Monzo vs Lili.
Monzo (M78/100) and Lili (L73/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Monzo leads Lili 4-3.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | M Monzo №08 · Central Bank of Ireland 78 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /100 | 78 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank Central Bank of Ireland |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | €100,000 EU.DGS.IE |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | — |
| 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 Monzo if…
Pick if you bank in the UK or Ireland and value the best budgeting tools in the category.
- Best for fees Monzo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Monzo won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Monzo vs Lili — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than Monzo?
Under our v3 methodology, Monzo leads Lili 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs Monzo 78/100. Monzo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Lili or Monzo cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; Monzo: €0. Card FX markup — Lili: Interbank; Monzo: Interbank. Monzo 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, Lili or Monzo?
Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Monzo holds a Full bank licence under Central Bank of Ireland; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Lili and Monzo?
Lili operates in 1 country; Monzo operates in 2 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.