Wio vs Bank Zero.
Wio (W77/100) 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. Wio leads Bank Zero 5-1.
| B Bank Zero №75 · SARB 50 /100 | W Wio №13 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 77 /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 | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.0 |
| 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 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. AE DPS cover under the new UAE Deposit Protection Scheme.
- Best for fees Wio won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Wio won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Wio won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Bank Zero won 1 of 2
Wio 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 Wio?
Under our v3 methodology, Wio leads Bank Zero 5–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Bank Zero 50/100 vs Wio 77/100. Wio 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 Wio cheaper?
Monthly fee — Bank Zero: €0; Wio: €0. Card FX markup — Bank Zero: 2.00%; Wio: Interbank. Wio 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 Wio?
Bank Zero holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wio holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Wio is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Bank Zero and Wio?
Bank Zero operates in 1 country; 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.