Bluevine vs Mercury: business checking compared
By Carlos Gil · Founder & Editor, BestBalances
Facts checked on each provider's own pages: Bluevine Nov 8, 2026; Mercury Nov 7, 2026 · Research-based comparison; we did not open an account
Relationship: BestBalances has no affiliate, referral or sponsorship relationship with Bluevine or Mercury. Provider links on this page go to their official sites and pay us nothing.
Short answer: which one fits
Bluevine fits if
You take cash or write paper checks, or want interest on checking without moving money. Bluevine accepts cash through Green Dot ($4.95) and Allpoint ($1 plus 0.5%), lists sole proprietorships as eligible, and pays 1.3% APY up to $250,000 on its free plan if you meet the activity requirement. Outgoing domestic wires are $15 on Standard.
Mercury fits if
Your business is formed and registered in the U.S., sends wires often and never handles cash. Domestic and USD international wires are $0 on every plan, and FDIC coverage reaches $5M through partner banks' sweep networks. Mercury doesn't take cash deposits or say whether sole proprietorships qualify.
Neither is a bank. Both are fintech companies whose deposits sit at FDIC-member partner banks, and both have a $0 plan with no minimum balance.
Bluevine
Best for: Traditional small businesses that handle cash and checks and want interest on checking
Opens Bluevine's official site. Not an affiliate link.
Mercury
Best for: Startups and online businesses that send wires and hold large balances
Opens Mercury's official site. Not an affiliate link.
Compare published terms
| Feature | Bluevine | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Account type and banks | Fintech, not a bank. Banking services by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Fintech, not a bank. Banking through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. Source: Mercury Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| FDIC coverage | Up to $3,000,000 per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC and its program banks. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing; Bluevine FAQ, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Up to $5M through its partner banks' sweep networks, spread across up to 20 banks. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Monthly plans | Standard $0, Plus $30, Premier $95 a month. Plus is waived with a $20,000 average daily balance and $2,000 of monthly debit card spending; Premier with $100,000 and $5,000. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Mercury $0. Plus $35 and Pro $350 a month, or $29.90 and $299 a month billed annually (15% off). Source: Mercury Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Minimums and monthly fees | No minimum balance, no monthly fee on Standard and no overdraft fees. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing; Bluevine FAQ, checked Nov 8, 2026. | No minimum balance, required monthly fee, overdraft fee or account-opening fee. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Standard ACH | $0 to send and receive. Same-day ACH is $10 on Standard, $8 on Plus and $5 on Premier. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | $0 to send and receive. Source: Mercury Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Outgoing domestic wire | $15 on Standard, $12 on Plus, $7.50 on Premier. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | $0 on every plan. Source: Mercury Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Receiving wires | $0 for incoming domestic wires. Incoming international wires are $15, $12 or $7.50 by plan on the pricing page; Bluevine's FAQ still says $25. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing; Bluevine FAQ, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Free to receive domestic wires. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| International wires | USD wires $25, $20 or $12.50 by plan. Foreign-currency wires add 1.5%, 1.25% or 1.0%. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | USD international wires $0. Non-USD wires carry a 1% currency exchange fee. Optional $15 flat fee (OUR) to cover intermediary bank fees. Source: Mercury Pricing; Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Cash deposits | $4.95 per deposit at Green Dot retailers; $1 plus 0.5% per deposit at Allpoint ATMs. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Not supported. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| ATM withdrawals | $0 at MoneyPass ATMs. Out-of-network ATMs carry a fee; the amount isn't listed on these pages. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing; Bluevine FAQ, checked Nov 8, 2026. | No Mercury fee; the ATM operator may charge. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Checking accounts | One checking account plus up to 5 sub-accounts on Standard, 10 on Plus and 50 on Premier, each with its own account number. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing; Bluevine FAQ, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Not stated on the pages we checked. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Savings or yield | Interest on checking (variable): 1.3% APY up to $250,000 on Standard if you spend $500 a month on the debit card or receive $2,500 a month in customer payments; 1.75% up to $250,000 on Plus; 3.3% on all balances on Premier. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing; Bluevine Business checking, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Mercury Treasury is an investment product (Mercury Advisory, LLC), not FDIC-insured: up to 4.25% net yield for deposits over $20M as of Oct 30, 2026; needs a $250K Mercury balance. Source: Mercury Treasury, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Accounting integrations | Accounting sync with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Wave and FreshBooks on every plan. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite. Enriched NetSuite automations need a paid plan. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Support | Live support by phone, email and chat. Premier lists priority support. Source: Bluevine Plans and pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Email (help@mercury.com). Plus and Pro list priority support. Source: Mercury FAQ; Mercury Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Published eligibility | U.S.-based sole proprietorships, corporations, partnerships and nonprofit corporations; non-U.S. residents with U.S.-registered businesses may qualify from supported countries. Excludes illegal gambling, pornography, firearms, illegal substances, cannabis and hemp, penny auctions, bulk virtual-currency exchanges and political campaigns. Source: Bluevine FAQ, checked Nov 8, 2026. | Businesses formed and registered in the U.S. or a U.S. territory with U.S. operations. No trusts, money services businesses, adult entertainment, cannabis or internet gambling. Mercury doesn't say whether sole proprietorships qualify, so check before applying. Source: Mercury FAQ, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
Deposit protection
FDIC coverage applies if the partner bank fails. It doesn't protect you if the fintech company itself fails, and expanded sweep coverage depends on the sweep program's terms.
Score breakdown
Cost to run
$0 plan and minimum, free ACH, free MoneyPass ATMs; $15 outgoing wire
$0 plan, no minimums, free ACH and wires; no named ATM network
Deposit protection & disclosure
Coastal Community Bank named; sweep up to $3M
Two partner banks named; sweep up to $5M
Money movement
Free standard ACH and incoming domestic wires; outgoing international wires cost $25, $20 or $12.50; cash only through paid retail networks
Free incoming and USD international wires and mailed checks; no cash deposits
Features & fit
Up to 50 sub-accounts on Premier (5 on Standard), bill pay, interest; syncs with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Wave and FreshBooks
QuickBooks/Xero/NetSuite; paid Books add-on; yield is investment-only with a $250K minimum
Transparency & support
Public pricing; live support by phone, email and chat
Public pricing; email support stated
Research basis and updates
- Research basis
- Published provider documentation
- Author and editor
- Carlos Gil, Founder & Editor
- Claims checked
- Provider-specific dates listed below, against the sources listed on this page
Change log
- Nov 9, 2026: Published. Facts checked on each provider's own pages (Mercury and Relay on Nov 7, 2026; Bluevine and Found on Nov 8, 2026).
Provider changes and corrections to our own reporting are logged separately. See our methodology and corrections policy.
Sources
- Bluevine Plans and pricing (Undated; rechecked Nov 8, 2026). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Bluevine Business checking (Undated; rechecked Nov 8, 2026). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Bluevine FAQ (Undated; rechecked Nov 8, 2026). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Mercury Pricing (Undated; rechecked Nov 7, 2026). Checked Nov 7, 2026.
- Mercury FAQ (Undated; rechecked Nov 7, 2026). Checked Nov 7, 2026.
- Mercury Treasury (Net yield as of Oct 30, 2026). Checked Nov 7, 2026.
Each fact was checked on the provider's own page: Bluevine on Nov 8, 2026; Mercury on Nov 7, 2026.