Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
bunq vs Monzo
bunq
Monzo
Higher score in this comparison
bunq vs Monzo: the differences
| Compare | bunqReviewVisitVisit | MonzoReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.01% | 2.75% to 3.5%Higher |
| Minimum deposit | €10 | £0 |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Withdraw any amount free up to 2 times a month, rising to 3 free monthly withdrawals after 12 months; interest paid weekly | Instant withdrawals any time, no limits, interest paid monthly, up to 20 Savings Pots, Monzo current account required, aged 16+ |
| Monthly fee | €0 | £0 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 12 to 84 months |
| Regulators | De Nederlandsche Bank, SIPC | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Easy access).
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Key differences
- Monzo scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at bunq: 2012 vs 2015.
- bunq is licensed in 6 more countries.
- bunq is available in 6 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Monzo: 2.75% to 3.5% vs 3.01%.
- Support channels: only bunq offers Email.
- Support channels: only Monzo offers Chat, Phone.
- Pricing model: only bunq offers Monthly.
- Pricing model: only Monzo offers No monthly fee.
Our verdict on each
bunq
bunq fits expats and anyone living across Europe who wants a euro account that pays interest on everyday money and handles spending and investing in the same app. Savings pay 3.01% on an easy access balance held under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, with interest credited weekly.
Monzo
Monzo suits people who want everyday banking, saving and borrowing handled in one app. The current account has a monthly fee of £0, and the savings pot pays 2.75% to 3.5% with withdrawals any time and no limits.
Score breakdown
| Area | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherThe plan carries a monthly fee of €0 and an annual fee of €0, with deposits starting from €10. | 9.4Savings run on a no monthly fee model with a minimum deposit of £0, and the credit card annual fee is £0. |
| Offer | 8.3 | 9.6HigherLoan types include personal, debt consolidation and car for home improvement, and virtual card and travel come with the account. |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Nationale Bank van Belgie / Banque Nationale de Belgique (NBB) BE 0769.451.708 | Not confirmed |
| France | Banque de France SIREN 893970970 | Not confirmed |
| Germany | Not confirmed | |
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland 909737 | Not confirmed |
| Italy | Banca d'Italia MI - 2628476 | Not confirmed |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| Spain | Banco de Espana W0086933I | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for bunq: 7. Additional countries for Monzo: 1.
A third option
XTB has headline rate at 4%, against 3.01% for bunq and 2.75% to 3.5% for Monzo.
XTB reviewHow they place
| Ranking | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 10 of 1492 | 24 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 7 of 658 | 15 of 658 |
| Credit and debit cards | 9 of 1594 | 29 of 1594 |
| Debit cards | 7 of 826 | 22 of 826 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | No monthly fee |
| Legal entity | bunq B.V. | Monzo Bank Limited |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Brokers
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Virtual card, Travel |
| Audience | Expats | Kids, Business |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% to 3% | 0%Lower |
| Platforms | Bunq app | Not confirmed |
Debit cards
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | £200 |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
| Card network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Currencies | 8 | 38Higher |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.25% to 1.99% | Not confirmed |
| Coins listed | from 350 | Not confirmed |
| Maker fee | 0.25% to 1.99% | Not confirmed |
| Exchange type | Cex | Not confirmed |
Credit cards
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €0 | £0 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 29% |
| Rewards type | Not confirmed | None |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Fair |
| Perks | Not confirmed | 0% interest over 3 months on purchases of GBP 100 or more, repeatable, 0% interest if you pay in full, No overseas fees (Mastercard exchange rate only), Section 75 purchase protection, Credit limit up to GBP 10,000, Flex purchases from up to 2 weeks ago, Instant notifications and real time balance updates, Separate paid card: Aura (GBP 15 a month) adds 1% cashback on groceries, 0.5% on everything else uncapped, auto invested cashback, Apple TV, Google AI Plus, 2 airport lounge and 2 fast track passes a year |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Loans
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | £10,000 to £35,000 |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 0 |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | Minutes after approval, into the Monzo account |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Borrow £4,800 over 36 months, 35 monthly repayments of £181 plus one final payment of £150.99, 20.9% fixed interest rate, 23.0% representative APR, total repay £6,485.99 |
| Lender type | Not confirmed | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | UK residents aged 18+, Monzo Current Account required |
| Loan types | Not confirmed | Personal, Debt consolidation, Car |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | bunq | Monzo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.01%below the median | 2.75% to 3.5%above the median | 3.3% |
| Term | Not confirmed | 12 to 84 monthsabove the median | 60 |
Median across 710 listed providers.
