Novo vs Relay.
Novo (N72/100) and Relay (R68/100), 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 Relay 3-1.
| N Novo №28 · FDIC 72 /100 | R Relay №43 · FDIC 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 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 | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick Relay if…
The Profit-First-aligned multi-checking neobank — 20 real checking accounts (not virtual envelopes) and 50 debit cards under one login, with granular multi-user roles. Where Mercury / Bluevine / Novo all give you one operating account plus virtual sub-pockets, Relay gives you 20 separately-FDIC-mapped checking accounts that auto-transfer between each other on percentage- or amount-based rules. That is the structural fit for Mike Michalowicz's Profit First method (Income / Profit / Owner's Pay / Tax / OpEx envelopes), and Relay has been the official Profit First banking platform since 2023. Sponsor bank is Thread Bank (TN-chartered) with a $3M sweep — Thread's May 2024 FDIC consent order was terminated December 2025 with no customer-funds incident at Relay.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Novo won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tied
Novo vs Relay — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Novo better than Relay?
Under our v3 methodology, Novo leads Relay 3–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Novo 72/100 vs Relay 68/100. Novo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Novo or Relay cheaper?
Monthly fee — Novo: €0; Relay: €0. Card FX markup — Novo: Interbank; Relay: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Novo or Relay?
Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Relay holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Novo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Novo and Relay?
Novo operates in 1 country; Relay 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.