Varo Money vs Vivid Money.
Varo Money (V82/100) and Vivid Money (V62/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Varo Money leads Vivid Money 5-4.
| V Varo Money №04 · OCC 82 /100 | V Vivid Money №47 · Electronic money institution authorisation in Luxembourg; MiFID II investment firm licence in Netherlands; MiCAR authorisation for crypto-asset services 62 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 82 /100 | 62 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| 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 | Full bank OCC | E-money inst. |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded EU.DGS.DE |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 5 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 300 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Varo Money if…
First US neobank to receive an OCC national bank charter (July 2020). Direct FDIC member — your money sits at Varo Bank, N.A., not a sponsor. Headline 5.00% APY savings rate on the first $5K with direct deposit — among the highest in the US neobank market.
Pick Vivid Money if…
Pick if cashback on cards matters more than regulatory depth or rich product breadth.
- Best for fees Vivid Money won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Varo Money won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Vivid Money won 3 of 3
- Best for ux Varo Money won 2 of 2
Varo Money vs Vivid Money — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Varo Money better than Vivid Money?
Under our v3 methodology, Varo Money leads Vivid Money 5–4 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Varo Money 82/100 vs Vivid Money 62/100. Varo Money is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Varo Money or Vivid Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — Varo Money: €0; Vivid Money: €0. Card FX markup — Varo Money: Interbank; Vivid Money: Interbank. Vivid Money 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, Varo Money or Vivid Money?
Varo Money holds a Full bank licence under OCC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Vivid Money holds a E-money inst. licence under Electronic money institution authorisation in Luxembourg; MiFID II investment firm licence in Netherlands; MiCAR authorisation for crypto-asset services; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Varo Money is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Varo Money and Vivid Money?
Varo Money operates in 1 country; Vivid Money operates in 5 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.