Bluevine vs Relay: Which The Top Pick in 2025?

Many businesses look to Bluevine and Relay 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, helping you determine which one is the best fit for your business. Additionally, we'll also explore Rho as a third option worth considering.

Bluevine Overview

Bluevine operates in the business banking solutions category, primarily targeting small businesses, startups, and self-employed individuals. Their main value proposition lies in offering lower fees, seamless money movement, and access to working capital, making it a practical choice for various professional services, technology companies, and food & beverage businesses.

Bluevine Features

Some of the key features of Bluevine include:

• Business Checking: High-yield interest rates, no monthly or overdraft fees, and free standard ACH transfers.
• Business Loans: Access up to $250,000 with a line of credit and up to $500,000 with a term loan.
• Business Credit Card: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all business purchases and no annual fee.
• Integrated Business Tools: Seamless money movement and accounts payable automation.

Bluevine Pricing

Bluevine offers three business checking plans with varying features and prices:

• Standard Plan: $0/month - 1.5% APY on balances up to $250K, up to 5 sub-accounts, FDIC insurance up to $3M, free standard ACH and unlimited transactions, ACH debit block.
• Plus Plan: $30 or $0/month (waivable) - 2.7% APY on balances up to $250K, up to 10 sub-accounts, 20% off most Standard payment fees, 5 free printed and mailed checks per month, ACH positive pay, 6 months free Xero subscription.
• Premier Plan: $95 or $0/month (waivable) - 3.7% APY on balances up to $3M, up to 20 sub-accounts, 50% off most Standard payment fees, 20 free printed and mailed checks per month, ACH positive pay, priority customer support, access to treasury services, 6 months free Xero subscription.

Drawbacks To Bluevine

General user reviews of Bluevine highlight its ease of use and interest-earning accounts, but some users have experienced technical difficulties and inconvenient changes in banking partners. Bluevine Reviews on G2.

• "After starting our own business during covid, we were trying to keep our heads above water. For the first year, business was going well, but then we faced some technical issues with mobile deposits." - Connor F.
• "I like that the account earns interest that is paid out every month. I also like how easy it is to connect to other financial tools." - Verified User in Marketing and Advertising

Relay Overview

Relay operates in the online business banking category, primarily serving small business owners, accountants, and e-commerce businesses. Their main value proposition is providing complete control over earnings, spending, and savings, which aims to make cash flow management clearer and more efficient for their top customer types.

Relay Features

Some of the key features of Relay include:

• No account fees: Relay offers business bank accounts without any monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
• Up to 20 individual checking accounts: Allows businesses to manage multiple accounts for different purposes.
• Physical or virtual credit and debit cards: Provides flexibility in managing business expenses.
• Integration with QuickBooks Online and Xero: Seamless synchronization with popular accounting software for efficient bookkeeping.

Relay Pricing

Relay offers two main subscription tiers: Relay and Relay Pro.

• Relay: $0/month - No account fees, up to 20 checking accounts, physical/virtual cards, ACH, wire, and check payments, cash withdrawals/deposits, integration with QuickBooks Online and Xero.
• Relay Pro: Starting at $30/month - Includes all Relay features plus faster ACH, free domestic wires, discounted international wires, accounts payable management, bill import, review and approval dashboard, multi-step approval rules, and consolidated vendor payments.

Drawbacks To Relay

The overall consensus on Relay is generally positive, with users praising its user-friendly interface and excellent customer service, though some have noted issues with ACH timelines and specific customer service incidents.

• "I worked with the customer support team after I received a message from them that there was suspicious activity on my account... They had the card frozen within minutes." - Cindi LeMay
• "Not trustworthy, ACH timelines are a mess, customer service is great (during business hours) but the banking which is the core product is questionable." - S Menon

For more detailed reviews, visit Relay Financial Reviews on Trustpilot.

What to Know Before Picking Bluevine or Relay

Looking at the reviews as a whole, businesses using Bluevine often face technical difficulties with mobile check deposits and disruptions due to changes in partnered banks. These issues can cause operational hiccups, especially for small businesses relying on seamless transactions.

On the other hand, Relay users frequently report delays in ACH transactions and problems with currency conversion. Additionally, some businesses have experienced poor communication and accountability from customer service, which can be frustrating when dealing with financial matters.

Why Rho Is a Better Alternative

At Rho, we understand the challenges businesses face with Bluevine and Relay, such as technical issues and ACH delays. Our platform is designed to offer seamless transactions, reliable customer support, and efficient cash flow management, making us a dependable choice for your financial needs.

Rho Features

• Rho Platinum: Our Rho Platinum card offers up to 2% cashback¹ on all purchases, providing a direct financial benefit that incentivizes businesses to use our banking and card services, unlike Bluevine and Relay which may not offer competitive cashback rewards.
• Automated Expense Management: We eliminate the need for manual expense reports by capturing every receipt automatically. This saves time and reduces errors, addressing the common issue of manual expense reporting faced by businesses using Bluevine and Relay.
• AP Automation: Our platform allows you to pay hundreds of vendors in minutes with zero platform fees. This streamlines the accounts payable process, solving the problem of slow and costly vendor payments that can be a challenge with Bluevine and Relay.
• Rho Treasury: We offer dynamic yield rates on idle cash, helping businesses earn more from their reserves. This feature provides a robust solution for managing idle cash, which may not be as advanced in Bluevine and Relay.
• Seamless Integrations: Our direct integration with accounting, HR, and T&E software ensures smooth operations and data flow, addressing potential integration issues that businesses might face with Bluevine and Relay.
• 24/7 Private Banking Support: We provide round-the-clock support from Day 1, ensuring that your financial needs are met promptly and efficiently, unlike the limited customer service hours reported by some users of Bluevine and Relay.

Rho Pricing

We offer a straightforward and transparent pricing structure that eliminates many of the fees you might find with Bluevine and Relay. Our goal is to make financial management simple and cost-effective for your business.

Here are the key pricing details:

• $0 monthly fees: No subscription fees for accessing our platform.
• $0 Same-Day ACH fees: No charge for same-day ACH transactions.
• $0 wire fees: No charge for wire transfers, with some exceptions for international wires.
• $0 support fees: Free live support from day one without any additional charges.
• $0 checking account minimum fees: No minimum balance fees for checking accounts.
• $0 connected, in-platform capabilities: Free access to AP, Expense, and Accounting Automation features.
• $0 per-user fees: No fees per user for accessing the platform.
• 1% foreign currency transfer: A 1% fee on foreign currency transfers.

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.

• "It is easy to use, it saves time and eliminates stress." - Sean F. (Chief Financial Officer, Mid-Market)
• "Centralized system that is easy to use for all levels of the organization with exceptional customer service." - Tyler M. (Chief Financial Officer, Small-Business)
• "Rho offers our users a one-touch experience for reporting company expenses on a corporate card." - Kevin K. (Director of Marketing and Analytics, Mid-Market)

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

Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?

Each platform—Bluevine, Relay, and Rho—has its strengths, catering to different business needs. Bluevine offers high-yield interest rates and flexible loan options, while Relay excels in providing multiple checking accounts and seamless integration with accounting software.

This is where Rho comes in. We offer up to 2% cashback¹ on all purchases, automated expense management, and 24/7 private banking support. Our platform eliminates many fees, ensuring cost-effective financial management for your business.

Make the Smarter Choice with Rho Today

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