Novo vs Penta.
Novo (N72/100) and Penta (P61/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Novo leads Penta 5-1.
| N Novo №28 · FDIC 72 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Partner-bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Novo if…
The integration-first US business neobank. Boost is the structural feature: Stripe and Square payouts arrive 1-2 business days earlier than at any competitor, which materially shifts cash-flow timing for e-commerce sellers and agencies invoicing on net-30. The third-party app marketplace (~11+ named integrations including Wise for cross-border) is deeper than Bluevine, Mercury, or Found, and Middlesex Federal Savings has been the continuous sponsor bank since launch — uncommon stability in BaaS. Trade-off: $250K single-bank FDIC ceiling (no sweep), no yield product, and weaker multi-user permissions than Relay.
Pick Penta if…
The German SME-focused partner-bank neobank with the deepest DATEV-first workflow in the category. Customer deposits sit at Solaris Bank AG (BaFin-licensed credit institution) with DGS pass-through cover — structurally distinct from EMI-licensed Tide / Finom / Anna / Holvi. The structural fit for German GmbH / UG companies needing DGS-protected operating cash plus DATEV / Lexoffice / sevDesk integration depth without Qonto's freelancer-tier UX baggage.
- Best for fees Novo won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Novo won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tied
Novo vs Penta — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Novo better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Novo leads Penta 5–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Novo 72/100 vs Penta 61/100. Novo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Novo or Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Novo: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Novo: Interbank; Penta: 1.00%. Novo 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, Novo or Penta?
Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Novo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Novo and Penta?
Novo operates in 1 country; Penta 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.