Fazlur Rahman
Quick Answer
Melio pricing 2026: Go free (5 free ACH/mo), Core $25/mo, Boost $55/mo, Unlimited $80/mo ($64 annual). Beyond free ACH: $0.50 per ACH. Card 2.9%, check $1.50, international $20. Platinum tier custom for high-volume businesses.
Last verified: Sep 16, 2026.
At a glance
- Go (free): $0/mo forever, 5 free ACH/mo, 1 user
- Core: $25/mo ($20/mo annual), 20 free ACH/mo, $10/extra user
- Boost: $55/mo, 50 free ACH/mo, $10/extra user
- Unlimited: $80/mo ($64/mo annual), unlimited ACH, unlimited users
- Platinum: Custom, high-volume (>$300K/mo card spend)
- ACH overage: $0.50 per transaction
- Card payment: 2.9%
- International: $20 per payment flat
How the tier ladder works
The plan tier mostly buys a larger allowance of free ACH payments plus higher feature limits. Each plan includes a set number of free ACH bank transfers: 5 on Go, 20 on Core, 50 on Boost, and unlimited on Unlimited. Once you pass the allowance, each extra ACH payment costs about $0.50, so heavy ACH users climb tiers fast.
Beyond the ACH allowance, paying a vendor by credit or debit card carries a flat 2.9% fee — even when the vendor only takes a check or bank transfer. That fee can be worth it to earn card rewards or extend cash, but at scale it dwarfs the monthly subscription. Mailed paper checks cost about $1.50 each and take several business days; faster options cost more (overnight check delivery is roughly $50, instant or expedited transfers carry added fees).
What's in each paid tier
Core at $25/mo is the right starting tier for most SMBs. It includes 20 free ACH payments per month, unlimited QuickBooks Online and Xero syncs, batch payments, approval workflows, W-9 collection and 1099 automation for subcontractors, branded invoice creation for getting paid, and the ability to add team members with customized roles and permissions. Each additional user is $10/mo on monthly billing or $8/mo on annual (Melio pricing page, 2026).
Boost at $55/mo is for larger or more complex finance teams. It includes 50 free ACH payments per month, advanced user roles, the ability to apply vendor credits, custom approval workflows, QuickBooks Desktop sync, and premium phone support. Each additional user is $10/mo.
Unlimited at $80/mo is for businesses that need maximum flexibility. It includes unlimited ACH transfers, unlimited users at no extra cost, advanced roles and permissions, NetSuite sync, premium support, and dedicated onboarding. Unlimited is the right tier for fast-growing operations that have outgrown the per-transaction model.
Platinum tier — custom quote
Platinum is reserved for high-volume businesses processing over $300K per month in credit card payments. Platinum offers custom transaction pricing, card-to-wire transfer options, API access, discounted exchange rates, custom integrations, white-glove account management, priority payment processing, and faster settlement times. Platinum is invite-only (Melio pricing page, 2026).
For Platinum-eligible companies, the negotiated transaction fee discount can be substantial: the standard card payment fee of 2.9% can drop materially, ACH fees can drop from $0.50 to a fraction, and the international $20 flat fee is negotiable. The exact negotiated rates depend on volume, payment mix, and strategic value.
The credit card payment advantage
Melio's unique value proposition is the ability to pay any vendor by credit card, even when the vendor only accepts checks or bank transfers. This is the differentiator vs Relay and most other AP automation tools. For high-volume companies earning card rewards (1.5-2% on most business cards), paying vendors by card via Melio can offset the 2.9% Melio fee with cashback.
The math: a $10,000 vendor invoice paid by card through Melio costs $290 in Melio fees (2.9%). The same payment on a 2% cashback business card earns $200 back. Net cost: $90. Compared to ACH overage ($0.50 per payment for non-Melio banks), paying by card is more expensive — but it preserves float, earns rewards, and lets you pay vendors on net-30 terms while keeping cash in money-market funds longer. For SMBs with thin margins on cash flow, the credit card route is meaningful (The Digital Merchant, June 2026).
International payments
Melio supports paying some international vendors at a flat fee of about $20 per payment. That is simple, but it is not the multi-currency, per-entity global rail that platforms built for cross-border AP provide. For US SMBs with occasional international vendors, $20/payment is acceptable. For mid-market and enterprise with significant cross-border volume, Tipalti or Rho (which uses Wise for FX) is the right tier.
Melio does not offer multi-currency accounts or FX hedging. Global payments are settled in USD with the foreign vendor's bank handling the conversion, typically at a non-market exchange rate. For more sophisticated cross-border needs, evaluate Tipalti (full mass-payments platform with 120-currency support) or Rho (which uses Wise US Inc. for FX at the mid-market rate).
How to choose Melio in 2026
Melio is the right choice for SMBs with simple AP needs and a QuickBooks or Xero accounting stack. For businesses at $500K-$5M annual revenue, Melio Core or Boost at $25-$55/mo is a credible starting point. For businesses at $5M+ annual revenue with multi-entity, multi-ERP, or complex procurement needs, Bill.com Corporate, Airbase mid-market, Stampli, or Tipalti is the right tier.
For businesses that need to pay vendors by credit card, Melio is the only mainstream option. Ramp and Brex offer credit cards but for employee spend, not vendor payments. Bill.com supports virtual card to vendor (free to send) but not general credit card payment. Melio's credit card payment is unique and worth the subscription for businesses with high card-rewards earnings.
Total cost of ownership scenarios
For a 10-person SMB on Core processing 200 payments a month. Subscription: 3 active users x $10/mo additional = $30 + $25 base = $55/mo. ACH at 200/mo is fully covered by the 20 free/month allowance × 12 months = 240 free, so $0 ACH fees. Plus 4 mailed checks at $1.50 = $6. Total: ~$61/mo or $732/year.
For a 30-person mid-market team on Boost processing 800 payments a month. Subscription: 6 users x $10/mo additional = $60 + $55 base = $115/mo. ACH: 800 - 50 free = 750 overage at $0.50 = $375/mo. Plus 30 checks at $1.50 = $45. Plus $50 in occasional international payments. Total: ~$585/mo or $7,020/year.
For a 50-person company on Unlimited processing 2,000 payments a month. Subscription: $80/mo. ACH: unlimited, included. Plus 50 checks at $1.50 = $75. Plus 25 international at $20 = $500. Plus $400 in card overages for the few vendors that don't accept cards. Total: ~$1,055/mo or $12,660/year (autopayables, 2026).
What enterprise buyers should do next
Three actions for organizations evaluating Melio in 2026.
- Match the plan to your monthly ACH volume. Count vendor payments over the last 12 months. Pick the plan tier whose free ACH allowance matches your median month without significant overage.
- Pressure-test the credit card payment route. If your business earns 1.5-2% on business card spend, paying vendors by card through Melio can offset the 2.9% Melio fee. Model the net cost at your actual vendor payment mix.
- Negotiate Platinum if your card volume exceeds $300K/mo. Platinum's negotiated rates materially beat standard card fees. The custom transaction pricing covers ACH, wires, international, and card — the entire payment stack.
What to watch next
Three near-term datapoints. First, any 2027 pricing change — Melio adjusts plan tiers and per-ACH rates periodically, and the published rates are the floor not the ceiling. Second, the QuickBooks Desktop sync depth — Boost includes QBD sync but Unlimited is the right tier for NetSuite; the depth of integration determines whether Melio is enough or whether Bill.com Corporate is the right upgrade. Third, expansion of the accountant partner program — Melio has a dedicated accountant program at $10/mo per user, and any expansion of the partner program features affects how accounting firms evaluate Melio for client deployments.
