Arc vs Mercury: Which Is The Top Pick in 2025?

One key drawback of Arc is its limited customer support, which can be frustrating for users needing immediate assistance. Mercury, on the other hand, suffers from hidden compliance issues and a lack of transparency, leading to unexpected account blocks.

Rho could offer a more efficient solution for businesses by integrating AP automation with banking products, enhancing workflow efficiency and control.

Many businesses look to Arc and Mercury for their financial management needs. However, choosing the right solution can be a complex task.

In this article, we’ll review what each solution offers and how they compare to help you make an informed decision. Additionally, we'll also explore Rho as a third option worth considering.

Arc Overview

Arc operates in the intelligent capital management space, catering primarily to private companies and lenders. Their main value proposition lies in helping these entities manage finances, unlock competitive yields, and access AI-powered capital markets solutions, all within a single platform.

Arc Features

Some of the key features of Arc include:

Manage finances: The platform helps users manage their financial operations efficiently.
Unlock competitive yield: Users can achieve better returns on their investments through the platform.
Access AI-powered capital markets solutions: The platform provides advanced, AI-driven tools for navigating capital markets.
Dedicated Arc relationship manager: A personal manager assigned to assist with Arc services, available in Premium and Enterprise plans.

Arc Pricing

Arc offers a range of subscription tiers to cater to different business needs.

Essentials: Up to 4.12% net yield, 0.6% cashback on funds, 1.0% cashback on card spend.
Premium: Up to 4.52% net yield, 1.2% cashback on funds, 1.5% cashback on card spend, dedicated manager, advanced features.
Enterprise: Custom pricing, up to 4.57% net yield, 2.0% cashback on card spend, customized features, dedicated support.

The prices for each tier are not publicly listed.

Drawbacks To Arc

General user reviews on Arc highlight its simplicity, high yield on savings, and excellent customer support. However, some users have noted areas for improvement.

"Arc is a fantastic one-stop solution for startups' cash management and financing needs. Founders are always looking for ways to work 'smarter, not harder' - Arc's products and elegant UI make it the obvious financial partner for startups looking to make the most of their time and finances. Congrats on the launch Arc Team!" - Scott Miller
"HUGE fan of Arc, they have made everything so simple that we have basically automated all of our startup banking needs. It also doesn't hurt that we get 5%+ APY on our savings in the account. 10/10 I recommend them to anyone who needs a tech-centric option for their bank." - Brandon Strittmatter

For more detailed reviews, visit Arc Customer Reviews.

Mercury Overview

Mercury offers online business banking solutions specifically designed for startups and small businesses. Their main value proposition is to simplify and streamline financial operations, providing a comprehensive suite of financial workflows from a single dashboard. This approach aims to enhance efficiency and speed for their primary customer base of entrepreneurs and founders.

Mercury Features

Some of the key features of Mercury include:

Speed without Compromise: Efficiently manage banking and financial operations from a single dashboard.
Seamless Payments: Set auto-transfer rules and send free USD wires.
Unlock Credit Cards: Unlimited 1.5% cashback on all spend with low deposit minimums.
FDIC Insurance: Up to 20× the industry standard in FDIC insurance through partner banks and sweep networks.

Mercury Pricing

Mercury offers a range of subscription tiers to cater to different business needs.

Mercury: $0/month - Essential business banking features.
Mercury Plus: $35/month - Additional reimbursements and invoicing power.
Mercury Pro: $350/month - Advanced workflows and dedicated support.

Custom pricing is available for enterprise customers.

Drawbacks To Mercury

Overall, Mercury is well-regarded for its ease of use and comprehensive features, though some users have noted issues with payment processing.

"Mercury caters to startups and small businesses. The interface is great, allowing for easy tagging of purchases to ease separation/filtering for tax purposes." - Robert R.
"For some reason, not all payments go through. This can be quite inconvenient because transactions take four days to process." - Evgeniya P.

For more detailed reviews, visit Mercury Reviews 2025.

What to Know Before Picking Arc or Mercury

Looking at the reviews as a whole, businesses using Arc often face issues with transaction processing delays and inconsistent customer support. These challenges can disrupt cash flow and create operational inefficiencies.

Similarly, Mercury users report problems with approval processes and sudden account closures without clear explanations. These issues can be particularly frustrating for startups relying on seamless banking services to manage their finances effectively.

Why Rho Is a Better Alternative

At Rho, we understand the frustrations businesses face with Arc and Mercury, such as transaction delays and account closures. Our platform is designed to offer seamless financial operations, reliable customer support, and transparent processes, ensuring your business runs smoothly without unexpected disruptions.

