Relay vs Mercury: Which Business Banking Platform Wins in 2025?

In the fast-growing world of fintech, two business banking platforms stand out: Relay and Mercury. Both are built for modern entrepreneurs, but they offer different tools, interfaces, and priorities.

So if you’re choosing between Relay and Mercury in 2025, which one should you trust to manage your business cash flow?

Let’s compare them across the categories that matter most: features, fees, integrations, usability, and who each platform is best for.

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🧩 Quick Overview

Feature	Relay	Mercury
Multiple Checking Accts	✅ Up to 20	✅ Up to 50 virtual accounts
Debit Cards for Teams	✅ Physical & virtual	✅ Virtual; physical on request
User Permissions	✅ Granular control	✅ Admin & viewer access
Bill Pay Tools	✅ Built-in	✅ Limited (via integrations)
Accounting Integration	✅ QBO, Xero, Gusto	✅ QuickBooks & Zapier
International Payments	✅ Free incoming wires	✅ USD, GBP, EUR, etc.
Fees	❌ $0 monthly fees	❌ $0 monthly fees

📌 Both are strong, but they shine in different ways.

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✅ Relay Strengths

1. Free Multiple Checking Accounts

Relay offers up to 20 individual checking accounts, ideal for:

• Profit First cash management
• Separating client payments
• Budgeting per department or project

2. User Role Customization

Set up granular team permissions:

• Read-only
• Bill pay only
• Full admin
  Great for agencies and companies with multiple stakeholders.

3. Bill Pay + Approvals

Relay’s native bill pay system allows:

• Invoice uploads
• Multi-level approvals
• ACH, check, or wire options

Perfect for businesses with recurring vendors or remote teams.

4. Native Integrations

Relay plugs directly into:

• QuickBooks Online
• Xero
• Gusto (payroll)

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✅ Mercury Strengths

1. Global Currency Support

Mercury lets you hold and send money in:

• USD
• GBP
• EUR
  Great for global startups or agencies with international clients.

2. Virtual Cards at Scale

Create unlimited virtual debit cards for ad spend, subscriptions, and team purchases.

3. Startup-Friendly Tools

Mercury offers:

• Founder-focused content
• Access to VCs and investors
• Internal perks for YC alumni and bootstrapped SaaS founders

Ideal for tech companies in growth mode.

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💳 Fee Comparison

Both Relay and Mercury advertise no monthly fees, and both include:

• $0 minimum balance
• No overdraft fees
• Free incoming wire transfers
• Free ACH transfers
• Low-cost outgoing international wires

📌 Relay stands out with transparent bill pay structure. Mercury wins with international currency support.

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🔒 Security & Banking Partnerships

• Relay partners with Thread Bank (FDIC-insured)
• Mercury partners with Choice Financial and Evolve Bank & Trust (FDIC-insured)

Both offer 256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication, and industry-level fraud monitoring.

📌 Security is strong and equal across both platforms.

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👤 Which Platform Is Best for You?

You Are…	Choose…
An agency or service business	Relay
A Profit First enthusiast	Relay
A startup with international focus	Mercury
A SaaS founder who wants perks	Mercury
A business managing bills weekly	Relay
An early-stage bootstrapped team	Either

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🎯 Final Verdict: Relay or Mercury?

Both Relay and Mercury are top-tier fintech solutions for small businesses, but the better choice comes down to your business model.

• Choose Relay if you need better team control, bill pay, multiple accounts, and full bookkeeping integration.
• Choose Mercury if you operate globally, love automation, and want flexible virtual banking built for startups.

Either way, you’re upgrading from