Mercury vs Relay vs Wise for Non-Residents
All three open for non-residents with just an LLC, EIN, and passport, and they solve different problems. Mercury is the default primary account, Relay wins for e-commerce budgeting, and Wise Business wins for multi-currency. Here is the side-by-side and how founders combine them.
The Short Answer
All three open for non-residents with just an LLC, EIN, and passport. They solve different problems. Mercury is the default primary account for most founders. Relay wins if you run e-commerce and want to split money across many sub-accounts. Wise Business wins if you juggle several currencies and move money between the EU and the US.
Side by Side
| Mercury | Relay | Wise Business | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-resident friendly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sub-accounts | Yes, a few | Up to 20 | Multi-currency balances |
| USD wires | Free | Included | Low fee |
| Multi-currency | Limited | Limited | Excellent |
| Best fit | SaaS, startups | E-commerce, budgeting | Cross-border, EU and US |
Mercury
The most common choice among non-resident LLC owners. Clean interface, free USD wires, works smoothly with Stripe and PayPal, and solid FDIC coverage through partner banks. If you want one account to run your business on, start here.
Relay
Built around cash management. Up to 20 sub-accounts let you separate taxes, payroll, profit, and operating cash, which suits the profit-first approach many e-commerce founders use. If your business is inventory-heavy and you like envelope budgeting, Relay is the pick.
Wise Business
Not a full US bank, but the best tool for holding and converting currencies. You get real US routing and account details plus local details in the EU, UK, and more, at the mid-market exchange rate. Pair it with Mercury: Mercury as the US operating account, Wise for currency conversion and cross-border payouts.
The founder move: most non-residents do not pick one. They run Mercury as the primary US account and add Wise Business for multi-currency. Relay replaces Mercury when e-commerce budgeting is the priority.
When None of These Fit
- You need physical cash or branch services. These are digital-only. Use a traditional bank if you must deposit cash.
- Restricted industry. Crypto, gambling, adult, and cannabis are declined across all three.
- You have no EIN yet. None will open without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is best for a non-resident founder?
Mercury for most startups and SaaS, Relay for e-commerce and multi-account budgeting, Wise Business for multi-currency and cross-border money movement. Many founders combine Mercury and Wise.
Can I open all three without an SSN?
Yes. All three onboard non-residents with an LLC, EIN, and passport. No SSN or US address is required.
Is Wise a real US bank account?
Wise gives you US routing and account numbers and holds balances in many currencies, but it is a money service, not a chartered bank. For a primary US operating account, pair it with Mercury or Relay.
Do these accounts help me get credit cards?
Yes indirectly. A funded, active account at any of them is the banking history that EIN-only corporate cards like Ramp and Brex underwrite against.
Can I switch later?
Yes. Many founders start on Mercury and add or move to Relay as their needs change. Keep your EIN and LLC documents handy for any new application.
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