Source: https://rivet.global/blog/brex-vs-mercury
Published: 2026-06-09 · Updated: 2026-11-04 · By Alexia M.

# Brex vs Mercury: cards and spend or banking first?

Brex vs Mercury for startups: what each is built around, card and account pricing, and when a company needs a multi-currency account as well.

## Key takeaways

- Brex Essentials is $0 per user and Premium is $12 per user a month; Mercury's base plan is $0 with Plus at $29.90 and Pro at $299, not per user.
- Brex is strongest at spend management: card policies, receipts, travel and approvals; Mercury is strongest at the account itself: free wires, multiple accounts and treasury.
- Brex's card is a charge card underwritten on the company's finances; Mercury's IO card is a credit card with 1.5% cash back.
- For spend in many currencies or payouts abroad, both rely on converting from US dollars.

"Brex vs Mercury" and "Brex vs Ramp vs Mercury" both sit high in Google's suggestions. Startups ask because they want one main financial tool and both companies now offer cards and accounts. Their roots still show. Brex figures were read on its pricing page on 1 November 2026, Mercury's on 4 November 2026.

## What each is built around

| | Brex | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Started as | Corporate card | Business bank account |
| Pricing | Essentials $0 per user; Premium $12 per user a month | $0 base; Plus $29.90; Pro $299 a month |
| Card | Charge card, limits based on your finances | IO credit card, 1.5% cash back |
| Strength | Spend policies, receipts, travel, approvals | Free wires, multiple accounts, treasury |

## When Brex is the better main tool

Your problem is spend. Thirty people travel, buy software and run ad accounts, and finance spends days chasing receipts. Brex's policies, approval chains and receipt matching are built for that. Premium's per-user price adds up, so count cardholders before you upgrade.

## When Mercury is the better main tool

Your problem is money movement. You pay vendors, contractors and payroll by ACH and wire, you hold runway in treasury, and five people need cards. Mercury's account covers it with no per-user fees.

## What both share

Both are US-dollar products. A card used in euros or pounds converts at the issuer's rate. A contractor in Brazil is paid by a converted wire. For a startup with a team spread across countries, the FX on payroll often costs more than any software fee.

## 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](https://www.nacha.org/rules/same-day-ach-moving-payments-faster). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet combines a multi-currency account with cards. Every plan includes unlimited digital cards with per-card limits, funded from your balance, so there is no credit application. Growth adds physical cards, EUR and GBP details, local payouts to 120+ countries and approvals for up to 10 members, at a flat $200 a month. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [Cards](/corporate-cards) and our [Ramp, Brex and Airwallex card comparison](/blog/corporate-cards-compared-ramp-brex-airwallex).

## Questions

### Should a startup use Brex or Mercury?

If the main pain is controlling team spend, start with Brex. If it is moving money and holding cash, start with Mercury. Many startups use Mercury for banking and Brex or Ramp for cards.

### Does Brex charge per user?

Brex lists Essentials at $0 per user and Premium at $12 per user a month. Enterprise is custom.

### Which is better for a company outside the US?

Both focus on US companies. Brex lists non-US entity support on Enterprise. Check eligibility before you apply.

### Do I need both?

Not always. A small team that needs a few cards can manage on Mercury's card. A team with dozens of cardholders, travel and approvals usually wants dedicated spend software.