Brex vs Penta.
Brex (B70/100) and Penta (P61/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Brex leads Penta 6-1.
| B Brex №34 · FDIC 70 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Partner-bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Brex if…
SMB-business neobank built around corporate cards + spend management. Brex Cash uses partner-bank sweep (Choice Financial + Lead Bank + Citi) for FDIC pass-through up to $6M+. Y Combinator alumni; ~$12B valuation. The default for VC-backed US startups.
Pick Penta if…
The German SME-focused partner-bank neobank with the deepest DATEV-first workflow in the category. Customer deposits sit at Solaris Bank AG (BaFin-licensed credit institution) with DGS pass-through cover — structurally distinct from EMI-licensed Tide / Finom / Anna / Holvi. The structural fit for German GmbH / UG companies needing DGS-protected operating cash plus DATEV / Lexoffice / sevDesk integration depth without Qonto's freelancer-tier UX baggage.
- Best for fees Brex won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Brex won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Brex won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Brex vs Penta — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Brex better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Brex leads Penta 6–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Brex 70/100 vs Penta 61/100. Brex is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Brex or Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Brex: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Brex: Interbank; Penta: 1.00%. Brex 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, Brex or Penta?
Brex holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Brex is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Brex and Penta?
Brex operates in 1 country; Penta 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.