Wise vs M-Shwari.
Wise (W68/100) 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. Wise leads M-Shwari 7-0.
| M M-Shwari №69 · KDIC 52 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 52 /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 | Payment inst. KDIC | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded KE.KDIC | 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 | 4.4 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
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 Wise won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Wise won 2 of 2
Wise vs M-Shwari — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is M-Shwari better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads M-Shwari 7–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: M-Shwari 52/100 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 M-Shwari or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — M-Shwari: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — M-Shwari: 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, M-Shwari or Wise?
M-Shwari holds a Payment inst. licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wise is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use M-Shwari and Wise?
M-Shwari 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.