Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Wise vs ZEN.COM
Wise
ZEN.COM
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | WiseReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | ZEN.COMReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.24% | 0%Lower |
| Currencies | 40Higher | 35 |
| Local account details | IBAN, UK sort code, Us ACHCovers more | IBAN |
| Free ATM withdrawals | £250 | €0 |
| Transfer fee | From 0.24%, varies by currency | Currently free (standard fee 0.25 EUR) |
| Licence type | Payment institution | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Deposit protection (EU DGS up to EUR 100,000).
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
- ZEN.COM scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Wise is available in 3 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at ZEN.COM: 0% vs 0.24%.
- Currencies is higher at Wise: 40 vs 35.
- Local account details: only Wise offers UK sort code, Us ACH.
- Support channels: only ZEN.COM offers Email, Chat.
- Pricing model: only ZEN.COM offers Low FX.
Our verdict on each
Wise
Wise runs as a cash management account rather than a savings product, so it suits expats and travellers who need many currencies and no monthly charge, not people chasing the top rate. It scores 5.2 here, with a variable rate of 3.29% and a monthly fee of £0.
ZEN.COM
ZEN.COM suits expats and travellers who want a euro account that spends across borders without a monthly charge. Currency conversion runs at 0% and the monthly fee is €0, so the saving sits in how often you change money rather than in account upkeep. EU deposits sit under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | Wise | ZEN.COM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1A monthly fee of £0, a conversion fee of 0.24% and an exchange rate markup of 0% keep running costs low. | 9.4HigherMonthly fee of €0, currency conversion fee of 0% and transfer fees of Currently free (standard fee 0.25 EUR). |
| Offer | 8.640 currencies, local details for iban, uk sort code and us ach and a variable rate of 3.29% on the balance. | 9.2HigherHolds 35 currencies, hands out local IBANs and pays a free ATM allowance of €0. |
| Trust | 8.8 | Not confirmed |
Which one suits you
Pick Wise if currencies and local account details matter most.
Pick ZEN.COM if cost, offer, and currency conversion fee matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Wise | ZEN.COM |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 1000019 | |
| Belgium | BE_NBB PSD_PI BE_NBB!0713629988 | Not confirmed |
| Estonia | Not confirmed | |
| Lithuania | Not confirmed | Bank of Lithuania LB000457 |
| Singapore | Not confirmed |
Available in 31 countries for both. Additional countries for Wise: 4. Additional countries for ZEN.COM: 1.
Spending 1,000 abroad
Wise
2.4
0.24% of 1,000
ZEN.COM
0
0% of 1,000
ZEN.COM comes out 2.4 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.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Wise | ZEN.COM |
|---|---|---|
| Money transfer services | 373 of 1564 | 131 of 1564 |
| Multi-currency accounts | 205 of 348 | 69 of 348 |
Where these facts come from
Wise
- wise.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
ZEN.COM
- ask.zen.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- zen.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Wise | ZEN.COM |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Expats, Travelers | Expats, Travelers |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more |
| Features | Free ATM | Free ATM |
| Legal entity | Wise Europe SA | UAB ZEN.COM |
| Headquarters | Belgium | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2011 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Money transfer
| Fact | Wise | ZEN.COM |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Payout methods | Bank, Card | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Wise | ZEN.COM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.24%below the median | 0%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 40highest quarter | 35highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Wise
Pros
- No recurring charge: the monthly fee is £0, matching the €0 site median while some accounts charge as much as €449.
- Conversion is cheap: a fee of 0.24% and an exchange rate markup of 0%, against a 0.5% site median conversion fee.
- Instant access on a floating return: money and gains come out without delay, and the variable rate stands at 3.29%.
Cons
- Support is self-service: help centre is the only channel listed, so there is no phone line or live chat listed for a stuck transfer.
- The rate is variable, so the 3.29% headline can fall, and the brand ranks 220 of 473 on headline rate.
- Moving money is not free: transfer fees are From 0.24%, varies by currency and converting adds 0.24% each time a currency changes.
ZEN.COM
Pros
- Monthly fee of €0 keeps the account free to hold
- Currency conversion fee of 0% beats the 0.5% site median
- Local account details in the form of iban let you get paid like a local
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line
- Standard transfer fee is higher than the current free transfer, at Currently free (standard fee 0.25 EUR)
- Currencies count of 35 trails brands near the top of our multi-currency list
Who each suits
Wise
Who it suits
- Expatriates and travellers who hold money in more than one currency: the account is built for expats and travelers and covers 40 currencies.
- Anyone who wants a place to park cash without a recurring charge, since the monthly fee is £0.
- People who need money to arrive in local formats, since local account details are offered for iban, uk sort code and us ach.
Who should look elsewhere
- Plazo ES or AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito, whose headline rates of 24.19% and 21.59% are the ones to look at when the rate on the balance matters more than currency cover.
- PayPal Colombia, whose headline rate of 3.3% is close to 3.29%, so a saver gives up little on yield and gains nothing on the 40 currency range.
ZEN.COM
Who it suits
- Expats and travellers named as the audience for the account
- Anyone paid in euros who wants local account details
- People who change currency often and mind conversion cost more than the account type
Who should look elsewhere
- Skrill, if you compare conversion cost and its fee sits well above the site median of 0.5%
- eToro, if you want a broader account rather than a euro card first
- PayPal Colombia, if you need local details outside the euro area rather than iban
Current offers
ZEN.COM
Current offer
Free trial
Try ZEN.COM free for 30 days: 30 days free
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Wise | ZEN.COM |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| Liechtenstein | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | Yes | No |
| Switzerland | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | Yes |
| Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| Bulgaria | Yes | Yes |
8 of 36 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Wise
What rate does Wise pay on money held in the account?+
The headline rate is 3.29% and it is a variable rate, so the figure can move rather than being set for a term. Interest is credited to the balance and the money plus the gains stay available, which suits someone who wants a return without tying funds away.
Is there a monthly fee for keeping money with Wise?+
The monthly fee is £0, and the account is built on a no monthly fee model, so there is no recurring charge to maintain it. The site median monthly fee is €0 while some accounts charge as much as €449, so this sits at the cheap end of the range.
ZEN.COM
What does ZEN.COM cost to keep open?+
The monthly fee is €0, so holding the account costs nothing. That sits at the site median of €0 and matches the pattern across our listings, where most free accounts cluster at the lower quartile of €0.
How much does it cost to change currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, which ranks ZEN.COM at 1 of 312 brands. For comparison, the site median is 0.5% and the upper quartile reaches 2.08%, so most rivals charge more.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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Wise
ZEN.COM