Since its launch in 2018, Lili Bank has offered innovative banking solutions to small business owners and freelancers.
For starters, Lili offers a business checking account and Visa debit card that aren’t bogged down with hidden fees or overdraft fees. There’s also no deposit required to get started with Lili and you don’t have to keep a minimum balance in your checking account—which means you keep access to your money (as it should be).
In this Lili Bank review, we dive deep into what Lili banking offers its customers, which features you should care most about, and the best way to get started with a Lili business account.
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5/5Lili Bank Summary
In summary, the Lili Business Bank Account is a great option if you are running a very small business (5 people or less) and need a simple but powerful banking solution.
The Lili card makes it easy to control your small business spending and the Lili app puts everything you need right at your fingertips.
Basic features are free, but with an affordable paid plan, you can also tap into some great bookkeeping and tax prep features.
Pros & Cons of Lili Bank
Pros |
Cons |
No minimum fees or overdraft fees.This is huge for small business owners who need access to all their capital and shouldn’t have to waste time worrying about other nuisance fees. Access to a full suite of tools.Lili’s banking tools pair seamlessly with Lili bookkeeping, invoicing, payments, and tax planning tools. New AI-powered bookkeeping.Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and auto-categorization means you spend less time managing your money and more time growing your small business. |
It’s not actually a “bank.”All over their site, you’ll see that Lili “bank” is not actually a bank at all. It’s actually a fintech company. So who manages and protects your money? Choice Financial Group out of South Dakota, USA. Limits on cash deposits.If your business heavily uses cash, keep in mind there is a daily $1,000 cash deposit limit and a monthly $9,000 limit. ACH, connected accounts, and check deposits have zero fees. Paid tiers required for premium features.While many banks offer most features to most customers, Lili Bank segments their customers with different monthly subscription plans. |
How Lili banking compares
In order to get a clearer picture of Lili bank when compared with the market, let’s compare a few non-traditional banking competitors side-by-side:
 Lili |  Oxygen |  RelayFi |  Novo | |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Plan Options | $0/mo-$35/mo | N/A | $30/mo | N/A |
| Minimum balance | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum deposit | 0 | 0 | 0 | $50 |
In addition, here’s how Lili bank compares with a few more traditional bank options:
| Lili | Traditional banks | |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Up to $1500 |
| Overdraft fees | $0 | $0-$36 |
| ACH fees | $0 | $0-$1 |
| ATM fees | $0 (in-network) | $0-$30 |
| Foreign transaction fees | 0% | 2.7%-3% |
| Incoming domestic wire transfers | $0 | $13-$20 |
| Number of transactions | Unlimited | 10000-100000 |
Top banking features
For a deeper dive into Lili, let’s review some of their top banking and finance features you might need as you grow your small business.
Lili Business Banking
Of course, the primary offering at Lili Bank is their business banking account. Below, we’ll review plans, features, and lots more to help you determine if this is a good business bank account for you.
Plans
Lili offers essentially 4 plans for your business banking needs: Basic, Pro, Smart, and Premium.
Lili Basic is completely free. It costs $0/mo to access the features of Lili Basic. With Lili Basic, you’ll receive a basic business checking account with no monthly fees, a business debit card, and access to the Lili app and online banking. Lili Basic rewards you with a pretty standard 1% APY on any savings you have in your account.
Lili Pro is the next plan (by order of price) and costs $9/mo. Lili Pro gives you everything you get with the free Basic plan but also lets you withdraw cash at over 38,000 ATMs. The Pro plan also helps automate your tax savings and removes your overdraft fees (up to $200). Plus, they double your savings interest rate to 2% APY.
Lili Smart costs a bit more at $20/mo. In addition to all of the features mentioned above, you also get access to their Metal Visa Business Pro debit card which also means you can earn cash back rewards through Visa.
Lili Premium rounds out the list with a cost of $35/mo. The biggest addition here seems to be that you get a dedicated account specialist and priority customer support—which sounds nice, but may not be worth the extra $15/mo. It could be there as a price anchor.
Lili Card
When you sign up for Lili, you get your very own Lili Card—a Visa debit card that is accepted anywhere Visa cards can be used (which is basically everywhere).
There’s no fee for the Lili card and, if you subscribe to one of their paid tiers, you can even earn cash back on the money you spend using your Lili card.
