Monese review

You can open and use a Monese account in the UK and across Europe. We round up the fees and features of this app-based current account.

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Monese is a digital banking app and card using smartphone technology to improve your banking experience. Monese is great for travellers and works well if you are looking to set up an account quickly in another country. Let’s take a closer look.

How we scored Monese

FeatureRatingDetails
App rating 9 Excellent Monese scores highly across the App Store and Google Play.
Monthly fees 10 Excellent Monese is free to use, with no monthly fee.
Transaction fees 8 Great Pay a fee to deposit cash, withdraw funds at an ATM, and receive your card.
Overseas fees 6 Standard A fee applies to both purchases and cash withdrawals abroad.
Customer service 5 Standard Monese scored just above average for customer satisfaction.
Green credentials 7.5 Great Monese was not included in the Finder Green Banking Awards.
Account access 6.3 Standard Account access is limited to mobile and online banking.
Payment features 8.3 Great Most payment features are available, but Monese doesn’t offer cheque deposits or a cashback or rewards programme.
Extra features 9 Excellent Benefit from spending categories, budgeting tools, savings pots, and more.

What is Monese?

Monese has provided basic banking on smartphones since 2015. It gives people in the UK and abroad a chance to experience streamlined, modern finance.

This feature is what makes Monese unique: the ability for anyone to open an account anywhere in the UK or continental Europe. Whether or not you have a UK address, a credit history or fixed income, you can access Monese and open an account today. The app is currently available to anyone in the European Economic Area.

Monese is completely portable across 31 countries across Europe and, if you move to another country, your Monese account goes with you.

How does Monese work?

Monese works like a traditional banking system, but more streamlined. Like with most digital-only accounts, it’s all managed through the app. You can choose from a free account or pay for the Everyday, Cashback or Premium plans.

Below are some of the key features and benefits of Monese:

  • Debit card. Order and manage your contactless debit card. You can see whether your card is active and get a reminder of your pin.
  • Support. The support tab in the app provides customers with easy access to customer service via telephone, instant messenger or email. This tab also has an FAQ section.
  • Direct debits. View and manage your active direct debits. Your account number and sort code are provided on this page for you to copy.
  • Add Eurozone account. Add a Eurozone account at the click of a button. You can switch between your UK and European accounts at any time on the home page.
  • Earn cash when referring friends. Invite a friend to join Monese and you can earn money.
  • Interest-free credit builder. For a monthly fee, you can build your credit history and savings through the Credit Builder feature. As you make your monthly repayments, these are reported back to the credit reference agencies.
  • Link your bank account. Through Open Banking you can easily link a UK bank account and manage all your money accounts and balances from the app.
  • Budgeting tools. You’ll easily be able to keep track of your spending and even set yourself budgeting goals.
  • Savings pots. Set aside money in up to 10 different pots to keep it separate from your day-to-day spending.

What are the different Monese plans?

Monese offers 4 different price plans. One of them, the Pay as you go plan, has no monthly fee, while the other 3 (Everyday, Cashback and Premium) charge a monthly fee but offer a greater range of features.

Note that all accounts can be held in GBP, EUR and RON and all offer money pots to help you set aside cash for different savings goals. Additionally, all plans give you access to the Credit Builder feature. You can also link any of the 4 account plans to your Avios account (if you have one) and earn Avios every time you spend with Monese, as well as link PayPal to your account.

Pay as you go plan

This free plan is a pretty basic account, and while transfers to other Monese accounts are free of charge, you will pay a fee to receive and send money to other accounts and send money abroad.

Fees will also apply to ATM withdrawals, cash and debit card top-ups and when you spend on your card abroad. There’s also a fee for the delivery of your first card (this is waived with a £100 first deposit).

Everyday plan

This is a paid-for plan but in return for your monthly fee, you’ll receive a greater range of benefits. These include:

  • Free Monese to Monese transfers
  • 2 free transfers to other accounts each month
  • Free transfers in
  • A small fee to send money abroad
  • Free virtual debit cards
  • A small fee for debit card top-ups
  • A small fee for spending on your card abroad

Cashback plan

In return for a higher monthly fee, you’ll receive the following benefits:

  • Free Monese to Monese transfers
  • 10 free transfers to other accounts each month
  • A small fee for international transfers
  • Free virtual debit cards
  • A fee-free monthly limit for cash top-ups
  • A small fee for debit card top-ups
  • A small fee for spending abroad
  • A fee-free monthly limit on ATM withdrawals
  • Cashback on spending.

Premium plan

This is a step up from the other plans so requires a higher monthly fee. In return, you’ll receive the following benefits:

  • Free Monese to Monese transfers
  • 200 free transfers to other accounts each month
  • Free international transfers to other accounts
  • Free virtual debit cards
  • Free debit card top-ups
  • A higher fee-free monthly limit for cash top-ups
  • Fee-free spending abroad
  • A higher fee-free monthly limit on ATM withdrawals

What does the Monese app look like?

