Choose Melio when you mostly fund vendor bills from a bank account, want free ACH allotments (or Unlimited free ACH), and need W-9 / 1099 workflows on paid plans. Choose Plastiq when you want no monthly subscription, unlimited users out of the box, and a card-first float model with per-payment delivery fees—including domestic and international wires. Both can pay many vendors who do not take cards by converting your card payment into ACH or a check; the durable split is Melio’s plan-plus-allotment math versus Plastiq’s no-subscription card fee.
Disclosure: This comparison is educational and may include affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our Melio partner link, at no extra cost to you. Pricing and features change; verify current rates on each vendor’s site before you buy.
Research note: List prices and fee bands below were checked on melio.com/pricing and plastiq.com/pricing on November 5, 2026. Melio’s own side-by-side page at melio.com/melio-vs-plastiq (last updated February 2026) was used only for speed claims Melio publishes about itself. Treat tables as worksheets you can recalculate with your own payment mix—not quotes.
Quick answer: Melio or Plastiq?
Takeaway: Melio wins most domestic ACH / AP stacks; Plastiq wins when you refuse a subscription and live on card float.
If your weekly rhythm is “pull from checking, send ACH or a check, sync to QuickBooks,” Melio is usually the cleaner fit. Plans start at $0 (Go) with five free ACH payments per month, and Unlimited is list-priced at $64/month with unlimited free ACH and seats. Paid Core and Boost tiers also advertise contractor W-9 collection and 1099 automation.
If your rhythm is “keep cash in the bank, put the bill on a card, accept a percentage fee for float and rewards,” Plastiq is built for that. Its pricing page states there are no subscriptions and no seat fees; every account includes the feature set, and you pay 2.99% on card payments plus delivery fees ($0.99 ACH, $1.49 check, $8.99 domestic wire / $39 international wire).
Plastiq remains live in 2026 and markets itself as backed by Priority. That answers the acquisition rumor for most buyers: the product site, pricing page, and 2026 copyright are active. For a broader Melio cluster read, start with our Melio pricing breakdown and Melio vs Bill.com.
What is Melio?
Takeaway: Melio is a US SMB bill-pay and get-paid platform with free and flat-fee plans, ACH allotments, and tax-adjacent tools on Core+.
Melio helps small businesses pay vendors by ACH, wire, or check, and pay many vendors by card even when the vendor does not accept cards directly. Plans also include accounts-receivable tools (invoices, payment links). Accounting sync with QuickBooks Online and Xero shows up on Core and higher; Boost adds QuickBooks Desktop and more advanced roles; Unlimited adds unlimited seats and NetSuite sync on the public pricing grid.
For owners comparing alternatives, Melio sits in the same shopping set as BILL, QuickBooks Payments, and card-float tools like Plastiq. See also our Melio review, Melio alternatives, and the bill pay hub.
What is Plastiq (and Priority)?
Takeaway: Plastiq is a no-subscription AP / card-payment product; Priority is the parent brand it markets under in 2026.
Plastiq’s public pitch is straightforward: pay any vendor with a credit card, keep unlimited users, sync accounting software, capture bills, run approval workflows, and pay in bulk—without picking a software tier. Fees are transaction-based (card percentage plus delivery). Short-term financing is listed separately at 2.75%–10.65% for registered businesses.
Footer and homepage copy on plastiq.com describe Plastiq as backed by Priority / Priority Commerce, with a 2026 copyright. That is the operational answer most SMBs need: the product is still signing up customers and publishing fees. Always re-check ToS and eligibility on Plastiq before you rely on a rewards card for rent, tax, or other restricted merchant categories—card networks and Plastiq rules can block some payees.
