5 Mercury Alternatives For Startups in 2025

Mercury is a financial technology company that provides online business banking services tailored for startups and small businesses. Their offerings include business checking and savings accounts, credit cards, bill pay, invoicing, expense management, and accounting automations.

However, Mercury doesn’t fit all companies’ needs, and some businesses find it lacking in essential features or flexibility. If you’re looking for a better fit, we’ve rounded up five top alternatives—Rho, Ramp, Brex, Airbase, Spenmo—each offering unique advantages to meet different business requirements.

5 Alternatives to Mercury

1) Overall Pick: Rho

At Rho, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive suite of financial services designed to support businesses from their inception to their IPO. Our platform is built to streamline financial operations, making it easier for founders and finance teams to manage their finances efficiently.

Rho Key Features

• Business Checking Accounts: Provides a platform to manage business cash flow efficiently with no ACH fees and round-the-clock support.

• Corporate Credit Cards: Enables real-time monitoring and control of corporate spending, ensuring compliance and ease of accounting.

• Expense Management: Streamlines the process of managing expenses by eliminating the need for manual expense reports and ensuring policy compliance.

• AP Automation: Facilitates quick and fee-free payments to a large number of vendors, enhancing operational efficiency.

• Rho Treasury: Offers a secure way to invest idle cash with the potential for earning a variable yield, managed by a registered investment adviser.

• Integrations: Enhances the functionality of Rho by allowing seamless integration with existing business software systems, improving overall financial management.

• Private Banking Support: Provides 24/7 dedicated support to address any banking needs promptly.

Unlike Mercury, which focuses on simplified online business banking, Rho offers a more integrated approach to financial workflows, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to streamline their financial operations.

Rho Pricing

We offer a straightforward and transparent pricing structure designed to help businesses save money. Many of our essential services are free to use, making it easy to manage your finances without worrying about hidden costs.

• $0 Same-Day ACH fees: No fees for same-day ACH transactions.

• $0 Wire fees: No fees for wire transfers, except for international wires which may incur additional fees.

• $0 Monthly plans: No charges for accessing essential accounting integrations.

• $0 Support fees: Free live support from day one without requiring monthly plans.

• $0 Subscription fees: No subscription fees for using Rho's platform.

• $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.

• 1% Foreign currency transfer: A flat 1% fee on foreign currency transfers.

You can find all the details about our pricing here.

Why Users Prefer Rho

Don’t just take our word for it—hear directly from Rho’s customers. Here’s what real users have to say about why they prefer Rho over other solutions:

• "Rho is everything a corporate card program should be - And it's free to the users and employers!" - Implementation was easy, syncing with QuickBooks Online saved 60 hours per month, and delayed a planned headcount addition indefinitely.

• "Best banking for an early-stage startup" - Allows a single person to manage the entire company's finances quickly, from checking accounts to treasuries.

• "From day one, using Rho has been simple and straightforward." - Text and email reminders for expense tracking make the process efficient.

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

Source: Rho Reviews & Product Details

2) Ramp

Ramp provides a suite of financial management tools designed to streamline business operations. Their offerings include corporate cards, expense management, travel management, accounts payable, procurement, accounting automation, and treasury services, all aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing manual tasks for finance teams.

Ramp Key Features

Ramp offers a range of features designed to streamline financial management for businesses. Here are some of the key features:

• Ramp Intelligence: Uses AI to monitor transactions, catch out-of-policy transactions, uncover errors, and identify areas of overspending.

• Expense Management: Automates the submission of expenses, enforces spending policies, and pre-approves funds to control spending before it happens.

• Accounting Automation: Speeds up the monthly close process by automating accounting tasks and integrating with existing accounting systems.

• Corporate Cards: Provides customizable corporate cards with built-in controls to prevent unauthorized spending and ensure compliance with company policies.

• Global Operations: Facilitates international payments and reimbursements, supporting transactions in 195 countries and over 40 currencies.

Ramp Pricing

Ramp offers a tiered pricing model with a free plan, a mid-tier plan with a monthly fee, and a customizable enterprise plan.

• Free Plan: Unlimited corporate cards, card issuing controls, expense policy enforcement, travel bookings, auto-receipt collection.

• Plus Plan: All Free Plan features, auto-lock cards, custom travel policies, advanced approval policies, batch payments.

• Enterprise Plan: All Plus Plan features, direct and custom ERP integrations, user role changelogs, role customization, custom development.

Drawbacks To Ramp

General user reviews of Ramp highlight its ease of use and efficiency, but some users have noted issues with card functionality and missing features.

• "Ramp is extremely user-friendly and easy to work with, but the card issues can be frustrating." - Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management

• "While Ramp saves us a lot of time, the approval process can sometimes be cumbersome." - Nick E.

Source: Ramp Reviews & Product Details

3) Brex

Brex offers a comprehensive financial platform that includes modern cards, banking, bill pay, accounting, and travel services. The platform is designed to help companies control spending, automate busywork, and earn more.

Brex Key Features

Brex offers a modern finance software platform designed to help businesses manage their financial operations more efficiently. Key features include:

• Corporate Cards: These cards come with built-in controls to help businesses manage spending globally.

• Expense Management: The platform uses AI to automate the approval process and expense reporting, providing real-time tracking of expenses.

• Travel Management: Brex simplifies global travel with in-app booking and management tools.

• Bill Pay: The bill pay feature leverages AI to automate invoice entry and payment processes, saving time and reducing manual work.

• Banking and Treasury Services: Brex offers a high yield of 3.98% on cash from day one, along with services to save, spend, and grow cash efficiently.

These features are designed to provide businesses with a comprehensive financial management solution, enabling smarter spending and improved financial control.

