Snapshot
Mercury and Relay 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 2026Relay 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 Relay are both United States financial technology companies offering business banking through partner banks, each with a free plan. Mercury is popular with startups and technology firms, including those with founders based abroad, and adds treasury and software features on paid plans. Relay is built around multiple accounts so a business can separate money for taxes, payroll and operating costs. Use the comparison below to weigh account type, fees, eligibility and availability against how your company operates, then confirm the latest terms with each provider. Figures are shown as of 11 October 2026.
Mercury vs Relay at a glance
| Feature | Mercury | Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Account type | Business banking for United States companies through FDIC member partner banks, with checking and savings, cards, payments and treasury tools. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. | Online business banking from Relay, a financial technology company in the United States, built around multiple accounts so a business can separate money for taxes, payroll and operating costs. |
| Who it suits | United States registered startups and growing companies, including those with founders based abroad, that want a digital first account with no monthly fee on the free plan and modern software. | United States small businesses that want to separate money across multiple accounts and manage cash flow and spending in one place. |
| Monthly fee | Free plan with no monthly fee. Plus is about 35 United States dollars a month and Pro is about 350 United States dollars a month, with lower rates if billed annually. As of 11 October 2026. | Free Starter plan with no monthly fee. Paid Grow and Scale plans carry a monthly fee and add features. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Relay. |
| Transaction fees | No monthly fee, overdraft fee or minimum balance on the free plan. ACH, domestic wires and international wires in United States dollars are free. Non United States dollar card transactions carry a 3% currency exchange fee. As of 11 October 2026. Verify the current rate card with Mercury. | No monthly subscription fee, no minimum balance and no overdraft fees on the Starter plan. On Starter, outgoing domestic wires cost 8 United States dollars, incoming wires 5 United States dollars and same day ACH 1 United States dollar. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Relay. |
| FX fees | International wires in United States dollars are free. Non United States dollar international wires carry a 1% currency exchange fee, and non United States dollar card transactions carry 3%. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Mercury. | Relay is United States dollar focused. On Starter, an outgoing international wire costs 5 United States dollars over the local network or 25 United States dollars over SWIFT. Relay does not publish an FX markup on its plan pages, so check it with Relay. As of 11 October 2026. |
| Minimum deposit | No account minimum and no account opening fee. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Mercury. | No minimum balance required. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Relay. |
| Multi currency | Accounts are United States dollar based. International United States dollar payments are supported, and some currency features carry fees. As of 11 October 2026. | United States dollar focused, with international wire payments available. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Relay. |
| Eligibility | Businesses formed and registered in the United States or a United States territory, with United States operations or plans. Founders in many countries can apply, though some regions are not supported. As of 11 October 2026. Verify with Mercury. | United States registered businesses. As of 11 October 2026. Verify the current requirements with Relay. |
| Broadly available in | The United States. The business must be a United States entity, though founders living in many countries can apply. As of 11 October 2026. | The United States only. As of 11 October 2026. |
Mercury suits a United States LLC or corporation, including one whose founders live abroad, that sends wires often, since its domestic and United States dollar international wires are free. Relay suits a United States small business, sole proprietors included, that wants up to 20 checking accounts on the free plan to hold money aside for tax, payroll and operating costs. Mercury does not accept sole proprietorships.
Open a business account
Each provider accepts business customers in its supported market. Figures shown as of 11 October 2026. 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 Relay → 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 Relay
Which is better for my business, Mercury or Relay?
It depends on your needs. The table on this page compares Mercury and Relay on account type, fees, currency support, eligibility and availability using each provider's published terms. Weigh those against how your business operates, then confirm current terms with each provider. This is information, not advice.
Can I use Mercury and Relay together?
Often yes, subject to each provider's eligibility rules. Some United States businesses keep more than one account, for example Relay for separating money across multiple accounts and Mercury for treasury and startup focused tools. Check eligibility with each provider before applying.
Are the fees on this page current?
Each figure is shown with the date it was recorded, 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.