Pros and cons
bunq
Pros
- Investing sits in the same app, with stocks, etfs and crypto and fractional shares among the plan features.
- The card runs on mastercard, and conversion costs 0.5% to 3% across 8 currencies.
- Regulated in the Netherlands by De Nederlandsche Bank, with savings under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 and investments under EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only.
- The rate is variable, so the 3.01% headline can move in either direction.
- Crypto trades cost 0.25% to 1.99%, with maker fees of 0.25% to 1.99%.
Monzo
Pros
- A monthly fee of £0 on the current account, and a currency conversion fee of 0% across 38 currencies.
- Savings interest is credited monthly, with withdrawals any time and no limits.
- Personal loans of £10,000 to £35,000 are paid out Minutes after approval, into the Monzo account, and early repayment is free.
Cons
- The credit card charges 29% APR and its rewards type is none, so there is nothing to earn back on it.
- Loans ask for a credit rating of fair and only work alongside a Monzo current account.
- ATM withdrawals come with an allowance of £200, the weakest part of the travel offer.
Who each suits
bunq
Who it suits
- Anyone banking across the euro area, since bunq is licensed in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Belgium.
- People who want saving, spending and investing in one place, since crypto, fractional shares and mobile app all run through bunq app.
- Savers who want interest without being locked into a term, since the account is easy access.
Who should look elsewhere
- Linxea, where €25 is the starting premium on a life insurance product rather than a balance that pays interest.
- Oney Préstamos ES, where €1,000 is a borrowing amount to repay, not money you hold.
- Euroasia Insurance, where UZS 60,000 buys car cover, not euro banking.
Monzo
Who it suits
- People who want spending and saving in one place: the savings account pays 2.75% to 3.5% at a variable rate on an easy access basis.
- Households and small businesses, since the audience covers kids and business and the account includes virtual card and travel.
- People who prefer an app bank with its own regulator: the legal entity is Monzo Bank Limited, based in the United Kingdom.
Who should look elsewhere
- Euro account holders, since bunq charges a monthly fee of €0 on a euro account rather than a UK current account.
- Anyone after a secured card instead of an unsecured rate of 29% APR: Varo Believe Secured Credit Card has a monthly fee of $0.
- Travellers who mainly want a multi currency account: Wise charges 0.1% on conversion, which works on a different basis to a UK debit card.
Current offers
bunq
Current offer
First period offer
bunq Pro free for students: bunq Pro for EUR0/month while studying (normally EUR9.99/month)
Students only; Enjoy bunq Pro for free while you study
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
30-day free trial: 30 days free
Open your account in just 5 minutes and start your 30-day free trial today
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Monzo
Current offer
Free trial
Annual Uber One Membership - 3 month free trial: 3 months free
Included with Monzo Perks and Max subscriptions; Ts&Cs apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
The 2026 Monzo Saving Challenge: Save from 1p to GBP 667.95 and be in with a chance of winning GBP 10,000; 5% AER (variable) paid monthly
Ts&Cs apply; Extra, Perks and Max customers unlock new challenge levels, bigger savings and monthly prize draws
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
bunq
How much does a bunq account cost?+
The standard plan carries a monthly fee of €0 and an annual fee of €0, so the account itself is free to hold. What you pay depends on use: currency conversion on the card runs at 0.5% to 3%, and crypto trades are charged 0.25% to 1.99%. Everything is managed in bunq app.
How much interest does bunq pay on savings?+
The savings balance pays 3.01%, and the rate is variable, which means it can move rather than being locked in for a term. Interest is paid weekly into the account, and the account is easy access.
Monzo
What does it cost to keep the account day to day?+
The current account runs on a monthly fee of £0 and the savings pot takes a minimum deposit of £0. Loans add an arrangement fee of 0, and the credit card has an annual fee of £0, so the holding costs sit at the cheap end.
Is my money protected, and who regulates the bank?+
Deposits sit with Monzo Bank Limited under protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the bank is licensed by the Prudential Regulation Authority in GB under 730427. Card and cash losses fall outside that protection, and the retail loss rate in our data runs at 70.15%.