Mercury vs Wise.
Mercury (M70/100) and Wise (W68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Mercury leads Wise 4-3.
| M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Mercury if…
Pick if you run a US LLC or C-Corp and want $5M sweep FDIC coverage. Personal accounts not supported.
Pick Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Mercury won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Mercury won 2 of 2
Mercury vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Mercury better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Mercury leads Wise 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Mercury 70/100 vs Wise 68/100. Mercury is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Mercury or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Mercury: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Mercury: 1.00%; Wise: Interbank. Wise 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, Mercury or Wise?
Mercury holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Mercury is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Mercury and Wise?
Mercury operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 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.