Mercury vs Ramp: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Mercury vs Ramp.
⚡ Quick Verdict
It's a tie! Both tools score 4.8/5. Your choice should depend on your specific workflow and team needs.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Mercury | Ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ Free checking and savings. Free domestic wires and ACH. Free virtual/physical debit cards. No minimum balance. | ✅ Free corporate cards, expense management, bill pay, and accounting integrations. No per-user fees. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Mercury | Ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Standard | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Plus | $35/mo | $12/mo |
| Pro | $350/mo | Custom |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mercury | Ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Pay | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Pros & Cons
Mercury
✅ Pros
- Completely free business checking — no monthly fees, no minimums
- Beautiful modern UI designed for tech founders
- Powerful API for automated banking operations
- Free domestic wires and unlimited ACH transfers
- FDIC insured up to $5M through partner banks
❌ Cons
- US-only — not available for international businesses
- No cash deposits (online-only bank)
- International wires cost $16 each
- No lending or credit products on free tier
- Account approval can take 1-2 weeks for new businesses
Ramp
✅ Pros
- Completely free — corporate cards, expense management, bill pay included
- 1.5% cashback on all purchases
- AI-powered spend intelligence identifies savings opportunities
- Real-time expense categorization and policy enforcement
- Seamless QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite integration
❌ Cons
- Requires a US EIN (not available for sole proprietors in some states)
- Minimum revenue requirements for approval
- International currency support is limited
- Plus features ($12/user) needed for advanced controls
- Not suitable for personal use or freelancers
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Mercury if...
- You are a us-based startups and tech companies
- You are a solo devs needing a clean business bank account
- You are a companies wanting api-first banking automation
🚫 Skip if...
- International businesses (US-only)
- Businesses that handle cash transactions
- Companies needing immediate credit/lending
✅ Choose Ramp if...
- You are a us startups and growing businesses
- You are a finance teams wanting automated expense management
- You are a companies looking to reduce saas and vendor spend
🚫 Skip if...
- Freelancers or sole proprietors
- International businesses
- Very early-stage companies with no revenue
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Mercury (4.8/5) and Ramp (4.8/5) are excellent tools in their category. They're evenly matched — your decision should come down to your team's specific workflow and budget requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mercury better than Ramp?
It depends on your needs. Mercury excels in some areas while Ramp has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Mercury pricing compare to Ramp?
Mercury starts at Free / $0/mo, while Ramp starts at Free / $0/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Mercury to Ramp?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Ramp typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Mercury.
Which is easier to use, Mercury or Ramp?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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