Bank license
No (EMI model)
Monese is generally positioned as an e-money institution rather than a full bank license model.
Checked on: 2026-06-28
Open sourceProvider review
Monese
Monese is most compelling when you need a quick-to-open GBP or EUR account with simpler onboarding expectations than a traditional bank.
Best for: Quick GBP/EUR setup
Last updated
2026-06-11
Source quality: Medium
Based on 2 official source links and Trustpilot check (2026-06-13).
5 review samples analyzed, 60% substantiated.
Facts
Data snapshot
Updated 2026-06-11
- Monthly cost
- EU plans: € 0 / 2.95 / 7.95 / 14.95 (Pay As You Go, Everyday, Cashback, Premium)
- ATM free limit
- ATM free tier by plan: none (Pay As You Go/Everyday), € 500 (Cashback), € 2,500 (Premium) per month
- ATM after limit
- Above plan limits, ATM fees apply (see official Fees & Limits)
- FX cost
- Foreign card spending fee by plan: 3% (Pay As You Go), 2% (Everyday), 0.5% (Cashback), 0% (Premium)
- Card cost
- Physical card delivery € 4.95 (EU pricing)
- Currencies
- Account available in GBP, EUR, and RON
- Deposit guarantee
- No FSCS/DGS protection for e-money accounts; funds are safeguarded
- IBAN type
- Monese does not publicly confirm a fixed IBAN country code for new EU users (2026); multi-currency IBAN exists for some incoming transfers
Compliance badges
Compliance snapshot
Updated 2026-06-28
EMI safeguarded funds
Yes
Client funds are generally safeguarded under EMI rules instead of classic bank deposit handling.
Checked on: 2026-06-28
Open sourceDeposit guarantee
No bank-style deposit guarantee
Monese balances are generally safeguarded but not presented as standard bank deposit-guaranteed balances.
Checked on: 2026-06-28
Open sourceKnown friction
Support and review-flow complaints exist
Reported friction can include support responsiveness issues and account review delays in some cases.
Checked on: 2026-06-28
Open sourceApp visuals
Monese app visual
Live app preview for this provider. This visual is mapped one-to-one to the current provider page.
Current pageMonese
Who it is best for
- Quick GBP/EUR setup
- Simple app banking
- Light international use
Pros
- Accessible app-led account experience.
- Useful when you need a GBP/EUR account opened quickly.
- Reasonable everyday banking feature set.
Cons
- Less compelling for broad multi-currency depth.
- The basic plan is much weaker for free ATM and FX value than many older reviews suggest.
- Plan and region differences matter a lot.
Quick comparison (2026)
Direct snapshot of provider, monthly cost, FX, ATM, and best use case.
| Provider | Monthly cost | FX profile | ATM | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monese | EU plans: EUR 0 / 2.95 / 7.95 / 14.95 (Pay As You Go, Everyday, Cashback, Premium) | Foreign card spending fee by plan: 3% (Pay As You Go), 2% (Everyday), 0.5% (Cashback), 0% (Premium) | ATM free tier by plan: none (Pay As You Go/Everyday), EUR 500 (Cashback), EUR 2,500 (Premium) per month | Quick GBP/EUR setup |
| Wise | No monthly fee | For EUR SWIFT transfers outside SEPA: EUR 5.21 (shared) or EUR 25.22 (fixed), plus conversion/payment-method fees | Reference profile: EUR 250/month | Frequent travel |
| Revolut | EU plans: Standard EUR 0; Plus EUR 3.99; Premium EUR 10.99; Metal EUR 19.99; Ultra EUR 65 per month | Exchange in 35 currencies at Revolut rate within plan limits; Standard and Plus can have weekend exchange fees | ATM free by plan: Standard EUR 200/month or 5 withdrawals; Plus EUR 200/month; Premium EUR 400/month; Metal EUR 800/month | Online shopping |
Costs and limits details
Literal values are shown where available. Always verify current plan terms on official pages.
