Melio vs Revolut Business
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Business Banking fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
30/100
Free tier
Small U.S.-based businesses, freelancers, and accountants who want a free, simple way to pay domestic vendors and automa
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Free forever for ACH payments and bank transfers. No monthly fee, no minimums. Credit card payments carry a fee. No hidden charges for standard features.
Fee notes:
- ACH payments: 0% fee
- Credit card payments: 2.9% fee (plus applicable card network fees)
- Debit card payments: 1% fee (up to $5 per transaction)
- Instant transfers to bank accounts: 1.5% fee (optional)
- No fee for receiving payments via ACH
⚠ Watch for:
- Credit card fees are not clearly disclosed upfront; they appear at checkout
- Debit card fee of 1% (cap $5) is sometimes overlooked
- Instant transfer fee of 1.5% for faster funding
- Potential fees for failed payments or chargebacks
🔧 Features
✓ Free Tier✓ Bill Pay✓ Ach Transfers✓ Quickbooks Sync✓ Xero Sync✓ Accountant Friendly
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- No monthly cost for core features: Melio's ACH payments and bank transfers are completely free, with no subscription fees. This is a major advantage over competitors that charge monthly fees, making it accessible for small businesses with tight budgets. The free tier includes unlimited ACH payments, scheduling, and automatic syncing with accounting software, providing substantial value at no cost.
- Seamless two-way sync with QuickBooks Online and Xero: Melio automatically syncs payments and bills to your accounting system, eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors. This integration is a game-changer for bookkeepers and accountants, as it speeds up reconciliation and ensures up-to-date financial records. The sync is bidirectional, meaning any changes in Melio reflect in QuickBooks or Xero, and vice versa.
- Vendors don't need a Melio account: Unlike many B2B payment platforms, Melio doesn't require your vendors to sign up. They can receive payments via ACH or a paper check sent through the mail. This removes adoption barriers, making it easy to start using the platform without needing to onboard your entire vendor list. It's a practical solution for businesses with less tech-savvy suppliers.
- Card payment flexibility for cash flow management: Melio allows you to pay bills with a credit card, giving you the ability to earn rewards or defer cash outflow. While there's a 2.9% fee, this can be worthwhile for businesses looking to manage cash flow or take advantage of card benefits. The ability to pay via card also provides a payment method for vendors that might otherwise not accept it.
- Bank-level security and fraud protection: Melio uses bank-level security measures, including 256-bit encryption and multi-factor authentication. This gives business owners peace of mind when handling sensitive financial data. Additionally, payments are tracked, and you get real-time notifications, helping to prevent fraudulent activities.
⚠ Watch out for
- Credit card fees: Paying by credit card incurs a 2.9% transaction fee, which can add up significantly if you rely heavily on cards. For large volume payments, these fees can erode the cost savings of using Melio. While the fee is in line with industry standards, it's a notable drawback for businesses that prefer card payments for rewards or cash flow.
- U.S.-only support: Melio is limited to U.S. businesses with U.S. bank accounts. It does not support international payments or multi-currency transactions. This is a major limitation for businesses with overseas vendors or clients, forcing them to seek alternative solutions for cross-border payments.
- Paper checks can be slow: While Melio offers paper check payments, delivery times can be longer than expected (typically 4-7 business days). Expedited delivery is available for an extra fee, but that adds to costs. For businesses that need to pay vendors quickly, the standard check option might not be suitable.
- No mobile app for bill approval: While Melio has a mobile-responsive site, it lacks a dedicated mobile app for approving payments. This might be inconvenient for business owners who want to approve payments on the go. However, the mobile site is functional and allows basic tasks.
- Limited to bill pay: Melio focuses solely on bill pay; it does not offer other banking services like receiving payments, payroll, or cash management. Businesses looking for a comprehensive financial management tool might find the scope too narrow, needing to use other software for additional needs.
🎯 Best for
Small U.S.-based businesses, freelancers, and accountants who want a free, simple way to pay domestic vendors and automatically sync transactions to QuickBooks or Xero.
