Bluevine vs Relay: business checking compared
By Carlos Gil · Founder & Editor, BestBalances
Facts checked on each provider's own pages: Bluevine Nov 8, 2026; Relay Nov 7, 2026 · Research-based comparison; we did not open an account
Relationship: BestBalances has no affiliate, referral or sponsorship relationship with Bluevine or Relay. Provider links on this page go to their official sites and pay us nothing.
Short answer: which one fits
Bluevine fits if
You want interest paid on the checking balance itself or use Wave or FreshBooks. Bluevine pays 1.3% APY up to $250,000 on its free plan if you meet the activity requirement and syncs with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Wave and FreshBooks. Cash deposits always carry a fee, and outgoing domestic wires are $15 on Standard.
Relay fits if
You deposit cash, send domestic wires on a free plan, or budget across many accounts. Relay takes cash free at Allpoint+ ATMs, charges $8 for outgoing domestic wires on Starter and includes 20 checking accounts on its free plan. Its yield is on savings accounts, not checking.
Neither is a bank. Both list FDIC coverage up to $3,000,000 through partner-bank sweep programs, and both accept sole proprietors.
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.
Relay
Best for: Owners who budget with many accounts (Profit First-style) and want free cash deposits
Opens Relay's official site. Not an affiliate link.
Compare published terms
| Feature | Bluevine | Relay |
|---|---|---|
| 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 services by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Source: Relay 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 $3,000,000 when Thread Bank places deposits at program banks in its sweep program, up to $250,000 per program bank. Source: Relay Deposit account agreement, 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. | Starter $0, Grow $30, Scale $90 a month (limited-time discount from $120). Source: Relay 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 and no overdraft fees. Source: Relay Pricing, 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. Same-day ACH is $1 on Starter, $0.50 on Grow and free on Scale. Source: Relay 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. | $8 on Starter, $5 on Grow and Scale. Source: Relay Pricing; Relay Deposit account agreement, 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. | $0 to receive domestic and international wires. A $5 fee applies when a client pays a Relay invoice by wire. Source: Relay Pricing; Relay Deposit account agreement, 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. | SWIFT $25, $22 or $20 by plan. Local-network wires (EUR, CAD, GBP and Australian dollars) $5, $3 or $1.50. Currency exchange from 1%. Source: Relay Pricing; Relay Deposit account agreement, 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. | Free at Allpoint+ ATMs; up to $4.95 at Green Dot retailers. Limits apply. Source: Relay FAQs, 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. | Free at Allpoint ATMs; out-of-network operators may charge. 1% fee on ATM or card transactions outside the U.S. Source: Relay FAQs; Relay Deposit account agreement, 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. | 20 checking accounts on Starter and Grow, 50 on Scale, plus 2 savings accounts. Source: Relay Pricing, 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. | Savings APY 1.19% on Starter, 1.87% on Grow, 3.21% on Scale, accurate as of Sep 17, 2026 and variable. Source: Relay Pricing, 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 and Xero. Source: Relay Pricing, 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 support. Scale lists faster support by phone and email. Source: Relay FAQs; Relay 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. | U.S. corporations, LLCs, general partnerships and sole proprietors; owners abroad qualify if the business operates in the U.S. Excludes cryptocurrency exchange, firearms, credit repair, privately owned ATMs, money services, unlawful internet gambling and cannabis. Source: Relay FAQs, 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 and minimum, free Allpoint ATMs and standard ACH; $8 outgoing wire on Starter
Deposit protection & disclosure
Coastal Community Bank named; sweep up to $3M
Thread Bank named; up to $3M through program banks
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 cash deposits at Allpoint+ ATMs; SWIFT international wires cost $25, $22 or $20; free incoming wires ($5 for client wire payments through invoices); check features not fully verified
Features & fit
Up to 50 sub-accounts on Premier (5 on Standard), bill pay, interest; syncs with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Wave and FreshBooks
20–50 accounts, QuickBooks/Xero, savings APY; invoicing and bill pay not verified
Transparency & support
Public pricing; live support by phone, email and chat
Full fee schedule in deposit agreement; email support, phone on Scale
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.
- Relay Pricing (Rates as of Sep 17, 2026). Checked Nov 7, 2026.
- Relay Deposit account agreement (Last updated Oct 13, 2026; fee schedule effective Sep 1, 2026). Checked Nov 7, 2026.
- Relay FAQs (Undated; rechecked Nov 7, 2026). Checked Nov 7, 2026.
Each fact was checked on the provider's own page: Bluevine on Nov 8, 2026; Relay on Nov 7, 2026.