Mercury vs Relay vs Wise for a US LLC Owned From Abroad

For many non-resident LLC owners, Mercury or Relay works best as the main account, and Wise Business works best as a currency tool alongside it. Mercury is simple and free for USD payments. Relay suits owners who want many separate accounts. Wise is strongest when you convert money between currencies. None of them can promise approval, because each provider reviews your country, your business and your documents.

For non-resident US LLC owners, choosing between Mercury, Relay and Wise Business depends largely on how you plan to receive, hold, spend and convert your business funds. This guide breaks down what Mercury, Relay and Wise Business actually offer to non-resident US LLC owners, what each costs in the situations you are most likely to face, and where each account fits.

Note: Fees were checked in October 2026. Providers change pricing often, so confirm on their official pages before you apply.

Mercury vs Relay vs Wise at a glance

	Mercury	Relay	Wise Business
What it is	Fintech with partner banks (Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., per Mercury’s FAQ)	Fintech, with banking services from Thread Bank	E-money institution, not a bank
Monthly fee	$0 base plan, paid plans from $35	$0 Starter, $30 Grow, $90 Scale	No monthly fee; a one-time setup fee, reported at $31 for US details
Domestic wires	Free	Outgoing $8 on Starter, $5 on Grow and Scale (third-party summary)	Not its main use
Currency conversion	1% on non-USD international wires	Not its main strength	From about 0.33%, varies by currency pair
Accounts	Fewer separate accounts	20 checking and 2 savings on Starter and Grow; 50 checking on Scale	Holds 40+ currencies
Best for	Main USD account, Stripe payouts	Budgeting with sub-accounts, or a backup account	Paying or receiving in other currencies

What each account is best for Non-residents LLC Owner

1. Mercury

Mercury is an online business finance platform built mainly for startups and small companies. It isn’t a bank itself. It works with two FDIC-insured partner banks, Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., which hold the deposits. You get a business checking account with domestic and international USD wires, ACH payments, debit and credit cards, and invoicing tools.

Mercury is a common first choice for non-resident LLC owners who mostly earn and spend dollars. Domestic and international USD wires are free, there is no monthly fee on the base plan, and the interface is built for small companies and startups, which makes bookkeeping and connecting a payment processor straightforward. The trade-offs are that Mercury reviews applications closely, so a vague description or mismatched documents can lead to a decline, and that a 1% fee applies to non-USD wires if you work in other currencies.

2. Relay

Relay is an online business banking platform that puts money management first. Like Mercury, it isn’t a bank: banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Its signature feature is the number of separate accounts. The Starter and Grow plans include up to 20 checking accounts and two savings accounts, so you can set money aside for taxes, payroll, expenses and profit without opening anything new.

Relay is most useful to a non-resident owner in two ways. First, as a second account: it’s a separate company with its own review, so it gives you a fallback if Mercury declines you or reviews your account later. Second, as a budgeting tool if you earn in dollars and like keeping tax and operating money apart. Fees deserve a look if your clients pay by wire. Relay lists a $5 charge for incoming wires received through invoices or quick requests, and wires out cost more on the free plan.

3. Wise Business

Wise Business is a multi-currency payment platform run by a regulated money-transfer company. It is not a bank and doesn’t offer traditional business checking. What it does is let you hold and convert money between many currencies. You can hold over 40 currencies, and Wise lists conversion fees that depend on the currency pair, starting from around 0.33%.

Wise solves a common problem many freelancers or business owners have: getting paid in dollars and spending in another currency. US account details let American clients pay you by ACH or wire as if you had a US account, and you convert when the rate suits you. Business accounts aren’t available in every country, so confirm yours is supported. It works best alongside Mercury or Relay, not as your only account.

Which one should you choose?