Melio vs Plastiq at a glance
Takeaway: Same job—pay vendors who may not take cards—different price architecture.
| Dimension | Melio | Plastiq |
|---|---|---|
| Software fee model | Go $0; Core $25/mo + $10/user; Boost $55/mo; Unlimited $64/mo | No subscription / no seat fees (per pricing page) |
| Bank-funded ACH | Free allotments by plan, then ~$0.50; Unlimited = unlimited free ACH | Delivery fee $0.99 per ACH/EFT (plus card % if you fund by card) |
| Card fee (typical) | ~2.9% (plus delivery add-ons on some rails) | 2.99% |
| Check delivery | ~$1.50 (bank); card path can add % + rush fees | $1.49 paper check; overnight/same-day add-ons from 0.2% |
| Domestic / intl wire | Domestic wire listed (~$10 bank path); global ACH/card options with flat/% fees | $8.99 domestic / $39 international wire |
| W-9 / 1099 tools | Advertised on Core, Boost, Unlimited | Not listed on public pricing feature set (Nov 5, 2026) |
| Users | Go: 1 user; paid plans add seats ($10/user on Core/Boost); Unlimited seats on Unlimited | Unlimited users included |
| Best default path | Domestic bank-funded AP + tax workflows | Card float / rewards / no monthly software bill |
Pricing and fees compared
Takeaway: Melio is cheaper for routine bank ACH; Plastiq’s bill is mostly the 2.99% card fee plus delivery.
Melio plan snapshot (Nov 5, 2026)
- Go — $0/forever: 1 user, 5 free ACH/month, then $0.50 per ACH; pay by ACH, wire, or check; pay bills by card; AR/invoicing included.
- Core — $25/mo (site also shows $20/mo annual) + $10/mo per additional user: 20 free ACH/month; QBO/Xero sync; batch payments; custom approvals; W-9 collection; 1099 automation.
- Boost — $55/mo ($44/mo annual shown): 50 free ACH/month; advanced roles; QuickBooks Desktop; premium phone support.
- Unlimited — $64/mo: unlimited free ACH and unlimited seats; NetSuite sync on the public grid.
- Transaction examples: bank→ACH overage $0.50; check ~$1.50; card path ~2.9% (rush/wire add-ons listed on Melio’s fee table).
Melio also markets a 90-day window of unlimited free ACH / advanced features for new paid-plan trials; if you do not subscribe, the account can fall back to Go. Confirm the current promo banner on Melio’s pricing page when you sign up.
Plastiq fee snapshot (Nov 5, 2026)
- Software: “No subscriptions. No hidden fees.” / “All the features. No subscriptions.”
- Card payments: 2.99%.
- Short-term financing: 2.75%–10.65% (registered businesses).
- Delivery: ACH/EFT/electronic $0.99; paper check $1.49; wire domestic $8.99 / international $39.
- Speed add-ons: same/next-day payments and overnight checks starting at 0.2%.
- Accept cards: listed as free (transaction fees still apply when customers pay by card).
Three worksheet scenarios
Scenario A — 12 bank ACH bills/month, solo owner. Melio Go covers 5 free ACH; 7 × $0.50 = $3.50 in overages, $0 software. Plastiq if you somehow fund “ACH delivery only” still lists $0.99 delivery each ($11.88)—but Plastiq’s core use case is card funding, so real Plastiq cost is usually 2.99% of bill amount + $0.99. For bank-first ACH, Melio wins on fee math.
Scenario B — $40,000/month of bills on a rewards card for float. Melio card path ~2.9% ≈ $1,160 before delivery add-ons. Plastiq 2.99% ≈ $1,196 + delivery fees per payment. Percentage fees dominate both; rewards, statement timing, and whether a vendor already surcharges cards matter more than the 0.09-point gap. Run your own card rewards rate against the fee before calling a winner.
Scenario C — 40 ACH payments, 3 users, need W-9/1099. Melio Unlimited at $64/mo with unlimited free ACH and seats is the simple spreadsheet answer. Melio Core/Boost can work if free allotments cover volume and you accept +$10/user. Plastiq has no subscription and unlimited users, but each ACH delivery is $0.99 and public pages do not advertise Melio-style W-9/1099 automation—so tax ops may stay in a separate tool.
For more Melio seat math against BILL, see Melio vs Bill.com. For card-float tactics in general, see how to pay vendors with a credit card.