Exchange rate / FX fees
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Exchange rate / FX fees
No longer a standout on free-plan FX value, so it should be chosen for access and convenience rather than cheapest conversion.
Literal value: Foreign card spending fee by plan: 3% (Pay As You Go), 2% (Everyday), 0.5% (Cashback), 0% (Premium)
Source: Monese pricing
Last checked: 2026-06-11
Nuance: FX outcomes vary by currency pair, timing, plan, and country.
- Not typically positioned as the strongest pure FX specialist in this group.
- Useful when convenience and fast setup matter more than low-cost foreign spending.
- Users should verify current FX markups in the official plan details before treating it as a travel card.
Availability, pricing, limits, and features vary by region and plan. Check the official source before applying.
ATM withdrawal costs
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ATM withdrawal costs
The entry-level proposition is weak if you rely on free cash withdrawals.
Literal value: ATM free tier by plan: none (Pay As You Go/Everyday), € 500 (Cashback), € 2,500 (Premium) per month; Above plan limits, ATM fees apply (see official Fees & Limits)
- Recent plan changes have made the basic tier materially less generous for ATM users.
- Operator ATM charges can still apply.
- Plan comparison matters before relying on it abroad.
Availability, pricing, limits, and features vary by region and plan. Check the official source before applying.
Supported/available currencies
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Supported/available currencies
Useful for common international needs, but narrower than top specialists.
Literal value: Account available in GBP, EUR, and RON
Source: Monese card
Last checked: 2026-06-11
Nuance: Available currencies and account details vary by country.
- Coverage is enough for many mainstream users.
- Less compelling for users who need broad currency holding depth.
- Market support varies.
Availability, pricing, limits, and features vary by region and plan. Check the official source before applying.
Extra features
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Extra features
Solid day-to-day functionality with a simpler feature set.
Literal value: Card: Physical card delivery € 4.95 (EU pricing)
- Budgeting and app controls are available in some markets.
- Not as feature-dense as Revolut.
- Value comes from accessibility more than advanced extras.
Availability, pricing, limits, and features vary by region and plan. Check the official source before applying.
Price / subscription
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Price / subscription
Free and paid plans exist, but the basic tier is less generous than many users expect.
Literal value: EU plans: € 0 / 2.95 / 7.95 / 14.95 (Pay As You Go, Everyday, Cashback, Premium)
Source: Monese pricing
Last checked: 2026-06-11
Nuance: Plan pricing and included benefits may differ by country.
- Entry-level access can help budget-conscious users.
- Plan trade-offs should be reviewed before recommending it as a best-value pick.
- Check country-specific terms.
Availability, pricing, limits, and features vary by region and plan. Check the official source before applying.
Operational transparency
Only essential provider points: FX, limits, support, security, and dispute handling.
FX profile
Checked Monese public pages focus on support and legal context; no live mid-market benchmark table was identified.
ATM and limits
Checked Monese help pages do not expose one unified ATM day/month table in-page; limit detail appears plan/app-context specific.
Support response
No formal public first-response SLA was identified in checked Monese help pages.
Security
Official Monese legal/help copy emphasizes EMI safeguarding and issuer framework, while detailed auth-control matrices are mostly app-context.
Dispute timeline
No fixed public chargeback/complaint SLA timeline was identified in checked Monese help pages.
Last update: 2026-06-29 10:15 CET
Sources
The information on our site is based on the information on these official sites:
FAQ
Monese fees: which plan is usually best in 2026?
The best Monese tier depends on foreign spend volume and ATM usage, not on monthly price alone.
Monese debit card review: is it good for travel?
It can be good for lighter travel patterns, but heavy ATM use and FX-heavy behavior require careful tier selection.
Monese vs Wise for freelancers: which is better?
Wise is often stronger for complex multi-currency workflows, while Monese can work for simpler account routines.
Top internal links
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