Lili App
Of course, because Lili is a financial tech company, their real selling point is the Lili App. Everything we’ll discuss in this Lili review, you can do directly in their app (available on iPhone or Android).
Invoicing with Lili
If you already bank with Lili, sending invoices to clients may be a little bit simpler but only if you’re on the Smart or Premium accounts (see above).
You can export invoices from the Lili invoicing dashboard and share with clients or send them directly using email. Like many freelancer invoicing tools, you can also set up client reminders and status notifications.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Traditionally, to do the accounting or bookkeeping for your small business, you would have to sync your bank with a tool like Quickbooks and then categorize your expenses there.
With Lili, that option still exists, but you can also auto-categorize your spending without any syncing or exporting right within Lili which means less time doing your books and more time growing your business—which is a definite win.
This auto-categorization is just the first step in Lili’s aim to integrate AI into their toolset.
Tax Preparation
If you subscribe to one of Lili’s paid plans, you’ll get access to some pretty cool tax preparation features as well.
For example, Lili can help you auto-save for tax time so you’re not stuck with a tax bill you can’t afford.
Plus, Lili can generate your tax forms with all the right info based on the categorization we talked about earlier.
Lili customer service
Finally, if you sign up for Lili, you can expect to be met with quality customer service. You can reach their support team directly from the Lili App once you’ve downloaded it. Just click “Help Center.”
Or you can use email ([email protected]) or their support phone number (855-545-4380).
Keep in mind, they do not offer 24/7 support, so you’ll have to plan ahead to contact them during regular customer support hours as shown below:
For email support: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm EST and Sat-Sun, 9am-6pm EST
For phone support: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm EST (bank holidays excluded)
How to open a Lili account
If you’re ready to open a Lili account, the process is pretty simple. Here’s what you should do:
- Click this link to visit Lili.co.
- Click “Get Started” and create an account.
- Download the Lili App.
- Add funds to your account by scanning a check, connecting a bank account, or initiating an ACH transfer.
Lili Bank Review FAQ
If you’re not quite ready to sign up, here are a few more questions and answers about Lili.
Q: What restrictions should I know about when using Lili?
A: There are not many restrictions, however here are a few you may want to be aware of before signing up for Lili:
- Outbound ACH Transfers: Max $10,000 per day and $60,000 per month
- Lili Card Purchases: $10,000 per day
- ATM Withdrawals using Lili Card: Max $1,000
- Cash Deposits: $1,000 per day and $9,000 per month
- Inbound ACH Transfers: $1,000 per day and $5,000 per month
- Mobile Check Deposits: $50,000 per month and $10,000 per day.
- Maximum Check Value: $10,000 (you can also petition this in the app)
Q: Do I have to download the Lili App?
A: Nope. You can use Lili’s website in order to access your account and perform most actions you can accomplish using the app.
Q: Wait…Lili is not a bank? Is my money safe?
A: Pretty much yes. Funds you deposit into your Lili bank checking account are managed by Choice Financial Group which is a member of the FDIC. This means your money is guaranteed to be protected by the U.S. government up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank.
Q: Do I need an EIN to sign up for Lili?
A: Not necessarily. If you’re a sole proprietor, you can just sign up with your social security number. But if you’re an LLC, you’ll need both your social security number and your Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Currently, you can open a Lili bank account if you have one of the following business types:
- Sole Proprietor
- Single-member LLC
- Multi-member LLC
- S-Corp
- General Partnership
- Limited Liability Partnership
Q: How long does it take to open a Lili business account?
A: Depending on how quick you are at typing, setting up a Lili business bank account only takes a few minutes. A few more minutes to download the app (either before signing up or after) and add funds to your account, and you’re probably looking at somewhere around 10-15 minutes all-in. Depending on transfer speeds with your current bank, it may take longer to actually transfer funds to your Lili account.
Lili Alternatives
Found
5/5Found is an all-in-one financial platform for self-employed individuals and small business owners. It combines online banking, bookkeeping, tax management, and invoicing tools with no hidden fees or minimum balance requirements. Key features include real-time tax estimates, automatic expense categorization, and easy invoicing. Found aims to simplify financial management for freelancers and sole proprietors by integrating banking, accounting, and tax functions in a single, user-friendly application available on multiple platforms.
