Personal Finance · head to head
Monzo vs Quicken

Monzo
Personal Finance
UK-licensed digital bank with FSCS-protected deposits and no foreign currency card fees
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Monzo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Quicken promotional pricing available only for annual billing; higher rates apply for monthly billing
- They diverge on capability: Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Quicken covers Budget creation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Monzo and Quicken actually diverge.
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 Monzo
- FSCS-protected deposits
- Fee-free foreign spending
- Savings Pots
- Joint and shared accounts
- Instant spending notifications
- Overdrafts and loans
Only in Quicken
- Budget creation
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Credit cards
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Monzo
- A UK resident wanting a free current account with statutory FSCS deposit protection rather than e-money safeguardingnot Quicken
- A frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a UK-regulated accountnot Quicken
- A household wanting a joint account with shared budgeting and spending visibilitynot Quicken
- Someone building savings using automated Pots with partner-bank interest rather than a separate savings accountnot Quicken
Quicken
- Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Monzo
- Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Monzo
- Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot Monzo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Quicken
- Promotional pricing available only for annual billing; higher rates apply for monthly billing
- Subscriptions auto-renew at current rates unless manually cancelled
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Quicken
$3.99/month- Quicken Simplifi$3.99/month
- Billed annually at promotional rate
- Regular price $6.99/month
- Mobile and web access
- Quicken Business & Personal$4.99/month
- Billed annually at promotional rate
- Regular price $8.99/month
- Mobile and web access
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Quicken if
- You need budget creation.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Monzo or Quicken better?
- Neither clearly leads. Monzo starts at Free and Quicken at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Monzo or Quicken?
- Monzo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Monzo and $3.99/month for Quicken.
- Does Monzo or Quicken run on more platforms?
- Monzo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- Can I use Monzo for free?
- Yes. Monzo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quicken starts at $3.99/month.
- What is Monzo best used for?
- Monzo is most often used for a uk resident wanting a free current account with statutory fscs deposit protection rather than e-money safeguarding, a frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a uk-regulated account, a household wanting a joint account with shared budgeting and spending visibility, someone building savings using automated pots with partner-bank interest rather than a separate savings account. Of those, a uk resident wanting a free current account with statutory fscs deposit protection rather than e-money safeguarding and a frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a uk-regulated account are not what Quicken is typically brought in for.
- What can Monzo do that Quicken cannot?
- Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Fee-free foreign spending, Savings Pots, Joint and shared accounts. Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
Quicken: How much does Quicken cost?
Quicken Simplifi starts at $3.99/month (billed annually) or $6.99/month (monthly billing). Quicken Business & Personal costs $4.99/month (annual) or $8.99/month (monthly). Annual billing offers savings versus monthly subscriptions.
SourceMonzo: 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.
Quicken: What is the difference between Quicken Simplifi and Quicken Business & Personal?
Quicken Business & Personal includes the ability to run up to 10 businesses at no extra cost, making it suitable for freelancers and small business owners. Quicken Simplifi is designed for personal finance and couples. Both are available on mobile and web.
SourceMonzo: 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.
Quicken: Can I cancel my Quicken subscription anytime?
Subscriptions auto-renew at then-current rates unless cancelled. The page indicates cancellation is possible but does not specify the cancellation process or any early termination fees.
SourceRelated pages
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