Alternatives

Best Abanca alternatives

Abanca scores 6.9. These are live products this desk would open next — each with a full review, not a leftover affiliate tile.

6.9Mixed
AbancaB100N26Revolut11Onze
Editorial score6.97.17.88.66.2
HQA CoruñaA CoruñaBerlinLondonBarcelona
MonthlyAccount packs — confirm live tariffOften €0 on core current — confirm liveFree Standard Free Account SKUs — confirm live
ProtectionSpanish FGD up to €100,000 per depositor per banSpanish FGD up to €100,000 — same bank as AbancaGerman statutory scheme up to €100,000FSCS up to £85,000 on UK bank balances; EMI safeNot Spanish FGD unless a named bank holds the ba
Cardvisavisamastercardvisamastercard
UsersRetail bank-scaleAbanca digital arm8M+50M+Community-scale

Full alternatives

#1 alternative

B100

active

Abanca’s digital brand. Same Spanish FGD. Same IBAN. Do not double-count the cap.

4.0

A Coruña · Abanca digital arm · Abanca

7.1Solid

B100 is a commercial brand of Abanca. Abanca’s own FAQ says the IBAN is Abanca’s and FGD follows Abanca. Same pattern as ActivoBank and Millennium BCP: one cap, two skins. If you already have Abanca, this is not a second €100k pot.

Best for: Spain residents who want Abanca FGD with a greener app, and do not already sit at Abanca for the cap.

Why it beats Abanca

  • Named Spanish bank behind the brand
  • FGD
  • Zero-fee pitch

Watch-outs

  • Shared FGD cap with Abanca
  • Wellness marketing is not a licence
  • Spain-resident
Licence
Commercial brand of Abanca Corporación Bancaria, S.A.
Protection
Spanish FGD up to €100,000 — same bank as Abanca, so do not double-count the cap
Monthly
Often €0 on core current — confirm live

#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.

Why it beats Abanca

  • Full German bank, Einlagensicherung on eligible deposits
  • Genuinely good mobile current account
  • Metal and You plans are honest about what they add

Watch-outs

  • AML freezes are a documented pain
  • UK presence is not the original UK current account
  • Euro-native — weak if you live in sterling or dollars
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.

Why it beats Abanca

  • Best-in-class FX for travellers on paid plans
  • Product depth: bank, broker, crypto, cards, kids
  • UK bank licence closes the old EMI objection for eligible users

Watch-outs

  • Support quality does not match the feature list
  • Weekend FX and fair-usage ATM rules catch Standard users
  • Crypto and stock sleeves are not the bank
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

11Onze

active

Catalan community fintech. El Canut is the app, not a Banco de España bank.

Barcelona · Community-scale · Member / community-era

6.2Mixed

11Onze is a Catalan fintech community. El Canut can show an IBAN and a card. That is not Abanca. Keep a Spanish credit-institution account for salary if you want FGD. Score the app as a wallet and a gathering place, not as a bank.

Best for: Catalan users who want a community app and already keep salary at a real bank.

Why it beats Abanca

  • Clear Catalan voice
  • Business FX pitch is explicit
  • Not pretending to be Santander

Watch-outs

  • Not a Banco de España bank
  • Entity literacy required
  • Small scale
Licence
Fintech community / wallet — not a Spanish credit institution
Protection
Not Spanish FGD unless a named bank holds the balance. Treat El Canut as a wallet + aggregator until the statement names a credit institution.
Monthly
Account SKUs — confirm live

#5 alternative

Kestrl

active

UK app for Muslim money habits. Not a bank.

4.6

London · Tens of thousands · Seed / grant-era

6.7Mixed

Kestrl is a habit layer. Keep a Monzo/Starling/high-street account for the actual deposit. Halal branding does not move FSCS.

Best for: UK Muslims who want a money app that speaks their constraints, with a real bank still underneath.

Why it beats Abanca

  • Category honesty
  • Habits UX
  • Family angle

Watch-outs

  • Not a licensed bank
  • Partner-rail complexity
  • UK-first
Licence
App + partner EMI/bank rails
Protection
If a spending account exists, it is partner-EMI or bank — not Kestrl-as-bank
Monthly
Freemium / subscription SKUs — confirm live

#6 alternative

Found

active

US banking for the self-employed: taxes, invoices, and a debit card.

4.8

San Francisco · Self-employed base · Series-era (Allianz x others)

7.3Solid

Found is the freelancer current account. Novo is generic SMB. Relay is multi-entity ops.

Best for: US freelancers who hate QuickBooks more than they hate banks.

Why it beats Abanca

  • Tax set-asides
  • App craft
  • Free core

Watch-outs

  • Not a bank
  • Not for headcount
  • US only
Licence
Fintech with partner banks
Protection
FDIC via Piermont Bank and partners
Monthly
Free core

Questions

Why look beyond Abanca?+

Abanca is scored 6.9. Weaknesses on this desk: Global; Neobank polish. Alternatives above are scored independently, not paid placements.

Are these Abanca alternatives available in the same countries?+

Coverage is per product. Open the country desk and the individual review — a UK bank licence does not travel, and an EMI is not FSCS.

How do I compare them side by side?+

Use Compare on any card, up to four products, then open the compare desk.

Back to the Abanca review