Kakao Bank vs Qonto.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and Qonto (Q51/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Kakao Bank leads Qonto 6-2.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | Q Qonto №70 · Payment institution license 51 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 51 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.70% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank KDIC | Payment inst. |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 8 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.8 ★ 50k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.3 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kakao Bank if…
Largest Korean digital bank by user count (~24M). Public on KOSPI since 2021. Deep integration with KakaoTalk messenger — distribution moat. Mini Stock fractional investing is a strong consumer-investing entry point.
Pick Qonto if…
Pick if you run an EU SME and need multi-currency invoicing, accounting integrations, and proper receipts.
- Best for fees Kakao Bank won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Qonto won 1 of 2
Kakao Bank vs Qonto — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than Qonto?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads Qonto 6–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs Qonto 51/100. Kakao Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Kakao Bank or Qonto cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; Qonto: €9. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; Qonto: 1.70%. Kakao Bank 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, Kakao Bank or Qonto?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Qonto holds a Payment inst. licence under Payment institution license (France, 2018); EU passport across served markets; filed for full French banking license in July 2025; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Kakao Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kakao Bank and Qonto?
Kakao Bank operates in 1 country; Qonto operates in 8 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.