Melio vs. QuickBooks: Which is Best for US Businesses?

As vendor lists expand and employee expenses increase, companies often turn to digital platforms that can streamline how bills are scheduled, tracked and recorded. Two of the most common options in the US market are Melio and QuickBooks.

This article takes a closer look at Melio vs. QuickBooks, focusing on how each platform handles credit card payments, international payments, and transaction fees, as well as how they integrate with broader accounting tools like QuickBooks Online. One reason that the comparison between these two platforms exists is because at one time Melio powered QuickBooks Bill Pay. But, this feature was discontinued in 2024.⁶

Let's dive in to learn more about both of these powerful finance tools. We'll also discuss the Wise Business account. The global account that can help your company with all things cross-border.

Do you send and receive global payments?

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No minimum balance requirement and no monthly fees
Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and more

What Is Melio?

Melio was designed to meet the needs of smaller US businesses, focusing on affordability and ease of use. Instead of offering a complex suite of financial tools, it prioritizes straightforward, low-cost bank transfers.

Vendors can be paid through ACH for a flat $0.50 per transaction, or through credit card payments at a 2.9% fee.¹ This setup appeals to companies that want to preserve cash flow by using cards when necessary, while still having access to inexpensive bank transfers for routine bills.

A key advantage of Melio is its ability to connect with accounting software. Users of QuickBooks Online and Xero can link their accounts payable directly, cutting down on manual entry and reducing the risk of errors.² These integrations are especially valuable for growing teams that want to automate payment processes and keep financial records consistent across platforms.

Features of Melio

Melio provides a straightforward approach to bill management, with features tailored to small and mid-sized US businesses:

• Low-cost bank transfers: ACH payments cost $0.50, making it one of the cheapest ways to pay vendors.¹
• Credit card option: Pay any vendor with a card for a 2.9% fee.¹
• International payments: Supported for a flat $20 ACH fee or 2.9% + $20 when funded by card. Coverage is limited to select countries, and processing may involve additional bank charges.¹
• Check delivery: Available for $1.50, useful for vendors who still prefer paper checks.¹
• Accounting integrations: Sync directly with QuickBooks Online or Xero to reduce manual data entry.^3,4
• User-friendly dashboard: A clean, intuitive interface for scheduling, approving, and tracking vendor payments.

Melio is often praised for being cost-efficient and easy to use. It does not overwhelm users with advanced accounting features but instead focuses on making QuickBooks bill pay and similar workflows fast and accessible.

Due to the sheer amount of features, you will only see the features in the Melio's Core plan.

Save Time and Money On Overseas Payments With Wise Business

Wise Business can help you save big time on international payments.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in currencies.

Signing up to Wise Business allows access to BatchTransfer which you can use to pay up to 1000 invoices in one go. This is perfect for small businesses that are managing a global team, saving a ton of time and hassle when making payments.

Some key features of Wise Business include:

• Mid-market rate: Get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees on international transfers

• Global Account: Send money to countries and hold multiple currencies, all in one place. You can also get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local

• Access to BatchTransfer: Pay up to 1000 invoices in one click. Save time, money, and stress when you make 1000 payments in one click with BatchTransfer payments. Access to BatchTransfer is free with a Wise Business account

• Auto-conversions: Don't like the current currency exchange rate? Set your desired rate, and Wise sends the transfer the moment the rate is met

• Free invoicing tool: Generate and send professional invoices

• No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees: US-based businesses can open an account for free. Learn more about fees here

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What Is QuickBooks?

QuickBooks, developed by Intuit, is one of the most widely used accounting platforms in the US It is best known for offering small and medium-sized businesses a complete financial management system that covers bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll and tax preparation in one place. Unlike Melio, which is primarily a bill payment tool, QuickBooks provides an integrated approach that combines payment processing with broader accounting functions.

Through QuickBooks Online, companies can manage day-to-day financial tasks directly from a single dashboard. This includes sending invoices, tracking expenses and reconciling bank accounts. A central feature is QuickBooks bill pay, which allows businesses to schedule and send vendor payments from within the accounting system.⁵

QuickBooks also offers additional tools for growing teams. Payroll can be added for processing employee salaries and handling tax withholdings. Inventory management, project tracking and detailed reporting features make it a comprehensive option for businesses that want more than just vendor payments. This breadth is one of the main reasons QuickBooks has become a preferred choice for US entrepreneurs who are scaling beyond a simple accounts payable solution.

