Wio vs Ualá.
Wio (W77/100) and Ualá (U49/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| U Ualá №81 · BCRA 49 /100 | W Wio №13 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 49 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 4.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. BCRA | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded AR.SEDESA | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 3 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | 6 coins | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 2.4 ★ 5k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Ualá if…
The default Argentine fintech card (~9M users in AR). Wilobank acquisition (2022) gave Ualá a full Argentine banking licence — converts the wallet to a chartered bank for AR depositors. Mexican + Colombian expansions via local subsidiaries. Argentine inflation-hedge yield (Rendimientos) is a near-mandatory product for ARS holders.
Pick Wio if…
UAE-native digital full-bank, CBUAE-licensed since 2022. Backed by ADQ + Alpha Dhabi + Mubadala + e&. Instant onboarding via Emirates ID and a multi-currency core (AED + USD + EUR + GBP) make it the strongest local-licensed competitor to Liv. and Mashreq Neo. AE DPS cover under the new UAE Deposit Protection Scheme.
- Best for fees Wio won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Wio won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Ualá won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Ualá won 2 of 2
Wio vs Ualá — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Ualá better than Wio?
Ualá and Wio are tied 4–4 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Ualá 49/100 vs Wio 77/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Ualá or Wio cheaper?
Monthly fee — Ualá: €0; Wio: €0. Card FX markup — Ualá: 4.00%; Wio: Interbank. Wio 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, Ualá or Wio?
Ualá holds a Payment inst. licence under BCRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wio holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Wio is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Ualá and Wio?
Ualá operates in 3 countries; Wio 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.