Chime is a fintech that offers access to a range of fee-free banking services. These include a chequing account and a high-interest savings account, a no-fee overdraft facility and a Visa debit card.

Chime is hugely popular in the United States, but it’s not available to Canadians. So if you’re looking for Canadian fintechs and neobanks that offer similar products and services, check out these Chime alternatives.

Is Chime available in Canada?

No, Chime is not available in Canada. You’ll need to be living in the United States to open an account with Chime.

But there are several providers that do offer low or no-fee digital banking in Canada, so let’s take a closer look at six Chime alternatives.

Top 6 Chime alternatives in Canada

1. EQ Bank

EQ Bank is the direct banking arm of Equitable Bank. Launched in 2016, this digital bank is a Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) member and offers a wide range of personal banking products.

EQ Bank offers the Notice Savings Account and Personal chequing account, while also supporting free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada. Other products include TFSAs, RRSPs, a US dollar account, GICs and an online mortgage marketplace.

EQ Bank also offers a streamlined online platform and mobile app, making it well worth a look if you’re searching for Chime alternatives in Canada.

9.4 Excellent

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EQ Bank Personal Account

Earn 3.00%
Bonus Offer

$0
Monthly Account Fee

unlimited
Free Transactions

• Info
• Pros + Cons
• More Details

The EQ Bank Personal Account offers the spending flexibility of the Chime Account with the interest-earning power of Chime's High-Interest Savings Account. On one hand, the Personal Account functions like a chequing account, supporting unlimited transactions with no monthly fee. On the other, it also works as a savings account—you can earn 3% interest on your balance if you have your pay directly deposited into the account.

• No monthly fee or minimum balance requirement
• Unlimited transactions
• Earn up to 3% interest
• Fee-free ATM withdrawals across Canada

• No physical branches
• No cheques
• You need to meet terms and conditions to earn the maximum interest rate

Monthly Account Fee	$0
Free Transactions	unlimited
Interac e-Transfer Fee	$0
In-Network ATM Fee	$0
NSF Fee	$0
Foreign Transaction Fee	0%
CDIC Deposit Insurance	$100,000
Bonus Offer	Earn 3.00%

2. Neo Financial

Neo Financial is a Canadian fintech that has offered an alternative digital banking solution since 2019. It provides a hybrid chequing/savings account, credit cards, mortgages and actively managed investment portfolios.

Neo Money offers access to a high-interest savings account with no monthly fees, and the Neo Money prepaid Mastercard provides easy access to your funds. You can also earn cash back at a wide range of partner retailers, plus track your spending through a mobile app and get personalized insights from Neo AI.

The app itself scores an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 56K reviews for iOS (as of October 22, 2026), so Neo Financial is another solid option if you’re searching for the best alternatives to Chime in Canada.

9 Excellent

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Neo Savings Account

2.25% - 3.00%
Interest Rate

$0 - $14.99
Account Fee

$0
Transaction Fee

• Info
• Pros + Cons
• More Details

Finder Reward

Get $80 from Finder Open a new Neo Financial Chequing or Savings Account online through Finder as a first-time customer, deposit a total of at least $50 within 30 days of opening and keep the account active until February 15, 2027. One Neo reward per member. Offer ends December 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

T&Cs apply.

The Neo Savings Account offers tiered interest rates depending on your membership level. Earn 2.25% interest on your balance with a Neo Essentials membership, 2.75% interest with a Neo Build membership, and 3.00% with a Neo Grow membership..

• Earn a high interest rate
• No minimum balance to start earning interest
• CDIC insured for up to $100,000

Ongoing Interest Rate	3%
Promotional Interest Rate	No promotional rate available
Monthly Account Fee
Minimum Balance	$0
CDIC Deposit Insurance	$100,000

3. KOHO

KOHO offers a spending and savings account that supports unlimited transactions and pays 3.50% interest like a savings account. And because your account is linked to a prepaid Mastercard, you can spend your money whenever you want (and get cash back from KOHO partners for doing so).

What makes KOHO an enticing Chime alternative is its user-friendly app, and KOHO Cover—a 0% + monthly fee from $2 overdraft cash advance product that functions similarly to Chime’s SpotMe.

You also get access to features such as a credit building tool and the ability to set savings goals, offering plenty of bang for your buck from a free account.

8.3 Great

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KOHO Everything Plan

3.50%
Interest Rate

$22
Account Fee

$0
Transaction Fee

• Info
• Pros + Cons
• More Details

KOHO offers an online savings account with a host of added perks. You can earn 3.5% interest on your balance and you also get a linked reloadable prepaid Mastercard that you can use to make purchases and you can earn cash back on your spending. KOHO also offers a suite of budgeting tools to help you track your spending and save more money, plus it provides access to a line of credit that you can use to build your credit history.

• $0 transactions and eTransfers
• Earn cash back

• A monthly fee is charged

Ongoing Interest Rate	3.5%
Promotional Interest Rate	No promotional rate available
Monthly Account Fee	$22
Minimum Balance	$0
CDIC Deposit Insurance	up to $100,000

4. Tangerine Bank

Tangerine Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scotiabank and first started life in Canada as ING Direct. This online bank offers a wide range of personal and business banking products across Canada, including savings accounts, TFSAs, RRSPs, credit cards and more.