Rho Features

Rho offers several unique features that address common challenges businesses face with Arc and Mercury:

Expense Management: Our platform eliminates the hassle of managing receipts and expense reports, capturing every receipt automatically. This feature saves time and reduces administrative burdens, making financial management more efficient.
AP Automation: With Rho, you can pay hundreds of vendors in minutes without any platform fees. This automation addresses the time-consuming nature of vendor payments, streamlining your accounts payable process.
Rho Treasury: We safeguard your idle cash and offer dynamic yield rates, ensuring your funds are always working for you. This feature maximizes returns on unused funds, providing a financial advantage over traditional banking solutions.
Integrations: Rho integrates directly with your accounting, HR, and T&E software, simplifying the process of connecting financial data across your business. This seamless integration enhances operational efficiency and reduces the complexity of financial management.
Private Banking Support: Our dedicated support team is available 24/7, ensuring you have access to assistance whenever you need it. This continuous support helps prevent disruptions and keeps your financial operations running smoothly.
Rho Platinum: Enjoy up to 2% cashback¹ on banking and card usage, providing financial incentives for using our services. This feature offers a tangible benefit, enhancing the value of your financial transactions.

Rho Pricing

We offer a straightforward and transparent pricing structure that makes managing your finances simple and cost-effective. Unlike Arc and Mercury, many of our essential services come at no cost, ensuring you can focus on growing your business without worrying about hidden fees.

$0 Same-Day ACH fees: No cost for same-day ACH transactions, making it easy to move money quickly.
$0 Wire fees: Enjoy free wire transfers, with some exceptions for international wires.
$0 Monthly plans: Access all our services without any monthly subscription fees.
$0 Support fees: Get free live support from day one, ensuring you have the help you need without additional charges.
$0 Subscription fees: Use our platform without any subscription costs.
$0 Checking account minimum fees: No minimum balance fees for checking accounts, giving you flexibility in managing your funds.
$0 Connected, in-platform capabilities: Access AP, Expense, and Accounting Automation features at no extra cost.
$0 Per-user fees: Add as many users as you need without incurring additional fees.
1% Foreign currency transfer: A minimal fee on foreign currency transfers, ensuring cost-effective international transactions.

You can find all the details about our pricing here.

Why Users Love Rho

We’re proud of what we do, but we think our customers say it best. Take a look at why they prefer Rho over other options.

"Rho offers our users a one-touch experience for reporting company expenses on a corporate card." - Sean F.
"The company implementation of Rho was easy and took less than 2 hours." - Tyler M.
"Rho is easy to use and has great customer support." - Kevin K.

Want a firsthand look at Rho? You can request a free demo here.

Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?

Each platform—Arc, Mercury, and Rho—has its strengths. Arc excels in AI-powered capital markets solutions, while Mercury offers seamless payments and FDIC insurance. However, both have drawbacks like transaction delays and account closures.

This is where Rho comes in. We provide seamless financial operations, reliable 24/7 support, and transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Our platform integrates with your existing software, automates AP processes, and offers up to 2% cashback¹, making us a superior choice for your business needs.

Make the Smarter Choice with Rho Today

Curious to see what Rho can do for you? Discover how our platform can streamline your financial operations. Get started with Rho today.

Rho is a fintech company, not a bank or an FDIC-insured depository institution. Checking account and card services provided by Webster Bank N.A., member FDIC. Savings account services provided by American Deposit Management Co. and its partner banks. International and foreign currency payments services are provided by Wise US Inc. FDIC deposit insurance coverage is available only to protect you against the failure of an FDIC-insured bank that holds your deposits and subject to FDIC limitations and requirements. It does not protect you against the failure of Rho or other third party. Products and services offered through the Rho platform are subject to approval.

The Rho Corporate Cards are issued by Webster Bank N.A., member FDIC pursuant to a license from Mastercard, subject to approval.

Investment management and advisory services provided by RBB Treasury LLC dba Rho Treasury, an SEC-registered investment adviser and subsidiary of Rho. Rho Treasury investments are not deposits or other obligations of Webster Bank N.A., or American Deposit Management Co.’s partner banks, are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed and may lose value. Investment products involve risk, including the possible loss of the principal invested, and past performance does not future results. Treasury and custodial services provided through Apex Clearing Corp. and Interactive Brokers LLC, registered broker dealers and members FINRA/SIPC.

¹Up to 2% cashback; terms and conditions apply. See eligibility and complete Rho Cashback Rewards Program terms and conditions here.

This content is for informational purposes only. It doesn’t necessarily reflect the views of Rho and should not be construed as legal, tax, benefits, financial, accounting, or other advice. If you need specific advice for your business, please consult with an expert, as rules and regulations change regularly.