Penta vs Liv..
Penta (P61/100) and Liv. (L59/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Penta leads Liv. 3-2.
| L Liv. №53 · CBUAE 59 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 59 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. CBUAE | Partner-bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded AE.DPS | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Liv. if…
First UAE digital-only bank — Emirates NBD subsidiary launched 2017. Targets millennials with free account + lifestyle features. Direct AE DPS cover via parent's CBUAE charter — structurally cleaner than partner-bank competitors.
Pick Penta if…
The German SME-focused partner-bank neobank with the deepest DATEV-first workflow in the category. Customer deposits sit at Solaris Bank AG (BaFin-licensed credit institution) with DGS pass-through cover — structurally distinct from EMI-licensed Tide / Finom / Anna / Holvi. The structural fit for German GmbH / UG companies needing DGS-protected operating cash plus DATEV / Lexoffice / sevDesk integration depth without Qonto's freelancer-tier UX baggage.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tied
Penta vs Liv. — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Liv. better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Penta leads Liv. 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Liv. 59/100 vs Penta 61/100. Penta is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Liv. or Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Liv.: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Liv.: 1.50%; Penta: 1.00%. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Liv. or Penta?
Liv. holds a E-money inst. licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Liv. and Penta?
Liv. operates in 1 country; Penta 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.