Last updated: January 2026

What Is Melio?

Running a small business means juggling invoices, vendor questions, and payment due dates that always seem to arrive at once. Melio steps in as a digital command center for those headaches. The platform lets U.S. businesses pay any bill—by bank transfer, credit card, check, wire, or same-day ACH—and track everything from a single dashboard.

Vendors don't need a Melio account; they receive funds the way they prefer. Melio's bigger promise is healthier cashflow. By letting you put vendor bills on your credit card or spread them over monthly installments, the tool buys you time while still paying partners on schedule. Since launching, Melio has processed over $100 billion in B2B payments, making it one of the fastest-growing fintech platforms for SMBs.

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Key Features Explained

Smart Bill Capture & Inbox

Forward an emailed invoice to a unique Melio address or upload a PDF and the system scans key data automatically. Bills land in a dedicated inbox ready for approval—less manual typing and fewer errors. The OCR engine extracts vendor name, amount, due date, and invoice number with impressive accuracy, and anything it misses you can correct in one click.

This automated capture becomes indispensable at scale. Instead of manually entering 50 invoices a month, you forward emails and let Melio do the data entry. The time savings compound quickly for growing businesses.

Flexible Payment Options

Send an ACH for fifty cents, mail a paper check (five are free each month on the entry plan), or use a card for a flat 2.9%. Need a rush? Same-day ACH, instant bank transfers, fast and overnight checks are available. For international suppliers, Melio supports payments in U.S. dollars or local currency across 150+ countries.

The card payment option is particularly clever: even if your vendor only accepts checks, you can pay with your credit card and Melio mails them a check. This unlocks credit card rewards and float on bills that would otherwise be cash-only.

Pay Over Time

When cashflow is tight, break a bill into Net 30 or up to 12 monthly installments. The vendor still gets paid up front; you repay Melio and its financing partner Credit Key in predictable slices. Approval is a soft credit pull with no impact on your personal score. This feature turns accounts payable into a flexible financing tool.

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Accounting Integrations

Two-way sync with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero keeps ledgers aligned without duplicate entry. Bills created in your books appear in Melio; payments post back as soon as they clear. For more advanced e-commerce accounting automation, pair with Synder.

Approval Workflows & Roles

Growing teams can invite additional users and set granular roles (Viewer, Approver, Admin). Core and Boost plans add vendor-based or amount-based approvals, multi-step sign-off, and batch approval. This keeps the bookkeeper entering bills while the owner retains final say on large expenditures.

Accounts Receivable & Payment Links

Turn the tables and get paid. Create branded invoices, share a payment link, and let customers settle by bank or card. ACH receipts are free; card payments carry a 2.9% fee you can absorb or pass along. It's a lightweight invoicing solution built right into your payables tool.

Real-World Use Cases

Service Businesses

Consultants, agencies, and contractors use Melio to pay subcontractors on time while earning card rewards and managing cashflow through Pay Over Time.

Retail & E-commerce

Online sellers pay suppliers and manufacturers, sync to Synder for accounting, and use card float to manage inventory cycles.

Property Management

Pay vendors, contractors, and utility bills from multiple properties through one dashboard with role-based approvals for each property manager.

Pricing (2026)

See official pricing for current rates.

Go (Free) — Single user, 5 free ACH/month, basic bill capture, card payments, payment links, limited accounting sync.

Core ($25/month) — Plus $10/extra user. 20 free ACH, unlimited QuickBooks/Xero sync, batch payments, approval workflows, W-9 collection, priority chat.

Boost ($55/month) — Plus $10/extra user. 50 free ACH, QuickBooks Desktop sync, advanced roles, custom multi-step approvals, premium phone support.

Additional ACH: $0.50. Paper checks beyond free quota: $1.50. International ACH: flat $20.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

Free plan with 5 ACH transfers/month—enough for small operations

Pay vendors by card even if they don't accept cards

Pay Over Time financing with no credit impact on approval

Two-way sync with QuickBooks and Xero

Transparent per-transaction pricing with no hidden fees

International payments to 150+ countries

What Could Be Better

U.S. businesses only—no support for non-US companies

2.9% fee for card payments can add up

Limited features on free plan

Web-based only—no dedicated mobile app

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Melio vs. Alternatives

vs. Bill.com: Bill.com is more powerful for enterprise with workflow automation and network effects. Melio is simpler, more affordable, and better suited for small businesses under 50 employees.

vs. Plastiq: Plastiq focuses primarily on card payments. Melio offers more payment methods, accounting integrations, and the Pay Over Time financing feature.

vs. QuickBooks Payments: QuickBooks Payments is tightly integrated but limited to basic payment processing. Melio offers more flexibility for vendor payments and bill management.

vs. Payman: Payman targets AI-driven automated payments. Melio is for human-initiated small business bill pay with financing options.

vs. Manual payments: Manual bank transfers are free but time-consuming with no tracking. Melio automates the process and adds cashflow features.

FAQ

Is Melio really free?

The Go plan has no monthly subscription, but card payments, expedited options, or ACH beyond your 5/month allowance carry fees. Basic ACH inside the allowance costs zero.

Can I pay vendors who don't take cards?

Yes. Charge the bill to your card in Melio and choose "Check" or "Bank Transfer" as the vendor's delivery method. Melio converts the payment and you earn your card rewards.

Does using Melio hurt my credit?

Normal payments have no credit impact. Pay Over Time involves a soft pull when you apply, which doesn't affect your score.

How secure are my payments?

Melio uses 256-bit encryption, tokenized card storage, and is PCI DSS compliant. Checks printed by Melio omit your bank details for added security.

Does Melio work outside the United States?

The platform is for U.S.-registered businesses. You can send international payments from the U.S., but your Melio account and funding source must be domestic.

Final Verdict

Melio delivers a streamlined, founder-friendly approach to paying—and getting paid—without forcing you into cumbersome ERP suites. The free Go tier lets you experiment with real bills before spending a dime, and the paid plans scale affordably as you grow.

If juggling vendor bills, credit cards, and accounting re-entry is siphoning hours from your week, Melio is worth a serious look. For more complex accounting automation, pair it with Synder for e-commerce or Navan for travel expenses.

[cta text="Get 90% off subscription fees for your first 3 months."]