Online business banking platforms have come a long way in recent years. Many now offer low or no monthly fees, faster setup, and modern tools designed to make day-to-day money management easier for small businesses. But the experience can still vary widely once you’re up and running—especially when it comes to things like transaction limits, integrations with your accounting software, and the level of support you receive when something goes wrong.
The right platform depends on what your business actually needs, whether that’s earning interest on idle cash, syncing cleanly with your books, handling multiple currencies, or supporting more complex cash flow workflows. This guide looks beyond surface-level features to compare leading options across the criteria that tend to matter most in practice, so you can choose with clarity and confidence.
Platform Reviews
Each platform solves specific operational challenges. The following reviews focus on what each platform does distinctively well and where it falls short.
1) Relay: Great for Multiple Account Organization
Relay is a business banking platform built specifically for small businesses that need systematic cash flow organization.
Why it stands out: Relay’s Starter plan supports up to 20 checking accounts1 with no monthly maintenance fees, making it easier to separate funds for expenses, taxes, owner pay, and profit. The platform is well suited for cash flow systems like Profit First, with automated transfer rules that reduce manual money movement. Relay also offers up to 50 debit cards2 with customizable spending limits, along with native integrations with QuickBooks Online and Xero to keep banking and accounting in sync. Paid plans (Grow at $30/month and Scale at $90/month) add more advanced controls and flexibility for growing teams.
Good to know: Relay is best suited for businesses that want to actively organize cash flow across multiple accounts rather than operate from a single all-purpose account.
1Relay is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. 2The Relay Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
2) Mercury: Great for Tech Startups
Mercury is a digital banking platform that gained strong adoption among tech startups and venture-backed companies.
Why it stands out: Mercury delivers yields up to the mid-4% range (variable, subject to change) on treasury accounts while maintaining no monthly maintenance fees on business checking. The platform charges no per-wire fees for domestic and many international wires, though intermediary banks may still deduct fees on some international transfers. Mercury offers robust cash management with strong integrations to popular accounting tools.
Good to know: Mercury doesn't support cash deposits, making it better suited for digital-first businesses than retail or cash-intensive operations.
3) Bluevine: Great for Interest on Checking Balances
Bluevine is a fintech platform that focuses on providing competitive interest rates on checking accounts.
Why it stands out: Bluevine pays up to 3% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on checking account balances depending on plan tier and activity requirements, with no monthly maintenance fees and unlimited transactions. The platform offers up to 20 sub-accounts on higher tiers and FDIC insurance to $3 million through its partnership with Coastal Community Bank.
Good to know: APY rates vary by plan tier and require meeting monthly activity thresholds. International wire support is more limited than FX-specialist platforms.
4) Novo: Great for Simple, Fee-Free Banking
Novo is a straightforward business banking platform designed for small businesses that want simplicity over complexity.
Why it stands out: Novo provides no monthly maintenance fees with unlimited transactions and 40+ business integrations. The platform offers clean, intuitive interfaces and straightforward setup that often completes within a few days.
Good to know: Novo focuses on simplicity rather than advanced cash management features, and doesn't provide interest on deposits.
5) Brex: Great for Venture-Backed Companies
Brex is a corporate card and spend management platform that targets venture-backed startups.
Why it stands out: Brex combines banking with corporate cards offering elevated multipliers in categories like rideshare, travel, and restaurants (subject to Brex's current rewards schedule), with credit limits from $50,000 to $500,000+ without personal guarantees for qualified startups. Treasury accounts earn competitive variable yields based on underlying money-market funds, with domestic wires and ACH transfers included. Optional paid services may apply for certain international wire features.
Good to know: The platform primarily serves venture-backed companies and may have specific qualification requirements for traditional small businesses.
6) Found: Great for Freelancers and 1099 Contractors
Found is a mobile-first banking platform that emerged as a dedicated solution for solo business owners and freelancers.
Why it stands out: Found provides integrated Schedule C filing support, expense categorization, and a comprehensive platform combining banking with tax automation. The platform offers accounts with basic features and an optional premium upgrade (Found Plus) for $19.99/month with advanced tax automation.
Good to know: Found targets self-employed individuals specifically. The service works best for solo operations rather than businesses with employees or complex payroll needs. Customer support operates exclusively through digital channels.
7) American Express Business Checking: Great for Debit Card Rewards
American Express Business Checking is a digital banking offering from the established card company.
Why it stands out: American Express Business Checking offers 1.30% APY (variable, subject to change) on all balances up to $500,000, earns 1 point per $2 on debit purchases (up to 10,000 points monthly), and charges no monthly maintenance fees. The account provides MoneyPass ATM access with current typical daily limits of $5,000 for debit purchases.
Good to know: The platform focuses on rewards rather than advanced cash management features. A 2.7% foreign transaction fee applies to international purchases.
8) Wise Business: Great for International Operations
Wise Business is a payment platform specializing in international transfers and multi-currency management.
Why it stands out: Wise provides real mid-market rates with no markup, plus international transfer fees starting around 0.33% to 2.0% depending on currency. The platform offers local banking details in around 10 major currencies and countries, processing international transfers faster and cheaper than traditional banks.
Good to know: For businesses with minimal international activity, domestic-focused fintech options may provide sufficient features. Wise excels when you need 40+ currency support.
9) Lili: Great for Mobile-First Small Operations
Lili is a mobile banking app designed specifically for freelancers and independent contractors.
Why it stands out: Lili offers mobile-first banking with automatic expense categorization, receipt capture, and integrated tax savings automation. Plans range from no monthly maintenance fee to $29/month with increasing features including automatic tax savings calculations.
Good to know: Lili's basic tier includes a daily ATM limit of $1,000. The platform works best for gig workers rather than multi-employee teams.
10) Ramp: Great for Automated Expense Management
Ramp is a corporate card and spend management platform that evolved to include banking features.
Why it stands out: Ramp provides 1.5% unlimited cashback on all purchases with sophisticated spend controls, approval workflows, and automatic expense categorization. The platform recently launched treasury management offering competitive yields alongside integrated bill pay.
Good to know: Ramp functions primarily as a spend management platform with integrated banking features rather than a full-service business bank. Credit limits depend on cash balances and business revenue.
11) Chase Business Complete Banking: Great for Branch Network Access
Chase is a traditional bank offering extensive physical infrastructure alongside digital banking.
Why it stands out: Chase offers 4,700+ branches nationwide and 15,000+ ATMs, providing extensive physical banking infrastructure and integrated lending relationships. The platform provides 20 complimentary monthly teller transactions and waives the $15 monthly fee with a $2,000 minimum daily balance.
Good to know: Chase promotes a direct QuickBooks Online integration; connections to other accounting platforms may rely on third-party aggregators. The $15 monthly fee requires maintaining minimum balances to waive.
Find Your Right Business Banking Platform
The right business bank account comes down to how your business actually operates day to day. What works for a fast-growing startup isn’t always the right fit for a service business juggling payroll, taxes, and ongoing expenses.
For businesses that need more structure around cash flow, Relay makes it easier to organize money on purpose. You can separate funds for things like operating expenses, taxes, and owner pay, and automate how money moves between accounts—reducing manual work and making it clearer what’s actually available to spend. With built-in integrations to accounting software, your banking activity stays aligned with your books as your business grows.
If that sounds like how you want to run your finances, you can explore Relay and see how a more intentional account setup works in practice.
Disclosures
Relay is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. The Relay Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
