Monzo vs Sony Bank.
Monzo (M78/100) and Sony Bank (S69/100), 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 Sony Bank 5-2.
| M Monzo №08 · Central Bank of Ireland 78 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | €200 /mo | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank Central Bank of Ireland | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.IE | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Monzo if…
Pick if you bank in the UK or Ireland and value the best budgeting tools in the category.
Pick Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees Monzo won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Monzo won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Sony Bank won 1 of 2
Monzo vs Sony Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Monzo better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Monzo leads Sony Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Monzo 78/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. Monzo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Monzo or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Monzo: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Monzo: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Monzo 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, Monzo or Sony Bank?
Monzo holds a Full bank licence under Central Bank of Ireland; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Monzo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Monzo and Sony Bank?
Monzo operates in 2 countries; Sony Bank 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.