Lili vs Wise.
Lili (L73/100) 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. Lili leads Wise 4-3.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /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 | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
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 Lili won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Wise 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs Wise 68/100. Lili is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Lili or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Lili: 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, Lili or Wise?
Lili 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. Lili is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Lili and Wise?
Lili 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.