How We Rank Neobank Accounts

Every neobank account on the site is reviewed against the same evaluation framework. Rankings combine publicly verifiable pricing, coverage or feature disclosures, and hands-on checks of signup flows, product documentation, and support responsiveness. The same criteria apply to every listing so you can compare neobank accounts on substance rather than marketing claims.

Each listing's score reflects value, fit for the use case, and transparency, not a single headline price. The dimensions below are scored and rolled up using our published weights. Sponsored placements are labelled wherever they appear.

The VaultScore and its weights

Each account receives a VaultScore from 0 to 10, calculated from six weighted sub-scores. The weights are published below so you can see exactly what we reward. A user star rating is tracked separately and never folded into the VaultScore.

• Fees (25%) monthly account fee, ATM charges, and other recurring costs.
• FX (20%) currency markup over the mid-market rate and any weekend surcharge.
• Savings (20%) advertised APY or AER, conditions, and the ongoing rate after any bonus.
• App experience (15%) app store ratings, usability, and feature depth in daily use.
• Deposit protection (10%) whether funds are deposit insured at a licensed bank or safeguarded at an electronic money institution.
• Features (10%) multi-currency support, cards, budgeting, and other capabilities.

Volatile data such as APY and FX markup is dated with the day we last checked it, shown as a Rates as of date on each listing. We assess every published account in the deployment against this same framework.

Data sources

We rely on primary sources: provider fee schedules, terms and conditions, in-app disclosures, regulator and deposit-scheme registers, and public app store ratings. Where a figure cannot be verified from a primary source, we leave it out rather than estimate.

Evaluation dimensions

Our reviews cover the factors buyers actually filter on before choosing a neobank account.

1. Pricing and fees

We compare headline pricing, recurring fees, usage-based charges, and any hidden costs documented in terms or fee schedules. The goal is an all-in view of what you pay in typical scenarios.

2. Coverage and capability

We record the features, regions, integrations, or corridors each neobank supports and note meaningful gaps versus category expectations.

3. Transparency and trust

We verify licensing, security disclosures, or regulatory status where applicable, and flag unclear pricing, restrictive terms, or missing documentation.

4. Onboarding and experience

We evaluate signup or purchase flows, mobile and web experience, and how quickly a buyer can reach a working setup.

5. Support and documentation

We test support channels where possible and review help content, API docs, or self-service resources for clarity and depth.

Data collection and update cadence

Listing data is reviewed on a regular cycle. Full reviews happen at least every six months. Material pricing or product changes published by neobanks are reflected within one week when we can verify them from primary sources.

Sponsorships and advertising

The site is free for visitors and funded through sponsored placements, affiliate commissions, and display advertising. Sponsored placements are visually distinct from organic results and labelled on every page where they appear.

• Sponsored placements are visually distinct and clearly labelled as sponsored on every page where they appear.
• Affiliate commissions may be earned when a visitor clicks through to a neobank and completes a qualifying action through one of our links.
• Disclosure. All commercial relationships are described on the Affiliate Disclosure page, linked from every page footer.
• Display advertising is visually distinct from editorial content and served on a per-market and per-language basis.