Lili vs Penta.
Lili (L73/100) 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. Lili leads Penta 6-0.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /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 | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
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 Lili won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Lili won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs Penta — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Penta 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs Penta 61/100. Lili is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Lili or Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Lili: Interbank; Penta: 1.00%. Lili 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, Lili or Penta?
Lili 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. Lili is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Lili and Penta?
Lili 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.