Why we like Found ‣
Found Bank offers a compelling banking solution tailored specifically for freelancers and self-employed professionals. We appreciate Found's focus on simplifying financial management for independent workers, combining essential banking services with tools for invoicing, expense tracking, and tax preparation. The platform's all-in-one approach addresses many pain points freelancers face in managing their business finances.
Read the Full Review
Found Pros & Cons ‣
Pros:
- No-fee business banking designed for freelancers and solopreneurs
- Built-in tools for invoicing, expense categorization, and tax estimation
- Free business debit Mastercard with instant purchase alerts
- Automatic expense categorization for easier tax preparation
- Real-time tax estimates and ability to pay taxes directly through the app
- User-friendly mobile and web apps for on-the-go financial management
Cons:
- Not suitable for S-Corps or nonprofit organizations
- Limited features compared to more comprehensive accounting software
- Relatively new player in the financial technology space
- May lack some advanced features needed by larger or more complex businesses
- Upgrade required for certain premium features (Found+)
Novo
4/5Novo provides a free business checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Key features include business debit cards, budgeting tools called "Reserves," free customizable invoicing, and integration with popular business tools. Novo also offers Novo Boost, which accelerates Stripe payments, and provides access to partner perks worth up to $10,000 in savings. The platform emphasizes ease of use, quick account setup, and integration with existing business software to streamline financial operations for small business owners.
Why we like Novo ‣
Novo offers a digital-first business checking solution tailored for small businesses and entrepreneurs. We appreciate Novo's focus on providing a streamlined, fee-free banking experience with modern features that cater to the needs of today's small business owners. The platform stands out for its integration capabilities, innovative cash flow management tools, and commitment to eliminating common banking pain points for small businesses.
Novo Pros & Cons ‣
Pros:
- No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements
- Free business debit card with instant card control features
- Robust integrations with popular business tools and platforms
- Novo Boost feature for faster access to Stripe payments
- Free, customizable invoicing tools built into the platform
- Reserves feature for easy budgeting and goal setting
- Access to partner perks with potential savings on business tools
- FDIC insured up to $250,000 through partner bank
Cons:
- Not a traditional bank, which may concern some businesses
- Limited physical banking services (e.g., cash deposits)
- Relatively new player in the financial technology space
- May lack some advanced features offered by traditional banks
- Customer support primarily digital, which may not suit all users
- ATM fee reimbursements limited to $7 per month starting 2024
Chase
4/5Chase for Business offers a comprehensive suite of financial services for businesses of all sizes. This includes business checking accounts, loans, credit cards, payment solutions, and savings accounts. The platform aims to support businesses throughout their growth stages, providing integrated tools for managing finances, accepting payments, and accessing capital. Chase emphasizes flexibility and scalability in its offerings to meet diverse business needs.
Why we like Chase ‣
Chase for Business offers a comprehensive suite of financial services tailored for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations. We appreciate Chase's ability to provide a wide range of products and services under one roof, leveraging its extensive experience and resources as a major financial institution. The platform stands out for its combination of traditional banking strength with modern business tools and technologies.
Chase Pros & Cons ‣
Pros:
- Diverse range of business checking accounts to suit various business sizes and needs
- Comprehensive payment solutions, including the new Chase Point of Sale (POS) Terminal
- Variety of business credit cards with attractive rewards programs
- Access to business loans and financing options, including SBA loans
- Robust online and mobile banking platforms for easy account management
- Extensive network of physical branches and ATMs for in-person banking
- Integration of merchant services and payment processing solutions
- Access to commercial banking services for larger businesses
Cons:
- May have higher fees compared to some online-only business banking alternatives
- Some advanced features or better rates might require maintaining higher account balances
- Potential for more complex account structures that could be overwhelming for very small businesses
- Large institution may offer less personalized service compared to smaller banks or credit unions
- Some users may find the wide array of products and services overwhelming to navigate
- Approval for certain products like loans or credit cards may have stricter requirements
For more, see our full list of bank accounts for freelancers.
Conclusion
The Lili Business Bank Account and Lili Card are a great, simple-yet-powerful option for freelancers and self-employed professionals. Their paid tiers enhance their offering which may be a better fit for LLCs or Partnerships. From what we can see, Lili will continue to innovate and adapt to provide better and better financial tools for self-employed.
If you’re in the market for a simple bank account, we definitely recommend you try Lili.
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