Updated October 14, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Kroo vs Mercury
Kroo
Higher score in this comparison
Mercury
Where Kroo and Mercury differ
| Compare | KrooReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | MercuryReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | $0 |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 1% |
| Local account details | UK sort code | Us ACH |
| Free ATM withdrawals | £0 | $0 |
| Transfer fee | Faster Payments GBP 0, CHAPS GBP 20; sending money outside the UK not available | ACH and domestic wires free; USD international wires free, OUR option $15; non-USD international wires 1% FX fee |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 40 |
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Key differences
- Kroo scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at Kroo: 2016 vs 2017.
- Kroo is available in 3 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Kroo: 0% vs 1%.
- Local account details: only Kroo offers UK sort code.
- Local account details: only Mercury offers Us ACH.
- Support channels: only Kroo offers Phone.
- Audience: only Kroo offers Travelers.
- Audience: only Mercury offers Business, Freelancer.
- Pricing model: only Kroo offers Low FX.
Our verdict on each
Kroo
Kroo is a UK digital current account for people who spend and send money abroad, with a monthly fee of £0 and currency conversion at 0%. Interest lands on the cleared balance at a variable 2.65%, credited monthly, so the account pays you while the money waits.
Mercury
Mercury in the United States is a fintech business-account platform with cards, invoicing, bill pay and spend management. It offers team access roles and syncs transactions with QuickBooks Online, Xero and NetSuite; partner banks remain distinct from Mercury.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kroo | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherMonthly fee £0, cash machine allowance £0 and conversion 0%, ranked 1 on the cost list. | 9.1Monthly fees of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0; the site conversion median is 0.5% and Mercury's is 1%. |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.2HigherAn easy-access easy access balance for business and freelancer, paying 3.5% that is variable, with free ATM use and joint accounts. |
| Trust | 8.4Higher | 8.3 |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Kroo
0
0% of 1,000
Mercury
10
1% of 1,000
Kroo comes out 10 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | Kroo | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 410 of 1420 | 472 of 1420 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Kroo | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 953772 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Kroo: 4. Additional countries for Mercury: 1.
What we checked
Kroo
- kroo.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.kroo.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Mercury
- mercury.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kroo | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Travelers | Business, Freelancer |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more | No monthly fee |
| Features | Free ATM, Digital only | Free ATM, Joint account |
| Legal entity | Kroo Bank Ltd | Mercury Technologies, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2016Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Kroo | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.65% | 3.5%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | £0 | $0 |
| Access terms | Interest calculated daily on the cleared balance and credited monthly; account operated in-app 24/7, no notice period, close at any time | On-demand access: unlimited USD wires, ACH, real-time payments and checks between personal, joint and trust accounts |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kroo | Mercury | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 1%above the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 40highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Kroo
Pros
- A monthly fee of £0 and a cash machine allowance of £0 on the current account.
- Currency conversion of 0%, with the account aimed at travelers.
- FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the Financial Conduct Authority as regulator under licence 953772.
Cons
- Digital only banking, with support running on email, chat and phone.
- Transfers are split by scheme, with Faster Payments free and CHAPS carrying a charge on the current account.
- The variable 2.65% is easy access money rather than a savings return, sitting under the 3% site median.
Mercury
Pros
- Business tools and accounting integrations are described.
Cons
- Mercury is a fintech platform, not itself a bank
- partner-bank protections are not platform guarantees.
Who each suits
Kroo
Who it suits
- People who travel often and spend in other currencies, since the account is aimed at travelers and conversion runs at 0%.
- UK residents happy to run everything in the app, with support on email, chat and phone and a minimum deposit of £0.
- Anyone keeping a sterling balance as a rainy day fund, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 and interest credited monthly.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs to send money outside the UK from their account, since those transfers are not available; a euro option such as Bit2Me, monthly fee €0, is worth weighing.
- People who want a card led everyday account instead of an app based one, weighing Kroo against the Varo Visa Debit Card, monthly fee $0.
Mercury
Who it suits
- US businesses comparing account-management, team-access and accounting-sync tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Businesses requiring Mercury itself to be the deposit-taking bank or a platform-level protection guarantee.
Current offers
Mercury
Current offer
First period offer
Mercury Plus first month waived on annual pricing: $35/mo waived until Dec 31, 2026
Mercury Plus plan billed annually (15% off)
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Xero and Amazon gift card with Mercury Plus and Pro: 6 months free Xero + $100 Amazon gift card
Mercury Plus or Mercury Pro plan; Xero/Amazon terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Mercury Personal included with any business plan: $240/year Personal subscription covered
Requires an active Mercury business account in good standing
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Kroo | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Guernsey | Yes | No |
| Isle of Man | Yes | No |
| Jersey | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Kroo
What does Kroo charge to hold the account?+
Kroo's current account charges a monthly fee of £0, with a cash machine allowance of £0 and currency conversion of 0%. Those are the fees published for the account, and the balance earns a variable 2.65% credited monthly.
Is money in a Kroo account protected?+
Deposits are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the account is held at Kroo Bank Ltd, based in the United Kingdom, with the Financial Conduct Authority as regulator under licence 953772. Help runs on email, chat and phone.
How do I put money into the account?+
Money goes in by a UK sort code, uk sort code, so the account works like a standard current account for salary and direct debits. There is no minimum deposit to open or run it, at £0, and the account is operated in the app at any time.
Can I send money abroad from a Kroo account?+
The published transfer terms limit sending to the UK, where Faster Payments is free and CHAPS carries a charge. Card spending abroad is where 0% applies, and it is that conversion cost, not a separate transfer charge, that shapes the bill for travelers.
Other options to compare
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Kroo
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