Relay vs. Bluevine: Which Business Checking Account Is Better?
Relay vs. Bluevine for small business banking: interest, multiple accounts, wire fees, cash deposits, FDIC coverage and which one fits how you run your business.
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Choose Bluevine if you want interest on checking; choose Relay if you want to split money across many accounts and send cheap wires. Bluevine’s free plan pays 1.30% APY on up to $250,000 with simple activity rules. Relay’s free plan pays no interest on checking but gives you up to 20 checking accounts, $8 domestic wires and a savings account that pays interest.
Relay and Bluevine both offer free online business checking with no monthly fee on their basic plan, unlimited everyday banking and up to $3 million of FDIC coverage through partner banks. They solve different problems, though. Bluevine pays you to keep money in checking. Relay helps you organize money, especially if you budget with separate accounts for taxes, payroll and operating costs.
Relay vs. Bluevine at a glance
| Relay Business Checking | Bluevine Business Checking | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee (free plan) | $0 (Starter) | $0 (Standard) |
| Interest on checking | None | 1.30% APY on up to $250,000 with activity rules (as of Oct 16, 2026) |
| Savings | Relay savings: 1.19% APY on Starter (as of Sep 17, 2026) | Interest is paid in checking |
| Checking accounts | Up to 20 | One main account |
| Outgoing domestic wires | $8; lower on paid plans | $15 |
| Cash deposits | Allpoint ATMs up to $1,000 per transaction; Green Dot | Green Dot $4.95; Allpoint+ ATMs $1 plus 0.5% |
| Paid plans | Grow $30 a month; Scale $90 a month | Plus $30 a month; Premier $95 a month (waivable) |
| FDIC coverage | Up to $3 million | Up to $3 million |
| Partner bank | Thread Bank (FDIC 9499) | Coastal Community Bank (FDIC 34403) |
| Phone support | Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm ET | During business hours |
| App rating | 4.8 App Store, 4.4 Google Play | 4.7 App Store, 4.3 Google Play |
| BankingPicks score | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees, plans and rates checked against each provider’s website Sep 28, 2026. App ratings checked the same day. Scores follow our published scorecard.
Which one pays more?
Bluevine, for money in checking. Its free plan pays 1.30% APY on up to $250,000 in months you spend $500 on its debit card or receive $2,500. On a $50,000 average balance, that is about $650 a year.
Relay pays no interest on checking. It pays interest in a separate savings account instead: 1.19% APY on the free Starter plan (as of Sep 17, 2026), with higher rates on paid plans. If you keep a reserve in Relay savings and only operating cash in checking, the gap narrows, but on the free plans Bluevine pays more for the same balance.
Which is better for organizing money?
Relay, clearly. You can open up to 20 checking accounts and give each a job: one for taxes, one for payroll, one for each client or location. Many owners use this to run a profit first style budget, where every deposit is split by percentage into set accounts, so you always know what is safe to spend.
Bluevine works with one main checking account. That is simpler if you do not want to manage several balances.
Which is cheaper for wires and cash?
Wires: Relay charges $8 for an outgoing domestic wire on its free plan, vs. $15 at Bluevine. If you send two wires a week, that saves about $56 a month. Relay notes that incoming wires can carry a fee, so check if you receive many.
Cash: Relay accepts cash at Allpoint ATMs, up to $1,000 per transaction, or through Green Dot, which may charge a fee. Bluevine charges $4.95 per Green Dot deposit or $1 plus 0.5% at Allpoint+ ATMs. Either works for occasional cash; if you handle a lot of cash, compare each provider’s current fees before you choose.
Are Relay and Bluevine safe?
Both are financial technology companies, not banks. Relay accounts are held at Thread Bank (FDIC certificate 9499) and Bluevine accounts at Coastal Community Bank (FDIC certificate 34403). Deposits are FDIC insured through those banks up to $250,000, and both extend coverage up to $3 million by spreading money across program banks. FDIC insurance covers the failure of a partner bank, not the fintech company.
Who should pick which?
Pick Relay if you
- Budget with separate accounts for taxes, payroll and expenses
- Send wires often
- Want separate accounts for each client, location or project
Pick Bluevine if you
- Keep a large balance in checking and want it to earn interest
- Prefer one simple account
- Can spend $500 a month on a debit card or receive $2,500 a month
Which is better for a new business?
For a brand new business with a small balance, the interest gap barely matters: 1.30% APY on $5,000 is about $65 a year. What matters more early on is building good habits. Relay’s separate accounts make it easy to set aside money for taxes from day one, which is the most common money mistake new owners make. As the business grows and keeps a larger cash cushion, Bluevine’s interest starts to add up, and that is the point to compare again.
One more thing to weigh: phone support. Relay lists phone hours of Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm ET. Bluevine offers support during business hours. If you run the business on evenings and weekends, check what support you can reach when you work.
Can you use both?
Yes, and some businesses do: Relay for day to day operations and budgeting, and Bluevine for a cash reserve that earns interest. Just keep in mind each provider’s FDIC coverage applies to your balance there.
How to open either account
- Gather your documents. Business name, EIN or Social Security number for sole proprietors, and formation documents for LLCs and corporations.
- Apply online. Both accept sole proprietors, LLCs, corporations and partnerships.
- Set up your structure. At Relay, create your accounts before you move money. At Bluevine, plan how you will meet the $500 card spend or $2,500 deposit rule.
- Move payments over and keep your old account open for a month.
Our verdict
Bluevine is the better account for earning interest on a large checking balance. Relay is the better tool for running the business: more accounts, cheaper wires and cards for your team. Compare both with Found, Axos and American Express on our best business checking accounts page, or read Bluevine vs. Found and Found vs. Relay.
Frequently asked questions
Does Relay pay interest on checking?
No. Relay pays interest in a separate savings account: 1.19% APY on the free Starter plan as of Sep 17, 2026, and more on paid plans.
How many accounts can I open with Relay?
Up to 20 checking accounts, each of which can have its own debit card.
How much are Relay and Bluevine wire fees?
Relay charges $8 for an outgoing domestic wire on its free plan; Bluevine charges $15.
Is Relay or Bluevine a bank?
Neither. Relay works with Thread Bank and Bluevine with Coastal Community Bank, both FDIC insured.
Do Relay and Bluevine have monthly fees?
Not on their free plans. Paid plans cost $30 to $95 a month and add features, lower fees or higher rates.
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