Monese app
Monese app
Monese app

How can I transfer money with Monese?

  • UK bank transfers. Pay friends, families or bills with bank transfers. Monese uses the Faster Payments Service and says that these money transfers are typically instant.
  • Foreign transfers. Transfer money abroad into 19 different currencies. Monese uses the “interbank rate”, much like Revolut. The delivery time for your money depends on the processing times of the receiving bank. Depending on the currency you’re sending and the time (try sending before 4pm), your transfer should take between 2-4 business days.
  • Foreign transfer from Eurozone account. If you’re transferring money to someone with a Euro account through a SEPA payment, then it should reach them the same day or by the next working day.
  • Direct debits. Set up a direct debit and automatically pay for utilities and services. Whether it’s your gym membership, phone contract, or your electricity bill – this way you won’t forget to pay the rent this month.
  • Standing orders. Set up a standing order (or “Recurring Payment”) to make routine payments for a specified amount, payee and date – all managed in-app.
  • Pay your contacts. Make payments to friends and family – straight from your phone’s contact list. See who’s already a Monese user, and to whom you’ll be able to make an instant payment.

Using Monese abroad

Monese has the option of opening an account across Europe making it easier to spend money in the UK and on the continent. Being able to switch instantly between your UK and European accounts means you’ll be able to spend abroad like a local. You can also open an account in Romanian lei.

Is Monese safe?

As a current account provider, Monese makes security a priority. To register it requires your address, a passport photo and video identification.

Your account is protected by a passcode which can be changed at any time, and you are logged out after 20 minutes of inactivity. If your phone or card is stolen, customer service is available Monday to Saturday during working hours.

Monese is registered with the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and is authorised to deal in electronic money, but isn’t technically a bank. In practical terms, this means that your money is held in a segregated account that Monese can’t touch (even if it were to go bust), but it isn’t protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

What do customers say about Monese?

77% of customers we surveyed in 2026 would recommend Monese to a friend.

It's primarily utilised by customers as a convenient secondary or travel account rather than a main bank. Users appreciate its ease of use, functionality abroad, and the ability to utilise pay points in the absence of traditional branches.

However, the provider faces significant criticism regarding its fee structure, particularly charges for transferring money. Several users also reported poor customer service and a clunky app experience, suggesting it may not be robust enough for primary, day-to-day banking.

AI-generated summary from the text of customer reviews on Finder.

Pros and cons of Monese

Pros

  • UK current account that does all you can expect, including direct debits and standing orders.
  • Fast and easy set-up (no credit check needed).
  • Colourful app that is easy to use, allows you to categorise your transactions and freeze the card if you lose it.
  • Can open both a UK and European account and switch instantly.
  • Offers a Credit Builder feature.

Cons

  • Depending on the plan, you may incur a range of fees, including for cash top-ups, foreign spending and ATM withdrawals.
  • To avoid these fees you'll need to pay for the more expensive Premium plan.
  • All plans charge a fee for card delivery, unless you make a £100 first deposit.
  • No physical branches.

Customer service information for Monese

Email support
Telephone support
In-app or live chat
Contact form
Branch support

Our verdict: Is an account from Monese worth it?

Monese is great for travellers and works well if you are looking to set up an account quickly in another country. Depending on the plan you pick, you may benefit from low or no fee card payments and some fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad, something you can only dream of with a traditional bank.

However, to get the most out of your account, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee and there are far more attractive options out there. Competitors Monzo and Starling are similar but have a full banking licence and offer more features, including overdrafts and fee-free spending abroad – even if you pick a free account.

Finally, if you regularly need to make international money transfers and hold multiple currencies, you should check out Revolut, which beats Monese by allowing you to hold and transfer around 30 different currencies for free. Get started by downloading the app.

Frequently asked questions

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Deputy editor
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Michelle Stevens is a deputy editor at Finder, specialising in banking, credit, loans and mortgages. She has a journalism degree from the University of Sheffield and has been a journalist for 15 years, writing on topics including fintech, payment systems and retail. In her spare time, Michelle likes to travel, explore new foodie experiences and attempt to improve her own culinary skills. See full bio

Michelle's expertise
Michelle has written 69 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Banking
  • Mortgages
  • Credit
  • Fintech
  • Payments
  • Loans
Nick Renaud-Komiya's headshot
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Writer

Nick Renaud-Komiya has been a writer and reporter for nine years, covering a range of consumer issues from energy suppliers to banking and mortgage issues. He enjoys helping people take control of their personal finances and better understand their consumer rights. Nick’s consumer writing and money journalism has been featured in a range of outlets including MoneySavingExpert.com, The Sunday Mirror, The Independent and Money.co.uk. Outside of work Nick enjoys cooking and collecting old David Bowie merch. See full bio

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