Your situation	Best Option
Paid in USD by US clients	Mercury, or Relay
Paying contractors in other currencies	Mercury or Relay as the main account, plus Wise for conversion
Selling through Stripe	Mercury or Relay first; check Stripe’s own requirements for your country
Want to split money into many accounts	Relay
Declined by one provider	Fix the application, then try another provider
Mostly receiving foreign-currency payments	Wise as a complement to a US main account

What Each One Costs A Non-Resident LLC

The headline monthly fee is rarely the number that matters. For a business owned from abroad, these costs usually decide the total:

• Converting currency: This is often the largest cost. Mercury applies a 1% fee on non-USD international wires. Wise’s conversion fee starts from about 0.33% and varies by currency pair. On a few thousand dollars a month, the gap can be meaningful, so compare the live rate for your currency pair.
• Sending USD abroad: Mercury doesn’t charge to send an international wire in USD, and offers an optional flat $15 so intermediary banks’ fees are covered for the recipient. The receiving bank may still take its own charge.
• Receiving payments: Check how your clients will pay you. Relay lists a $5 fee for incoming wires received through invoices or quick requests, and Wise notes a fee for receiving international SWIFT payments.
• Card spending abroad: Mercury’s 3% fee on non-USD card transactions can sting if you pay for software or ads in another currency.
• Setup: Mercury’s and Relay’s starter plans have no monthly fee. Wise may charge a one-time fee to open account details.

A practical rule: if you earn and spend mostly in dollars, Mercury or Relay costs very little. If you convert money regularly, add Wise for those conversions and keep the main account for everything else.

Can a Non-Resident LLC Open a Bank Account?

If you’re a non-resident LLC owner trying to open a bank account remotely, approval depends on the provider and your business profile. No provider can promise approval, and the decision is theirs each time. Applications usually succeed or fail on the quality of the file rather than on being foreign-owned. Reviewers commonly look at:

• Your country of residence. Some countries are restricted, and others lead to more questions. Check each provider’s current country list before applying.
• Your business description. A specific description, such as who your clients are, what you sell, and roughly how money arrives, is easier to approve than a vague label like “consulting.”
• Your address. A business address that looks like only a mailbox or registered agent address can cause trouble. Be accurate about where the business operates.
• Evidence the business exists. A website, contracts, invoices, or some history help, especially for a brand-new company.
• Consistent documents. Your EIN letter, state filing, operating agreement and application should tell the same story.

Many declined applications trace back to the setup, not the bank: a name mismatch between documents, a missing EIN letter, or an unclear business address. Getting the LLC and paperwork right first makes the application much easier. At Foundery USA, we help non-residents set up their US LLC with the right formation documents and business details from the start. We help you build a consistent company file, including the LLC formation, EIN, operating agreement and business information, so you’re better prepared when it’s time to apply to Mercury, Relay or Wise.

Once your LLC setup is completed, you can move on to banking readiness. Each provider reviews applications independently, and they may ask for additional information or documents depending on your country, business and circumstances.

Final thoughts

For most non-resident LLC owners, Mercury or Relay makes a sensible main account, and Wise adds value when you convert currencies. Opening a second account early protects you if one provider reviews or restricts yours. Approval depends on your country, your business description and how consistent your paperwork is, so get the setup right first. Compare current fees on each provider’s official page before you apply.

FAQ

1. Is Wise Business a US bank account?

No. Wise is an electronic money institution, not a bank. It can give you US account details to receive dollars, but your balance is safeguarded rather than held as an FDIC-insured bank deposit. That’s why many owners pair it with Mercury or Relay instead of using it alone.

2. Can I open Mercury, Relay and Wise together?

Yes, nothing stops you from holding all three. Many owners use one as the main account, one as a backup, and Wise for currency conversion. Each company reviews applications on its own, so approval at one doesn’t guarantee approval at another.

3. Which is easiest to get approved for?

There’s no reliable ranking. Each provider decides independently, and approval usually depends on your country, your business description and how consistent your documents are. A weak file can be declined by any of them, so if one says no, fix the likely cause before applying to the next.

4. Which is best for Stripe?

Mercury and Relay are the usual choices, since both are US-style business accounts that can receive payouts in dollars. Stripe has its own country and business rules, though, so check what it supports for your location before you decide.

5. Which is cheapest for international transfers?

It depends on the transfer. For converting between currencies, Wise is often cheaper, with fees starting around 0.33% compared with Mercury’s 1% on non-USD wires. For sending US dollars abroad, Mercury’s free USD wires can come out ahead, though the receiving bank may still charge a fee.