HEVN U.S. (site) gives companies in 100+ countries a USD account through U.S. sponsor banks — receive USD via Fedwire, hold USD, pay U.S. counterparties locally, and settle supported SWIFT payments. It's built for importers, exporters, commodity traders, and manufacturers who need fast USD banking without a U.S. entity. Pricing starts at $25/month (Basic, up to $50k monthly volume), rising to $89/month (Pro, up to $250k) and custom Enterprise pricing for $1M+ volume — there is no free tier.
Below are five alternatives, ordered from cheapest to most expensive based on stated pricing.
| Product | Free tier | Starts at | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking Access Index | Yes | Free | Researching which banks accept non-resident founders before you pay for anything |
| Monet | Yes | $0/mo | Getting a free USD account with pay-per-use extras |
| VaultLeap | Yes | $14.99/mo | Non-US founders who can't get Mercury or similar |
| OURPAY | Yes | $20/mo | Sellers who need same-day settlement |
| Payset Multi-Currency Business Account | Yes | Not stated (free account, per-transaction fees) | Businesses that want free account opening and pay only per transfer |
Banking Access Index
Banking Access Index (site) isn't a bank account — it's a free CC-BY 4.0 dataset comparing 19 U.S. business banking providers across 8 countries of residence, with 239 verified claims on which providers accept non-resident founders. It suits anyone comparing options before committing to a provider like HEVN. Cost: free, downloadable CSV/JSON. Limitation: it doesn't give you an account or process payments — it's research, not banking.
Monet
Monet (site) lets you get paid in dollars and send money anywhere, with free account issuance and fees charged per transaction for things like expedited transfers and out-of-network features. It suits businesses and individuals who want a no-monthly-fee USD account and only pay for extras they use. Cost: $0/month base. Limitation: the pricing brief doesn't specify exact transaction fee amounts, so total cost depends on usage.
VaultLeap
VaultLeap (site) offers USD, EUR, and MXN accounts with real ACH routing numbers, built specifically for founders outside the U.S. who've been cut off from Mercury or similar providers. The free Standard tier charges 0.75% per transfer; Pro at $14.99/month drops fees to 0.45%, or you can earn Pro status via $1K+/month card spend. A Zero tier offers 0% fees up to $40k/month with a $4K+ minimum (detail cut off in brief). It suits early-stage non-US founders. Limitation: Visa cards are still "coming soon," not yet available.
OURPAY
OURPAY (site) is built for sellers who want same-day settlement. The free Starter plan charges 50¢ per transaction; Pro at $20/month adds 3.80% + 40¢ per transaction; higher tiers run $100/month and $400/month, with a Startup program offering a Scale plan. It suits businesses selling globally that prioritize fast settlement over the lowest per-transaction rate. Limitation: percentage-based fees on the Pro tier can add up quickly for high-volume sellers compared to HEVN's flat monthly pricing.
Payset Multi-Currency Business Account
Payset (site) offers a free multi-currency business account with no charge for account opening or monthly access; you pay per transaction — receiving from £2, sending from £2, plus currency conversion fees. It suits businesses that want to avoid monthly fees entirely and only pay when moving money. Limitation: no single "starts at" monthly price is stated, so cost depends entirely on transaction volume and currency mix.
How to choose
If you just want to compare providers before paying anything, start with the Banking Access Index. If you want a genuinely free account with pay-as-you-go fees, look at Monet or Payset. If you're a non-US founder shut out of mainstream banks, VaultLeap targets that gap directly. If same-day settlement matters more than the lowest fee, OURPAY fits. HEVN U.S. makes sense once your volume and need for Fedwire/SWIFT settlement justify a flat monthly fee.
FAQ
Is HEVN U.S. the most expensive option here? Yes, its $25/month Basic plan is higher than every alternative's starting price, several of which are free.
Do any of these alternatives have no free tier? No — all five alternatives listed offer some form of free tier, unlike HEVN U.S.
Which alternative is cheapest for very low transaction volume? The Banking Access Index costs nothing since it's a dataset, and Monet's $0/month base tier suits low-volume USD account needs.