Banking Solutions for Freelancers: Holdings vs. Competitors Comparison

Banking Solutions for Freelancers: Holdings vs. Competitors Comparison

Freelancers have unique financial needs—irregular income, multiple clients, and the constant juggle of tracking expenses, taxes, and payments. The right banking partner can make all the difference, helping you stay organized, avoid hidden fees, and focus on your craft. This guide compares Holdings with top banks and digital platforms, so you can find the best fit for your freelance business. For industry-specific comparisons, check out our guides for manufacturing, retail, healthcare, construction, and real estate professionals.

What Freelancers Need from a Bank

  • Separation of business and personal finances for easier tax prep and expense tracking145

  • No hidden fees or minimum balance requirements—keep more of what you earn25

  • Integrated digital tools for invoicing, budgeting, and real-time notifications124

  • Easy access to funds with nationwide ATM networks and mobile banking245

  • Accounting software integration for seamless bookkeeping and tax filing145

  • Support for international payments if you work with global clients24

How Holdings Stands Out

Holdings is designed for modern freelancers who want to keep more of their money and simplify their financial lives. Here’s what makes Holdings a top choice:

  • Zero fees: No monthly maintenance, transaction, ATM, or wire transfer fees—ever.

  • High-yield APY: Earn up to 3.0% on your balances, so your cash works harder for you.

  • Integrated financial tools: Banking, accounting, invoicing, and bill pay in one platform.

  • Automated workflows: Save time on expense tracking, tax prep, and client payments.

  • Seamless accounting integration: Connect with tools like QuickBooks and Xero for effortless bookkeeping.

  • No minimum balance requirements: Perfect for freelancers with fluctuating income.

How Top Competitors Compare

Chime

  • Strengths: No monthly fees, no minimum balance, free overdraft protection, and 60,000+ fee-free ATMs2.

  • Limitations: Not a full-service business bank; limited business-specific features.

Bluevine

  • Strengths: Fee-free checking, high-yield interest, unlimited transactions, and bill pay5.

  • Limitations: Fewer integrated accounting tools; limited in-person support.

Novo

  • Strengths: No fees, easy integrations with Wise and other financial tools, and no minimum balance5.

  • Limitations: No cash deposits; limited lending options.

Axos Bank

  • Strengths: No monthly fees, unlimited transactions, ATM fee reimbursements, and QuickBooks integration5.

  • Limitations: Online-only; may lack some in-person support.

N26 & Revolut

  • Strengths: Great for international freelancers, multi-currency accounts, and real-time budgeting tools2.

  • Limitations: Limited U.S. presence; some features require premium accounts.

Traditional Banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo)

  • Strengths: In-person support, business credit options, and robust mobile apps5.

  • Limitations: Monthly fees unless you maintain high balances, transaction limits, and less freelancer-focused features.

Feature Comparison Table

Feature

Holdings

Chime

Bluevine

Novo

Axos

Chase/BoA/WF

Zero Fees

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

High-Yield APY

Up to 3.0%

No

Up to 2.0%

No

Yes

No

Integrated Accounting

Yes

No

No

Yes (limited)

Yes

Yes (limited)

ATM Access

Yes, nationwide

Yes, 60k+

Yes

Yes

Yes, reimbursed

Yes

International Support

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Invoicing Tools

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes (limited)

No Minimum Balance

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Which Bank Is Right for Your Freelance Business?

  • Choose Holdings if: You want zero fees, high-yield APY, integrated accounting, and a platform built for freelancers who value simplicity and savings.

  • Choose a digital competitor if: You want basic fee-free banking, but don’t need advanced accounting or integrated business tools.

  • Choose a traditional bank if: You need in-person support, business credit, or cash deposit options.

Next Steps: Industry-Specific Banking Comparisons

Every freelancer’s business is unique. Explore our other industry guides to see how Holdings stacks up for:

Ready to make your freelance finances work harder?
Holdings is built for independent professionals who want more than just a bank—get zero fees, high-yield APY, and all-in-one financial management, so you can focus on your work. Compare your options and choose the solution that fits your freelance business best

Disclaimers and footnotes

© 2023-2024 Holdings Financial Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

Holdings is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust and i3 Bank, Members FDIC. The Holdings Visa® Debit Card is issued by i3 Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
Funds deposited in your Holdings account are held by Evolve Bank & Trust and i3 Bank, Members FDIC. The standard deposit amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

Through Evolve's Sweep Program, funds may be eligible for up to $5M in FDIC insurance. Find additional information about the Sweep Program here. Through i3 Bank's Sweep Program, funds may be eligible for up to $3M in FDIC insurance. Find additional information about the Sweep Program here

Disclaimers and footnotes

© 2023-2024 Holdings Financial Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

Holdings is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust and i3 Bank, Members FDIC. The Holdings Visa® Debit Card is issued by i3 Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
Funds deposited in your Holdings account are held by Evolve Bank & Trust and i3 Bank, Members FDIC. The standard deposit amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

Through Evolve's Sweep Program, funds may be eligible for up to $5M in FDIC insurance. Find additional information about the Sweep Program here. Through i3 Bank's Sweep Program, funds may be eligible for up to $3M in FDIC insurance. Find additional information about the Sweep Program here

Disclaimers and footnotes

© 2023-2024 Holdings Financial Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

Holdings is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust and i3 Bank, Members FDIC. The Holdings Visa® Debit Card is issued by i3 Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
Funds deposited in your Holdings account are held by Evolve Bank & Trust and i3 Bank, Members FDIC. The standard deposit amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

Through Evolve's Sweep Program, funds may be eligible for up to $5M in FDIC insurance. Find additional information about the Sweep Program here. Through i3 Bank's Sweep Program, funds may be eligible for up to $3M in FDIC insurance. Find additional information about the Sweep Program here