Relay vs Ualá.
Relay (R71/100) and Ualá (U49/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Relay leads Ualá 5-4.
| R Relay №31 · FDIC 71 /100 | U Ualá №81 · BCRA 49 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /100 | 49 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 4.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Payment inst. BCRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded AR.SEDESA |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 3 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 6 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 2.4 ★ 5k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick Ualá if…
The default Argentine fintech card (~9M users in AR). Wilobank acquisition (2022) gave Ualá a full Argentine banking licence — converts the wallet to a chartered bank for AR depositors. Mexican + Colombian expansions via local subsidiaries. Argentine inflation-hedge yield (Rendimientos) is a near-mandatory product for ARS holders.
- Best for fees Relay won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Relay won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Ualá won 3 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Relay vs Ualá — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Relay better than Ualá?
Under our v3 methodology, Relay leads Ualá 5–4 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Relay 71/100 vs Ualá 49/100. Relay is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Relay or Ualá cheaper?
Monthly fee — Relay: €0; Ualá: €0. Card FX markup — Relay: Interbank; Ualá: 4.00%. 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, Relay or Ualá?
Relay holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Ualá holds a Payment inst. licence under BCRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Relay is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Relay and Ualá?
Relay operates in 1 country; Ualá operates in 3 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.