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Alternatives

Best Chime alternatives

Chime scores 7.1. These are live products this desk would open next — each with a full review, not a leftover affiliate tile.

7.1Solid

4.7 user score on Chime · compare licences below

ChimeSoFiMonzoWiseNubank
Editorial score7.17.78.18.68.1
HQSan FranciscoSan FranciscoLondonLondonSão Paulo
MonthlyFreeFree Checking & SavingsFree Free personal No annual fee on core card
ProtectionFDIC up to $250,000 via The Bancorp Bank, N.A. aFDIC up to $250,000 at SoFi Bank, N.A. (plus addFSCS up to £85,000Safeguarded EMI funds in the UK — not FSCS. LocaFGC on qualifying deposit products up to R$250,0
Cardvisamastercardmastercardmastercardmastercard
Users22M+10M+11M+16M+100M+

Full alternatives

#1 alternative

SoFi

active

Public US digital bank with investing, loans, and a debit card.

4.7

San Francisco · 10M+ · Public (SOFI)

7.7Solid

The US answer to ‘is this a real bank?’ is yes. Use SoFi for salary + savings + brokerage. Keep Wise for cross-border.

Best for: US customers who want a chartered digital bank plus a brokerage in one login.

Why it beats Chime

  • Actual national bank charter
  • APY on savings is the acquisition hook that still works
  • Investing and banking in one app

Watch-outs

  • Direct-deposit requirements on the headline APY
  • US-only
  • Product sprawl can feel like a mall
Licence
National bank charter (SoFi Bank, N.A.)
Protection
FDIC up to $250,000 at SoFi Bank, N.A. (plus additional via programme banks on some products)
Monthly
Free Checking & Savings
Full SoFi reviewSoFi alternativesVisit SoFi

#2 alternative

Monzo

active

UK current account that made banking feel like a group chat.

4.7

London · 11M+ · ~$1.3B raised

8.1Strong

The UK salary account to beat. Pair it with Wise or Revolut if you invoice in euros or dollars. Do not open Monzo expecting a travel-card replacement on the free plan.

Best for: UK residents who want FSCS protection and the best everyday app.

Why it beats Chime

  • Full UK bank, FSCS on eligible deposits
  • Pots and salary sorting still class-leading
  • In-app support that actually answers

Watch-outs

  • Not a multi-currency specialist
  • US product is a different, thinner bank
  • Paid plans needed for serious travel
Licence
UK bank
Protection
FSCS up to £85,000
Monthly
Free · Plus/Premium/Max paid
Full Monzo reviewMonzo alternativesVisit Monzo

#3 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.

Why it beats Chime

  • Honest FX — the number others hide
  • Local details that make you look domestic
  • Business platform that scales past the card

Watch-outs

  • Not a bank in the UK — no FSCS on the EMI wallet
  • Account reviews can freeze funds mid-invoice
  • ATM and spend caps on the free plan
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
Full Wise reviewWise alternativesVisit Wise

#4 alternative

Nubank

active

Latin America’s default digital bank, listed in New York.

4.7

São Paulo · 100M+ · Public (NU)

8.1Strong

If you live in Brazil, Nu is the control account every comparison starts from. If you do not, skip it.

Best for: Residents of Brazil (and Nu’s other LATAM markets) who want the default digital bank.

Why it beats Chime

  • Scale that broke the ‘challenger’ frame
  • Credit card that actually got adopted
  • PIX-native account

Watch-outs

  • Not a product for non-residents
  • Foreign spend has Brazil tax reality (IOF)
  • Credit is still credit
Licence
Financial institution / credit card issuer
Protection
FGC on qualifying deposit products up to R$250,000
Monthly
No annual fee on core card
Full Nubank reviewNubank alternativesVisit Nubank

#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 Chime

  • 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
Full Kestrl reviewKestrl alternativesVisit Kestrl

#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 Chime

  • 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
Full Found reviewFound alternativesVisit Found

Questions

Why look beyond Chime?+

Chime is scored 7.1. Weaknesses on this desk: Not a bank; Lockouts; US-only. Alternatives above are scored independently, not paid placements.

Are these Chime 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 Chime review