Payment speed: card-to-ACH and delivery options
Takeaway: Melio markets same-day card-to-ACH; Plastiq lists standard delivery plus paid same/next-day and overnight options.
Melio’s February 2026 compare page claims same-day card-to-ACH delivery and faster card-to-check timing than Plastiq, and it states Plastiq may take up to three days for card-to-ACH unless you pay for faster delivery. Treat that as Melio’s published claim and verify both products with a small test payment before you promise a vendor a date.
Plastiq’s pricing page is clearer on priced speed: same/next-day payments and overnight checks “starting at 0.2%,” on top of the base card and delivery fees. Domestic and international wires are explicit line items ($8.99 / $39).
Neither tool replaces your own cutoff discipline. If a contractor must be paid Friday for a Monday job site, schedule earlier than the marketing headline. For ACH vs wire tradeoffs outside these products, see ACH vs wire for vendor payments.
Tax tools: W-9 and 1099 workflows
Takeaway: Melio advertises W-9 collection and 1099 automation on Core+; Plastiq’s public pricing feature list does not.
On Melio’s pricing page, Core, Boost, and Unlimited include contractor W-9 collection with TIN validation and 1099 automation via a Tax1099 sync. That matters if you pay freelancers and want bill pay and year-end reporting in one ops loop. Go is thinner on those tax features—upgrade if 1099 season is part of the job.
Plastiq’s November 5, 2026 pricing feature list highlights card pay, unlimited users, accounting sync, bill capture, approvals, vendor management, and bulk payments. It does not list W-9 collection or 1099 e-filing. Melio’s compare page states Plastiq lacks those tax tools. Independently, we could not find them advertised on Plastiq’s pricing page the same day. If 1099 workflows are required, assume you will keep a separate process with Plastiq unless Plastiq shows you the feature in-product.
Related reading: Can you pay contractors with Melio? and the tax compliance hub.
International payments and wires
Takeaway: Both support cross-border paths; Plastiq publishes simple wire delivery fees, Melio publishes global ACH/card fee bands.
Plastiq lists international wire delivery at $39 (plus the card percentage if you fund by card). Domestic wire delivery is $8.99. That transparency helps when you occasionally pay an overseas supplier and want a predictable delivery add-on.
Melio’s fee table lists global payments by ACH (USD flat fee, fast USD percentage band, local-currency conversion) and global payments by card with percentage-plus-flat combinations, plus volume discounts on foreign-currency card fees. Melio also markets paying in USD or local currencies inside plan feature bullets. If international volume is high, pull both fee tables into a spreadsheet with your corridors before you standardize.
Approvals, users, and accounting sync
Takeaway: Both offer approvals and accounting sync; Melio gates advanced controls by plan, Plastiq includes them without a subscription tier.
Plastiq advertises unlimited users, user roles and permissions, payment approval workflows, and accounting software sync on every account. That is attractive if you refuse per-seat software bills but still need a second approver.
Melio puts custom approval workflows, batch payments, and W-9/1099 on Core+, advanced roles on Boost+, and unlimited seats on Unlimited. Go is intentionally limited (one user, five free ACH). Growing from a solo Melio Go account to a three-person AP desk usually means budgeting Core or Unlimited—not staying on Go.
For approval design patterns that work in either tool, see how to set up a bill approval workflow and the comparisons hub.
When Melio is the better fit
Takeaway: Pick Melio for bank-funded domestic AP, free ACH math, and contractor tax workflows.
- Most bills are funded from a US bank account, not a card.
- You want a free start (Go) or a flat Unlimited ACH plan at $64/mo.
- You need W-9 collection and 1099 automation inside the bill-pay tool.
- You already lean Melio for Melio-vs-BILL or Melio pricing research.
- Card float is occasional, not the operating system.
When Plastiq is the better fit
Takeaway: Pick Plastiq when avoiding subscriptions and maximizing card float matter more than ACH allotments.
- You will not pay a monthly AP SaaS fee and want unlimited users included.
- Card rewards + statement timing reliably beat ~3% after your own math.
- You need published international wire delivery pricing for occasional overseas payees.
