Found vs Relay: business checking compared
By Carlos Gil · Founder & Editor, BestBalances
Facts checked on each provider's own pages: Found 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 Found or Relay. Provider links on this page go to their official sites and pay us nothing.
Short answer: which one fits
Found fits if
You want bookkeeping built into the account. Found's FAQ describes automatic expense logging with categories, receipts and rules, and its paid plans pay interest on checking: Plus 1.50% up to $20,000, Pro 2.50% on all balances. Outgoing wires are $15 ($10 on Pro).
Relay fits if
You keep more than $250,000, deposit cash often, or budget across many accounts. Relay lists FDIC coverage up to $3,000,000 through its sweep program, takes cash free at Allpoint+ ATMs and includes 20 checking accounts on its free plan.
Neither is a bank. Both accept sole proprietors and have a $0 plan with no minimum balance.
Found
Best for: Sole proprietors and freelancers who want built-in tax estimates, invoicing and 1099s
Opens Found'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 | Found | Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Account type and banks | Fintech, not a bank. Banking services by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Source: Found Account terms, 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 $250,000 per depositor for each account ownership category through Lead Bank. The account terms reference a Lead Bank sweep disclosure but don't state an expanded coverage amount. Source: Found Account terms, 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 | Found $0. Plus $35 a month or $315 a year; Pro $80 a month or $720 a year. Source: Found 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, overdraft or account-opening fees. A $10 dormancy fee applies after 12 months of inactivity. Source: Found Pricing; Found Fee schedule, checked Nov 8, 2026. | No minimum balance and no overdraft fees. Source: Relay Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Standard ACH | Unlimited ACH to send and receive, with no fee listed. Instant Payments cost 1.75% ($0.50 minimum, $50 cap). Source: Found Pricing; Found Fee schedule, 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, or $10 on Pro. Source: Found Pricing; Found Fee schedule, 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 | Receives domestic wires and international wires sent in U.S. dollars; no incoming wire fee is listed. Source: Found FAQ; Found Pricing, 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 | Found's FAQ describes sending domestic wires only; it doesn't list outgoing international wires. Found charges no foreign transaction fee on the card, though the card network may charge for conversion. Source: Found FAQ, 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 | At 79,000+ retail locations with an in-app barcode; no ATM cash deposits. The help center says the first cash deposit each month is free, then $2.00; the fee schedule lists $2.00 per deposit. Limits: $2,000 per 7 days, $4,000 per 30 days. Source: Found Help: cash deposits; Found Fee schedule, 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 | No Found fee; ATM operators may charge. $550 a day withdrawal limit. Source: Found FAQ; Found Fee schedule, 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 with up to 20 Pockets for setting money aside. Source: Found Pricing, 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 paid plans only (variable): Plus 1.50% APY up to $20,000; Pro 2.50% on all balances. None on the free plan. Source: Found Pricing, 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 | Built-in bookkeeping: expenses are logged automatically, and you can categorize them, add receipts, create rules and import transactions from other accounts. Found's pricing page and FAQ don't name a third-party accounting sync. Source: Found FAQ; Found Pricing, checked Nov 8, 2026. | QuickBooks and Xero. Source: Relay Pricing, checked Nov 7, 2026. |
| Support | Phone and email support on every plan; priority phone support on Plus; a dedicated account manager on Pro. Source: Found 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. citizens or lawful permanent residents 18 or older with a U.S. address and an SSN or tax ID. The account terms list sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs and corporations among business account types. Source: Found Account terms, 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, free ACH; $15 wires; opening deposit not stated; no named ATM network
$0 plan and minimum, free Allpoint ATMs and standard ACH; $8 outgoing wire on Starter
Deposit protection & disclosure
Lead Bank named; expanded coverage not confirmed
Thread Bank named; up to $3M through program banks
Money movement
Incoming wires included, checks $1; retail cash with conflicting fee terms; receives USD international wires, outgoing international not listed
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
Pockets, invoicing, tax tools; integrations not stated; APY on paid plans only
20–50 accounts, QuickBooks/Xero, savings APY; invoicing and bill pay not verified
Transparency & support
Public fee schedule; phone and email support
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
- Found Pricing (Undated). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Found Fee schedule (Last updated Jul 13, 2026). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Found Account terms (Last updated Jul 14, 2026). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Found Help: cash deposits (Undated). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
- Found FAQ (Undated). 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: Found on Nov 8, 2026; Relay on Nov 7, 2026.