Pilot vs Relay
A side-by-side comparison of two accounting tools for small businesses.
Bottom line
Pilot and Relay score within a point of each other on SMB fit (8/10 vs 8/10), so the better choice comes down to your specific workflow, budget, and the feature details below.
At a glance
| Attribute | Pilot | Relay |
|---|---|---|
| SMB score | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Category | Accounting | Accounting |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Starting price | From $499/mo | From $20/user/mo |
| Best for | Pilot is best suited for seed-to-Series B startups, professional services firms, and owner-operated small businesses with 1–50 employees that want reliable, human-reviewed financials without hiring an in-house accountant. It's particularly well-matched for founders who report to investors and need clean accrual-basis books on a predictable schedule. SaaS companies benefit from Pilot's familiarity with deferred revenue and MRR reporting. Service businesses—agencies, consultancies, law firms—gain the most from the combination of automatic transaction pull and expert categorization that handles retainers, project billing, and contractor payments accurately. If your business runs primarily through Stripe, Gusto, or QuickBooks Online, the integration depth makes Pilot especially low-friction to maintain month to month. | Relay fits service businesses, freelancers, and small retail or e-commerce operators with 1–25 employees who want their bank account and bookkeeping software to stay in sync without manual exports. It is particularly strong for owners who already use QuickBooks Online or Xero and want spend controls without issuing unlimited corporate cards. Bookkeepers and fractional CFOs who manage several small-business clients will find the multi-client dashboard and bill approval workflows reduce back-and-forth with owners. Any business doing envelope-style budgeting—separating tax reserves, payroll, and operating cash into distinct buckets—benefits directly from the multi-account structure at no extra cost. |
Pilot
Human-reviewed bookkeeping backed by AI, built for startups and small businesses that need accurate books without a full-time accountant.
Picture a 12-person e-commerce company whose founder is spending four hours every Sunday reconciling transactions in a spreadsheet instead of planning next quarter's product line. Pilot was built precisely for that moment—a service that takes the entire bookkeeping burden off the…
Key features
- AI-assisted transaction categorization reviewed by US-based bookkeepers monthly
- Dedicated bookkeeper assigned to your account on Core and higher plans
- Books closed and delivered by the 10th business day each month
- Accrual and cash-basis accounting options to match your reporting needs
- Tax preparation and filing support available as an add-on service
- Native integration with QuickBooks Online, Stripe, Gusto, and major banks
- Burn-rate, revenue recognition, and startup-specific financial reporting
- Secure client portal for document sharing and financial package review
Limitations
Pilot is a managed service, not a self-serve accounting platform, so businesses that want real-time dashboards or the ability to manually adjust their own books will find the model restrictive. Pricing scales with monthly expenses, meaning fast-growing companies can see their bill rise quickly beyond the base plan—verify current tier thresholds on the vendor site. Inventory-heavy businesses (manufacturing, wholesale) may need supplementary tools since Pilot's strength is in service and software business models. Tax filing support is an add-on rather than included in base bookkeeping plans, which can surprise budget-conscious buyers. Multi-entity or international accounting needs are largely outside Pilot's current core offering.
Relay
Business banking with built-in spend controls, bill pay, and bookkeeping sync so you always know your real cash position.
Picture a five-person landscaping company whose owner juggles three active jobs, a part-time bookkeeper, and a growing pile of vendor invoices. Every Friday she spends two hours reconciling what her crew spent on fuel and supplies against what QuickBooks thinks is in the account.…
Key features
- Up to 20 FDIC-insured checking sub-accounts for envelope-based cash management
- Physical and virtual debit cards with per-card spend limits and merchant controls
- Two-way sync with QuickBooks Online and Xero for real-time reconciliation
- Multi-step bill approval workflows to prevent unauthorized vendor payments
- Batch ACH and check payments to multiple vendors in a single action
- Built-in invoicing and receipt capture on the free Starter plan
- Role-based access so bookkeepers and employees see only what they need
Limitations
Relay does not accept cash deposits, which is a hard stop for any business that regularly takes cash payments (restaurants, contractors paid on-site, market vendors). There is no business credit card or line of credit; lending products are outside Relay's current scope, so borrowing needs must be handled elsewhere. The $30/month Grow plan is required for bill approvals and batch payments—features that feel essential once you try them, making the free tier feel limited for businesses with more than a handful of vendors. Customer support is chat and email only; phone support is not available, which can be frustrating during time-sensitive payment issues. International wire transfers have limited support—verify current capabilities on the vendor site.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Pilot or Relay better for small businesses?
- Pilot and Relay score within a point of each other on SMB fit (8/10 vs 8/10), so the better choice comes down to your specific workflow, budget, and the feature details below.
- How does pricing compare between Pilot and Relay?
- Pilot offers paid plans from about $499/mo. Relay offers a free tier or trial with paid plans from about $20/mo. Always confirm current plans on each vendor's website before you commit.
- Which is cheaper, Pilot or Relay?
- Relay has the lower advertised entry price ($20/mo), but the best value depends on the plan tier and seats your business actually needs.
- When should I choose Pilot over Relay?
- Pilot is a strong fit for Pilot is best suited for seed-to-Series B startups, professional services firms, and owner-operated small businesses with 1–50 employees…. Lean toward Relay if you need Relay fits service businesses, freelancers, and small retail or e-commerce operators with 1–25 employees who want their bank account and….
Read the full profiles: Pilot · Relay · All Accounting tools