Relay vs Wise.
Relay (R68/100) 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 Relay 4-1.
| R Relay №43 · FDIC 68 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 68 /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 | Safeguarded No DGS | 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 | — | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Relay if…
The Profit-First-aligned multi-checking neobank — 20 real checking accounts (not virtual envelopes) and 50 debit cards under one login, with granular multi-user roles. Where Mercury / Bluevine / Novo all give you one operating account plus virtual sub-pockets, Relay gives you 20 separately-FDIC-mapped checking accounts that auto-transfer between each other on percentage- or amount-based rules. That is the structural fit for Mike Michalowicz's Profit First method (Income / Profit / Owner's Pay / Tax / OpEx envelopes), and Relay has been the official Profit First banking platform since 2023. Sponsor bank is Thread Bank (TN-chartered) with a $3M sweep — Thread's May 2024 FDIC consent order was terminated December 2025 with no customer-funds incident at 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 Tied
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Relay vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Relay better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Relay 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Relay 68/100 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 Relay or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Relay: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Relay: 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, Relay or Wise?
Relay holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Relay and Wise?
Relay 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.