Lili vs M-Shwari.
Lili (L73/100) and M-Shwari (M52/100), 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 M-Shwari 5-0.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | M M-Shwari №69 · KDIC 52 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /100 | 52 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Payment inst. KDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded KE.KDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.4 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.4 |
| 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 M-Shwari if…
Kenya's largest mobile-banking product — Safaricom (M-Pesa) + NCBA Bank partnership. Sits inside the M-Pesa app; ~30M Kenyan users. NCBA Bank holds the underlying full bank licence (CBK-regulated); KDIC cover via parent.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Lili won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs M-Shwari — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than M-Shwari?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads M-Shwari 5–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs M-Shwari 52/100. 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 M-Shwari cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; M-Shwari: €0. Card FX markup — Lili: Interbank; M-Shwari: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Lili or M-Shwari?
Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. M-Shwari holds a Payment inst. licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Lili is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Lili and M-Shwari?
Lili operates in 1 country; M-Shwari 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.