TL;DR

A separate account for gig income makes your income and expenses easier to track and your deductions easier to prove.

Lili is the best fit for most gig workers: a free account that pays 2.25% APY on savings, a good place to park the money you set aside for taxes.

Bluevine pays interest on checking, Relay pays interest on savings, and Novo keeps things simple, though it asks sole proprietors for an EIN.

Whichever account you choose, connect it to Solo. Solo uses Plaid to pull in your transactions, sort your expenses and capture income from outside your gig apps.

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You don't need a business bank account to drive for DoorDash, Instacart or Uber. But when gig pay, side income, gas, groceries and rent all run through one personal account, tax time turns into an afternoon of guessing which deposits and charges were for work. A separate account fixes that.

This guide compares the best business banking apps for gig workers in 2026 on what matters: fees, interest, sign-up requirements and how easy they make tracking. While Solo—the earnings, mileage and tax app used by 1M+ gig workers—isn't a bank, it connects to whichever account you pick. Download Solo to see all your income and expenses in one place.

Do gig workers need a business bank account?

No. Most gig workers file as sole proprietors, and the IRS doesn't require sole proprietors to keep a separate business account. It's still worth having one:

  • Cleaner records. Every work deposit and expense in one place makes your income easy to report and your deductions easy to prove.
  • An easier tax bill. Moving a share of each payout into savings keeps quarterly tax money from getting spent.
  • Simpler multi-apping. 13% of drivers in Solo data worked two or more gig apps in 2026, and each app pays on its own schedule. One account to collect it all makes cash flow easier to follow.

What to look for in a gig worker bank account

  • No monthly fee. Every account on this list has a free plan.
  • Sign-up with your Social Security number. Most sole proprietors don't have an EIN. Check whether the bank requires one.
  • Interest on your tax savings. Money you set aside between quarterly deadlines can earn interest while it waits.
  • Cash deposits, if you get cash tips. Fees vary.
  • A connection to your tracking app. An account that connects to your income, mileage and expense app saves you from re-entering anything.

Best business banking apps for gig workers, compared

Account Monthly fee Interest Good to know Best for
Lili$0 on Core (Pro: $15/month)2.25% APY on savings up to $500,000, on every planSole proprietors can apply with an SSN. No Lili fee for cash deposits; retailers charge up to $4.95Most gig workers, especially for tax savings
Bluevine$0 on Standard1.3% APY on up to $250,000 in months you spend $500 on the debit card or receive $2,500 in paymentsValley National Bancorp agreed to buy Bluevine; Bluevine says pricing and rates stay the same for nowEarning interest on checking
Relay$0 on Starter1.19% APY on savingsSole proprietors can open with an SSN; $8 per outgoing domestic wireFree checking plus savings interest
Novo$0NoneSole proprietors need an EIN to open an accountSimple, free business checking

Fees and rates as published on each provider's pricing and fee pages, October 2026. Bluevine acquisition announced September 28, 2026. Rates change often, so check before you open an account.

1. Lili: best overall for gig workers

Lili pays 2.25% APY on savings up to $500,000 on every plan, including the free Core account. That makes it a good home for your quarterly tax money between deadlines. Sole proprietors can apply with their SSN, and Lili doesn't charge its own fee for cash deposits, which helps if you get cash tips.

2. Bluevine: best for interest on checking

Bluevine's free Standard plan pays 1.3% APY on up to $250,000 in any month you spend $500 on its debit card or receive $2,500 in customer payments. Full-time gig workers who pay for gas and supplies with the card can hit that easily. Valley National Bancorp agreed to buy Bluevine in September 2026, with the deal expected to close in early 2027.

3. Relay: best free checking with savings

Relay's free Starter plan pairs business checking with a savings account paying 1.19% APY. Sole proprietors can open an account with their SSN, no EIN required.

4. Novo: best simple free checking

Novo is a no-frills free business checking account. It doesn't pay interest, and sole proprietors need an EIN as well as an SSN to open one. An EIN is free from the IRS, but it's an extra step most gig workers haven't taken.

What about the cards from gig apps?

Some gig apps offer their own debit cards. The DoorDash Crimson Visa Debit Card pays out your earnings after every dash at no fee, and Instacart's Shopper Rewards Card deposits your earnings after every batch for free and adds cash back on gas. These are personal accounts, not business accounts, but they're the fastest way to get paid on those apps. Many drivers use one for payouts and move money to a business account for bills and taxes.

Connect any account to Solo to track income and expenses

Solo isn't a bank, and you don't have to switch banks to use it. Solo uses Plaid, the same secure connection many finance apps use, to link your business or personal accounts and cards. Then it:

  • Sorts expenses into categories like car and mileage, phone, equipment and software, so deductions are ready at tax time.
  • Captures income from outside your gig apps. Deposits from side gigs, freelance work, cash tips you deposit, or apps Solo doesn't connect to directly show up from your linked accounts, so all of your income counts toward your earnings and tax estimates.
  • Combines everything with your gig app earnings from 15+ platforms and the miles from Solo's Mileage Tracker.
  • Feeds Tax Hub, which turns it all into real-time tax estimates, so you know how much to move into savings each week.

Most gig workers have more than one income stream. When every deposit and every expense lands in one view, your tax estimate reflects what you actually earned, not just what one app paid you. Pair a free business account with Solo and you get clean records without a spreadsheet. Download Solo and try any paid plan free for 7 days.

How to choose

  • You want interest on your tax savings: Lili, or Relay.
  • You pay for gas and supplies with a debit card: Bluevine, if you'll hit its monthly activity requirement.
  • You already have an EIN and want something simple: Novo.
  • You get paid by several apps or have side income: any of the above, connected to Solo so every deposit is tracked.

Whatever you choose, the account only helps if your income and expenses get tracked. Read our guide to what expenses delivery drivers can claim to see what to track.

FAQ

Do gig workers need a business bank account?

No. Gig workers who file as sole proprietors aren't required to have a separate business account. A separate account still makes income and expenses easier to track and deductions easier to prove at tax time.

What is the best bank account for gig workers in 2026?

Lili is the best fit for most gig workers because its free Core account pays 2.25% APY on savings, a good place to keep money set aside for taxes. Bluevine pays interest on checking if you meet its monthly activity requirement, and Relay pays interest on savings.

Can I open a business bank account with just my SSN?

At Lili, Bluevine and Relay, sole proprietors can apply with their Social Security number instead of an EIN. Novo asks sole proprietors for an EIN as well.

Which business bank accounts for gig workers pay interest?

Lili pays 2.25% APY on savings up to $500,000, Bluevine pays 1.3% APY on checking in months you meet its activity requirement, and Relay pays 1.19% APY on savings. Novo doesn't pay interest.

Can I connect my bank account to Solo?

Yes. Solo uses Plaid to connect your bank accounts and cards. It sorts your expenses into categories and captures income deposits from outside your gig apps, like side gigs or freelance work, so all of your income counts toward your tax estimates. It works with business and personal accounts, so you don't need to switch banks.