Varo Money vs Lunar.
Varo Money (V82/100) and Lunar (L79/100), 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.
| L Lunar №06 · Finanstilsynet 79 /100 | V Varo Money №04 · OCC 82 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 79 /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 Finanstilsynet | Full bank OCC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.DK | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 3 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | Yes | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.6 ★ 22k reviews | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Lunar if…
Pick if you live in the Nordics and want a local credit institution with native commission-free brokerage.
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.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Varo Money won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Lunar won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Varo Money vs Lunar — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lunar better than Varo Money?
Lunar and Varo Money are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Lunar 79/100 vs Varo Money 82/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Lunar or Varo Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lunar: €0; Varo Money: €0. Card FX markup — Lunar: 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, Lunar or Varo Money?
Lunar holds a Full bank licence under Finanstilsynet; 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 Lunar and Varo Money?
Lunar operates in 3 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.