Lili vs Mukuru.
Lili (L73/100) and Mukuru (M63/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Lili leads Mukuru 4-1.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | M Mukuru №46 · FCA 63 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /100 | 63 /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 | Partner-bank FDIC | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded ZA.CODI |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 7 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Lili if…
The 1099-native US neobank — Tax Bucket auto-set-aside, pre-filled Schedule C / 1065 / 1120-S, and a quarterly tax estimator built into business checking. Where Mercury targets venture-funded startups and Bluevine targets lower-mid-market SMBs, Lili targets the solopreneur and 1099 freelancer who needs banking + bookkeeping + tax in one app. Sponsor bank moved from Choice Financial Group to Sunrise Banks, N.A. in 2024-2025; FDIC pass-through to $3M via sweep network now available on all tiers including the free Core plan.
Pick Mukuru if…
Pan-African remittance + financial-services platform — operates across Southern Africa + UK. ~14M users. Mauritius FSC-licensed parent. Cash-out via 100K+ Mukuru agents — physical reach is the structural differentiator. The other half of the pan-African angle alongside Chipper Cash.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Lili won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Mukuru won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs Mukuru — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than Mukuru?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Mukuru 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs Mukuru 63/100. Lili is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Lili or Mukuru cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; Mukuru: €0. Card FX markup — Lili: Interbank; Mukuru: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Lili or Mukuru?
Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Mukuru holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Lili is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Lili and Mukuru?
Lili operates in 1 country; Mukuru operates in 7 countries. 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.