Lili is a business banking app: the account is provided by Sunrise Banks, and paid plans add a Tax Bucket that sets aside a percentage of each deposit, then accounting and invoicing on the higher tiers. BrassWell isn’t a bank. It works with the account you have and works out the tax itself: what the year comes to on the 2026 brackets, and what each quarterly date needs.
Side by side
| BrassWell | Lili | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A year-round money app for the self-employed | A business bank account with accounting tools on higher plans |
| Price | $19.99/mo Core, $29.99/mo Pro; $199/yr Core, $299/yr Pro | Core free; Pro $15/mo; Smart $35/mo; Premium $55/mo |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card, never auto-charges | 30 days on paid plans |
| Your bank | Works with the bank you have: connections on Pro (via Plaid), CSV import on every plan | Lili is the account (banking by Sunrise Banks); Smart syncs outside accounts |
| Tax set-aside | The percentage to move, worked out per payment | Tax Bucket on Pro and up: a percentage of each deposit |
| Quarterly tax estimate | Every plan: 2026 brackets, state rate, reminders | Not listed |
| Invoicing | Core: 5 a month. Pro: unlimited | Smart and Premium: unlimited, with reminders |
| Mileage | Pro: IRS-ready log, 2026 mid-year rate by date | Not listed |
| Tax forms | CPA-ready exports; quarterly P&L and tax statements on Pro | Pre-filled Schedule C, 1120-S and 1065 on Smart and up |
| Budgets | Yes | Not listed |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | iPhone, Android, web |
Where Lili is the better choice
It is a real bank account, with a free tier, a debit card and an interest-bearing savings account. BrassWell doesn’t hold money.
Forms filled in for you. Lili Smart and Premium pre-fill Schedule C, Form 1120-S and Form 1065 from your categorized transactions, and can scan and pay bills.
Credit building. Lili offers business credit tools and a partner credit line, which BrassWell doesn’t touch.
Where BrassWell is the better choice
The tax is worked out, not guessed. Lili’s bucket saves the percentage you pick or it suggests. BrassWell estimates the year’s tax on the 2026 brackets with your state rate, shows what each due date needs, and reminds you before it, on every plan.
Invoicing for less. BrassWell Core includes 5 invoices a month and Pro is unlimited at $29.99. Lili’s invoicing starts with its $35-a-month Smart plan.
Mileage and time. An IRS-ready mileage log with the 2026 mid-year rate applied by date, and time tracking that bills itself, both on Pro. Lili lists neither.
A year of each, in dollars
Lili Core is free, Lili Pro (the Tax Bucket) is $15 a month and Lili Smart (invoicing and accounting) is $35 a month; Lili also runs introductory prices for the first three months. BrassWell is $199 a year for Core or $299 for Pro. Many people keep a business account like Lili for the money and use BrassWell for the estimates and records.
Using both, or moving across
BrassWell imports a CSV of income and expenses, matches the columns to your file’s headers and skips likely duplicates. Download your Lili transactions and receipts first, and keep the account open until your first BrassWell month looks right.
Questions, answered
Is BrassWell a Lili alternative?
For the tax and bookkeeping side, yes. Lili is a business bank account with a tax savings bucket and, on higher plans, accounting and invoicing. BrassWell works with the bank you have and estimates the tax itself, with quarterly amounts on every plan.
Is Lili a bank?
Lili is a financial technology company, not a bank. Its banking services are provided by Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC.
How much does Lili cost?
Lili lists Lili Core free, Lili Pro at $15 a month, Lili Smart at $35 a month and Lili Premium at $55 a month, with a 30-day trial on paid plans.
Does Lili track mileage?
Lili lists no mileage tracking on its plans or feature pages. BrassWell Pro keeps an IRS-ready mileage log and applies the 2026 mid-year rate change by date.
Sources
- Lili plans — Lili. Plans, prices, trial, Tax Bucket, invoicing and the banking partner, checked October 24, 2026.
- Lili tax optimizer — Lili. Tax Bucket and pre-filled forms.
- Lili accounting — Lili. Accounting, invoicing and receipt capture on Smart and Premium.
- BrassWell pricing — BrassWell. Core and Pro, line by line.