Brex Pricing

Brex offers tiered pricing plans tailored to the needs of startups, mid-sized companies, and global enterprises, with options ranging from free to custom pricing.

• Essentials: For startups and growing companies, priced at $0 per user/month.

• Premium: For mid-sized companies looking to scale, priced at $12 per user/month.

• Enterprise: For global enterprises with custom needs, with custom pricing.

• Smart Card: For companies that want to simplify procurement, with custom pricing.

Drawbacks To Brex

General user reviews of Brex highlight its user-friendly interface and robust financial tools, but some users have noted issues with integration and manual entry requirements.

• "Brex is super easy to use, whether it's expensing a purchase, submitting a reimbursement, or transferring funds." - Verified User

• "Integration with other software like Sage can be problematic, requiring manual entry for some transactions." - Mike W.

Source: Brex Reviews & Product Details

4) Airbase

Airbase is a comprehensive platform that consolidates various financial processes into a single solution, including guided procurement, accounts payable automation, expense management, and corporate cards. It aims to save time and money while ensuring compliance and control, providing unmatched visibility and a user-friendly experience.

Airbase Key Features

• Guided Procurement: Automates the purchasing process with a guided buying experience that ensures compliance and control through no-code routing to systems used by all stakeholders.

• Accounts Payable Automation: Provides a touchless AP experience, handling everything from simple bill pay to complex purchase orders, amortizations, FX payments, and international multi-subsidiary support, with easy vendor management.

• Expense Management: Simplifies expense reporting and global reimbursements using AI-based OCR and generative AI to create expense reports from receipt images, ensuring compliance and ease of use.

• Corporate Cards: Offers a versatile card program that secures pre-approvals and integrates purchase details directly into your ERP, supporting both virtual and physical cards from Airbase, AMEX, and SVB.

• AI-powered, touchless AP and expense reporting: Utilizes AI to automate accounts payable and expense reporting processes, reducing manual effort and increasing accuracy and compliance.

Airbase Pricing

Airbase offers customized pricing plans based on the size and specific needs of the organization, requiring users to request a quote for detailed pricing information.

• Enterprise Plan: For up to 10,000 employees, includes full platform experience and advanced accounting automation.

• Premium Plan: For up to 500 employees, includes all primary modules and advanced features/workflows.

• Standard Plan: For up to ~200 employees, includes Guided Procurement, AP Automation, Corporate Cards, and Expense Management.

• Custom Packages: Customizable based on specific needs, can start with one module or adopt the whole platform.

Drawbacks To Airbase

General user reviews of Airbase highlight its efficiency and ease of use, but some users have noted issues with the mobile app and navigation.

• "Airbase has completely streamlined the way I manage expenses! One of my favorite features is how I can simply take a picture of a receipt, and AI takes care of everything." - Marine M.

• "All data and relevant information is available somewhere in there. Easy to submit mileage and expenses, easy to upload receipts for personal cards." - Alison P.

Source: Airbase Reviews on G2

5) Spenmo

Spenmo is a service provider specializing in spend management and accounts payable automation, offering solutions for bill management, reimbursements, corporate debit cards, and seamless accounting software integration. The platform enhances visibility and control over financial processes through automation, driving efficiency and cost savings for businesses.

Spenmo Key Features

Here are some of the most notable features of Spenmo:

• Smart Scanning Technology: Reduces manual effort and errors in bill processing by integrating with accounting software and supporting custom approval workflows.

• Custom Approval Workflows: Enhances visibility and control over spending by ensuring all expenditures are in-policy and approved through a multi-level process.

• Corporate Debit Cards: Provides access to physical and virtual Visa Debit Cards issued by partner licensed payment service providers, facilitating reimbursements and out-of-policy spending.

• Seamless Accounting Software Integration: Integrates with popular accounting software like Xero, Netsuite, Quickbooks, and Jurnal, speeding up the reconciliation process and ensuring accurate data.

• ISO 27001 Certification: Signifies adherence to global information security standards, assuring clients that their data is safeguarded against potential threats.

Spenmo Pricing

Spenmo's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.

Drawbacks To Spenmo

General user reviews of Spenmo highlight its efficiency and user-friendly interface, but some users have noted issues with specific functionalities.

• "Efficient payouts to vendors at low remittance fees and good foreign exchange rates." - Bryan Z.

• "Errors when making payments with cards can be frustrating and need better integration with accounting software." - Jun P.

Source: Spenmo Reviews on G2

How to select the right Mercury alternative?

Tips for Selecting the Right Mercury Alternative:

• Identify Your Needs: Assess your business requirements, such as expense management, corporate cards, or accounts payable automation, to find a platform that meets your specific needs.

• Evaluate Features: Compare the key features of each alternative to ensure they align with your business goals and operational workflows.

• Consider Pricing: Look for transparent pricing structures and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each platform, including any hidden fees or additional charges.

• Integration Capabilities: Ensure the platform integrates seamlessly with your existing software systems to enhance overall efficiency and reduce manual tasks.

• Customer Support: Check for reliable and accessible customer support to address any issues promptly and keep your operations running smoothly.

• Read User Reviews: Look at user feedback to understand the real-world performance and potential drawbacks of each platform.

• Comprehensive Solutions: Platforms like Rho offer an integrated approach to financial workflows, making them a strong contender for businesses seeking a holistic solution.

Getting started with the best Mercury alternative

Choosing the right financial platform for your business is crucial, and any of the alternatives mentioned can provide significant benefits. However, if you're looking for a comprehensive solution that integrates banking, expense management, and treasury services, we recommend Rho. Our platform is designed to streamline your financial operations, making it easier to manage your business from startup to IPO.

Ready to experience the Rho difference? Request a demo today and see how we can help you achieve your financial goals.