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 £120,000 per depositor per authorised firm (scheme cap from 1 December 2025) at Monzo Bank Limited.

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 £120,000 per depositor per bank (Starling FSCS information sheet). Joint accounts: £120,000 per holder.

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 e-money at Wise Payments Limited — not FSCS. Wise’s own help: they do not lend customer balances; safeguarding is not a deposit-guarantee scheme. Local account details may sit at partner banks (US: Community Federal Savings Bank in some states).

Monthly

Free personal · Wise Business subscription optional

#4 alternative

Revolut

active

Digital bank and e-money app. Licence depends on the entity.

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

Eligible deposits at Revolut Bank UK Ltd: FSCS up to £120,000 per person (scheme cap from 1 Dec 2025; Revolut FSCS sheet). Revolut Ltd e-money is safeguarded, not FSCS (UK personal terms, 11 Dec 2025). New customers from 11 March 2026 may still be onboarded onto an EMI account with Revolut Ltd.

Monthly

Free · Plus/Premium/Metal/Ultra paid

#5 alternative

Deblock

active

French euro account plus crypto. Deblock SAS is an e-money institution, not a bank. No FGDR on the euro balance.

Lille · EMI + CASP · Private

6.9Mixed

Deblock is not a bank. Deblock SAS is a Lille e-money institution with an AMF crypto licence. The euro balance is e-money, not an FGDR deposit. Use it as a crypto-friendly euro account. Do not use it as a French salary bank unless you are comfortable without deposit insurance.

Best for: EEA residents who want a euro card and crypto in one French EMI, and who accept there is no FGDR.

Licence

Electronic money institution

Protection

No FGDR on the euro balance. Euros are safeguarded e-money. Crypto is self-custody. Deblock is not a credit institution.

Monthly

Standard free. Premium €10/month.

#6 alternative

GCash

active

The Philippines’ scale wallet. G-Xchange, Inc. is an e-money issuer. The wallet is not a bank deposit.

Taguig · ~94M have used GCash · Mynt / Globe

6.9Mixed

GCash is the wallet. UNO is the bank. G-Xchange, Inc. is a BSP e-money issuer. The GCash balance is e-money, not a deposit, and PDIC does not cover it. If you want insurance, open GSave at a partner bank and read that bank’s name. File GCash on Wallets, never on Neobanks.

Best for: Everyday peso payments in the Philippines. Not a PDIC bank account.

Licence

Electronic money issuer

Protection

The GCash wallet is not PDIC-insured. GSave balances sit at partner banks and follow those banks’ PDIC cover.

Monthly

No monthly fee on the wallet. Cash-in, cash-out and some transfers have fees.