Its No-Fee Daily Chequing Account offers fee-free everyday banking and access to over 3,500 Scotiabank ABMs across Canada. Meanwhile, Tangerine’s World Mastercard lets you earn up to 2% cash back in selected spending categories and provides access to Mastercard Travel Rewards.

8.5 Great

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Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account

Earn $250
Bonus Offer

$0
Monthly Account Fee

unlimited
Free Transactions

• Info
• Pros + Cons
• More Details

The Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account is a fully online chequing account. There's no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement, while it's easy to manage your account online or via the Tangerine mobile app. Plus, unlike most chequing accounts in Canada, the Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account pays up to 0.1% interest on your account balance.

• Easy to open and manage your account
• No fees on everyday banking
• CDIC coverage

• Other accounts have higher interest rates
• No physical branches

Monthly Account Fee	$0
Free Transactions	unlimited
Interac e-Transfer Fee	$0
In-Network ATM Fee	$0
NSF Fee	$10
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.5%
CDIC Deposit Insurance	$100,000
Bonus Offer	Earn $250

5. Simplii Financial

Simplii Financial is a digital bank owned by CIBC. Launched in 2017, this branchless bank aims to make banking simple.

Open an account with Simplii and you can manage it online, via the Simplii Financial mobile app and at CIBC ATMs. Products include Simplii’s High Interest Savings Account, which offers one of the highest promotional interest rates in Canada.

It also offers foreign currency savings accounts, newcomer and student banking packages, a Cash Back Visa credit card that pays up to 4% cash back on eligible purchases, mortgages, personal loans and lines of credit.

8.5 Great

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Simplii No Fee Chequing Account

Earn $350
Bonus Offer

$0
Monthly Account Fee

Unlimited
Free Transactions

• Info
• Pros + Cons
• More Details

The Simplii No Fee Chequing Account comes with $0 transaction fees, $0 e-Transfer fees, interest on your balance and a debit card, all with no monthly fee. Pair this account with the Simplii High Interest Savings Account to help your money grow even faster.

• Earn $350 welcome bonus when you sign up for a new account
• Enjoy unlimited free transactions and e-Transfers
• No monthly account fee
• Earn 0.01% interest on your balance
• No minimum deposit requirements
• Earn a referral bonus

• Simplii is an online only provider
• You can only earn the welcome bonus if you're a new Simplii customer
• Residents of Quebec cannot open a Simplii account

Monthly Account Fee	$0
Free Transactions	Unlimited
Interac e-Transfer Fee	$0
In-Network ATM Fee	$0
NSF Fee	$10
CDIC Deposit Insurance	$100,000
Bonus Offer	Earn $350

6. Wise

Founded in 2011, Wise was originally known as TransferWise and specialized in international money transfers. It now offers a host of other products and services to customers who need to send and receive international payments, exchange foreign currency and make purchases while travelling overseas.

Its Multi-Currency Account allows you to convert and hold funds in 40 currencies, while you can also receive international payments in 9 currencies. And with a Wise card in your pocket, you can get the mid-market exchange rate when you pay for purchases abroad.

Like Chime, Wise also offers a highly-rated mobile app that makes managing your money a piece of cake. With an average user rating of 4.7 out of 5 from thousands of reviews across Google Play and Apple’s App Store, it’s as user-friendly as they come.

Go to site

Wise Personal Account

N/A
Bonus Offer

$0
Monthly Account Fee

unlimited
Free Transactions

• Info
• Pros + Cons
• More Details

The Wise Multi-Currency Account lets you hold and convert funds in 40 currencies. You get the mid-market rate when you exchange currencies, and it's easy to send payments to recipients all over the world. You also get local bank account details in 9 different currencies so you can receive international payments, while you can use your Wise card to spend in more than 160 countries.

• Easy to open and manage your account online and via the app
• Get the mid market exchange rate
• Convert to 40 currencies
• Get local bank account details in up to 9 currencies

• No physical branches
• Watch out for transfer fees

Monthly Account Fee	$0
Free Transactions	unlimited
Interac e-Transfer Fee	N/A
In-Network ATM Fee
Foreign Transaction Fee	0%
Bonus Offer	N/A

What is Chime?

Chime is a fintech company that offers a range of no-fee banking services to its customers. Its products include a chequing account with no monthly fees, a high-interest savings account and a secured credit card.

Chime also offers a fee-free overdraft facility known as SpotMe, which provides up to $200 of overdraft protection for debit card purchases and cash withdrawals, and offers early access to your paycheque when you get it direct deposited into your account.

You can manage your account through the Chime mobile banking app. Available for iOS and Android devices, the intuitive app has been downloaded millions of times.

Chime was launched in 2014 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA.

What countries have Chime?

Chime is only available in the United States, which means you need to be a US resident to sign up for Chime. If you’re a Canadian resident who is interested in signing up for Chime, you’ll have to consider these alternatives instead.

