Zand vs Wise.
Zand (Z77/100) and Wise (W68/100), 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 Zand 4-3.
| W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | Z Zand №15 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 68 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 /mo | €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 | E-money inst. FCA | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded GB.FSCS | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 160 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
Pick Zand if…
UAE's first fully-digital full bank — CBUAE-licensed since 2021. Holds its own banking licence (not a partner-bank). Both retail and corporate banking offered. Adds full-bank diversity to the UAE set alongside Wio.
- Best for fees Wise won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Zand won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Wise won 2 of 2
Zand vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Wise better than Zand?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Zand 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Wise 68/100 vs Zand 77/100. Wise is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Wise or Zand cheaper?
Monthly fee — Wise: €0; Zand: €0. Card FX markup — Wise: Interbank; Zand: 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, Wise or Zand?
Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Zand holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Zand is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Wise and Zand?
Wise operates in 160 countries; Zand 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.