stc Bank vs Qonto.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Qonto (Q51/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. stc Bank leads Qonto 5-2.
| Q Qonto №70 · Payment institution license 51 /100 | s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 51 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.70% | 1.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 8 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.8 ★ 50k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.3 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Qonto if…
Pick if you run an EU SME and need multi-currency invoicing, accounting integrations, and proper receipts.
Pick stc Bank if…
First SAMA-licensed digital full bank in Saudi Arabia (received bank licence 2023, originally launched as stc pay in 2017). Backed by Saudi Telecom (stc) — telecom-grade reach across the Kingdom. Multi-currency support and instant onboarding via Absher distinguish it from legacy KSA banks. SAMA Deposit Protection Fund cover.
- Best for fees stc Bank won 2 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Qonto won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Qonto won 1 of 2
stc Bank vs Qonto — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Qonto better than stc Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, stc Bank leads Qonto 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Qonto 51/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. stc Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Qonto or stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Qonto: €9; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Qonto: 1.70%; stc Bank: 1.50%. stc Bank wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Qonto or stc Bank?
Qonto holds a Payment inst. licence under Payment institution license (France, 2018); EU passport across served markets; filed for full French banking license in July 2025; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Qonto and stc Bank?
Qonto operates in 8 countries; stc 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.