly fee, currency support, eligibility and where each one is available.
Mercury figures as of 11 October 2026Brex figures as of 11 October 2026Last updated 11 October 2026
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. There is no single best account. The right fit depends on your business. Verify current terms and eligibility with each provider before applying.
Mercury and Brex both serve United States startups but play different roles. Mercury is an online business checking and savings platform with no monthly fee, free United States dollar wires and an API, aimed at technology and ecommerce companies. Brex is a corporate card and spend management platform with card limits set by company finances, plus a cash management account and expense software. Many startups use both. Use the comparison below to weigh account type, fees and eligibility against how your business operates, then confirm the latest terms with each provider. Figures are shown as of 11 October 2026 for both providers.
Mercury vs Brex at a glance
| Feature | Mercury | Brex |
|---|---|---|
| Account type | Business checking and savings from Mercury, a financial technology company and not a bank. Banking services are provided through partner banks that are members of the FDIC, with FDIC insurance of up to 5 million United States dollars through partner banks and their sweep networks. | Corporate charge card with a business cash management account and spend software. Brex is a financial technology company and not a bank, and card balances are paid in full each cycle. |
| Who it suits | Venture backed startups, technology companies and ecommerce businesses that operate online and do not handle physical cash. | Venture backed startups and established companies that want corporate cards with limits based on company cash and revenue, plus expense and bill pay tools. |
| Monthly fee | No monthly fee, no minimum balance, no overdraft fee and no account opening fee. As of 11 October 2026. | The Essentials plan costs 0 United States dollars per user per month. Premium is 12 United States dollars per user per month, and Enterprise is priced on request. As of 11 October 2026. |
| Transaction fees | No fees on United States dollar activity, including free domestic and international United States dollar wires. Non United States dollar card transactions, currency exchange and some premium features can carry fees. As of 11 October 2026. | Brex does not charge transaction fees on domestic wires, international wires, ACH or checks sent from a Brex business account. Banks along the route may charge their own fees. As of 11 October 2026. |
| FX fees | Sending United States dollars internationally is free, while non United States dollar transactions and currency exchange carry fees. Not a multi currency holding account. As of 11 October 2026. | Card spend that needs a currency conversion carries an FX rate markup of up to 3%. Brex offers local currency cards in more than 50 countries on its top tier. Non United States dollar wires use an exchange rate chosen by Brex. As of 11 October 2026. |
| Interest | Mercury offers a treasury product with yield on idle cash for eligible accounts. Confirm current rates and eligibility with the provider. As of 11 October 2026. | Brex offers a business account with yield options on operating cash. Confirm current rates and terms with the provider. As of 11 October 2026. |
| Multi currency | Primarily a United States dollar account. Non dollar transactions carry fees. As of 11 October 2026. | Not a multi currency holding account, though card spend is supported in many currencies with local currency cards abroad. As of 11 October 2026. |
| Integrations | Connects with accounting tools such as QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite and offers an API for payments and automation. Confirm current integrations with the provider. | Connects with accounting and ERP tools such as QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite, with built in expense and bill pay. Confirm current integrations with the provider. |
| Eligibility | Open to companies registered in the United States with a federal EIN. Sole proprietorships are not supported, and some industries such as cannabis, adult entertainment and online gambling are excluded. As of 11 October 2026. | Requires a United States EIN, valid United States incorporation, United States operations and a United States physical address. Startups that have raised funding need a minimum cash balance of 50,000 United States dollars, possibly lower through some partner referrals. Sole proprietors are not eligible. As of 11 October 2026. |
| Broadly available in | United States. Supports founders from many countries who form a United States company. | United States, with local currency card issuing in more than 50 countries. |
Mercury suits a United States LLC or corporation, including one with founders abroad, that wants a no monthly fee account with free ACH and wires in United States dollars. Brex suits a funded United States startup holding at least 50,000 United States dollars that wants corporate cards, expense software and local currency cards for staff abroad. A company can run its operating account at Mercury and its cards at Brex.
Open a business account
Both providers accept business customers in the United States. Fees and eligibility shown as of 11 October 2026 for Mercury and Brex. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.
Visit Mercury → Commission link: we may earn a fee if you open an account through it. It does not change what we publish or how we rank providers. Visit Brex → Commission link: we may earn a fee if you open an account through it. It does not change what we publish or how we rank providers.Questions about Mercury and Brex
Which is better for my business, Mercury or Brex?
It depends on your needs. The table on this page compares Mercury and Brex on account type, fees, currency support, eligibility and availability using each provider's published terms. Mercury is an online checking and savings platform with free United States dollar wires, while Brex is a corporate card and spend management platform. Many startups use both. Weigh those against how your business operates, then confirm current terms with each provider. This is information, not advice.
Can I open both Mercury and Brex?
Often yes, subject to each provider's eligibility rules. Many startups keep a Mercury account for checking and payments alongside Brex for corporate cards and spend management. Check eligibility with each provider before applying.
Are the fees on this page current?
Each figure is shown with the date it was recorded. Mercury and Brex figures are shown as of 11 October 2026. Fees and eligibility change, so confirm current terms with each provider before you apply.
Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 11 October 2026. Confirm current terms with each provider before applying.