Software your AI can run.
Evaluating Mercury?
A different question.
You came here comparing Mercury. Fair. But most businesses on this page have the same underlying problem: they need to get paid, and they want an AI to handle the boring parts. Holdings built the category for that — agentic invoicing, MCP-native, no monthly fee.
Mercury vs Holdings
Mercury is a genuinely great startup bank — clean product, fast wires, treasury on tap. Holdings covers the same operating-account ground (free business checking, 1.75% APY, FDIC to $3M) and adds what Mercury doesn't: unlimited free invoicing, agentic AI direction via MCP, and optional double-entry accounting. Same category, more surface area.
Side by side
Mercury and Holdings solve different problems. Here's the honest version.
| What you're comparing | Holdings | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Business checking | Free — no minimums, FDIC to $3M | Mercury checking |
| APY on balances | 1.75% | Varies |
| Invoicing | Unlimited — invoices, quotes, payment links, QR codes, follow-ups | Basic invoicing (payment links only) |
| AI directs invoicing | Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor via MCP — draft-by-default | — |
| Accounting add-on | Optional $25/mo — double-entry, P&L, balance sheet | — |
| Treasury / high-yield sweep | Not offered | Yes — tiered treasury product |
| Corporate cards | Not offered | Included, with rewards |
| Best for | One account: banking + AI invoicing + optional books | Holding company cash + startup treasury |
| Monthly cost | $0 (payments-only) or $25/mo full accounting | $0 (Mercury Business); paid plans for Treasury |
Why teams pick Holdings
One account for the whole business
Mercury is best-in-class for holding cash. It doesn't try to be your invoicing tool or your books — that's still QuickBooks + Ignition + a bookkeeper. Holdings gives you the checking account AND the invoicing AND the option to layer accounting on top — one login, one identity, one place the money moves through.
Free invoicing that your AI can run
Unlimited invoices, quotes, payment links, and QR codes are included at $0/mo. Direct Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor via MCP to draft and send them for you — you approve every send.
Books current on their own (optional)
Add the $25/mo Accounting add-on and every transaction, invoice, and payment posts to double-entry accounting in real time. No CSV imports, no month-end reconcile crunch.
No monthly fee, priced on outcomes
Banking and invoicing have no monthly fee. You pay 3% + $0.30 per card payment we collect for you. Full double-entry accounting is $25/mo if you want it. No per-seat, no per-invoice, no per-month.
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When Mercury might be the better choice
If you're a well-funded, VC-backed startup that needs treasury products (Vault, IntelliRates), high-volume wires, and a pure banking surface with no invoicing baggage, Mercury is the sharper fit. For everyone who also needs to send invoices, chase payments, and keep the books current, Holdings is the more complete account.
Common questions
Is Holdings really a bank?
Holdings partners with FDIC-member program banks to provide business checking. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $3M through our program-bank network, at 1.75% APY. On top of that, Holdings adds invoicing, payment collection, and (optionally) full accounting — all in one account.
How much does it cost?
Business checking and invoicing are $0/mo. You pay 3% + $0.30 per card payment you collect through Holdings. Full double-entry accounting is an optional $25/mo add-on with a 30-day free trial.
What does "agentic invoicing" mean in practice?
You direct an AI agent — Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client — and Holdings executes the primitives: draft an invoice, generate a payment link, schedule a follow-up, post the journal entry. You approve every send; the agent does the work.
Can I move my existing balance in?
Yes. Set up an ACH transfer from your current bank into your Holdings checking account, or ask your customers to update your payment details. Most owners keep both accounts open during the switch and close the old one once payroll and vendors are pointing at Holdings.
Do I need to be technical to use the AI?
No. If you can send a text message describing what you want ("invoice Acme for $4,200 for last week's work, thirty-day net"), Claude or ChatGPT does the rest. Holdings ships MCP for the agents so the setup is one command.
Let your AI do the invoicing.
No monthly fee. 3% + $0.30 per payment collected. Full accounting from $25/mo.
No credit card · No monthly fee · Works with Claude, ChatGPT & Cursor