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Updated September 29, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team

bunq vs Monese

bunq scores 8.9 and Monese 8.7 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
bunq

bunq

Higher score in this comparison

8.9/10
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Monese

Monese

8.7/10
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Where bunq and Monese differ

bunq vs Monese
ComparebunqbunqReviewVisitVisitMoneseMoneseReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
Monthly fee€0£0
Deposit protectionEU DGS up to EUR 100,000FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Local account detailsIBANIBAN, UK sort codeCovers more
CurrenciesNot confirmed3
Free ATM withdrawalsNot confirmed£0
Transfer feeNot confirmedGBP 1.29 per outgoing domestic transfer; real-time Monese-to-Monese transfers free

Same on both: Currency conversion fee (3%).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • bunq scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
  • Founded is lower at bunq: 2012 vs 2015.
  • bunq is licensed in 4 more countries.
  • Monese is available in 24 more countries.
  • Local account details: only Monese offers UK sort code.
  • Audience: only bunq offers Business, Student.
  • Audience: only Monese offers Freelancer.
  • Pricing model: only Monese offers Low FX.
  • Features: only Monese offers No credit check.

Our verdict on each

bunq

bunq suits savers who want an easy-access euro account that costs nothing to keep and pays a variable rate with weekly interest, protected by an EU guarantee. The rate of 3.01% is solid rather than remarkable, and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.

Read the full bunq review

Monese

Monese suits expats, frequent travellers and freelancers who want a digital everyday account with nothing to pay each month. Costs stay low with a monthly fee of £0, while the limits on 3 currencies and a 3% conversion charge keep it simple rather than cheap for heavy currency use.

Read the full Monese review

Score breakdown

bunq vs Monese
AreabunqMonese
Cost9.1HigherMonthly fee of €0 on a no monthly fee account, with a currency conversion fee of 3% on the free plan.8.7A monthly fee of £0 and a £20 charge on outgoing domestic transfers, against a 3% conversion fee.
Offer9.1Rate of 3.01% that is variable, close to the savings median of 3%.9.1Local details in iban and uk sort code formats, Instant transfers and a 3 currency account for expats, travelers and freelancer.
Trust8.7Higher8.4

How they place

bunq vs Monese
RankingbunqMonese
Business bank accounts3 of 563227 of 563
Online banks3 of 402167 of 402

Every fact side by side

bunq vs Monese
FactbunqMonese
AudienceExpats, Travelers, Business, StudentExpats, Travelers, Freelancer
Pricing modelNo monthly feeNo monthly fee, Low FXCovers more
FeaturesJoint account, Digital onlyJoint account, Digital only, No credit checkCovers more
Legal entitybunq B.V.Monese Ltd
HeadquartersNetherlandsUnited Kingdom
Founded2012Lower2015
Support channelsEmail, Chat, Help centreChat, Email, Help centre

Money transfer

bunq vs Monese
FactbunqMonese
Exchange rate markupNot confirmed2%
Delivery timeNot confirmedInstant
Payout methodsNot confirmedBank, Wallet
Fee to send 1,000Not confirmed£20

Where each stands against the rest

bunq vs Monese
FactbunqMoneseMedian
Currency conversion fee3%highest quarter3%highest quarter0.5%
CurrenciesNot confirmed3below the median5
Free ATM withdrawalsNot confirmed£0at the median£0

Median across 536 listed accounts.

Pros and cons

bunq

Pros

  • The monthly fee is €0 and the pricing model is no monthly fee, so keeping the account open costs nothing each month.
  • Interest is paid weekly and the rate type is variable, so money keeps earning between withdrawals without a term to serve out.
  • Balances are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so there is a payout route if the provider fails.

Cons

  • The rate type is variable, so the return follows the base rate and the account ranks 240 of 473 brands on the headline rate.
  • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, which leaves phone callers with a narrower route in.
  • Features list joint account and digital only, so the service is digital only and there is no branch counter.

Monese

Pros

  • Personal accounts carry a monthly fee of £0
  • Outgoing domestic transfers cost £20 and transfers between Monese accounts are free
  • Transfers land in Instant

Cons

  • Converting money costs 3% on top of a 2% exchange rate margin
  • A fee of £20 applies to outgoing domestic transfers
  • Support runs on chat, email and help centre only, with no phone line listed

Who each suits

bunq

Who it suits

  • People who want an easy-access euro account that pays interest weekly and costs nothing to hold.
  • Travellers and expats, part of the expats, travelers and business bunq targets, who convert currency and want a local IBAN.
  • Students and savers who value EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 over a higher rate.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone chasing a top fixed rate, since 24.19% at plazo pays far more.
  • Customers who need a phone helpline, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
  • Anyone wanting a branch counter, because features list joint account and digital only and the service is digital only.

Monese

Who it suits

  • Expats and freelancers who send money across borders and are paid in expats, travelers and freelancer setups
  • Travellers who want local account details in iban and uk sort code formats
  • Anyone who wants a joint account opened with no credit check, since the account is digital only

Who should look elsewhere

  • Skrill if you need a much wider range of currencies than 3
  • PayPal Colombia if you want a wallet for online payments rather than local account details
  • Plazo ES if you would rather reach support by phone than on chat, email and help centre

Current offers

Monese

Current offer

  • Bonus

    Free contactless debit card with a GBP 100 first deposit: Card delivery free (otherwise GBP 4.95) with a GBP 100 first deposit

    First physical contactless Monese debit card; otherwise GBP 4.95 delivery fee; available on all plans

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

bunq vs Monese
CountrybunqMonese
AustriaNoYes
BulgariaNoYes
CroatiaNoYes
CyprusNoYes
CzechiaNoYes
DenmarkNoYes
EstoniaNoYes
FinlandNoYes

8 of 31 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

bunq

What does bunq charge to keep a savings account?+

The monthly fee is €0 and the account is priced on a no monthly fee basis, so there is no recurring charge to keep it open. The one cost to watch when you spend abroad is currency conversion at 3% on the free plan. Interest is still paid weekly with no fee deducted.

How much interest does the account pay?+

The rate is 3.01% and the rate type is variable, so the figure follows the base rate instead of being fixed to a term. Across the savings accounts on the site, the median headline rate is 3%, which puts bunq near the middle. Interest is credited weekly rather than monthly.

Monese

Does Monese charge a monthly fee?+

The personal account carries a monthly fee of £0, which is the cheapest end of the accounts compared here. Plazo ES and Skrill also sit on €0 and €0, so you can compare like for like. Nothing is deducted from the balance each month for keeping the account open.

What does it cost to send money out?+

Each outgoing domestic transfer costs £20. Real time transfers from one Monese account to another are free, and the money arrives in Instant. For sending abroad, the cost comes from the 3% conversion charge rather than a transfer fee.

Other options to compare

bunq

Visit

Monese

See alternatives