QuickBooks Features:

QuickBooks offers four plans for US businesses: 1. Simple Start 2. Essentials 3. Plus 4. Advanced. To keep it short, we'll discuss the main features offered by the QuickBooks Essentials plan.

• Intuit Assist (AI-assisted tools): Smart expense organization, accounting agent, payments agent, and customer agent.
• Accounting: Automated bookkeeping, tax deductions, automated ban fees, accounting agent, AI-enabled expert collaboration, multiple currencies, and more.
• Expenses & Pay Bills: 5 free ACH bank transfers/mo for bills, Pay bills, Auto-match transactions, Auto-generated bills, receipt capture, bill management, and more.
• Sales & Get Paid: Auto-generated invoices and reminders, estimates, invoice and payments, connect sales channels, and more.
• Lending: Get business checking account with interest earned, lending marketplace, potential to access capital
• Customer Hub: Customer management, notes and tasks management, reputation management, and appointment scheduling
• Time: Enter and track time spent for your employees and for yourself if you're a freelancer
• Business Intelligence: Cash flow planning
• Connected Platform: 3 Users, mobile app access, integrates with hundreds of apps, reports, user management, and permissions, and custom fields

QuickBooks Bill Pay Features and Pricing

The Bill Pay Basic Plan is now included in the user's QuickBooks plan. It allows users to pay and manage bills along with the other features listed below.

• ACH Bank Transfers
• Automated Bill Creation
• Additional Users
• Unlimited 1099 e-filing
• Roles and Permissions
• Customer Approval Workflows

Pricing for the plans is $0/month with a QuickBooks subscription. This gives users 5 free ACH transfers per month, as well as automated bill creation and bulk upload, auto-matched transactions, and user access according to your plan's allowance.

There are also two paid plans, which currently come with 3 months at 50% off. Below you will find the price you will pay after that 50% discount ends.

QuickBooks Pricing and Transaction Fees

QuickBooks Online is available through tiered subscriptions. Plans range from $38 per month for the Simple Start option up to $275 per month for the Advanced plan, with a 50% discount in certain cases.⁶ The higher tiers include features such as advanced reporting, multi-user support and deeper integration options.

For payment processing, transaction fees apply. ACH bank transfers cost $0.50 after you use the five free ACH bank transfers per month for bills.⁶ Businesses that also use invoicing or payroll services may see additional fees depending on the plan selected.

Melio vs. QuickBooks: Which Suits US Businesses Better?

Melio is straightforward and inexpensive, focusing on vendor payments and giving companies flexibility through ACH transfers and credit card payments. It is particularly attractive to teams that mainly pay domestic suppliers and want to keep costs low.

QuickBooks, by contrast, offers much more than bill payments. With QuickBooks Online, businesses can combine QuickBooks bill pay with full accounting functions, payroll, inventory tools and tax reporting. This makes it a better option for companies that have outgrown simple payment tools and need a more complete financial management system.

Final Thoughts

For small businesses or startups that primarily need a reliable bill pay tool, Melio is often the smarter option. For teams with 10 or more employees that require deeper financial management, QuickBooks provides the wider range of features needed to support growth. Many US companies ultimately benefit from using the two together, with QuickBooks serving as the accounting backbone and Melio adding flexibility for vendor payments and occasional international payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Both Melio and QuickBooks Together?

Yes. Many US businesses use QuickBooks Online for accounting and rely on Melio for specific bill pay needs, especially when funding payments with credit cards.

Which Platform Is Better for US Entrepreneurs Expanding Abroad?

QuickBooks offers more complete financial tools, but Melio’s ability to handle vendor bills with credit card payments may provide added flexibility for cross-border vendors.

Does Melio Help During Tax Season?

Yes. Because Melio integrates with accounting software like QuickBooks Online and Xero, every payment automatically syncs into your books. This reduces manual data entry and ensures that expenses are properly categorized, which makes tax preparation smoother.

Can I Schedule Recurring Payments With Melio or QuickBooks?

Melio allows you to schedule vendor payments in advance, making it easy to manage recurring bills. QuickBooks also supports scheduling, but it ties directly into your broader financial reports and cash flow tracking.