Lili vs Carbon.
Lili (L73/100) and Carbon (C50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Lili leads Carbon 6-1.
| C Carbon №80 · CBN 50 /100 | L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 73 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 3.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. CBN | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded NG.NDIC | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.4 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Carbon if…
Nigerian credit-led digital bank (formerly Paylater). CBN microfinance bank charter — same regulatory tier as Kuda/OPay (₦2M NDIC microfinance ceiling, not ₦5M DMB full-bank). Credit-line access is the structural differentiator vs. spending-account-led Kuda.
Pick Lili if…
The 1099-native US neobank — Tax Bucket auto-set-aside, pre-filled Schedule C / 1065 / 1120-S, and a quarterly tax estimator built into business checking. Where Mercury targets venture-funded startups and Bluevine targets lower-mid-market SMBs, Lili targets the solopreneur and 1099 freelancer who needs banking + bookkeeping + tax in one app. Sponsor bank moved from Choice Financial Group to Sunrise Banks, N.A. in 2024-2025; FDIC pass-through to $3M via sweep network now available on all tiers including the free Core plan.
- Best for fees Lili won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Lili won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Carbon won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs Carbon — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Carbon better than Lili?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Carbon 6–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Carbon 50/100 vs Lili 73/100. Lili is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Carbon or Lili cheaper?
Monthly fee — Carbon: €0; Lili: €0. Card FX markup — Carbon: 3.00%; Lili: Interbank. Lili 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, Carbon or Lili?
Carbon holds a Payment inst. licence under CBN; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Lili is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Carbon and Lili?
Carbon operates in 1 country; Lili 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.