🚫 Who should skip
Businesses that need international payments, require cash management or treasury features, or want a full business banking account with debit cards and payroll services.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — Setting up vendor payments and bank connections takes minutes, and the interface is intuitive. Bookkeeping sync may require initial configuration but is straightforward.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Melio is a great fit for U.S.-based small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers who want to automate bill payments and accounting sync without a monthly fee. Its free ACH payments and QuickBooks/Xero integration are standout features. However, if you need international payments, heavy credit card
66/100
Free tier
Digital-first small businesses, freelancers, and startups with international clients or suppliers who want low-cost FX,
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Free plan includes a multi-currency account, local transfers in 5 currencies, and 0.4% FX markup on foreign exchange. Limited to 2 team members and 3 local currency accounts.
Fee notes:
- FX markup: 0.4% on Free plan, 0.3% on Grow, 0.2% on Scale, 0% on Enterprise (for monthly volumes above certain thresholds).
- Local transfers in supported currencies are free on all plans, but international SWIFT transfers incur a fee: from $3 (Grow) to $5 (Scale) per transfer, with correspondent bank fees.
- Physical corporate card delivery: $5 (Free) or free on Grow and above.
- ATM withdrawals: free up to £200/month (or equivalent) on free plan, then 2% fee; higher limits on paid plans.
- Cash deposits: 0.5% fee (min $1) for deposits into GBP or EUR accounts; no deposit service for USD.
⚠ Watch for:
- FX markup on weekends is higher (1% on Free, 0.8% on Grow, 0.6% on Scale) due to market closure.
- SWIFT transfer fees can be up to $20 for some corridors due to correspondent bank fees.
- Physical card issuance fee for Free plan is $5 per card, and replacement cards cost $5.
- Cashback rewards may be capped or exclude certain categories.
🔧 Features
✓ Free Tier✓ Multi Currency✓ Corporate Cards✓ Fx Interbank✓ Global Coverage
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Interbank exchange rates: Revolut Business exchanges currencies at the wholesale interbank rate, with no markup. This is significantly cheaper than typical bank rates, which often include a 2-3% spread. For a business doing $50,000 in monthly cross-currency transactions, this can save hundreds of dollars per month. The feature is especially valuable for importers, exporters, or companies with overseas clients.
- Multi-currency accounts with local details: Businesses receive local account numbers for GBP, EUR, and USD, enabling them to receive payments as if they had a local bank account in the UK, Eurozone, or US. This reduces fees for incoming international transfers, which would otherwise incur correspondent banking charges. Also, holding balances in multiple currencies allows businesses to avoid unnecessary conversions.
- Expense management and corporate cards: Revolut Business offers corporate debit cards (physical and virtual) with spend controls, such as merchant category limits, per-transaction caps, and instant freeze. Expense management tools let employees snap receipts, which auto-match to transactions, and the app categorizes spending for easier accounting. This feature is a huge time-saver for finance teams.
- Fast and transparent onboarding: The account setup is entirely digital, and most businesses get approved within a few days, often hours. There are no branch visits or paper forms. The process typically requires uploading company documents and a selfie, and the in-app verification is smooth. For a business that needs to start banking quickly, this speed is a distinct advantage.
- Free plan with a decent feature set: The free tier provides multi-currency accounts, local details, and transfers within the same currency without fees up to a monthly limit (e.g., 1,000 EUR in EUR payments). This makes it accessible for small businesses and freelancers who want a low-cost international account without committing to a monthly subscription.
⚠ Watch out for
- No physical branches and limited in-person support: Revolut Business is entirely digital, which means no branch visits for cash deposits or face-to-face consultations. Support is primarily via in-app chat and email, with no phone number to call. For business owners who prefer personal interactions or need urgent help (e.g., a frozen card during a business trip), this can be a significant drawback.
- Free plan has hidden fees and limits: The free plan's allowance for free transfers and withdrawals is limited, and once exceeded, fees quickly add up. For instance, the free plan allows up to 1,000 EUR free EUR transfers per month, but after that, a fee applies. Also, FX conversions above a monthly threshold include a markup (e.g., 0.5% after £1,000 in the UK). Users can be caught off guard by these costs if they don't read the fine print.
