Best Wise alternatives

#1 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

#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.

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

#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.

Licence

UK bank

Protection

FSCS up to £85,000

Monthly

Personal free · Business from £0–£7+

#4 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.

Licence

Credit institution

Protection

Dutch DGS up to €100,000

Monthly

Paid plans (Easy Savings / Easy Bank / Easy Green / Easy Money)

#5 alternative

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.

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

#6 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.

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