Monzo vs Zand.
Monzo (M78/100) and Zand (Z77/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| M Monzo №08 · Central Bank of Ireland 78 /100 | Z Zand №15 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 77 /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 | Full bank Central Bank of Ireland | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.IE | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| 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 | — | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.3 · 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 Zand if…
UAE's first fully-digital full bank — CBUAE-licensed since 2021. Holds its own banking licence (not a partner-bank). Both retail and corporate banking offered. Adds full-bank diversity to the UAE set alongside Wio.
- Best for fees Monzo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Zand won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Zand won 1 of 2
Monzo vs Zand — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Monzo better than Zand?
Monzo and Zand are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Monzo 78/100 vs Zand 77/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Monzo or Zand cheaper?
Monthly fee — Monzo: €0; Zand: €0. Card FX markup — Monzo: Interbank; Zand: 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, Monzo or Zand?
Monzo holds a Full bank licence under Central Bank of Ireland; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Zand holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Zand is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Monzo and Zand?
Monzo operates in 2 countries; Zand 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.