Aspire vs Penta.
Aspire (A70/100) 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. Aspire leads Penta 7-0.
| A Aspire №37 · MAS 70 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.30% | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank MAS | Partner-bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 8 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.3 ★ 1k reviews | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Aspire if…
The APAC-first multi-currency business-account platform for SaaS startups and e-commerce sellers — SG-HQ MAS Major Payment Institution with native multi-currency accounts (USD/SGD/EUR/GBP/IDR + HKD/AUD/IDR/MYR) plus local-currency receiving in 30+ countries and local account issuance in 6 jurisdictions (SG, HK, US, UK, EU, AU). Built for APAC startups taking USD revenue who need a SGD operating account without the friction of running Mercury (US) + a SG-bank relationship side-by-side. Stripe + Shopify + Xero integration depth makes Aspire the structural fit for SaaS / e-commerce / fintech operators in the region. MAS-licensed Major Payment Institution status is the structural anchor.
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 Aspire won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Aspire won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Aspire won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Aspire won 2 of 2
Aspire vs Penta — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Aspire better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Aspire leads Penta 7–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Aspire 70/100 vs Penta 61/100. Aspire is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Aspire or Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Aspire: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Aspire: 0.30%; Penta: 1.00%. Aspire 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, Aspire or Penta?
Aspire holds a Partner-bank licence under MAS; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Aspire is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Aspire and Penta?
Aspire operates in 8 countries; 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.