OCTIS vs Mercury vs Relay vs Brex for founders outside the US
Three US business accounts compared on fees, wires, cards and who they take as a foreign owner.
Last checked · 7 sources
Otty's short answer
Mercury is the usual first account for a US LLC owned from Asia: US$0 per month, US$0 USD international wires, and a published path for foreign founders. Relay suits teams that want many sub-accounts and savings interest, though foreign owners may get lower limits. Brex fits larger or funded companies that want cards and spend control.
Side by side
Swipe to see every column
| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | Mercury | Relay | Brex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | US$0 base plan | US$0 / 30 / 120 | US$0 Essentials, per user |
| USD international wire | Collecting and sending payments via licensed partners | US$0 | Not published | Not published |
| Non-USD wire / FX | Foreign exchange via licensed partners | 1% fee | Not published | Not published |
| Savings yield | Not an OCTIS product | Treasury up to 4.25%, from US$250K | 1.19% to 3.21% APY | Not published |
| Credit card cashback | Corporate card via licensed partners; terms set by them, quoted before you commit | 1.5% | 1% to 1.5% | Competitive, rate not shown |
| Credit card for foreign owners | Corporate card via licensed partners | Not stated | Needs US-based owner | Not stated |
| Non-US owners accepted | Yes, 100% foreign ownership; director and shareholder can live anywhere | Yes, US company | Yes, may get Basic tier | Not stated on pricing page |
| Needs US-formed company | No, a Hong Kong company | Yes | Yes | Not stated |
| Sub-accounts | Multi-currency account via licensed partners | Multiple accounts | Up to 20 or 50 checking | Not stated |
| Deposit holder | Licensed partners; OCTIS is not a bank | Choice Financial, Column N.A. | Bank partner, per Relay | Partner banks |
If you have staff, premises or local sales in this country, its own registration and tax rules still apply. OCTIS can help you arrange them.
Data sources & disclaimer: Comparison data was compiled from publicly available sources — including the competitors' own published pricing and feature pages — captured on 9 November 2026. Figures reflect the typical or advertised pricing at that time and may have changed since; plans, inclusions and prices vary by provider, region and promotion. OCTIS is independent and not affiliated with the named companies; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information only and is not professional, legal or financial advice — please verify current details with each provider before deciding.
Which one fits you
OCTIS · Hong Kong company + OCTIS global plan
Choose OCTIS if your team and customers are spread across countries and you want company, accounts, banking and CRM in one place.
Mercury
Choose Mercury if you hold a US LLC or C-corp, send USD abroad and want no monthly fee.
Relay
Choose Relay if you want many checking accounts and savings for budgeting, and you accept lower limits if you are foreign-owned.
Brex
Choose Brex if you have a funded company that needs cards, spend limits and multi-entity tools.
What the table does not show
What foreign owners should check
Mercury says it supports US companies founded by people across the globe, but cannot open accounts for founders living in some countries and regions. Relay says its accounts are for US-incorporated businesses, supports owners from over 200 countries, and may place foreign-owned entities on a Basic tier. Brex pricing does not say. Check each bank's restricted-country list against every owner.
Fintech, not a bank
Mercury states it is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services come from Choice Financial Group and Column N.A. Relay says international payments are provided by Community Federal Savings Bank and facilitated by Nium. This matters when you read deposit insurance terms, so read each provider's disclosures.
Where OCTIS fits
Whichever US account you open, its statements must reach someone who can book them. OCTIS bookkeeping for Hong Kong and Malaysian companies reconciles bank statements, including those in US dollars, so your home-country books agree with what the US account shows. OCTIS is not a bank and holds no money. Ask about 10–30% off your current accounting bill.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Hong Kong or Malaysian resident open Mercury?
Mercury says you need a company formed in the US or a US territory, not US citizenship. It lists countries where it cannot serve founders. We did not read that list, so check it for your country before paying for a company.
Which is cheapest for international payments?
Mercury publishes US$0 for USD international wires and 1% for non-USD wires. Relay and Brex do not publish wire fees on the pages we read. Ask each for its fee schedule before you decide.
Does Relay accept foreign-owned LLCs?
Relay accepts US-registered businesses with owners from over 200 countries, with a US operating presence, but its deposit agreement lets it place such accounts on a Basic tier with limits. Its Visa credit card needs US-based owners.
Is Brex for small founders?
Brex Essentials is US$0 per user for startups, and Premium is US$12 per user. Non-US entity setup and local cards in 50+ countries are listed only under Enterprise. It is built more for funded teams than a solo LLC.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.