Monzo vs bunq
Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.
| Función | Monzo | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Puntuación | 4.4 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ideal para | Everyday UK banking and budgeting | Digital nomads needing EU banking + multi-currency |
| Comisión mensual | Free → Plus/Premium plans | Free €0; Core €3.99; Pro €9.99; Elite €18.99 |
| Tipo de cambio | Mastercard rate, no Monzo markup | Mastercard rate + 0.5% (Free: 1.5% after €1,000 a year) |
| Enviar / recibir | Free UK transfers | Free instant euro transfers; SWIFT €5 |
| Retiradas | Free in UK; overseas cap then fee on free plan | Free: €2.99 each; Pro/Elite: first 6 a month free |
| Tarjeta | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — physical & virtual Mastercard |
| Disponibilidad | UK (US in rollout) | EU residents (new UK sign-ups paused) |
| Divisas | GBP (spends abroad at Mastercard rate) | About 20 currencies; local IBANs from 7 EU countries |
| Regulación | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) full EU banking licence |
| Fundación | 2015 | 2012 |
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
Contras
- GBP-only current account
- Overseas ATM limits on the free plan
- Best perks on paid tiers
bunq
bunq is an Amsterdam-based challenger bank with a full Dutch banking licence and €100,000 deposit protection, popular with digital nomads for its multi-currency support, sub-accounts and savings interest. Its free plan is limited (virtual card only, €2.99 per ATM withdrawal), so most travellers will want Core or Pro. A strong choice for EU residents wanting flexible, feature-rich banking.
Pros
- Full Dutch banking licence, €100k protection
- Multi-currency holding with fair FX
- Multiple sub-accounts & budgeting tools
Contras
- Free plan has only a virtual card and €2.99 ATM fees
- Free plan FX rises to 1.5% after €1,000 a year
- EU residents only (UK sign-ups paused, US pending a licence)
En resumen
En conjunto, Monzo se adelanta con una puntuación de 4.4 frente a 4.0, pero la elección correcta depende de tus prioridades. Compara ambos según tu país y tu caso de uso antes de decidir.