neobankdb.com

Alternatives

Best Revolut alternatives

Revolut scores 8.6. These are live products this desk would open next — each with a full review, not a leftover affiliate tile.

8.6Strong

4.7 user score on Revolut · compare licences below

RevolutWiseMonzoN26Starling Bank
Editorial score8.68.68.17.88.1
HQLondonLondonLondonBerlinLondon
MonthlyFree Free personal Free Free Standard Personal free
ProtectionFSCS up to £85,000 on UK bank balances; EMI safeSafeguarded EMI funds in the UK — not FSCS. LocaFSCS up to £85,000German statutory scheme up to €100,000FSCS up to £85,000
Cardvisamastercardmastercardmastercardmastercard
Users50M+16M+11M+8M+4M+

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 Revolut

  • 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

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 Revolut

  • 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

N26

active

German bank account with a Mastercard, built as a phone.

4.5

Berlin · 8M+ · ~$1.8B raised

7.8Solid

If you need a German/SEPA current account, N26 is still the reference neobank. Score it as a bank, not as a travel card. Revolut and Wise beat it the moment you leave the euro.

Best for: Euro-zone residents who want a real German bank IBAN in a clean app.

Why it beats Revolut

  • Full German bank, Einlagensicherung on eligible deposits
  • Genuinely good mobile current account
  • Metal and You plans are honest about what they add

Watch-outs

  • AML freezes are a documented pain
  • UK presence is not the original UK current account
  • Euro-native — weak if you live in sterling or dollars
Licence
Credit institution (CRR bank)
Protection
German statutory scheme up to €100,000
Monthly
Free Standard · Smart/You/Metal paid
Full N26 reviewN26 alternativesVisit N26

#4 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 Revolut

  • 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

#5 alternative

bunq

active

Dutch bank for people who want IBANs, sub-accounts, and a travel card.

4.4

Amsterdam · 15M+ · Private / profitable claims

7.7Solid

A serious EEA bank if you will pay for it. N26 is the free-ish euro alternative; bunq is the structured one.

Best for: EEA freelancers who will pay a monthly fee for IBANs and sub-accounts.

Why it beats Revolut

  • Real Dutch bank
  • Sub-accounts
  • Travel-capable paid plans

Watch-outs

  • Not free
  • Personality-led brand
  • UK is not the home market
Licence
Credit institution
Protection
Dutch DGS up to €100,000
Monthly
Paid plans (Easy Savings / Easy Bank / Easy Green / Easy Money)
Full bunq reviewbunq alternativesVisit bunq

#6 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 Revolut

  • 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

Questions

Why look beyond Revolut?+

Revolut is scored 8.6. Weaknesses on this desk: Support load; Entity spaghetti; Weekend FX. Alternatives above are scored independently, not paid placements.

Are these Revolut 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 Revolut review