Comparison
Melio vs Relay
Melio is a focused bill pay tool. Relay combines business banking, cards, savings, invoicing, expenses, and bill pay in one account-centered platform.
| Category | Melio | Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Flexible vendor payments using ACH, card, check, wire, approvals, and accounting sync. | Businesses that want bill pay where they bank, with accounts, cards, approvals, and accounting sync. |
| Starting plan | $0 Go plan with 5 free ACH/month. | $0 Starter plan; Grow is listed at $30/month; Scale has promotional pricing on public page. |
| Bill pay methods | ACH, card-funded payments, check, wire, and faster options. | ACH, domestic and international wire, and check. |
| Accounting sync | QuickBooks Online, Xero, and more depending on plan. | QuickBooks Online and Xero bill pay integrations; Relay says QBO bill pay integration requires Grow or Scale. |
| Security/trust | Payment platform security controls and certifications listed by Melio. | Relay says it is SOC 2 Type II certified; banking services are through partner banks, and Relay is not itself an FDIC-insured bank. |
Choose Melio when
Choose Melio if you want to keep your existing bank setup and add a flexible bill pay layer with card-funded payment options.
Choose Relay when
Choose Relay if you are open to moving more of your finance workflow into a business banking platform and want bill pay to sit next to checking accounts, cards, savings, and approvals.