Wise vs bunq
Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.
| Función | Wise | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Puntuación | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ideal para | Cheap, transparent international transfers | Digital nomads needing EU banking + multi-currency |
| Comisión mensual | Free (one-time card fee in some regions) | Free €0; Core €3.99; Pro €9.99; Elite €18.99 |
| Tipo de cambio | Mid-market + transparent fee (often <0.5%) | Mastercard rate + 0.5% (Free: 1.5% after €1,000 a year) |
| Enviar / recibir | Low variable fee (~0.33%+) | Free instant euro transfers; SWIFT €5 |
| Retiradas | Free up to a monthly cap, then small fee | Free: €2.99 each; Pro/Elite: first 6 a month free |
| Tarjeta | Yes — physical & virtual debit Mastercard | Yes — physical & virtual Mastercard |
| Disponibilidad | 160+ countries | EU residents (new UK sign-ups paused) |
| Divisas | 40+ currencies | About 20 currencies; local IBANs from 7 EU countries |
| Regulación | FCA (UK), NBB (Belgium), FinCEN (US) | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) full EU banking licence |
| Fundación | 2011 | 2012 |
Wise
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the benchmark for transparent, low-cost international transfers, using the real mid-market rate plus a small visible fee. Its multi-currency account holds 40+ currencies with local account details, making it ideal for freelancers and frequent travellers. It is an e-money provider rather than a full bank, so it lacks credit products and bank-style deposit insurance.
Pros
- Mid-market exchange rate with low transparent fees
- Hold and convert 40+ currencies
- Local account details in multiple currencies
Contras
- Not a full bank (no deposit insurance like a bank)
- ATM withdrawals free only up to a monthly cap
- No credit or overdraft features
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, Wise se adelanta con una puntuación de 4.5 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.