Does Chime work in Canada?

Yes, if you have a Chime debit card from the US, you can use it anywhere in Canada where Visa is accepted. For reference, almost all retailers in Canada accept Visa. Keep in mind that you’ll need to enable international transactions on the Chime app before travelling to Canada.

Can you get the Chime credit card in Canada?

Although Chime offers a credit card to US residents, it does not offer a credit card in Canada. Chime’s credit card is designed to help build credit history and does not require a credit check when applying.

If you’re interested in similar credit cards that are available in Canada, check out our full guide to credit builder credit cards here. You can also learn more about no credit check credit cards in Canada here.

Is Chime a real bank?

Chime is not a bank but a financial technology company. Its banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, both of which are Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured.

But while it’s not a bank, Chime does provide access to the sort of products and services you’d expect from a traditional bank, including chequing and savings accounts.

Can you download the Chime app in Canada?

No, the Chime app is only available for download on the US versions of the Apple App and Google Play stores. That said, there are several highly-rated banking apps offered by banks in Canada with similar features. For example, both EQ Bank and Simplii’s mobile apps have very high user ratings.

What to consider when choosing an alternative to Chime in Canada

More and more people in Canada are turning to digital banking instead of brick-and-mortar financial institutions. In fact, over 4 million Canadians currently use a digital bank, and this is expected to grow to over 4.9 million people by 2028. Ready to join the crowd? Keep these factors in mind when comparing online banking alternatives to Chime:

• Low fees. Digital banks stand out from traditional banks for offering low (or no) fees, unlimited free transactions and no minimum balance requirements. But that doesn’t mean digital banking is entirely free. Watch out for foreign transaction fee, NSF fees and other costs.
• Interest rates. Another edge online banks have over the Big Banks is higher interest rates. You may be able to grow your money even faster with a new bank account offer. Just make sure you’re aware of the ongoing rates and fees that apply when the promotional period ends.
• Customer service. If you prefer in-person customer support, visiting a local bank branch might be better than committing to fully online banking. But, with all its perks, digital banking might be better if you’re content with support via phone, live chat and/or email. Look at online reviews to see if customers are satisfied with the service their banks offer.
• Money transfers. What are your options for sending and receiving money? Are Interac e-Transfers free? Most traditional banks support wire transfers, cheques and money orders, if you these are your preferred transfer methods. But digital banks may not offer these options.
• Account protection. Canadian banks are federally regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), and many banks insure customer deposits through the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). Look for a regulated bank that uses security measures like encryption, multi-factor authentication and automatic timeouts to safeguard your money and data.

How do digital banks and traditional banks compare for Canadians?

Like Chime, there are many alternative banking options in Canada that compete with the traditional Big Banks, and we wanted to know how Canadians felt about all of these different options.

In our recent Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey March 2026, we asked Canadians what type of financial providers they would consider opening an account with among the Big 5 Banks (RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank and CIBC), other brick-and-mortar banks (e.g. National Bank and ATB), digital banks or fintechs (e.g. Tangerine, Simplii Financial, EQ Bank or KOHO) and credit unions (e.g. Coast Capital, Meridian and Vancity).

It turns out that a little less than half of Canadians (40.91%) would consider opening an account with digital banks and fintechs, similar to Chime. That said, the majority of Canadians (68.06%) still prefer opening accounts with Canada’s Big Banks as opposed to alternative financial institutions.

BMO Performance Chequing Account

• Earn up to $1,100 in cash bonuses from BMO
• Exclusive: Get an extra $175 reward from Finder + a $25 BMO referral boost
• Get up to 5.00% promo interest with a linked savings account

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Frequently asked questions about Chime in Canada

• What is the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC)?

  The CDIC is a federal Crown corporation that provides insurance for deposits at eligible banks and financial institutions. If you open an account with a CDIC member, up to $100,000 you deposit will be covered if your financial institution fails.

• Are there any downsides of digital banks?

  The key factor you need to be aware of with an online-only bank is that you'll need to access customer support online or over the phone. If you prefer face-to-face transactions, you may want to consider a bank with a large branch network.

  A digital bank may also not be able to provide fee-free access to as large an ATM network as a traditional bank, and they tend not to offer the same extensive range of banking products and services as traditional banks. Find out more in our guide to digital banking in Canada.

• Can Chime help me build my credit?

  Yes. Chime offers a secured visa credit card for US customers. You won't need to undergo a credit check to apply and there are no annual fees or interest to worry about. Chime also reports your payments to TransUnion, Equifax and Experian to help you improve your credit score.

• Who can use Chime?

  To sign up for Chime you will need to be a citizen or resident of the USA. You'll also need to be 18 years of age or older and have a valid Social Security Number.

• Does Chime charge ATM withdrawal fees?

  Chime offers fee-free withdrawals from a network of over 60,000 ATMs across the USA — use the Chime app to locate your nearest ATM. But if you withdraw money from a non-network ATM, a $2.50 fee applies.

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Written by

Tim Falk

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Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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Stacie Hurst

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Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family. See full bio

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