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

# Mercury vs Wise Business: US banking or multi-currency?

Mercury vs Wise Business compared on setup fees, wires, FX and currencies, with prices from both pricing pages and a guide to which job each one does.

## Key takeaways

- Mercury charges $0 for domestic and USD international wires and 1% when a wire is converted; Wise Business charges a one-time $31 setup fee and conversion from 0.23%, varying by currency.
- Wise gives account details in 22 currencies; Mercury holds US dollars.
- Wise charges $6.11 for each USD wire received, while ACH into Wise is free; Mercury does not charge to receive.
- Mercury adds US banking features such as credit cards, treasury and payroll that Wise does not offer.

Search "Mercury bank vs Wise" and you find founders asking which one to choose. The two products answer different questions, so the useful comparison is about which money each one handles well. Figures below were read on both pricing pages on 4 November 2026.

## The core numbers

| | Mercury | Wise Business (US) |
|---|---|---|
| To open | $0 | $31 one-time |
| Monthly | $0 base; Plus $29.90, Pro $299 | No monthly fee listed |
| Currencies with account details | USD | 22 |
| Receive a USD wire | $0 | $6.11 |
| Receive ACH | $0 | Free |
| Converted payment | 1% FX fee | From 0.23%, by currency |
| Card spend abroad | 3% FX fee | Free card payments; conversion applies |

## What a month looks like

A US software company receives $60,000 from customers and pays $20,000 to developers in Europe.

- On Mercury, the European payroll goes out as converted wires: 1% of $20,000 is $200.
- On Wise, conversion on a major pair from 0.23% is about $46, though the rate varies by currency. If customers pay by wire, each incoming wire costs $6.11.

The cheaper one depends on the mix. Heavy USD wire volume favours Mercury. Regular conversion favours Wise.

## What Wise does not do

Wise is light on team controls: approvals, many cards with limits and spend rules are basic compared with a startup account. It also does not offer US credit products, treasury or payroll.

## What Mercury does not do

Mercury holds dollars only. A client in France has to pay you by international wire instead of SEPA, and a supplier in the UK receives sterling at a converted rate.

## 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 puts both halves in one account: USD details for ACH and wires on the free Starter plan, and EUR and GBP details, local payouts to 120+ countries and FX from 0.50% on Growth, with cards, roles and approvals for the team. Scale lowers FX to 0.30%. Rates and fees show before you confirm. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [Accounts](/accounts) or [the best Wise Business alternatives](/blog/best-wise-business-alternatives).

## Questions

### Should I use Mercury or Wise for my business?

If almost all your money is in US dollars, Mercury covers it. If you receive or pay in other currencies, Wise's conversion is cheaper than Mercury's 1%. Many companies hold Mercury for US banking and Wise for currency.

### Does Wise Business have a monthly fee?

Wise Business US lists a one-time 31 USD setup fee and no monthly fee on its pricing page. Fees apply per conversion, per received wire and on some card uses.

### Can I receive euros in Mercury?

Mercury holds US dollars. A euro payment sent to it is converted to dollars by the sending or receiving bank.

### Is there one account that does both?

A multi-currency business account holds USD and other currencies side by side with local details for each. Rivet does that and adds cards and approvals for teams.