Business banking platforms promise better visibility, smarter controls, easier bookkeeping—but how they deliver on those promises varies dramatically. Some prioritize maximizing interest earnings on idle cash. Others focus on showing you exactly where every dollar sits and controlling how it moves. That distinction determines which platform serves you better.
Both Relay and Bluevine are modern alternatives to traditional banks, but it can be hard to determine which actually fits your business operations. This comparison breaks down account structure, fees, team controls, and integrations so you can determine which platform aligns with how you actually run your business.
How Each Platform Approaches Business Banking
Relay optimizes for cash flow visibility through account separation. The platform provides up to 20 checking accounts1 per business, each functioning as an independent account with its own routing and account number. This allows you to separate cash systematically: operating expenses in one account, payroll in another, tax reserves in a third, profit allocation in a fourth.
Bluevine optimizes for earnings on working capital through interest-bearing checking. The platform offers checking accounts earning between interest rates of 1.3% to 3.0% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) depending on plan tier. Bluevine combines this with sub-account organization (5 to 20 sub-accounts depending on plan) and integrated lending products including lines of credit up to $250,000.
Relay is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply.
Account Structures
How you organize money differs significantly between these platforms—one offers true account independence, while the other provides organizational buckets within a single account.
Relay provides 20 checking accounts on the Starter plan without monthly maintenance fees. For sophisticated cash flow systems like Profit First, this structure works well.
Bluevine provides sub-accounts within a tiered plan structure. The Standard plan includes 5 sub-accounts with no monthly maintenance fees. The Plus plan ($30 monthly) includes 10 sub-accounts. The Premier plan ($95 monthly, waivable with $100,000 average balance and $5,000 monthly card spending) includes 20 sub-accounts.
The architectural difference: Relay's accounts are independent checking accounts with unique routing and account numbers. Bluevine's sub-accounts are divisions within a single main account structure.
Fee Structures and Transaction Costs
Both platforms offer free entry-level plans, but their pricing models differ as you scale. Here's how monthly fees and transaction costs compare across tiers.
Relay operates on subscription tiers:
Starter Plan: $0 monthly subscription fee, 1.0% fee on Pay by Bank invoice payments (capped at $10)
Grow Plan: $30 monthly subscription fee, 0.75% fee on Pay by Bank (capped at $10)
Scale Plan: $120 monthly subscription fee ($90 promotional), 0.5% fee on Pay by Bank (capped at $10)
All incoming ACH transfers are free across all plans
Bluevine operates on balance and activity tiers:
Standard Plan: $0/month (5 sub-accounts, 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000)
Plus Plan: $30/month (10 sub-accounts, 1.75% APY on balances up to $250,000)
Premier Plan: $95/month (20 sub-accounts, 3.0% APY on balances up to $3,000,000)
Fee Type | Relay | Bluevine |
Monthly subscription fees | $0 (Starter) to $120 (Scale) | $0 to $95 (waivable) |
Incoming ACH | No fee | No fee |
Pay by Bank | 1.0% to 0.5% (capped at $10) | Check current rates |
Interest Potential
If earning interest on your operating cash matters, the platforms take different approaches—Bluevine pays interest on checking balances, while Relay keeps interest-earning separate in savings accounts.
For a business maintaining $100,000 in checking balances, Bluevine's Premier plan generates approximately $3,000 annually at the current 3.0% APY. After accounting for the $95 monthly fee (assuming it's not waived), this represents approximately $1,860 in net annual benefit. Note that if you meet the fee waiver requirements ($100,000 average daily balance and $5,000 monthly card spending), the full $3,000 benefit applies. APY and fees are subject to change.
Relay's checking accounts do not earn interest. The platform offers savings accounts with tiered rates (up to 2.68%. APY3 depending on subscription plan).
For Relay Subscription Plans with an interest-bearing deposit account, the interest rate and Annual Percentage Yield on your account are accurate as of 12/11/2025 and are variable and subject to change based on the target range of the Federal Funds rate. Fees may reduce earnings:
When you are subscribed to the Starter Plan, the interest rate on your savings accounts is 0.91% with an APY of 0.91%.
