Mercury vs Brex vs Relay: Best Business Bank Accounts for Freelancers & Independent Creators

The Quick Answer

Mercury is the go-to recommendation for most solo freelancers and independent creators: it has a clean look, no fees, and it simply works for handling client invoices and recurring software costs. Relay is a better fit if you occasionally hire contractors or a virtual assistant, or if you need to strictly separate money for estimated taxes, equipment upgrades (like a new camera lens), and your owner’s pay. Brex Cash makes sense if you’re already using the Brex card for your business expenses (perhaps for large ad buys or platform fees) and want everything in one spot.

Side-by-Side Breakdown

Mercury: No monthly fees. No minimum balance. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $5M through partner banks. Their Treasury product can help you earn yield on idle cash — great for saving up for new gear like a high-end mirrorless camera or setting aside funds for quarterly taxes. Its strong API is useful for automating payments for recurring software like Canva Pro or your video editing suite.

Relay: No monthly fees (Relay Pro at $30/month adds perks like higher deposit limits). You can get up to 20 checking accounts and 50 debit cards per business – perfect for segmenting money for income from different clients, estimated taxes, business expenses (like coworking space rent), and your owner’s pay. It offers strong team permission controls if you bring on a virtual assistant or occasional editor.

Brex Cash: Free when you also use the Brex card. FDIC insured up to $6M. It offers a high-yield on your operating balance – helpful for larger invoice payments waiting to clear. It’s tightly integrated with Brex expense management, ideal if you have a lot of recurring ad spend or platform fees. Note that it's not a standalone checking account; you need to be a Brex card customer.

When to Choose Mercury

You’re a solo freelancer, independent contractor, or an LLC creative (e.g., a photographer, writer, or graphic designer) wanting a simple, no-fee business account that works smoothly from day one. You might want to use its API for custom integrations with invoicing software or to automate your quarterly tax savings. You need one solid account for client payments and operating cash, plus a Treasury option for saving for big purchases like a new editing rig or estimated taxes. Mercury is also one of the easiest to open – most applicants get approved within 24-48 hours without a branch visit, which is great when you're busy with client work.

When to Choose Relay

You occasionally work with a virtual assistant, sub-contractor, or editor and need to manage their payments easily with specific controls. You want to set aside money into separate accounts for different purposes – for example, one for estimated taxes, one for your take-home pay, one for software subscriptions (like your Adobe Creative Cloud or Zoom Pro), and one for client project funds. Relay's multi-account system helps you practically follow the 'Profit First' method, even as a solo creator, ensuring you always know where your money stands for each area of your business.

When to Choose Brex Cash

You are already using the Brex corporate card for your business expenses, maybe because you have high ad spend for clients or platform fees (like Etsy seller fees or Patreon creator fees). You want one platform to see your card spend, manage reimbursements (if you have project-specific costs), and manage your cash flow. You also want to earn yield on your operating balance without moving funds to a separate savings account, keeping all your money in one place for easy access.

The Verdict

For most freelancers and independent creators, start with Mercury. It's clean, simple, and handles client payments and basic expenses with no fuss. Think of it as your reliable workhorse for managing your income from writing gigs or design projects. If you find yourself needing to seriously separate funds for taxes or managing a small team of contractors, switch to Relay. And if you're already deeply integrated into the Brex expense system for large recurring costs, then Brex Cash offers a seamless experience.

How to Get Started

Mercury: Apply at mercury.com with your EIN (or Social Security Number if you're a sole proprietor), business formation documents (if you have an LLC), and personal ID. Approval is typically same-day to 48 hours, letting you get back to creating.

Relay: Apply at relayfi.com. Before you apply, think about how you want to organize your finances. Deciding upfront how many sub-accounts you'll need for taxes, expenses, and personal pay will save you reorganization time later.

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

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