Mercury vs Pleo: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Mercury and Pleo side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Mercury
Business banking for startups. Open an account online in minutes
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Pleo requires payment)
Pleo
Transform business spending into success with smart company cards and automated expense management.
Best for you if:
- • You want smart company cards
| At a Glance | Mercury | Pleo |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $240/year Personal plan | Free plan, paid from $14/user/mo, billed monthly Build plan |
Category | Finance Expense Management | Expense Management Finance |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.8 182 reviews | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 1,435 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Treasury requires $500K minimum deposits | n/a |
Choose Mercury or Pleo?
Choose Mercury if
- You want a fully free tool (Pleo requires payment)
- You want no fees
- You want great UX
- You work in finance, not expense management
Choose Pleo if
- You want smart company cards
- You want expense management
- You work in expense management, not finance
In-Depth Analysis
Mercury
Business banking for startups. Open an account online in minutes
Mercury's Business Banking and Treasury tiers are exceptionally generous, offering core banking services and high-yield options for free.
Watch out
Treasury requires $500K minimum deposits
Strengths
- Pro: No fees
- Pro: Great UX
- Pro: API access
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited credit options
- Con: US only
Key features
Pleo
Transform business spending into success with smart company cards and automated expense management.
Pleo's pricing is fair, offering a generous free Starter tier for up to 3 users.
Strengths
- Pro: Smart company cards
- Pro: Expense management
- Pro: Auto-categorization
- Pro: Receipt capture
- Pro: European focus
Weaknesses
- Con: EU/UK focused
- Con: Per-user pricing
- Con: Limited integrations
- Con: Card limits on lower tiers
- Con: Support varies
Key features
Plans and prices: Mercury vs Pleo
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury |
| mercury.com/pricing read Oct 28, 2026 |
| Pleo |
| pleo.io/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Mercury pricing and Pleo pricing.
Key Takeaways
Mercury
- Choose if you want business banking for startups. Open an account online in minutes
Pleo
- Choose if you want transform business spending into success with smart company cards and automated expense management
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.6/5 from 182 reviews for Mercury, 4.7/5 from 1,435 reviews for Pleo).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Mercury $240/year; Pleo $14/user/mo, billed monthly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Mercury and Pleo compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.6/5 from 182 reviews for Mercury, 4.7/5 from 1,435 reviews for Pleo). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Mercury $240/year; Pleo $14/user/mo, billed monthly. Both have a free plan.
What are Mercury and Pleo used for?
Mercury: Business banking for startups. Open an account online in minutes. Pleo: Transform business spending into success with smart company cards and automated expense management.
What does Mercury cost vs Pleo?
Mercury's cheapest paid plan is Personal at $240/year. Pleo's cheapest paid plan is Build at $14/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Mercury and Pleo?
Mercury's main strength: no fees. Pleo's main strength: smart company cards.