When you are subscribed to the Grow Plan, the interest rate on your savings accounts is 1.53% with an APY of 1.55%.
When you are subscribed to the Scale Plan, the interest rate on your savings accounts is 2.65% with an APY of 2.68%.
Team Controls and Card Management
Managing team spending requires both card issuance and permission controls. Both platforms support multiple cards, but their approaches to access control differ.
Relay supports 50 physical and virtual debit cards2 with individual spending limits and card-specific checking accounts. Relay offers seven permission levels: Super Administrator, Administrator, Manager, Bill Payer, Cardholder, Deposit-only, and Read-only.
Bluevine also allows up to 50 debit cards total across your main account and sub-accounts with custom spend limits per card.
The control philosophy differs. Relay provides card-level spending limits and account-based segregation. Bluevine provides card access within a sub-account structure.
The Relay Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The Relay Visa Credit® Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc and may be used anywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
Automation and Cash Flow Management
Automating money movement reduces manual work and ensures consistent allocation. Both platforms offer automatic transfers, but the underlying mechanics reflect their different account architectures.
Relay's auto-transfer rules operate between independent checking accounts. Allocate percentages of every deposit to tax savings, payroll reserves, and operations, with each pool maintaining its own debit card access and permission controls.
Bluevine's automatic transfers move money between the main account and sub-accounts through percentage-based transfers, target balance maintenance, and zero balance sweeps. This provides budget organization without complete financial segregation.
Credit Access and Lending Integration
Access to credit can be critical for managing cash flow gaps or funding growth. The platforms take opposite approaches—one builds lending in, the other focuses purely on banking.
Bluevine operates as a direct lender, offering lines of credit up to $250,000. Qualification requirements include: 625+ minimum FICO score, 12+ months in business, $10,000 minimum monthly revenue, and your business must be a corporation or LLC in good standing with no bankruptcies. Rates start at 7.8% APR; actual rates vary based on creditworthiness.
Relay does not currently offer direct lending products. The platform offers a credit card2 to some customers by invitation, and maintains referral partnerships with third-party lenders.
The Relay Visa Credit® Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc and may be used anywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
Accounting Integration Quality
Relay integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero through direct bank feeds. The QuickBooks connection supports two-way bill pay integration: import bills from QuickBooks into Relay and payments sync back to update bill status. Xero integration works similarly.
Bluevine provides QuickBooks Online and Xero integration through bank feeds. However, some users have reported syncing issues that require manual intervention, including connection errors with Xero.
Which Platform Matches Your Business Needs
Based on the comparison above, here's a quick guide to help you decide which platform aligns with your priorities.
Choose Relay if:
You use the Profit First methodology or similar systematic cash allocation
You need complete account separation with independent routing numbers
You value operational cash flow visibility over interest earnings on checking
You need immediate access to 20 checking accounts without monthly fees or balance requirements
You prefer earning interest through dedicated savings accounts
Choose Bluevine if:
You need integrated lending access alongside banking services
You want to earn interest directly on checking balances
You're comfortable with sub-account organization within a single main account structure
Making Your Decision
Banking features mean nothing if they don't match how you actually run your business. The right platform supports your operational needs rather than requiring you to adapt to its structure.
Evaluate both platforms with your actual transaction patterns and bookkeeping workflow. Calculate interest potential against organizational value. The platform that reduces daily friction while supporting your cash flow approach serves your business best. Sign up to open a Relay account1 and experience the difference systematic cash flow visibility makes in your operations.
Disclosures
1Relay is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. 2The Relay Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The Relay Visa Credit® Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc and may be used anywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
3For Relay Subscription Plans with an interest-bearing deposit account, the interest rate and Annual Percentage Yield on your account are accurate as of 12/11/2025 and are variable and subject to change based on the target range of the Federal Funds rate. Fees may reduce earnings:
When you are subscribed to the Starter Plan, the interest rate on your savings accounts is 0.91% with an APY of 0.91%.
When you are subscribed to the Grow Plan, the interest rate on your savings accounts is 1.53% with an APY of 1.55%.
When you are subscribed to the Scale Plan, the interest rate on your savings accounts is 2.65% with an APY of 2.68%.
