Updated October 14, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Mercury vs Wise
Mercury
Higher score in this comparison
Wise
What sets them apart
| Compare | MercuryReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | WiseReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | £0 |
| Deposit protection | FDIC up to USD 250,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 1% | 0.24%Lower |
| Local account details | Us ACH | IBAN, UK sort code, Us ACHCovers more |
| Free ATM withdrawals | $0 | £250 |
| Transfer fee | ACH and domestic wires free; USD international wires free, OUR option $15; non-USD international wires 1% FX fee | From 0.24%, varies by currency |
| Licence type | Not confirmed | Payment institution |
Same on both: Currencies (40).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Founded is lower at Wise: 2011 vs 2017.
- Wise is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Wise is available in 34 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Wise: 0.24% vs 1%.
- Local account details: only Wise offers IBAN, UK sort code.
- Support channels: only Mercury offers Email, Chat.
- Audience: only Mercury offers Business, Freelancer.
- Audience: only Wise offers Expats, Travelers.
- Features: only Mercury offers Joint account.
Our verdict on each
Mercury
Mercury in the United States is a fintech business-account platform with cards, invoicing, bill pay and spend management. It offers team access roles and syncs transactions with QuickBooks Online, Xero and NetSuite; partner banks remain distinct from Mercury.
Wise
Wise runs as a cash management account rather than a savings product, so it suits expats and travellers who need many currencies and no monthly charge, not people chasing the top rate. It scores 5.2 here, with a variable rate of 3.29% and a monthly fee of £0.
Score breakdown
| Area | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Monthly fees of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0; the site conversion median is 0.5% and Mercury's is 1%. | 9.1A monthly fee of £0, a conversion fee of 0.24% and an exchange rate markup of 0% keep running costs low. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherAn easy-access easy access balance for business and freelancer, paying 3.5% that is variable, with free ATM use and joint accounts. | 8.640 currencies, local details for iban, uk sort code and us ach and a variable rate of 3.29% on the balance. |
| Trust | 8.3 | 8.8Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Not confirmed | BE_NBB PSD_PI BE_NBB!0713629988 |
| Estonia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Mercury: 1. Additional countries for Wise: 35.
How they place
| Ranking | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 472 of 1420 | 494 of 1420 |
| Multi-currency accounts | 193 of 348 | 205 of 348 |
Side by side, item by item
| Local account details | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | No | Yes |
| UK sort code | No | Yes |
| Us ACH | Yes | Yes |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Mercury
10
1% of 1,000
Wise
2.4
0.24% of 1,000
Wise comes out 7.6 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Also worth a look
eToro has currency conversion fee at 0%, against 1% for Mercury and 0.24% for Wise.
eToro reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Business, Freelancer | Expats, Travelers |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee |
| Features | Free ATM, Joint accountCovers more | Free ATM |
| Legal entity | Mercury Technologies, Inc. | Wise Europe SA |
| Headquarters | United States | Belgium |
| Founded | 2017 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%Higher | 3.29% |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | On-demand access: unlimited USD wires, ACH, real-time payments and checks between personal, joint and trust accounts | Instant access to money and gains; transfer up to 100,000 GBP (Personal) daily without delay |
| Account kind | Easy access | Cash management |
Money transfer
| Fact | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Payout methods | Not confirmed | Bank, Card |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mercury | Wise | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 1%above the median | 0.24%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 40highest quarter | 40highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Mercury
Pros
- Business tools and accounting integrations are described.
Cons
- Mercury is a fintech platform, not itself a bank
- partner-bank protections are not platform guarantees.
Wise
Pros
- No recurring charge: the monthly fee is £0, matching the €0 site median while some accounts charge as much as €449.
- Conversion is cheap: a fee of 0.24% and an exchange rate markup of 0%, against a 0.5% site median conversion fee.
- Instant access on a floating return: money and gains come out without delay, and the variable rate stands at 3.29%.
Cons
- Support is self-service: help centre is the only channel listed, so there is no phone line or live chat listed for a stuck transfer.
- The rate is variable, so the 3.29% headline can fall, and the brand ranks 220 of 473 on headline rate.
- Moving money is not free: transfer fees are From 0.24%, varies by currency and converting adds 0.24% each time a currency changes.
Who each suits
Mercury
Who it suits
- US businesses comparing account-management, team-access and accounting-sync tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Businesses requiring Mercury itself to be the deposit-taking bank or a platform-level protection guarantee.
Wise
Who it suits
- Expatriates and travellers who hold money in more than one currency: the account is built for expats and travelers and covers 40 currencies.
- Anyone who wants a place to park cash without a recurring charge, since the monthly fee is £0.
- People who need money to arrive in local formats, since local account details are offered for iban, uk sort code and us ach.
Who should look elsewhere
- Plazo ES or AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito, whose headline rates of 24.19% and 21.59% are the ones to look at when the rate on the balance matters more than currency cover.
- PayPal Colombia, whose headline rate of 3.3% is close to 3.29%, so a saver gives up little on yield and gains nothing on the 40 currency range.
Current offers
Mercury
Current offer
First period offer
Mercury Plus first month waived on annual pricing: $35/mo waived until Dec 31, 2026
Mercury Plus plan billed annually (15% off)
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Xero and Amazon gift card with Mercury Plus and Pro: 6 months free Xero + $100 Amazon gift card
Mercury Plus or Mercury Pro plan; Xero/Amazon terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Mercury Personal included with any business plan: $240/year Personal subscription covered
Requires an active Mercury business account in good standing
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Mercury | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
8 of 36 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Wise
What rate does Wise pay on money held in the account?+
The headline rate is 3.29% and it is a variable rate, so the figure can move rather than being set for a term. Interest is credited to the balance and the money plus the gains stay available, which suits someone who wants a return without tying funds away.
Is there a monthly fee for keeping money with Wise?+
The monthly fee is £0, and the account is built on a no monthly fee model, so there is no recurring charge to maintain it. The site median monthly fee is €0 while some accounts charge as much as €449, so this sits at the cheap end of the range.
What does it cost to send or convert money?+
Transfer fees are From 0.24%, varies by currency, and converting currency adds a fee of 0.24% with an exchange rate markup of 0%. The conversion fee compares with a site median of 0.5% and an upper quartile of 2.08%, which is why the account tends to suit people who move money often.
How is money held with Wise protected?+
Balances are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. The firm is supervised through the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority and the National Bank of Belgium, and the account is authorised as a payment institution, so the protection scheme and the licences answer different questions.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Related by the facts
Mercury
Wise