Melio Payments

What is Melio?

Melio is America's fastest-growing bill pay and invoicing platform designed specifically for small businesses and their vendors. The platform enables businesses to pay bills using ACH bank transfers, credit cards, or checks while giving vendors the flexibility to receive payment however they prefer. With over $100 billion processed securely, 40 million+ bills paid on time, and 2 million+ vendors paid through the platform, Melio has established itself as a leading accounts payable and accounts receivable solution. The service integrates with leading banks, accounting firms, and SaaS platforms to power bill pay for millions of businesses.

Core Features

Melio streamlines both paying and getting paid. For accounts payable, businesses can add vendors, upload bills via photo or file, sync from accounting software, or forward invoices to a dedicated email address. Auto bill capture uses AI to extract payment information automatically. For accounts receivable, merchants can create professional invoices, generate custom payment links, and track incoming payments. Both functions sync bidirectionally with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero to keep books automatically updated.

Subscription Plans

As of September 2024, Melio introduced subscription tiers. The Go plan remains free with 5 ACH payments per month, credit card payments, invoice creation, payment links, and up to 10 lifetime QuickBooks/Xero syncs. The Core plan adds 20 free monthly ACH payments, unlimited accounting syncs, approval workflows, batch payments, W-9 collection, and chat support. The Boost plan includes 50 free ACH payments, 2-day ACH delivery, phone support, and advanced approval workflows. The Unlimited plan offers unlimited ACH transfers and users with premium support. A Platinum plan for businesses processing over $300K monthly in card payments provides custom pricing and API access.

Transaction Fees

ACH bank transfers are free up to the plan's monthly limit, then $0.50 per payment. Credit and debit card payments cost 2.9% of the transaction amount, allowing businesses to pay vendors even where cards aren't directly accepted. Same-day ACH transfers cost 1% (capped at $30). Fast checks cost $20 flat fee. Standard mailed checks are $1.50 each after the first two free per month. International payments have a $20 flat fee. Overnight checks and wire transfers have additional fees. There are no hidden setup costs.

Pay by Credit Card

Melio's standout feature lets businesses pay any vendor by credit card, even if that vendor only accepts checks or ACH. When you pay with a card, Melio charges your card and delivers funds to your vendor via their preferred method (ACH or check). This allows businesses to extend payment float, earn credit card rewards on business expenses, and improve cash flow by deferring actual payment until the credit card bill is due. Vendors never pay extra fees—they receive funds as if paid directly.

Special Card Rates

Businesses with high credit lines ($100K+) may qualify for special reduced rates on card payments. A Platinum plan is available by application for high-volume card users processing over $300,000 monthly, offering custom transaction pricing and priority support.

International Payments

Melio supports payments to vendors in 80+ countries, allowing businesses to pay global suppliers in their preferred local currencies. International payments carry a $20 flat fee. Payments can be funded by ACH or credit card (Visa and Mastercard for global payments). This makes managing both domestic and international vendor relationships possible from one central platform with competitive exchange rates and transparent fees.

Payment Speed Options

Standard ACH payments take 3-5 business days. Fast ACH (same-day) delivers funds the same business day if initiated before 2 PM ET for a 1% fee. Instant bank transfers deliver funds within minutes. Fast checks expedite check delivery for urgent payments. Same-day wire transfers are available for time-sensitive payments. These options ensure businesses can meet any payment deadline.

Accounts Receivable Features

Beyond paying bills, Melio helps businesses get paid faster. Create custom payment links in under 2 minutes that customers can use to pay via ACH or card. Choose who pays the card processing fees—the business or the customer. Track all incoming payments from a single dashboard. Automated collection processes and live accounting software sync keep receivables organized.

Batch Payments and Automation

Melio allows combining multiple bills and paying them in a few clicks. Multiple bills to the same vendor can be sent as one transaction. Recurring payments can be scheduled and automated so businesses never miss payment deadlines. Bill capture from Gmail imports invoices directly to the Bills tab, reducing manual data entry.

Team Collaboration

Businesses can add team members and set user roles and permissions for better approval workflows. Assign operational tasks while maintaining control over crucial payment decisions. The Unlimited plan includes unlimited users at no extra cost, while lower tiers have user limitations.

Contractor and 1099 Management

Melio simplifies paying contractors and freelancers. Collect W-9 forms directly through the platform and validate TINs for compliance. Sync 1099 data to tax1099.com for easy end-of-year filing. Apply vendor credits from QuickBooks Online directly within Melio when paying bills.

QuickBooks and Accounting Sync

Two-way auto sync with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, and FreshBooks keeps all payment data current. When you pay a bill through Melio, it automatically updates in your accounting software. This eliminates double data entry and ensures books are always accurate without manual reconciliation.

Security

Melio uses secure technology and is PCI compliant, ensuring money is protected and sensitive data is never stored insecurely. The platform has processed over $100 billion securely, demonstrating enterprise-grade reliability for businesses of all sizes.

Who Should Use Melio?

Melio is ideal for small businesses wanting to streamline bill payment, companies that want to pay vendors by credit card to earn rewards and extend float, businesses with international vendors needing simple cross-border payments, and accounting firms managing payments for multiple clients. The platform saves an average of 15+ hours per month on bill pay according to user surveys. It's particularly valuable for businesses that want to maintain cash flow flexibility while ensuring vendors get paid on time.

Considerations

The introduction of subscription fees in September 2024 has changed Melio's value proposition for some users. Businesses exceeding the free ACH limits will need to subscribe or pay per-transaction fees. The Go plan's lifetime limit of 10 accounting syncs may be restrictive for active users. Some users have reported that features previously available for free are now behind paywalls. Businesses should evaluate their payment volume against plan limits to determine cost-effectiveness.