Found and Lili are close competitors: both are freemium US business banking apps bundling checking with bookkeeping and tax tools for small businesses and the…
Best for Found: Self-employed users and businesses that hire freelancers who want unlimited free contractor payments with automatic 1099-NEC generation and integrated tax write-off and estimate tracking.
Best for Lili: Businesses that want to earn on idle cash via Lili's up to 4.00% APY savings feature, balances up to $1M with no minimums or lockups, and connect directly to QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe, Shopify, or Gusto.
At a Glance
Found
Lili
Primary category
Payments
Payments
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Freemium (free core account with optional paid tiers)
Freemium / Subscription
Starting price
Free (paid tiers from $35/month)
Free (Lili Basic); paid plans from $15/month
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Free trial
Yes
Not documented
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Web
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Public API
Not documented
Not documented
Key Differences
Banking Partner
Found: Found's banking services are provided by Lead Bank, member FDIC.
Lili: Lili's banking services are provided by Sunrise Banks, N.A., member FDIC.
Both are fintechs relying on a partner bank rather than being a bank themselves, so users should understand where deposit insurance actually applies.
Savings/Interest Feature
Found: Found offers tiered APY only on paid plans: 1.50% on Found Plus up to $20,000, and 2.50% uncapped on Found Pro.
Lili: Lili offers high-yield savings up to 4.00% APY on balances up to $1M, no minimums or lockups, plus extended FDIC coverage up to $3M through a sweep network.
The ability to earn yield without paying for an upgraded tier is a meaningful cost difference.
Paid Tier Pricing Transparency
Found: Found publishes exact prices for its paid tiers: Found Plus $35/month, Found Pro $80/month.
Lili: Lili's Pro, Smart, and Premium tier pricing is not publicly disclosed.
Published pricing lets buyers compare upfront costs without a sales conversation.
Business Credit Access
Found: No business line-of-credit feature is documented for Found.
Lili: Lili documents business credit lines up to $250,000.
Growing businesses may need external financing alongside their checking account.
AI Capabilities
Found: Found includes a beta AI assistant for querying finances and delegating certain financial tasks.
Lili: No AI feature is documented for Lili.
Conversational finance tools are an emerging differentiator, though Found's is still in beta.
Feature-by-Feature
Core Banking
Feature
Found
Lili
Free checking plan
Available
Available
Monthly fee on entry tier
Unavailable
Unavailable
FDIC insurance disclosed
Available
Available
International wires
Not documented
Available
Savings & Credit
Feature
Found
Lili
High-yield savings feature
Available
Available
Published top APY
Available
Available
Business lines of credit
Not documented
Available
Unlimited contractor payments, no fees
Available
Not documented
Bookkeeping & Integrations
Feature
Found
Lili
Automatic bookkeeping
Available
Available
Tax tools / estimates / 1099-NEC
Available
Available
Named third-party accounting integrations
Not documented
Available
AI assistant
Available
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Found
Found (Free) — $0/month No commitment
Found Plus — $35/month or $315/year Monthly or annual (25% savings annually)
Found Pro — $80/month or $720/year Monthly or annual (25% savings annually)
Lili
Lili Basic (Core) — Free Monthly
Lili Pro — $15/month Monthly
Lili Smart — $35/month Monthly
Lili Premium — $55/month Monthly
Pros & Cons
Found
Pros
Free core plan includes real bookkeeping, tax estimation, and unlimited invoicing with no monthly fee
Built-in contractor payments with 1099-NEC filing removes the need for a separate payroll tool
AI-powered Found Assistant embeds account support and task automation directly into the app
Backed by well-known investors including Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, and Lightspeed Venture Partners
Cons
Highest interest rates and cash back are locked behind the paid Plus and Pro subscription tiers
Customer support leans more on email and self-service tools compared to some competitors' live support
As a fintech rather than a chartered bank, deposits rely on third-party partner-bank relationships
No physical branch network, which may not suit business owners who prefer in-person banking
Lili
Pros
Free base tier with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements
Combines banking, bookkeeping and tax-savings tools in a single app
Competitive savings APY compared to many traditional small-business banks
Purpose-built for freelancers and 1099 contractors, including tax-specific features
Backed by well-known venture investors with roughly 80 million dollars in funding raised
Cons
Not a chartered bank itself, so account holders rely on a partner-bank structure for FDIC coverage
Advanced bookkeeping, invoicing and credit tools require paid tiers up to 55 dollars a month
No physical branches, which may not suit business owners who prefer in-person banking
Lines of credit and financing require qualification and are not guaranteed to all users
Smaller product ecosystem than larger business banking platforms like Mercury or Bluevine for scaling companies
Use Cases
Choose Found: Self-employed users and businesses that hire freelancers who want unlimited free contractor payments with automatic 1099-NEC generation and integrated tax write-off and estimate tracking.
Choose Lili: Businesses that want to earn on idle cash via Lili's up to 4.00% APY savings feature, balances up to $1M with no minimums or lockups, and connect directly to QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe, Shopify, or Gusto.
Need both: There's little practical case for running both simultaneously since they overlap almost entirely as primary business checking accounts; a business would pick one as its bank of record rather than split banking between two freemium checking products.
Found
Freelancer and gig worker banking — Independent contractors manage income, expenses, and tax set-asides in one account instead of juggling separate tools.
Contractor payments for small teams — Small business owners pay 1099 contractors and automatically generate year-end tax forms without a separate payroll platform.
Client invoicing and cash flow tracking — Service-based businesses send invoices and track payment status directly within their banking account.
Lili
Freelancer and Gig Worker Banking — Freelancers use Lili's free checking account and tax tools to manage income and expenses in one place.
Small Business Bookkeeping and Tax Prep — Sole proprietors use Lili Pro or Smart to automatically categorize expenses and prepare for tax season.
Small Team Financial Management — Small businesses use Lili Smart or Premium for team collaboration with role-based account access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which offers a higher savings APY?
Lili, advertising up to 4.00% APY on balances up to $1M, versus Found's 2.50% uncapped rate on the paid Found Pro tier.
Are Found and Lili actual banks?
No, both are fintechs partnering with FDIC-member banks: Lead Bank for Found and Sunrise Banks for Lili.
Which has published pricing for paid tiers?
Found publishes exact prices ($35 and $80/month); Lili's Pro, Smart, and Premium pricing is undisclosed.
Does Lili offer business lines of credit?
Yes, up to $250,000.
Does Found have an AI assistant?
Yes, a beta feature that lets users query their finances and delegate certain financial tasks.
Which integrates with more accounting software?
Lili documents integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe, Shopify, and Gusto; Found doesn't document third-party accounting integrations.