Lili vs Bank Zero.
Lili (L73/100) and Bank Zero (B50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Lili leads Bank Zero 6-0.
| B Bank Zero №75 · SARB 50 /100 | L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 73 /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 | Payment inst. SARB | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Bank Zero if…
South Africa's first fully-digital mutual bank — SARB-licensed since 2018, operationally live since 2021. Founded by ex-FNB executives (Yatin Narsai, Michael Jordaan). Owner-operator model: no shareholders, profits flow back to depositors via lower fees and competitive sub-account interest. The fee-free counterpart to Discovery Bank's premium tier-based model.
Pick Lili if…
The 1099-native US neobank — Tax Bucket auto-set-aside, pre-filled Schedule C / 1065 / 1120-S, and a quarterly tax estimator built into business checking. Where Mercury targets venture-funded startups and Bluevine targets lower-mid-market SMBs, Lili targets the solopreneur and 1099 freelancer who needs banking + bookkeeping + tax in one app. Sponsor bank moved from Choice Financial Group to Sunrise Banks, N.A. in 2024-2025; FDIC pass-through to $3M via sweep network now available on all tiers including the free Core plan.
- Best for fees Lili won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Lili won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs Bank Zero — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Bank Zero better than Lili?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Bank Zero 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Bank Zero 50/100 vs Lili 73/100. Lili is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Bank Zero or Lili cheaper?
Monthly fee — Bank Zero: €0; Lili: €0. Card FX markup — Bank Zero: 2.00%; Lili: Interbank. Lili 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, Bank Zero or Lili?
Bank Zero holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Lili is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Bank Zero and Lili?
Bank Zero operates in 1 country; Lili 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.