Monzo vs Wio.
Monzo (M78/100) and Wio (W74/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Monzo leads Wio 4-2.
| M Monzo №08 · Central Bank of Ireland 78 /100 | W Wio №24 · CBUAE 74 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 74 /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 | €200 /mo | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank Central Bank of Ireland | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.IE | Safeguarded AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Monzo if…
Pick if you bank in the UK or Ireland and value the best budgeting tools in the category.
Pick Wio if…
UAE-native digital full-bank, CBUAE-licensed since 2022. Backed by ADQ + Alpha Dhabi + Mubadala + e&. Instant onboarding via Emirates ID and a multi-currency core (AED + USD + EUR + GBP) make it the strongest local-licensed competitor to Liv. and Mashreq Neo. The UAE has no statutory deposit-guarantee scheme, so deposits rest on the bank's CBUAE licence.
- Best for fees Monzo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Monzo won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Wio won 1 of 2
Monzo vs Wio — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Monzo better than Wio?
Under our v3 methodology, Monzo leads Wio 4–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Monzo 78/100 vs Wio 74/100. Monzo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Monzo or Wio cheaper?
Monthly fee — Monzo: €0; Wio: €0. Card FX markup — Monzo: Interbank; Wio: Interbank. Monzo 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, Monzo or Wio?
Monzo holds a Full bank licence under Central Bank of Ireland; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Wio holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Monzo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Monzo and Wio?
Monzo operates in 2 countries; Wio 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.