Best Limited alternatives

#1 alternative

Mercury

active

The US start-up current account, built with partner banks.

4.6

San Francisco · 200k businesses · ~$150M raised

7.6Solid

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.

Licence

Fintech with partner banks

Protection

FDIC sweep via Choice Financial Group, Column N.A. and partners — confirm current list

Monthly

Free core operations

#2 alternative

Ramp

active

US corporate cards and bill pay that sell savings, not points theatre.

4.8

New York · 40k businesses · ~$1.7B raised · ~$13B val.

7.8Solid

Pair Ramp with Mercury. Do not replace the operating account with a card platform.

Best for: US finance teams that want control more than airline miles.

Licence

Commercial card programme

Protection

Not a deposit account — cards and bill pay

Monthly

Software + card; pricing by plan

#3 alternative

Brex

active

US start-up cards and spend. Not a bank, on purpose.

3.9

San Francisco · Tens of thousands of firms · $1B+ raised historically

7.3Solid

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.

Licence

Commercial card + treasury partners

Protection

Treasury/cash sits at partner banks or money-market — cards are credit/charge

Monthly

Card program; rewards-funded for eligible start-ups

#4 alternative

Found

active

US banking for the self-employed: taxes, invoices, and a debit card.

4.8

San Francisco · Self-employed base · Series-era (Allianz x others)

7.3Solid

Found is the freelancer current account. Novo is generic SMB. Relay is multi-entity ops.

Best for: US freelancers who hate QuickBooks more than they hate banks.

Licence

Fintech with partner banks

Protection

FDIC via Piermont Bank and partners

Monthly

Free core

#5 alternative

Novo

active

Simple US business checking for freelancers and small LLCs.

4.5

New York · 200k+ businesses · ~$140M raised

6.9Mixed

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.

Licence

Fintech with partner banks

Protection

FDIC via Middlesex Federal and partners

Monthly

Free checking

#6 alternative

Relay

active

US business banking with unlimited accounts for operators who like boxes.

4.2

Toronto / US ops · Tens of thousands of firms · Series-era

7.4Solid

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.

Licence

Fintech with partner banks

Protection

FDIC via Thread Bank and partners

Monthly

Free core · paid automations