Bluevine vs Found: which free business account to pick
Both have free plans with no minimum balance. Bluevine pays interest on checking; Found builds tax and bookkeeping into the account. Your paperwork habits decide this one more than the fees.
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Bluevine and Found both advertise free business checking, and both show up when owners search "bluevine vs found business checking". They differ in what the free plan gives you. Figures below were read on each provider's page on 4 November 2026.
The comparison
| Bluevine Standard | Found (free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Interest | 1.3% APY up to $250,000 with activity | None on free plan |
| Outgoing domestic wire | Up to $15 | $15 |
| Cash deposits | See fee schedule | $2 each |
| Tax tools | Limited | Tax estimates, 1099s, expense sorting |
| International payments | Up to $25 plus up to 1.5% | Not listed |
| Paid plans | Plus $30, Premier $95 | Plus $35, Pro $80 |
Pick Bluevine if
You hold a meaningful balance and can meet the condition: $500 of card spend or $2,500 of customer payments in a month. On $100,000, 1.3% is about $1,300 a year.
Pick Found if
You hate bookkeeping. Found tags expenses, sets aside tax and estimates what you owe each quarter. For a freelancer or a one-person LLC that is worth more than a percentage point of interest.
The same gap in both
Both are domestic accounts. A client abroad pays you by international wire, and you pay anyone abroad with a converted payment, if the account supports it at all.
Paying into the United States: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |
Source: Nacha: Same Day ACH. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet is for registered companies, so a sole proprietor without a company is outside what we serve. For an LLC or corporation that works with clients and contractors abroad, Starter is free with USD details, and Growth adds EUR and GBP details, local payouts to 120+ countries and FX from 0.50%. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. Read receive USD payments from US clients or see Accounts.
Questions people ask
Which is better for a sole proprietor?
Found was built for self-employed people and single-owner LLCs, with tax estimates and expense sorting. Bluevine works for sole proprietors too and suits those who keep a larger balance.
Can I deposit cash in Bluevine or Found?
Found lists $2 per cash deposit. Bluevine's checking page did not list cash deposit fees when we checked; see its fee schedule.
Which has international payments?
Bluevine lists international payments at up to $25 plus up to 1.5% for foreign currency. Found's pricing page did not cover international payments.
What if I grow past them?
Growing companies usually add an account with free wires, team cards and approvals, or a multi-currency account if they work across borders.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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