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Alternatives

Best Qonto alternatives

Qonto scores 7.7. These are live products this desk would open next — each with a full review, not a leftover affiliate tile.

7.7Solid

4.6 user score on Qonto · compare licences below

QontoWiseAirwallexStarling BankRevolut
Editorial score7.78.68.38.18.6
HQParisLondonSingaporeLondonLondon
MonthlyPaid plans from a small monthlyFree personal Account often free Personal free Free
ProtectionSafeguarded client funds — not FGDR bank depositSafeguarded EMI funds in the UK — not FSCS. LocaSafeguarded / stored-value — not a retail bank dFSCS up to £85,000FSCS up to £85,000 on UK bank balances; EMI safe
Cardmastercardmastercardvisamastercardvisa
Users500k businesses16M+150k businesses4M+50M+

Full 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.

Why it beats Qonto

  • 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

#2 alternative

Airwallex

active

Global business accounts from a Singapore-born payments company.

4.5

Singapore · 150k businesses · ~$800M raised

8.3Strong

Default APAC business account in this register. Mercury wins US start-ups; Airwallex wins multi-entity trade.

Best for: Exporters, marketplaces, and Aussie/Asian scale-ups paying suppliers in many currencies.

Why it beats Qonto

  • Corridor coverage that Wise Business still fights
  • Expense cards on the same ledger
  • Australia and Asia density

Watch-outs

  • Not a deposit-taking bank
  • Onboarding is a proper KYB process
  • Pricing gets real at volume — read the file
Licence
Payments / EMI-class licences by market
Protection
Safeguarded / stored-value — not a retail bank deposit scheme
Monthly
Account often free · FX and scale pricing on the corridor
Full Airwallex reviewAirwallex alternativesVisit Airwallex

#3 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.

Why it beats Qonto

  • Conservatively run UK bank
  • Excellent business account
  • Fee-free personal FX spend is still a headline feature

Watch-outs

  • UK-only onboarding
  • App is calmer, less playful than Monzo
  • Fewer ‘lifestyle’ extras
Licence
UK bank
Protection
FSCS up to £85,000
Monthly
Personal free · Business from £0–£7+
Full Starling Bank reviewStarling Bank alternativesVisit Starling Bank

#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.

Why it beats Qonto

  • 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
Full Revolut reviewRevolut alternativesVisit Revolut

#5 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.

Why it beats Qonto

  • Virtual cards
  • Start-up underwriting history
  • Controls

Watch-outs

  • Not a bank
  • Eligibility walls
  • They exited SMB banking once already — read the live SKU
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
Full Brex reviewBrex alternativesVisit Brex

#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 Qonto

  • 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 Qonto?+

Qonto is scored 7.7. Weaknesses on this desk: Not FGDR; FX depth. Alternatives above are scored independently, not paid placements.

Are these Qonto 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 Qonto review