- Not a full substitute for a traditional business bank: Revolut Business lacks essential banking services like overdrafts, business loans, and merchant acquiring (i.e., a built-in card reader for face-to-face payments). In some regions, it also lacks check deposits and cash handling. Businesses that need credit or advanced banking products will still need to maintain a relationship with a traditional bank.
- Customer support can be slow for non-critical issues: While many users report fast responses via chat, there are also complaints about delays, especially during peak times or for complex issues. The support team is not available 24/7 by phone, so resolving time-sensitive problems (like a blocked account) can be stressful. The online help center covers many topics, but it doesn't replace direct human assistance.
- Account freezes and verification: Some businesses have reported accounts being temporarily frozen due to internal compliance checks, often without prior notice. While this is common in the fintech industry, it can disrupt cash flow for a small business. The lack of a dedicated relationship manager (unless on expensive plans) makes it difficult to get these issues resolved quickly.
🎯 Best for
Digital-first small businesses, freelancers, and startups with international clients or suppliers who want low-cost FX, multi-currency accounts, and simple expense management without monthly fees.
🚫 Who should skip
Businesses that need local branches, lending products, or dedicated account managers, as well as enterprises with complex treasury requirements or in jurisdictions where Revolut Business is not yet available.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the app and web dashboard are intuitive and similar to consumer fintech apps, but understanding free plan limits and FX policies requires reading the fee schedule.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Revolut Business is a powerful, cost-effective solution for digital-first, internationally oriented businesses that can thrive with online banking. It excels at low-cost FX, fast transfers, and expense management, making it ideal for freelancers, startups, and SMEs that deal with multiple currencies
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseMelioRevolut Busines
Paying vendors and suppliers via ACH95—
Melio's core feature is free ACH bill pay for any U.S. business, with no vendor
Managing cash flow with credit card payments80—
You can pay vendors by credit card to extend payment terms, but the 2.9% fee mak
Bookkeeping and accounting automation90—
Melio syncs transactions to QuickBooks and Xero, reducing manual data entry and
Sending recurring payments like rent or utilities85—
Scheduled and recurring payments ensure you never miss a due date, and the free
International vendor payments10—
Melio is limited to U.S.-based businesses and does not support foreign currency
International Payments & FX Conversion—95
Interbank exchange rates and multi-currency accounts make it very cost-effective
Expense Management for Remote Teams—88
Virtual and physical corporate cards with spending limits, real-time notificatio
Freelancer & Sole Trader Banking—82
The free tier, fast setup, and easy invoicing features are practical for freelan
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Melio if...
- You are: Small U.S.-based businesses, freelancers, and accountants who want a free, simple way to pay domestic vendors and automa
- 👍 No monthly subscription cost for core features—ACH payments and bank transfers are completely free.
- 👍 Seamless two-way sync with QuickBooks Online and Xero helps automate bookkeeping and reconciliation.
- 👍 Vendors don't need a Melio account to get paid; they can receive ACH or paper checks.
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: Paying by credit card incurs a 2.9% transaction fee, which can add up if you rel
Choose Revolut Business if...
- You are: Digital-first small businesses, freelancers, and startups with international clients or suppliers who want low-cost FX,
- 👍 Interbank exchange rates on currency conversion, which is significantly cheaper than most traditiona
- 👍 Free plan with local account details for GBP, EUR, and USD, making it accessible for small businesse
- 👍 Fast digital onboarding and fully mobile/in-app account management with no branch visits required.
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: No physical branches and limited in-person support, which is a drawback for busi
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melio really free?
Yes, Melio offers a free plan for most small businesses. You can pay vendors by ACH bank transfer at no cost, and there are no monthly subscription fees for the core bill pay service.
How does Melio make money if it's free?
Melio charges a 2.9% fee when you pay with a credit or debit card instead of a free ACH transfer. It also earns interest on held funds and may charge for expedited mail delivery or other premium features.
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