Apple Pay vs Monzo
A side-by-side look at how these two wallets stack up — and which one wins for which job.
| Feature | Apple Pay | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best for | Contactless payments on Apple devices | Everyday UK banking and budgeting |
| Monthly fee | Free | Free → Plus/Premium plans |
| Exchange rate | Uses your card's FX terms | Mastercard rate, no Monzo markup |
| Send / receive | Apple Cash P2P free; instant 1.7% | Free UK transfers |
| Withdrawals | Standard Apple Cash free; instant 1.7% | Free in UK; overseas cap then fee on free plan |
| Card | No standalone card; tokenises existing cards | Yes — debit Mastercard |
| Availability | Apple Pay 80+ countries; Apple Cash US-only | UK (US in rollout) |
| Currencies | Local card currency; Apple Cash USD | GBP (spends abroad at Mastercard rate) |
| Regulation | Apple Cash via Green Dot Bank (US); rides card networks | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is the default contactless wallet for iPhone and Apple Watch users, offering fast, private, tokenized tap-to-pay accepted in 80+ countries with no usage fee. Apple Cash adds US-only peer-to-peer payments inside iMessage. Excellent for everyday spending within the Apple ecosystem but offers no standalone account or Android support.
Pros
- Seamless, secure contactless on iPhone/Watch
- Tokenization keeps real card numbers private
- Accepted in 80+ countries
Cons
- Apple Cash P2P is US-only
- Locked to the Apple ecosystem
- Instant Apple Cash transfers cost 1.7%
Monzo
Monzo is a fully licensed UK app bank with FSCS-protected deposits, best known for its budgeting tools (Pots, spending categories) and fee-free card spending abroad at the Mastercard rate. It is one of the most polished everyday banking apps in the UK, with overseas ATM limits and premium perks reserved for paid tiers.
Pros
- Full UK bank, FSCS-protected deposits
- Excellent budgeting with Pots and categories
- No FX markup on card spending
Cons
- GBP-only current account
- Overseas ATM limits on the free plan
- Best perks on paid tiers
The bottom line
Overall, Apple Pay edges ahead with a score of 4.4 versus 4.4 — but the right choice depends on your priorities. Check both against your own country and use case before deciding.