Mercury vs Penta.
Mercury (M70/100) 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. Mercury leads Penta 6-0.
| M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | 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 | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| 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 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 Mercury won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Mercury won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Mercury won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Mercury won 2 of 2
Mercury vs Penta — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Mercury better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Mercury leads Penta 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Mercury 70/100 vs Penta 61/100. 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 Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Mercury: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Mercury: 1.00%; Penta: 1.00%. Mercury 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, Mercury or Penta?
Mercury 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. Mercury is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Mercury and Penta?
Mercury 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.