Novo vs Chase Business Checking: Which Is Better?

Round by round

1. Round 1💵 Handling CashChase wins
   Novo1/10

   Cannot accept cash deposits

   • No branch, no cash-load partner, no workaround
   • Would need a second account for cash-handling businesses

   Chase9/10

   $5,000/cycle

   Free in-branch cash deposits across the largest branch network in the US

   • Effortless cash handling at scale
   • 20 free in-branch transactions per cycle

   Source: Chase business fee schedule

   So this round goes to Chase.

2. Round 2🧮 Monthly FeeNovo wins
   Novo9/10

   $0/mo, no way to trigger a fee

   • No fee, no minimum, nothing to track
   • Unlimited transactions, no per-item fees

   Chase5/10

   $15/mo

   Waivable via $2,000 balance, card deposits, or card spend

   • Fee waived automatically once you clear any one of three bars
   • Up to $180/year if you can't clear the bar

   Source: Chase business checking terms

   This round goes to Novo.

3. Round 3🔌 Ecommerce & Accounting IntegrationsNovo wins
   Novo9/10

   5 native integrations

   Direct sync with major ecommerce and accounting platforms

   • Payouts sync automatically into your books
   • Novo Invoices included for client billing

   Source: Novo product features

   Chase5/10

   QuickBooks sync

   Not tailored to Stripe/Shopify-native sellers

   • Solid QuickBooks sync and strong app
   • No native ecommerce platform integrations

   Source: Chase product features

   This round goes to Novo.

4. Round 4🏦 Card Acceptance & In-Person BankingChase wins
   Novo4/10

   0 branches

   Debit card only, no built-in card acceptance

   • No branches or in-person support
   • No built-in card acceptance

   Source: Novo product features

   Chase8/10

   In-app, same-day

   QuickAccept card acceptance plus a nationwide branch network

   • Card acceptance and branches in one account
   • Same-day QuickAccept deposits help waive the monthly fee

   Source: Chase Payment Solutions data

   This round goes to Chase.

5. Round 5🏧 ATM Access & RefundsChase wins
   Novo6/10

   ~$7/month

   Refunds out-of-network ATM fees worldwide, no proprietary network

   • Works at any ATM, anywhere
   • Capped at ~$7/month

   Source: Novo ATM terms

   Chase8/10

   ~15,000 ATMs

   Largest proprietary fee-free ATM network in the US

   • No cap, no refund needed
   • No monthly refund cap to track

   Source: Chase network disclosures

   This round goes to Chase, on sheer reach and no cap.

6. Round 6🎁 Signup Bonus & Room To GrowChase wins
   Novo4/10

   None

   No standing cash signup bonus; one account, no tiers

   • Simple, no-frills product
   • No lending or tier ladder

   Source: Novo offer disclosures

   Chase8/10

   up to $500

   Standing signup bonus plus higher tiers, cards, and lending

   • Real growth path with one institution
   • $400 for $2,000 deposited, $500 for $10,000

   Source: Chase 2026 promotional terms

   So this round goes to Chase for offering both a real growth path and a clear signup bonus.

Which one is for you?

Side by side

Novo

Chase

Check price

Overall score

5.6

6.5

Best

Price

See price

See price

Signup Bonus

2.3

7.3

Cash Deposits

1.0

—

Head-to-head findings

Signup Bonus

No standing cash bonus

Up to $500

Cash Deposits

$0 — no cash deposits accepted

—

Record

Head-to-head record

2–7

6–3

Head-to-heads won

22 %

67 %

Rounds won

46 %

50 %

Pros

• No fee, no minimum, nothing to track
• Unlimited transactions, no per-item fees
• Payouts sync automatically into your books
• Novo Invoices included for client billing

• Effortless cash handling at scale
• 20 free in-branch transactions per cycle
• Fee waived automatically once you clear any one of three bars
• Solid QuickBooks sync and strong app

Cons

• No branch, no cash-load partner, no workaround
• Would need a second account for cash-handling businesses
• No branches or in-person support
• No built-in card acceptance

• Up to $180/year if you can't clear the bar
• No native ecommerce platform integrations
• Pays 0% APY on every balance tier
• No interest earned even on a large cushion parked between payroll or vendor runs

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