Alternatives
Found scores 7.3. These are live products this desk would open next — each with a full review, not a leftover affiliate tile.
4.8 user score on Found · compare licences below
| Found |  Novo |  Bluevine |  Mercury | Kestrl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 7.3 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 6.7 |
| HQ | San Francisco | New York | Jersey City | San Francisco | London |
| Monthly | Free core | Free checking | Free checking SKU; factoring and extras priced | Free core operations | Freemium / subscription SKUs — confirm live |
| Protection | FDIC via Piermont Bank and partners | FDIC via Middlesex Federal and partners | FDIC pass-through via Coastal Community Bank and | FDIC sweep via Choice Financial Group, Column N. | If a spending account exists, it is partner-EMI |
| Card | visa | mastercard | mastercard | visa | mastercard |
| Users | Self-employed base | 200k+ businesses | 500k+ businesses | 200k businesses | Tens of thousands |
#1 alternative
Simple US business checking for freelancers and small LLCs.
4.5
New York · 200k+ businesses · ~$140M raised
Novo is the on-ramp. Relay or Mercury is the upgrade.
Best for: US sole-props who found Mercury too start-up and Chase too 1998.
#2 alternative
US business checking and invoice factoring. Partner-bank, not a charter.
4.5
Jersey City · 500k+ businesses · ~$300M raised historically
Bluevine (not Bluewine) is the US SMB checking + cash-flow brand. Mercury is prettier for start-ups. Relay is for multi-account ops.
Best for: US SMBs that want checking plus working-capital, and will read the partner-bank line.
#3 alternative
The US start-up current account, built with partner banks.
4.6
San Francisco · 200k businesses · ~$150M raised
If you are a Delaware C-corp, Mercury is the opening account. If you invoice in AUD and EUR, add Airwallex or Wise Business.
Best for: US-incorporated start-ups that need a beautiful operating account.
#4 alternative
UK app for Muslim money habits. Not a bank.
4.6
London · Tens of thousands · Seed / grant-era
Kestrl is a habit layer. Keep a Monzo/Starling/high-street account for the actual deposit. Halal branding does not move FSCS.
Best for: UK Muslims who want a money app that speaks their constraints, with a real bank still underneath.
#5 alternative
US start-up cards and spend. Not a bank, on purpose.
3.9
San Francisco · Tens of thousands of firms · $1B+ raised historically
Brex is a card and spend platform. Ramp is the rival. Mercury is the checking account you put underneath.
Best for: US start-ups that want Ramp-class cards with a slightly different religion.
#6 alternative
US business banking with unlimited accounts for operators who like boxes.
4.2
Toronto / US ops · Tens of thousands of firms · Series-era
Relay is the P&L-in-accounts business bank. Mercury is the fundraising screenshot.
Best for: US operators who want twenty accounts instead of one Mercury skinned as a spreadsheet.
Found is scored 7.3. Weaknesses on this desk: Scale of firm. Alternatives above are scored independently, not paid placements.
Coverage is per product. Open the country desk and the individual review — a UK bank licence does not travel, and an EMI is not FSCS.
Use Compare on any card, up to four products, then open the compare desk.
