Novo vs Mercury.
Novo (N72/100) and Mercury (M70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Novo leads Mercury 3-2.
| M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | N Novo №28 · FDIC 72 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /100 | 72 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Mercury if…
Pick if you run a US LLC or C-Corp and want $5M sweep FDIC coverage. Personal accounts not supported.
Pick Novo if…
The integration-first US business neobank. Boost is the structural feature: Stripe and Square payouts arrive 1-2 business days earlier than at any competitor, which materially shifts cash-flow timing for e-commerce sellers and agencies invoicing on net-30. The third-party app marketplace (~11+ named integrations including Wise for cross-border) is deeper than Bluevine, Mercury, or Found, and Middlesex Federal Savings has been the continuous sponsor bank since launch — uncommon stability in BaaS. Trade-off: $250K single-bank FDIC ceiling (no sweep), no yield product, and weaker multi-user permissions than Relay.
- Best for fees Novo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Mercury won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Novo vs Mercury — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Mercury better than Novo?
Under our v3 methodology, Novo leads Mercury 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Mercury 70/100 vs Novo 72/100. Novo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Mercury or Novo cheaper?
Monthly fee — Mercury: €0; Novo: €0. Card FX markup — Mercury: 1.00%; Novo: Interbank. Novo wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Mercury or Novo?
Mercury holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Mercury and Novo?
Mercury operates in 1 country; Novo operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.