Lili vs Sony Bank.
Lili (L73/100) and Sony Bank (S69/100), 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 Sony Bank 5-2.
| L Lili №26 · FDIC 73 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 73 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank JFSA |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.7 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.4 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| 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 Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees Lili won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Sony Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Lili won 2 of 2
Lili vs Sony Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Lili better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Lili leads Sony Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Lili 73/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. 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 Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Lili: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Lili: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. 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, Lili or Sony Bank?
Lili holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Lili and Sony Bank?
Lili operates in 1 country; Sony Bank 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.