Best Monese alternatives

#1 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.

Licence

UK bank

Protection

FSCS up to £85,000

Monthly

Free · Plus/Premium/Max paid

#2 alternative

Starling Bank

active

The grown-up UK challenger: bank first, app second.

4.7

London · 4M+ · ~$1.1B raised

8.1Strong

If the question is ‘will this still be here in ten years,’ Starling scores at the top of the UK set. Monzo is more fun; Starling is more bank.

Best for: UK individuals and SMEs who want a real bank, not a wallet.

Licence

UK bank

Protection

FSCS up to £85,000

Monthly

Personal free · Business from £0–£7+

#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.

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

#4 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

#5 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.

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

#6 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