bunq vs Varo Money.
bunq (b87/100) and Varo Money (V82/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| b bunq №02 · DNB 87 /100 | V Varo Money №04 · OCC 82 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 87 /100 | 82 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank DNB | Full bank OCC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.NL | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 30 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.2 ★ 22k reviews | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick bunq if…
Pick if you travel constantly and want unlimited free FX with a Dutch licence — €3.99/mo for the Easy Bank tier.
Pick Varo Money if…
First US neobank to receive an OCC national bank charter (July 2020). Direct FDIC member — your money sits at Varo Bank, N.A., not a sponsor. Headline 5.00% APY savings rate on the first $5K with direct deposit — among the highest in the US neobank market.
Pick if you travel constantly and want unlimited free FX with a Dutch licence — €3.99/mo for the Easy Bank tier.
Affiliate link — we earn a referral fee if you fund the account. How we work.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Varo Money won 1 of 2
- Best for reach bunq won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Varo Money won 1 of 2
bunq vs Varo Money — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is bunq better than Varo Money?
bunq and Varo Money are tied 2–2 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: bunq 87/100 vs Varo Money 82/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is bunq or Varo Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — bunq: €0; Varo Money: €0. Card FX markup — bunq: Interbank; Varo Money: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, bunq or Varo Money?
bunq holds a Full bank licence under DNB; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Varo Money holds a Full bank licence under OCC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Varo Money is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use bunq and Varo Money?
bunq operates in 30 countries; Varo Money operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.