Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
bunq vs Monzo
bunq
Higher score in this comparison
Monzo
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.01% | 2.75% to 3.5%Higher |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Withdraw any amount free up to 2 times a month, rising to 3 free monthly withdrawals after 12 months; interest paid weekly | Instant withdrawals any time, no limits, interest paid monthly, up to 20 Savings Pots, Monzo current account required, aged 16+ |
| Monthly fee | €0 | £0 |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £0 |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Easy access).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at bunq: 2012 vs 2015.
- bunq is licensed in 6 more countries.
- bunq is available in 6 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Monzo: 2.75% to 3.5% vs 3.01%.
- Support channels: only bunq offers Email, Chat.
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.
Monzo
Monzo suits UK residents who want a fee-free current account, a linked instant-access savings pot and card spending abroad without a markup. The current account runs a monthly fee of £0, savings pay 2.75% to 3.5% variable, and deposits are covered by the FSCS: FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Monthly fee of €0 on a no monthly fee account, with a currency conversion fee of 3% on the free plan. | 9.3HigherCurrent account monthly fee of £0 and a 0% exchange rate markup on foreign-currency card spend. |
| Offer | 9.1Rate of 3.01% that is variable, close to the savings median of 3%. | 9.2HigherInstant-access savings paying 2.75% to 3.5% variable, instant withdrawals, a joint account, 38 currencies and a free cash machine allowance. |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.4 |
How they place
| Ranking | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 6 of 1420 | 29 of 1420 |
| Business bank accounts | 3 of 563 | 17 of 563 |
| Student, teen and kids accounts | 3 of 273 | 8 of 273 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Not confirmed | |
| France | Not confirmed | |
| Germany | Not confirmed | |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | |
| Italy | Not confirmed | |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| Spain | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 730427 |
Additional countries for bunq: 7. Additional countries for Monzo: 1.
A third option
eToro has headline rate at 3.8%, against 3.01% for bunq and 2.75% to 3.5% for Monzo.
eToro reviewWhere these facts come from
bunq
- bunq.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.bunq.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- dnb.nl: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Monzo
- monzo.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee |
| Legal entity | bunq B.V. | Monzo Bank Limited |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Everyday accounts
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 3% | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 38 |
| Audience | Expats, Travelers, Business, Student | Business, Teen |
| Features | Joint account, Digital onlyCovers more | Joint account |
| Local account details | IBAN | Not confirmed |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | £200 |
| Transfer fee | Not confirmed | 0 for UK transfers and foreign-currency card spend; international transfer up to GBP 9 fixed plus 0-1.80% |
Money transfer
| Fact | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Delivery time | Not confirmed | Same day for 95% of customers, average 1 day |
| Payout methods | Not confirmed | Bank, Card |
| Fee to send 1,000 | Not confirmed | £0 to £9 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | bunq | Monzo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.01%below the median | 2.75% to 3.5%above the median | 3.25% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £0below the median | £1 |
Median across 658 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.
Monzo
Pros
- No monthly fee on the current account: £0
- No exchange rate markup on foreign-currency card spend: 0%
- Savings pay a variable rate of 2.75% to 3.5% with instant withdrawals and interest paid monthly
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only
- Savings need a Monzo current account first, and the pot sits in an easy access product
- International transfers charge £0 to £9 plus a percentage, unlike UK transfers and foreign-currency card spend, which cost nothing
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.
Monzo
Who it suits
- UK adults and teens who want everyday spending with no monthly cost
- Savers who want instant access to their money without a notice period
- Travellers who spend abroad often, given the 0% markup and 38 currencies
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone chasing a fixed-term rate, since the savings rate is variable and money comes out instantly
- People who want phone or email help, because support runs on help centre only
- Shoppers who only need a wallet for online payments can look at PayPal Colombia instead, where the monthly fee is $0
Current offers
Monzo
Current offer
Free trial
3 month free trial of YouTube Premium Lite included with the Max plan: 3 months free YouTube Premium Lite
Max plan subscribers, aged 18-69, 3 month minimum term, UK residents, Ts&Cs apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | bunq | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
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.
Monzo
What does Monzo charge each month?+
The current account has a monthly fee of £0, and the pricing model it runs on is no monthly fee. The savings side carries no monthly charge either, with a minimum deposit of £0. The legal entity behind both is Monzo Bank Limited.
Is my money protected?+
Deposits are covered by the FSCS: FSCS up to GBP 85,000. In the UK the account is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, so it is a bank rather than an e-money wallet. The legal entity is Monzo Bank Limited, based in the United Kingdom.
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