Relay vs Anna.
Relay (R68/100) and Anna (A58/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Relay leads Anna 2-1.
| A Anna №57 · FCA 58 /100 | R Relay №43 · FDIC 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 58 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | £11 /mo | €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 | E-money inst. FCA | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded GB.FSCS | 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 | 4.6 ★ 6k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Anna if…
The design-led mobile-first UK SMB neobank — Anna positions itself versus Tide as the friendlier UX with a focus on solo founders and freelancers. The Self Assessment + Corporation Tax filing tools are the structural differentiator versus Tide at the UK freelance tier. FCA-authorised EMI — funds safeguarded, NOT FSCS-protected (same structural trade-off as Tide).
Pick Relay if…
The Profit-First-aligned multi-checking neobank — 20 real checking accounts (not virtual envelopes) and 50 debit cards under one login, with granular multi-user roles. Where Mercury / Bluevine / Novo all give you one operating account plus virtual sub-pockets, Relay gives you 20 separately-FDIC-mapped checking accounts that auto-transfer between each other on percentage- or amount-based rules. That is the structural fit for Mike Michalowicz's Profit First method (Income / Profit / Owner's Pay / Tax / OpEx envelopes), and Relay has been the official Profit First banking platform since 2023. Sponsor bank is Thread Bank (TN-chartered) with a $3M sweep — Thread's May 2024 FDIC consent order was terminated December 2025 with no customer-funds incident at Relay.
- Best for fees Relay won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Anna won 1 of 2
Relay vs Anna — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Anna better than Relay?
Under our v3 methodology, Relay leads Anna 2–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Anna 58/100 vs Relay 68/100. Relay is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Anna or Relay cheaper?
Monthly fee — Anna: £11; Relay: €0. Card FX markup — Anna: Interbank; Relay: Interbank. Relay 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, Anna or Relay?
Anna holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Relay holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Anna and Relay?
Anna operates in 1 country; Relay 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.