- Tax forms already live in another system, so missing W-9/1099 marketing is acceptable.
- You specifically want Plastiq’s financing option and have confirmed eligibility.
How to decide in 20 minutes
Takeaway: Count last month’s payment mix, then price Melio allotments against Plastiq’s 2.99% + delivery.
- Export last month’s vendor payments. Tag each as bank ACH, check, card, or wire.
- Price the bank ACH count on Melio Go / Core / Unlimited (free allotment, then $0.50, or $64 Unlimited).
- Price the same month on Plastiq as if funded by card: 2.99% of card-funded volume + $0.99 / $1.49 / wire delivery per payment.
- Add whether you need in-tool W-9/1099 this year. If yes, weight Melio Core+ heavily.
- Send one $25–$50 test payment on the leading tool and confirm actual delivery timing before you migrate the whole AP folder.
- Document card-network restrictions for rent, taxes, and other sensitive payees so float does not become a declined payment at the worst time.
If you are still mailing checks and only need a digital replacement, read how to pay business bills online without mailing checks first, then come back to this Melio vs Plastiq choice.
FAQ: Melio vs Plastiq
Is Melio cheaper than Plastiq for ACH bill pay?
Usually yes when you fund from a bank. Melio includes free ACH allotments (5 / 20 / 50 / unlimited by plan) and then about $0.50 per extra ACH. Plastiq lists $0.99 per ACH/EFT delivery, and if you fund by card you also pay 2.99%. Card-funded volume is a different spreadsheet.
Does Plastiq still charge a monthly fee in 2026?
Plastiq’s pricing page states there are no subscriptions and no seat fees. You pay transaction and delivery fees instead. Re-check plastiq.com/pricing when you enroll.
Can Melio and Plastiq both pay vendors who do not take cards?
Yes—both market paying vendors by card even when the vendor does not accept cards, by delivering ACH or check (subject to network and product limits). Always confirm the payee is allowed before the due date.
Which is faster for card-to-ACH delivery?
Melio’s February 2026 compare page claims same-day card-to-ACH and says Plastiq may take up to three days unless you buy faster delivery. Plastiq sells same/next-day options starting at 0.2%. Run a test payment; do not promise vendors a day based only on marketing copy.
Does Plastiq support W-9 and 1099 workflows like Melio?
Melio advertises W-9 collection and 1099 automation on Core, Boost, and Unlimited. Plastiq’s public pricing feature list (November 5, 2026) does not include those tools. Plan a separate 1099 process if you choose Plastiq.
Is Plastiq still operating after the Priority acquisition?
Yes. As of November 5, 2026, plastiq.com is live with pricing, signup, and “backed by the power of Priority” messaging, plus a 2026 copyright. Confirm ToS and entity details for your state when you create an account.
Should I use Melio Unlimited or stay on Plastiq with no subscription?
If bank ACH volume is high and you want unlimited free ACH plus seats, Melio Unlimited at $64/mo is easy to model. If you rarely ACH from bank and mostly chase card float with a team that refuses SaaS seats, Plastiq’s no-subscription model can still win—even if each payment costs more in percentage fees.
Where does BILL fit next to Melio and Plastiq?
BILL is the heavier multi-user AP/AR platform with per-user pricing. Compare Melio and BILL on seat math in Melio vs Bill.com, and scan Bill.com alternatives if you are leaving BILL rather than choosing card float.
Next steps
Takeaway: If domestic bank-funded AP is the job, start with Melio; keep Plastiq on the shortlist only after you run the card-float worksheet.
For most US small businesses comparing Melio vs Plastiq in 2026, Melio is the default when ACH allotments, plan clarity, and W-9/1099 workflows matter. Plastiq remains a real product under Priority when you want zero subscription software cost and are willing to pay ~2.99% plus delivery for card-centric bill pay.
Ready to try the domestic ACH path? Explore Melio’s current plans, then verify fees on Melio’s pricing page before you move production vendors. For more context, read Melio pricing, the Melio review, and the bill pay and comparisons hubs.