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Personal Finance · head to head

Monzo vs Remitly

Monzo logo

Monzo

Personal Finance

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Remitly logo

Remitly

Personal Finance

Send money faster to loved ones abroad

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Remitly specific transfer fees and exchange rates not published on website; users must check rates page
  • They diverge on capability: Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Remitly covers International remittances.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Monzo and Remitly actually diverge.

Attributes where Monzo and Remitly differ
AttributeMonzoRemitly
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree core current account; paid Plus and Premium tiers add featurestransaction
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2011

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 Remitly

  • International remittances
  • Multiple delivery methods
  • Send money to 200+ countries
  • Currency conversion
  • Bank accounts
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android 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 Remitly
  • A frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a UK-regulated accountnot Remitly
  • A household wanting a joint account with shared budgeting and spending visibilitynot Remitly
  • Someone building savings using automated Pots with partner-bank interest rather than a separate savings accountnot Remitly

Remitly

  • International money transfer and remittance servicenot Monzo
  • Cross-border payments for personal financial needsnot 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.

Remitly

  • Specific transfer fees and exchange rates not published on website; users must check rates page
  • Costs vary by destination country, transfer amount, and delivery method
  • No standardized fee schedule available for pricing comparison

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

Remitly

On request
  • Express$undefined/month
    • Fast transfers
    • Multiple delivery methods
  • Economy$undefined/month
    • Lower cost option
    • 3-4 day delivery

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.
Monzo review

Choose Remitly if

  • You need international remittances.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want multiple delivery methods.
Remitly review

Questions people ask

Is Monzo or Remitly better?
Neither clearly leads. Monzo starts at Free and Remitly at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Monzo or Remitly?
Monzo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Monzo and On request for Remitly.
Does Monzo or Remitly run on more platforms?
Monzo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Remitly runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Monzo for free?
Yes. Monzo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Remitly starts at On request.
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 Remitly is typically brought in for.
What can Monzo do that Remitly cannot?
Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Fee-free foreign spending, Savings Pots, Joint and shared accounts. Remitly covers International remittances, Multiple delivery methods, Send money to 200+ countries, Currency conversion.

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.

Remitly: How much does Remitly charge for transfers?

Remitly fees vary by destination country, transfer amount, and delivery speed. The company emphasizes no hidden fees but does not publish a standardized rate table on their main site. Users must visit the Rates and Fees page or enter transfer details in the app for specific pricing.

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.

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.

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