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Business Savings Accounts Compared
Headline rates look great until the plan fee comes out. Here is the net return at three balance levels.
Written and reviewed by the FlowHaxa Editorial TeamFigures checked October 13, 2026Link disclosure. Every provider link on this page is marked rel="sponsored". Right now none of them is a tracked partner link, so each button goes straight to the provider’s own site and FlowHaxa earns nothing from the click. If that changes, this notice will say so. Prices and rates come from each provider’s own pages. See how we make money.
The Short Answer
- Highest headline rateRelay Scale at 3.21% APY, but the plan costs $90 a month.
- Best return on a small balanceFee-free options, because a monthly plan fee can swallow the interest. Ramp's 2% cash account leads at $10K and $25K in the table below.
- Ramp's cash accountRamp lists 2% on cash in an FDIC-insured account on its Free plan.
- RememberThese rates are variable and can change at any time.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Provider | APY by plan | Plan fee | How it's insured | Watch for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relay | 1.19% Starter, 1.87% Grow, 3.21% Scale | $0, $30 or $90 a month | Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Up to $3,000,000 pass-through coverage when conditions are met. | Variable rates. The $90 price was discounted from $120 for a limited time. | Larger balances where the extra interest outruns the plan fee |
| Bluevine | 1.3% Standard, 1.75% Plus, 3.0% Premier | $0, $30 or $95 a month (Plus and Premier waivable) | Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, and program banks. Up to $3,000,000 per depositor. | Standard needs $500 a month on the debit card or $2,500 a month in customer payments to earn its rate. Rates apply up to $250,000 on Standard and Plus. | Steady monthly activity on a free plan |
| Mercury | Mercury's fee page says it earns interest on deposits but doesn't list a rate. Check Mercury for the current rate. | $0 required | Partner banks (Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., FDIC members). Mercury is not a bank. | Rate isn't published on the pricing page, so we haven't ranked it on yield. | Owners who already bank with Mercury and want one login |
| Ramp | 2% on cash in an FDIC-insured account. 4.62% in an investment account. | $0 on the Free plan | Cash account is FDIC-insured. The investment account is a different product, so check how it is held before moving money. | The higher figure is an investment account, not a savings deposit. Compare like with like. | Owners already using Ramp for spend management |
Checked October 13, 2026 against each provider’s own pages (listed under Sources). Prices, fees and rates change, so confirm on the provider’s site before you sign up.
What You Actually Keep
Net annual return is the balance times the APY, minus twelve months of plan fees. It assumes the rate stays flat for the year, which these variable rates may not. Fees are shown in full, before any waiver.
| Provider and plan | APY | Plan fee | Net a year on $10,000 | Net a year on $25,000 | Net a year on $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relay Starter | 1.19% | $0 | $119 | $298 | $1,190 |
| Relay Grow | 1.87% | $30 a month | -$173 | $108 | $1,510 |
| Relay Scale | 3.21% | $90 a month | -$759 | -$278 | $2,130 |
| Bluevine Standard | 1.3% | $0 | $130 | $325 | $1,300 |
| Bluevine Plus | 1.75% | $30 a month | -$185 | $78 | $1,390 |
| Bluevine Premier | 3% | $95 a month | -$840 | -$390 | $1,860 |
| Ramp Free plan cash account | 2% | $0 | $200 | $500 | $2,000 |
Mercury is not in this table because its fee page publishes no rate. The best result in each column is bold. Bluevine Standard’s rate needs monthly card spending or customer deposits. Rates are variable and paid-plan fees are shown before any waiver.
Provider by Provider
Relay
Rate rises with the plan
Best for: Larger balances where the extra interest outruns the plan fee
Rates shown as of 9/17/2026 on Relay's pricing page.
- Pro: Free tier still earns interest
- Pro: Clear step-up path
- Con: Top rate needs the top plan
- Con: Rates are variable
Bluevine
Interest on checking, no separate account
Best for: Steady monthly activity on a free plan
Rates as listed on Bluevine's business checking page on 10/13/2026. Plus and Premier fees are waivable, but the waiver terms aren't listed.
- Pro: Interest on checking balances
- Pro: Free tier available
- Con: Free rate has activity requirement
- Con: Waiver terms for paid plans aren't listed
Mercury
No-fee account that earns interest
Best for: Owners who already bank with Mercury and want one login
- Pro: No required fees or minimum balance
- Con: Current rate not confirmed in this review
Ramp
Cash and investment options in the Free plan
Best for: Owners already using Ramp for spend management
The 2% cash rate and 4.62% investment rate are as listed on Ramp's pricing page on 10/13/2026. Only the 2% cash account is a bank-deposit figure and is the one used in the net-return table.
- Pro: No plan fee on the Free plan
- Pro: Two ways to hold surplus cash
- Con: Investment account carries different risks
- Con: Best used with Ramp's other tools
These buttons are sponsored links that go straight to each provider’s own site. Read the disclosure.
Why the Top Rate Is Not Always the Best Deal
Relay's Scale plan pays 3.21% but costs $1,080 a year. Against the free Starter plan at 1.19%, the extra interest only covers the fee once your balance passes roughly $53,500. Bluevine Premier works the same way: at 3.0% and $95 a month, it needs about $67,000 to beat the free Standard plan.
Against Ramp's free 2% cash account, Relay Scale only wins above about $89,000. Before you upgrade for the rate, work out your usual balance and test it in the table.
How Big Should the Reserve Be?
A reserve is the cash that keeps one slow month from becoming a crisis. The right size depends on how uneven your income is and how fast your fixed costs come due. Our emergency fund calculator sizes it to your worst realistic gap, and the answer to how much emergency cash a business should keep explains the thinking.
Keep it somewhere you can reach the same day. Do not chase half a percent at the cost of access. If a transfer takes days to settle, it is not a reserve.
Saving for Known Costs
Not all savings are emergencies. Annual insurance, quarterly taxes and equipment replacement are known costs with known dates. A sinking fund puts a little aside each month so those bills do not land as a shock. Accounts that let you open several labelled pots make this easy. Relay's free tier allows up to 20 checking accounts, which is one way to do it.
A Note on Deposit Insurance
None of these fintechs is itself an FDIC-insured bank. They hold deposits at partner banks, and the coverage rules depend on how those deposits are placed. Each provider explains its terms on its own site. Read that page before you move a large balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these rates guaranteed?
No. Every rate on this page is variable and can change at any time. The Relay figures are dated 9/17/2026, and the others were read on the review date. Check the provider's site before you decide.
Do I need a separate savings account at all?
Not if your checking account pays competitive interest. A separate account helps if you want to stop yourself spending a tax or reserve balance.
Is interest income taxable?
Interest earned by a business is generally taxable income. Ask your accountant how to report it.
Keep Reading
FlowHaxa is an educational publisher, not a bank, lender or financial adviser. Read our disclaimer, and check large decisions with your accountant.