Sony Bank vs Qonto.
Sony Bank (S69/100) and Qonto (Q51/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Sony Bank leads Qonto 5-3.
| Q Qonto №70 · Payment institution license 51 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 51 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.70% | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 8 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.8 ★ 50k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.3 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Qonto if…
Pick if you run an EU SME and need multi-currency invoicing, accounting integrations, and proper receipts.
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 Sony Bank won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Qonto won 2 of 2
Sony Bank vs Qonto — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Qonto better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Sony Bank leads Qonto 5–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Qonto 51/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. Sony Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Qonto or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Qonto: €9; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Qonto: 1.70%; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Sony Bank 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, Qonto or Sony Bank?
Qonto holds a Payment inst. licence under Payment institution license (France, 2018); EU passport across served markets; filed for full French banking license in July 2025; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Qonto and Sony Bank?
Qonto operates in 8 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.