Relay review
Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Relay suits business owners and freelancers who want a straightforward account with no monthly charge: its monthly fee is $0. Deposits sit under FDIC up to USD 250,000, so the balance has a named protection scheme behind it, and the account is digital only.
Key facts
- Best for
- A no-cost, digital-only account for a US business or freelance income.
- Monthly fee
- $0↗
- Deposit protection
- FDIC up to USD 250,000↗
- Local account details
- Us-ACH↗
- Legal entity
- Relay Financial Technologies Inc.↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Chat, Help-centre↗
- Audience
- Business, Freelancers
- Pricing model
- No monthly fee
- Features
- Digital-only
- Official website
- relayfi.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Monthly fee of $0 on an account aimed at business and freelance money
- Deposits sit under FDIC up to USD 250,000, so the money has a named scheme behind it
- Support runs on email, phone and chat, so a phone call or chat is available
- Payments use us ach, so US clients pay you the standard way
Cons
- The account is digital only, so there is no counter to visit for cash or paperwork
- It is built for business and freelancer, so it is not aimed at general household banking
Who it suits
- You run a US business and want the monthly fee to stay at $0
- You freelance and want client payments landing on us ach in one place
- You hold cash between invoices and want it under FDIC up to USD 250,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Plazo ES if you bill in euro, since its monthly fee is €0 in euro
- Paysera if a euro account suits you better, with a monthly fee of €0
- Skrill if a euro market and €0 a month matter more than us ach
Deposit protection
Money held in the account sits under FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the regulator behind that scheme in the US is the FDIC. Because the balance is held as a deposit rather than in a personal wallet, cash kept on the account between invoices is backed by a named protection scheme, which matters most for a business account that holds a running float.
The company behind it
Relay is run by Relay Financial Technologies Inc., a company based in the United States. The same firm handles the deposit protection, the terms and the help desk, so a question about a payment or a balance goes to the same company that holds the money. You can reach it on email, phone and chat.
How Relay compares
9.3 vs 8.7
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9.3 vs 8.7
9.3 vs 8.7
9.3 vs 8.7
9.3 vs 9.0Skrill also lists €0 a month, which fits an earner whose income sits in euro rather than arriving on us ach.
9.3 vs 8.7
9.3 vs 9.5
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.3
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9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.9
9.3 vs 8.9- 9.3 vs 8.9
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9.3 vs 8.1- 9.3 vs 8.1
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9.3 vs 8.0
9.3 vs 9.1
Where Relay is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- FDIC, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Relay cost each month?+
The monthly fee is $0, so keeping the account open adds nothing to running costs for a business or freelance setup. Relay bills on a no monthly fee basis, the approach most accounts in VaultCue's business and freelancer lists take, where the median monthly fee is €0.
Is money in a Relay account protected?+
Deposits are covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the regulator behind the scheme in the US is the FDIC. The cover applies to the deposit balance itself, so a cash buffer held in the account between invoices rests with a named protection scheme.
Who is Relay built for?+
Relay serves business and freelancer, so the account is aimed at people earning from their own work or company rather than at general household banking. That shapes what matters: fees, incoming payments and support are all set around work income.
Can I use a branch or take out cash with Relay?+
No, the account is digital only, so it runs from the app rather than from a counter. Anything that would normally need a person in front of you has to go through email, phone and chat instead, by phone, chat or email.
How do clients pay into a Relay account?+
The local payment rail is us ach, so customers pay you the same way they pay any other US business. For a freelancer or small company, an invoice can be settled straight into the account without routing through a separate payment service.
How do I get help from Relay?+
Support runs on email, phone and chat, covering phone and chat as well as email and a help centre. A question about a balance or a failed payment can be raised in the app or by phone, depending on how pressing it is.
Which company sits behind Relay?+
The account is run by Relay Financial Technologies Inc., based in the United States. The same company handles the terms, the deposit protection and the support desk, so the paperwork and the help line both come from the same firm.
How does Relay compare with Plazo ES or Paysera on price?+
On price they sit level: Relay charges $0, Plazo ES charges €0 and Paysera charges €0. The difference is currency and market, since Relay handles us ach while those two are euro based.
Sources
- relayfi.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“Small businesses are the backbone of the US economy and make up more than 90% of all companies in the country. Small businesses need banking that makes financial management easier, smarter and more...”
- relayfi.com/deposit checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Local account details, Support channels
“ACH transfers from your Account to a connected bank account at another institution And ACH transfers from your Account to another bank account via ACH Origination Services”
- relayfi.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Deposit protection, Features, Pricing model, Monthly fee, Licences
“Starter - For solopreneurs & startups ... Grow - For small & medium-sized teams”
- relayfi.com/terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“This Terms of Service Agreement (the "Agreement") is between You and Relay Financial Technologies Inc. ("Relay").”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Licence type, Currency conversion fee, Currencies.