Novo vs Up Bank.
Novo (N72/100) and Up Bank (U55/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Novo leads Up Bank 3-2.
| N Novo №28 · FDIC 72 /100 | U Up Bank №60 · PRA 55 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 55 /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 | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Payment inst. PRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded AU.FCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews | 4.0 ★ 2k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Novo if…
The integration-first US business neobank. Boost is the structural feature: Stripe and Square payouts arrive 1-2 business days earlier than at any competitor, which materially shifts cash-flow timing for e-commerce sellers and agencies invoicing on net-30. The third-party app marketplace (~11+ named integrations including Wise for cross-border) is deeper than Bluevine, Mercury, or Found, and Middlesex Federal Savings has been the continuous sponsor bank since launch — uncommon stability in BaaS. Trade-off: $250K single-bank FDIC ceiling (no sweep), no yield product, and weaker multi-user permissions than Relay.
Pick Up Bank if…
Australian neobank built on top of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's APRA-regulated charter — direct FCS AUD 250,000 cover via the parent. Strongest Australian neobank UX for under-35 consumers; budgeting and pay-day forecasting are best-in-class. No FX markup makes it travel-friendly.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Novo won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Up Bank won 2 of 2
Novo vs Up Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Novo better than Up Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Novo leads Up Bank 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Novo 72/100 vs Up Bank 55/100. Novo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Novo or Up Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Novo: €0; Up Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Novo: Interbank; Up Bank: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Novo or Up Bank?
Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Up Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under PRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Novo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Novo and Up Bank?
Novo operates in 1 country; Up 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.