Mercury vs Relay vs Brex Cash: Best Bank Account for Your First Airbnb or Short-Term Rental

The Quick Answer

Mercury is the go-to for most solo Airbnb hosts: it’s simple, has no monthly fees, and easily handles income from booking platforms. Relay is a stronger choice if you want to keep different money buckets separate (like for cleaning, repairs, or taxes) or if you work with co-hosts or property managers. Brex Cash makes sense if you already use a Brex credit card for your property purchases and want all your spending and cash in one place.

Side-by-Side Breakdown

Mercury: No monthly fees. No minimum balance. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $5M through partner banks. You can even earn interest on extra cash with their Treasury product. It’s simple to link to your Airbnb or VRBO payout accounts and useful for tracking typical expenses like utilities or internet.

Relay: No monthly fees for basic use (Relay Pro at $30/month adds perks like higher deposit limits). You can open up to 20 checking accounts and get 50 debit cards, which is great for setting aside money for specific needs like a 'Cleaning Payout' fund, a 'Repair & Maintenance' budget, or 'Property Tax Savings.' You can give separate cards to a co-host or cleaning crew with spending limits.

Brex Cash: This account is free if you use the Brex corporate credit card. It’s FDIC insured up to $6M and offers a high yield on your everyday cash balance. This is ideal if you're using Brex for things like buying furniture, smart locks, or restocking guest amenities. It brings all your property spending and cash balance into one easy-to-view dashboard.

When to Choose Mercury

Choose Mercury if you are a solo Airbnb or VRBO host managing one or two properties. It’s perfect if you want a clean, no-fee bank account that works on day one to collect guest payments and pay out basic operating costs like the cleaning service, utility bills, or platform fees. If you don't need to separate your money into many categories just yet, Mercury's straightforward approach and simple app interface make it easy to see your short-term rental income and spending at a glance. It’s also very quick to open, often within 24-48 hours.

When to Choose Relay

Relay is best for you if you want to be highly organized with your short-term rental finances from the start. This is especially true if you plan to use a 'Profit First' style approach, dedicating separate accounts for 'Rental Income,' 'Cleaning Payouts,' 'Repair Fund' (saving for a broken appliance or furniture replacement), and 'Tax Savings' (20-30% of income). If you work with a co-host, property manager, or a cleaning team, Relay's ability to issue multiple debit cards with specific spending controls means you can easily manage who pays for what, from guest supplies to property upkeep.

When to Choose Brex Cash

You should pick Brex Cash if you are already using a Brex corporate card for your Airbnb expenses, such as purchasing new linens, smart home devices, or general property supplies. It gives you one integrated platform to see your spending on the Brex card and your bank balance from guest payments. If you tend to hold a significant cash balance (e.g., for future property improvements or large annual expenses like property taxes) and want to earn yield on that money without moving it to a separate investment account, Brex Cash provides that benefit. It simplifies expense tracking for easy tax preparation at the end of the year.

The Verdict

For most first-time Airbnb hosts, especially solo operators with a single property, start with Mercury. It's simple, reliable, and has no hidden fees. If you find yourself needing to create distinct financial buckets for things like cleaning funds, repair savings, or tax money, or if you're working with a co-host or cleaning team, upgrade to Relay for its powerful multi-account and team control features. Choose Brex Cash if you are already committed to using the Brex card for all your short-term rental purchases and want a unified platform for all your property's finances.

How to Get Started

Mercury: Apply at mercury.com. You'll need your business formation documents (like your LLC filing), EIN, and personal ID. Approval for short-term rental businesses is typically fast, often same-day to 48 hours.

Relay: Apply at relayfi.com. Before you open, think about how you want to split your money. Decide on the sub-accounts you'll need upfront (e.g., Main Income, Cleaning Fund, Repair Fund, Tax Savings) to avoid reorganizing later.

Brex Cash: Open this account through the Brex onboarding process when you apply for their corporate card. Remember, you cannot open Brex Cash as a standalone bank account without also getting the Brex card.

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