Lili vs Mercury.
Lili (L73/100) 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. Lili leads Mercury 3-2.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /100 | 71 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.00% |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Lili if…
The 1099-native US neobank — Tax Bucket auto-set-aside, pre-filled Schedule C / 1065 / 1120-S, and a quarterly tax estimator built into business checking. Where Mercury targets venture-funded startups and Bluevine targets lower-mid-market SMBs, Lili targets the solopreneur and 1099 freelancer who needs banking + bookkeeping + tax in one app. Sponsor bank moved from Choice Financial Group to Sunrise Banks, N.A. in 2024-2025; FDIC pass-through to $3M via sweep network now available on all tiers including the free Core plan.
Pick Mercury if…
Pick if you run a US LLC or C-Corp and want $5M sweep FDIC coverage. Personal accounts not supported.
- Best for fees Lili won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Mercury won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Lili vs Mercury — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than Mercury?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Mercury 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs Mercury 70/100. Lili is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Lili or Mercury cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; Mercury: €0. Card FX markup — Lili: Interbank; Mercury: 1.00%. Lili 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, Lili or Mercury?
Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Mercury holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Lili and Mercury?
Lili operates in 1 country; Mercury 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.