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Personal Finance · head to head

Banktivity vs Monzo

Banktivity logo

Banktivity

Personal Finance

Personal finance for Mac and iOS

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Monzo logo

Monzo

Personal Finance

UK-licensed digital bank with FSCS-protected deposits and no foreign currency card fees

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Monzo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version; Monzo monzo is UK-focused, so customers wanting deep multi-currency holding, broad international transfers or in-app investing will find its feature set narrower than Revolut.
  • They diverge on capability: Banktivity covers Account tracking, Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Banktivity and Monzo actually diverge.

Attributes where Banktivity and Monzo differ
AttributeBanktivityMonzo
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree core current account; paid Plus and Premium tiers add features
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, IOSiOS, Android, Web
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Banktivity

  • Account tracking
  • Bill management
  • Investment tracking
  • Budget forecasting
  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • Mac support
  • IOS support

Only in Monzo

  • FSCS-protected deposits
  • Fee-free foreign spending
  • Savings Pots
  • Joint and shared accounts
  • Instant spending notifications
  • Overdrafts and loans

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Banktivity

  • Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot Monzo
  • Investment and net worth trackingnot Monzo
  • Retirement planning projectionsnot Monzo
  • Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Monzo

Monzo

  • A UK resident wanting a free current account with statutory FSCS deposit protection rather than e-money safeguardingnot Banktivity
  • A frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a UK-regulated accountnot Banktivity
  • A household wanting a joint account with shared budgeting and spending visibilitynot Banktivity
  • Someone building savings using automated Pots with partner-bank interest rather than a separate savings accountnot Banktivity

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Banktivity

  • Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
  • Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page

Monzo

  • Monzo is UK-focused, so customers wanting deep multi-currency holding, broad international transfers or in-app investing will find its feature set narrower than Revolut.
  • Overdraft and loan products carry interest charges based on individually assessed rates, and like any consumer credit product the cost varies by risk profile rather than being a flat, predictable fee.
  • Free ATM withdrawals abroad are capped at a monthly limit on the free tier, after which a fee applies, so heavy cash users abroad may find the free tier insufficient.
  • As an app-first bank with very limited physical presence, customers who prefer in-person branch banking or need to deposit cash regularly will find it inconvenient compared with a traditional high street bank.
  • Some paid-tier perks, such as travel insurance bundled into Premium, require reading policy terms carefully, since bundled insurance products can have narrower cover than a standalone policy bought separately.

Pricing, plan by plan

Banktivity

On request
  • Monthly$4.99/month
    • Full feature access
    • Cloud sync
  • Annual$39.99/month
    • All monthly features
    • Discounted rate

Monzo

Free
  • Monzo (free)Free
    • Free current account with FSCS-protected deposits
    • Fee-free foreign currency card spending
    • Free ATM withdrawals abroad up to a monthly limit
  • Monzo Plus$5/month
    • Higher fee-free overseas ATM withdrawal limit
    • Custom card colours and virtual cards
    • Savings and budgeting extras
  • Monzo Premium$15/month
    • Travel and phone insurance included
    • Metal card
    • Airport lounge access on some plans

Which should you pick?

Choose Banktivity if

  • You need account tracking.
  • You work on Mac, IOS.
  • You also want bill management.
Banktivity review

Choose Monzo if

  • You need fscs-protected deposits.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want fee-free foreign spending.
Monzo review

Questions people ask

Is Banktivity or Monzo better?
Neither clearly leads. Banktivity starts at On request and Monzo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Banktivity or Monzo?
Monzo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Banktivity and Free for Monzo.
Does Banktivity or Monzo run on more platforms?
Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS. Monzo runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Monzo for free?
Yes. Monzo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Banktivity starts at On request.
What is Banktivity best used for?
Banktivity is most often used for personal budgeting and money management on a mac, investment and net worth tracking, retirement planning projections, connecting to over 14,000 financial institutions. Of those, personal budgeting and money management on a mac and investment and net worth tracking are not what Monzo is typically brought in for.
What can Banktivity do that Monzo cannot?
Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Fee-free foreign spending, Savings Pots, Joint and shared accounts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Banktivity: Does Banktivity offer a free trial?

Yes. Banktivity offers a 30-day free trial at any subscription level with no credit card required. This allows you to test the platform before committing.

Source
Monzo: Is Monzo a real bank?

Yes, Monzo Bank Limited holds a full UK banking licence and is regulated by the FCA and PRA, the same framework as traditional UK banks.

Banktivity: What devices does Banktivity support?

Banktivity is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad with cross-device sync. Data is encrypted end-to-end across all devices.

Source
Monzo: Are my savings protected if Monzo fails?

Eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to 85,000 pounds per eligible person, the same statutory protection as other UK banks.

Banktivity: How many banks does Banktivity connect to?

Banktivity connects to 14,000+ banks, allowing direct connections to most major financial institutions.

Source
Monzo: Does Monzo charge for spending abroad?

No card fee applies for purchases abroad at the interbank exchange rate; free ATM withdrawals abroad are capped at a monthly limit before a fee applies.

Banktivity: What financial planning tools does Banktivity include?

Banktivity includes budgeting, financial reporting, investment portfolio tracking, retirement planning tools, and net worth tracking across all your accounts.

Source
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