Monzo vs M-Pesa

Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.

Nuestra elección Monzo logo

Monzo

4.4

UK app bank with budgeting tools

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M-Pesa logo

M-Pesa

4.1

Africa's leading mobile money service

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FunciónMonzoM-Pesa
Puntuación4.4 / 54.1 / 5
Ideal paraEveryday UK banking and budgetingMobile money & remittances in Africa
Comisión mensualFree → Plus/Premium plansFree
Tipo de cambioMastercard rate, no Monzo markupApplies on international remittances
Enviar / recibirFree UK transfersTiered send fees by amount
RetiradasFree in UK; overseas cap then fee on free planTiered agent cash-out fees
TarjetaYes — debit MastercardLimited — virtual/partner cards in some markets; core is phone-based
DisponibilidadUK (US in rollout)Multi-country in Africa
DivisasGBP (spends abroad at Mastercard rate)KES & local currencies
RegulaciónUK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected)Central Bank of Kenya & national regulators; Safaricom/Vodacom
Fundación20152007

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

M-Pesa

M-Pesa is Africa's largest mobile money service, serving over 60 million customers and providing banking-like access via basic phones and a vast agent network without needing a traditional bank account. It supports transfers, bill pay, savings, loans and cross-border remittances across several African markets. A transformative financial tool within its regions.

Pros

  • 60M+ customers; access without a bank account
  • Works on basic phones via USSD
  • Huge agent network for cash in/out

Contras

  • Tiered send & withdrawal fees add up
  • Limited to specific African markets
  • Cash-out depends on agent liquidity

En resumen

En conjunto, Monzo se adelanta con una puntuación de 4.4 frente a 4.1, pero la elección correcta depende de tus prioridades. Compara ambos según tu país y tu caso de uso antes de decidir.