Best B89 alternatives

#1 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

#2 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

#3 alternative

Brex

active

US start-up cards and spend. Not a bank, on purpose.

3.9

San Francisco · Tens of thousands of firms · $1B+ raised historically

7.3Solid

Brex is a card and spend platform. Ramp is the rival. Mercury is the checking account you put underneath.

Best for: US start-ups that want Ramp-class cards with a slightly different religion.

Licence

Commercial card + treasury partners

Protection

Treasury/cash sits at partner banks or money-market — cards are credit/charge

Monthly

Card program; rewards-funded for eligible start-ups

#4 alternative

PEX Card

active

US virtual and physical spend cards for teams, field staff, and programs.

3.7

Tennessee · Enterprises / programs · Private / long-running

6.6Mixed

PEX is the grown-up virtual card. Privacy.com is the consumer cousin. Ramp is the start-up cousin. RedotPay is not a substitute.

Best for: US operators who need controlled cards for people, not a start-up checking account.

Licence

Prepaid / commercial card programme

Protection

Prepaid commercial funds at program banks — not your operating deposit account

Monthly

Program-priced per card / user

#5 alternative

Treat Slice as a credit rail. If you need DICGC, open a scheduled bank.

Best for: Indian users who want UPI credit, not a savings account.

Licence

Credit / partner-bank

Protection

Credit product first — not a DICGC savings account

Monthly

Card-dependent

#6 alternative

Scapia

active

Indian travel credit card. Zero forex, Federal Bank issued.

4.4

Bengaluru · 3M+ · Series B-era

7.5Solid

Scapia is the Indian travel-card answer, not a current account. Put it next to Niyo (forex prepaid) and a scheduled-bank salary account. Do not list it as a neobank deposit.

Best for: Indians who want a travel credit card with a named scheduled-bank issuer.

Licence

Credit card issued by a scheduled bank

Protection

This is a credit card, not a deposit account — Federal Bank is the issuer

Monthly

Nil joining / annual on the core travel card (confirm live offer)