Novo vs Bluevine: Which Is The Top Pick in 2025?

One key drawback of Novo is its poor customer support, with users frequently reporting slow response times and ineffective assistance. For Bluevine, a significant issue is the technical difficulty some users face when depositing checks via mobile devices.

Rho could offer a more efficient solution for businesses by combining AP automation and banking products with software to manage expenses, AP, banking, treasury, and month-end close.

Many businesses look to Novo and Bluevine 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 make an informed decision. Additionally, we'll also explore Rho as a third option worth considering.

Novo Overview

Novo operates in the online business banking category, offering a platform aimed at small businesses, self-employed individuals, freelancers, and consultants. Their main value proposition lies in providing a flexible and forward-thinking banking solution designed to help these customer types thrive in their respective fields.

Novo Features

Some of the key features of Novo include:

Free Checking Account: A checking account with no hidden fees, monthly fees, or required minimum balance.
Easy Invoicing: Allows users to create and send unlimited, customizable invoices for free.
Intuitive Budgeting: Automates budgeting and helps set aside funds for taxes, profit, expenses, and more.
Real-Time Insights: Provides AI-powered transaction categorization and comprehensive financial reporting.

Novo Pricing

Novo offers a straightforward pricing structure without subscription tiers or packages.

Free Checking Account: No hidden fees, monthly fees, or required minimum balance.
Easy Invoicing: Create and send unlimited, customizable invoices for free.
Intuitive Budgeting: Automates budgeting and helps set aside funds for taxes, profit, expenses, and more.

The prices for each tier are not publicly listed.

Drawbacks To Novo

General user reviews of Novo reveal a mixed reception, with an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.

"The platform is user-friendly, but the customer support is almost non-existent, making it hard to resolve issues." - Kelly B.
"While the invoicing features are helpful, frequent delays in payment processing are frustrating." - Melissa A.

For more details, visit the Novo Reviews on G2.

Bluevine Overview

Bluevine operates in the business banking solutions category, primarily serving small businesses, self-employed individuals, and startups. Their main value proposition is providing a comprehensive banking platform that offers lower fees, seamless money management, and access to working capital, all designed to simplify financial operations for their top customer types.

Bluevine Features

Some of the key features of Bluevine include:

Business Checking: No monthly fees, high APY on balances, and accounts payable automation.
Business Loans: Line of credit up to $250K, term loans up to $500K, and SBA loans up to $350K.
Credit Card: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no annual fee, and advanced security features.

Bluevine Pricing

Bluevine offers three subscription tiers for business checking, each with distinct features and pricing.

Standard Plan: $0/month, 1.5% APY on balances up to $250K, up to 5 sub-accounts.
Plus Plan: $30/month (waivable), 2.7% APY on balances up to $250K, up to 10 sub-accounts.
Premier Plan: $95/month (waivable), 3.7% APY on balances up to $3M, up to 20 sub-accounts.

Drawbacks To Bluevine

Bluevine has a generally positive consensus, with users appreciating its ease of use and financial management features.

"BlueVine offers a simple banking solution, and we can even pay our independent contractors with its Payee features." - Connor F.
"They recently switched banks that they are partnered with which resulted in routing numbers being changed and needing to be updated in all connected services. This was done on the first of the month which was inconvenient to time with receiving and making payments that are business critical." - Verified User in Marketing and Advertising

For more details, visit the Bluevine Reviews on G2.

What to Know Before Picking Novo or Bluevine

Looking at the reviews as a whole, businesses using Novo often face delays in payment processing and deposits, which can disrupt cash flow. Additionally, the lack of live customer support and slow response times are common pain points.

For Bluevine, technical difficulties with mobile check deposits for non-admin users and the inconvenience caused by changes in partner banks are notable issues. These challenges can complicate financial management and require creative workarounds.

Why Rho Is a Better Alternative

At Rho, we understand the challenges businesses face with Novo and Bluevine, such as payment delays and customer support issues. Our platform is designed to address these pain points by offering reliable, efficient financial management solutions and responsive support, making us a better choice for your business needs.

Rho Features

Expense Management: Our platform eliminates the need for manual expense reports by automating the entire process, capturing every receipt, and integrating seamlessly with accounting software. This addresses the inefficiencies and manual labor often associated with Novo.
AP Automation: Pay hundreds of vendors quickly with zero platform fees, solving the problem of slow and costly payment processing that businesses may face with Novo and Bluevine.
Rho Treasury: Safeguard your idle cash and earn a dynamic yield, providing a financial benefit that Novo does not offer and enhancing cash management capabilities.
Corporate Credit Cards: Our cards offer real-time spend monitoring and custom controls, providing more robust spend management compared to Bluevine's offerings.
Rho Platinum: Earn up to 2% cashback¹ on banking and card usage, offering additional financial benefits that may not be available with Bluevine.
Integrations: Direct integration with various software systems, including accounting, HR, and T&E software, streamlines operations more effectively than Bluevine's offerings.
24/7 Customer Support: Our dedicated support team is available around the clock, ensuring that you receive timely and effective assistance, addressing the customer support issues often reported with Novo.

Rho Pricing

We offer a straightforward and transparent pricing structure that sets us apart from Novo and Bluevine. Our goal is to make financial management simple and cost-effective for your business.

Here are the key pricing details:

$0 monthly fees: No charge for accessing our platform and its features.
$0 Same-Day ACH fees: Enjoy free same-day ACH transactions.
$0 wire fees: No fees for wire transfers, with some exceptions for international wires.
$0 support fees: Access our customer support at no additional cost.
$0 subscription fees: Use our platform without any subscription costs.
$0 checking account minimum fees: No minimum balance requirements for checking accounts.
$0 per-user fees: Add as many users as you need without incurring extra charges.
$0 connected, in-platform capabilities: Utilize AP, Expense, and Accounting Automation features for free.
1% foreign currency transfer: A minimal fee for foreign currency 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 is everything a corporate card program should be - And it's free to the users and employers!" - Tyler M., Chief Financial Officer, Small-Business
"From day one, using Rho has been simple and straightforward." - Kevin K., Director of Marketing and Analytics, Mid-Market
"Modern, flexible, tech-centric user experience on traditional credit card services." - Pete S., Mid-Market

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

Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?

Each platform—Novo, Bluevine, and Rho—has its strengths. Novo offers free checking and easy invoicing, while Bluevine provides high APY and business loans. However, both have drawbacks like payment delays and customer support issues.

This is where Rho comes in. We offer automated expense management, AP automation, and 24/7 customer support, addressing common pain points. Our transparent pricing and robust integrations make financial management seamless, positioning us as the 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 transform your financial management. 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.