Bunq vs Mercury

For most digital nomads, Bunq is your default. Mercury wins only if you absolutely need a US business bank account for specific legal or operational reasons.

Consider an EU-based freelancer paid in USD. They need to manage multiple currencies, track expenses across different projects, and maybe save for a down payment. Bunq's sub-accounts are perfect for this. You can set up a dedicated sub-account for each client or project, assign specific savings goals to each, and withdraw cash from any ATM in the Eurozone for free, unlimited times. This granular control over your money makes it simple to stay on top of taxes and personal finances, even while hopping between countries.

Now, picture a US founder who's just incorporated a Delaware C-Corp and is hiring remote engineers globally. They need a bank that understands US business banking regulations, can handle payroll in various currencies, and offers robust integration with US accounting software. Mercury is built for this. While its free tier is zero monthly, the core value is its US-centric infrastructure, making it the only practical choice for a US-registered entity needing a US operational base, even if the founders themselves are never physically in the States.

If you're on the fence, default to Bunq. It handles day-to-day spending, budgeting, and savings for almost any nomad much better. The main filter for Mercury is straightforward: do you legally require a US business bank account for your company structure or operations? If the answer is yes, Mercury is your only real option. If no, stick with the flexibility Bunq offers.