Novo vs Wise.
Novo (N72/100) and Wise (W68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wise leads Novo 4-3.
| N Novo №28 · FDIC 72 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| 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 | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| 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 Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Novo won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Novo vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Novo better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Novo 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Novo 72/100 vs Wise 68/100. Wise is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Novo or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Novo: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Novo: Interbank; Wise: Interbank. Wise 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, Novo or Wise?
Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Novo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Novo and Wise?
Novo operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 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.