Wise vs Liv..
Wise (W68/100) and Liv. (L59/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wise leads Liv. 7-0.
| L Liv. №53 · CBUAE 59 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 59 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. CBUAE | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded AE.DPS | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Liv. if…
First UAE digital-only bank — Emirates NBD subsidiary launched 2017. Targets millennials with free account + lifestyle features. Direct AE DPS cover via parent's CBUAE charter — structurally cleaner than partner-bank competitors.
Pick Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Wise won 2 of 2
Wise vs Liv. — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Liv. better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Liv. 7–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Liv. 59/100 vs Wise 68/100. Wise is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Liv. or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Liv.: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Liv.: 1.50%; Wise: Interbank. Wise wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Liv. or Wise?
Liv. holds a E-money inst. licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Liv. and Wise?
Liv. operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 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.