Best 11Onze alternatives

#1 alternative

Abanca

active

Galician bank with a digital skin. Banco de España, not a startup.

A Coruña · Retail bank-scale · Listed / bank capital

6.9Mixed

Abanca is a bank. Put it next to N26 only to show the difference: Spanish FGD versus a German IBAN. Do not list it as a challenger. If you need salary in Spain, this is the object. If you need weekend FX, it is not.

Best for: People who actually live in Spain and want FGD, not a Lithuanian IBAN.

Licence

Credit institution

Protection

Spanish FGD up to €100,000 per depositor per bank — B100 is the same bank, so do not double-count the cap

Monthly

Account packs — confirm live tariff

#2 alternative

N26

active

German bank account with a Mastercard, built as a phone.

4.5

Berlin · 8M+ · ~$1.8B raised

7.8Solid

If you need a German/SEPA current account, N26 is still the reference neobank. Score it as a bank, not as a travel card. Revolut and Wise beat it the moment you leave the euro.

Best for: Euro-zone residents who want a real German bank IBAN in a clean app.

Licence

Credit institution (CRR bank)

Protection

German statutory scheme up to €100,000

Monthly

Free Standard · Smart/You/Metal paid

#3 alternative

Revolut

active

Global money app that finally became a UK bank.

4.7

London · 50M+ · $1.7B raised · ~$45B val.

8.6Strong

The default comparison set for a reason. Treat the UK bank product and the e-money wallet as different legal objects, then Revolut wins most travel and multi-currency briefs. It is not the quietest home for a salary if you want a full-licence high-street feel — that is still Starling or Monzo in the UK.

Best for: People who live in more than one currency and want one app for spend, FX, and extras.

Licence

UK bank (eligible customers)

Protection

FSCS up to £85,000 on UK bank balances; EMI safeguarding on e-money wallets

Monthly

Free · Plus/Premium/Metal/Ultra paid

#4 alternative

Wise

active

The mid-market FX rail everyone else is measured against.

4.7

London · 16M+ · Public (WISE)

8.6Strong

The control for cross-border. Pair with a licensed local bank for salary protection. Never describe Wise personal as a UK bank account.

Best for: Anyone who receives or sends money across borders for a living.

Licence

EMI (personal)

Protection

Safeguarded EMI funds in the UK — not FSCS. Local bank details may sit at partner banks.

Monthly

Free personal · Wise Business subscription optional

#5 alternative

albo

active

Mexican IFPE. CNBV payments licence. Not IPAB. Not a bank.

Mexico City · Millions in MX · Series-era LatAm fintech

6.5Mixed

albo is an IFPE. Write that on the card. IPAB does not follow the brand. If you need a Mexican bank deposit, wait for a banco licence or use a bank. The Mastercard is a spend rail.

Best for: Mexico-resident users who want a CNBV-authorised payments account and will keep IPAB money at a bank.

Licence

IFPE (institución de fondos de pago electrónico)

Protection

Not IPAB. IFPE balances are a payments product, not a bank deposit. Nu México’s bank conversion is a different file.

Monthly

Freemium / plus SKUs — confirm live

#6 alternative

Algbra

active

UK ethical / Sharia-screened EMI. FCA FRN 952360. Not FSCS.

London · UK ethical-fintech scale · EMI-era

6.5Mixed

Algbra is an EMI. FSCS stays with Starling and Monzo. Use this for screened spend, not rent. The 2025 Mastercard principal-issuer step is a card fact, not a bank licence.

Best for: UK residents who want a screened spend account and will keep salary at Starling or Monzo.

Licence

Authorised EMI — Algbra FS UK Limited, FRN 952360

Protection

Safeguarded e-money, not FSCS. Algbra’s own copy says the scheme covers banks, not EMIs.

Monthly

Confirm live ethical-account tariff