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Is Melio the right accounts payable solution for your business? We tested pricing, payment workflows, and integrations to show where it shines—and where it falls short—in 2026.
Bottom line
Melio fits small businesses and freelancers who want to streamline vendor payments without enterprise pricing. The free tier and credit-card-to-vendor workflow stand out; unlimited free ACH now requires the $80/month Unlimited plan.
What is Melio?
Melio is a B2B payment platform built for small businesses to manage and automate accounts payable. It bridges how you want to pay—credit card for rewards or bank transfer—and how vendors want to receive funds.
Schedule a payment in Melio's app, pick your method, and Melio handles delivery by check, ACH, or direct deposit. Vendors get paid in their preferred format without creating an account.
Founded in 2018, Melio has raised $500M+ and integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero for automatic payment sync.
Melio pricing (2026)
Go
- ACH, wire, or check
- Fast/instant payments
- Auto-pay scheduling
- Bill capture
- International payments
Core
- Everything in Go
- Batch payments
- Approval workflows
- W-9/1099 management
- QuickBooks & Xero sync
Boost
- Everything in Core
- Advanced user roles
- Custom approvals
- QuickBooks Desktop
- Premium phone support
Unlimited
- Everything in Boost
- Unlimited seats
- Dedicated account manager
- White-glove onboarding
Additional payment fees
- Card payments: 2.9% transaction fee
- Same-day ACH: 1% (up to $30)
- Expedited check: $20 (1–2 business days)
- International wire: Variable by country
Key features
Credit card payments
Pay vendors by card even when they don't accept cards. The 2.9% fee often pays for itself in rewards and extended float.
Flexible scheduling
Schedule one-time or recurring payments up to 90 days ahead, with reminders before each charge processes.
Multi-user workflows
Approval chains for payments over set amounts. Advanced roles on Boost and Unlimited plans.
Accounting integration
Two-way QuickBooks Online and Xero sync on Core+. QuickBooks Desktop on Boost. CSV export for others.
Mobile app
Approve payments, capture receipts, and track status on iOS and Android. Invoice OCR from photos.
International payments
Pay vendors in 196 countries and 135 currencies with transparent wire fees.
Pros and cons
What we liked
- Free tier: 5 free ACH payments monthly
- Card flexibility: Pay vendors by card, earn rewards
- Accounting sync: QuickBooks & Xero work well
- No vendor signup: Vendors receive without accounts
- Clean UI: Easy to learn and use daily
- Global reach: 196 countries supported
Room to improve
- Limited free ACH: 5 on Go; unlimited needs $80/mo
- 2.9% card fee: Higher than some rivals
- Slow standard ACH: 5–7 business days
- Per-user costs: $10/user on Core & Boost
- Expedited fees: Same-day and rush check add up
- Phone support: Boost plan or higher
Who is Melio best for?
Ideal for
- 10–50 vendors: Sweet spot without enterprise cost
- 2%+ card rewards: Credit strategy pays off
- QBO or Xero users: Native sync eliminates manual entry
- Service businesses: Rent, utilities, contractors
- Going paperless: Free ACH vs. printed checks
May not fit
- High volume, tight budget: Per-ACH fees stack up
- Frequent same-day pay: Expedited fees get costly
- Basic card rewards: 2.9% may exceed earnings
- Large enterprises: NetSuite, SAP, Bill.com scale better
Alternatives to consider
Bill.com
Best for: Larger teams needing advanced approvals and document management ($45–$125/mo plus transaction fees).
Our verdict
Melio earns a solid 8.5/10 for small businesses that match its profile—flexible vendor payments, strong accounting sync, and a usable free tier to start.
Most growing teams outgrow five free ACH transfers and move to Core ($25/mo) or Boost ($55/mo). The credit-card option is Melio's edge when you earn 2%+ rewards or need payment float.
Bottom line: Best free-tier AP tool for US small businesses. Start on Go, upgrade as volume grows—Unlimited ($80/mo) makes sense at 50+ payments monthly.
Ready to try Melio?
Start on the free Go plan—no credit card required. First payment in under 10 minutes.
Melio
Free to start · $25–$80/mo as you scale
Start free with MelioNo monthly fee on Go. Cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melio still free in 2026?
Yes—a free Go plan includes 5 ACH payments per month ($0.50 each after that). Unlimited free ACH requires Unlimited at $80/month ($64 annually).
Does the 2.9% credit card fee make sense?
When you earn 2%+ cashback or need float, often yes. Below 2% rewards, ACH is usually cheaper.
How long do payments take?
Standard ACH and card: 5–7 business days. Same-day ACH: 1% (max $30). Expedited check: $20 for 1–2 days.
Do vendors need a Melio account?
No. You enter their preferences; Melio delivers. Vendors can optionally sign up free to update details.
International payments?
Supported in 196 countries, 135 currencies, on all plans via wire.
Accounting software integration?
Two-way QuickBooks Online and Xero on Core+. QuickBooks Desktop on Boost. CSV for other tools.
Is Melio secure?
256-bit SSL, 2FA, PCI-DSS compliance, and regular audits.
What support is included?
Email and chat on all plans. Phone on Boost+. Dedicated manager on Unlimited.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you sign up for Melio through our links. Melio is a trademark of Melio Payments Inc. Pricing as of January 2026.
Thomas Camp Jr., EA
Thomas has 14+ years helping small businesses choose payment, accounting, and ops tools. Verify EA credentials →
