Meem vs Relay.
Meem (M74/100) and Relay (R68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Meem leads Relay 4-2.
| M Meem №24 · SAMA 74 /100 | R Relay №43 · FDIC 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 74 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Meem if…
Digital banking arm of Gulf International Bank — one of the first KSA digital-only banking offerings (launched 2014). Sharia-compliant by structure (profit-share rather than interest). SA Deposit Protection cover via the GIB licence. Distinguishes itself vs. stc Bank by depth of wealth-management access through the GIB private-banking heritage.
Pick Relay if…
The Profit-First-aligned multi-checking neobank — 20 real checking accounts (not virtual envelopes) and 50 debit cards under one login, with granular multi-user roles. Where Mercury / Bluevine / Novo all give you one operating account plus virtual sub-pockets, Relay gives you 20 separately-FDIC-mapped checking accounts that auto-transfer between each other on percentage- or amount-based rules. That is the structural fit for Mike Michalowicz's Profit First method (Income / Profit / Owner's Pay / Tax / OpEx envelopes), and Relay has been the official Profit First banking platform since 2023. Sponsor bank is Thread Bank (TN-chartered) with a $3M sweep — Thread's May 2024 FDIC consent order was terminated December 2025 with no customer-funds incident at Relay.
- Best for fees Relay won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Meem won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Meem won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Relay won 1 of 2
Meem vs Relay — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Meem better than Relay?
Under our v3 methodology, Meem leads Relay 4–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Meem 74/100 vs Relay 68/100. Meem is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Meem or Relay cheaper?
Monthly fee — Meem: €0; Relay: €0. Card FX markup — Meem: 2.00%; Relay: Interbank. Relay wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Meem or Relay?
Meem holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Relay holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Meem is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Meem and Relay?
Meem operates in 1 country; Relay 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.