{"id":135978,"date":"2018-09-24T15:12:58","date_gmt":"2018-09-24T14:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=135978"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:16:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:16:35","slug":"revolut-vs-monese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/current-accounts\/revolut-vs-monese","title":{"rendered":"Revolut vs Monese"},"content":{"rendered":"

The financial landscape is changing as challenger banks and e-money account providers like Revolut<\/a> and Monese<\/a> take on traditional high street banks. These app-based accounts are offering customers a far quicker, easier experience. Gone are the days of going into your bank to open an account, or calling up your bank to report your card stolen. In this guide we take in-depth look at Revolut and Monese, helping you compare the pair.<\/p>

Revolut vs Monese: Vital statistics<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Revolut<\/a><\/td>\"Monese<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Finder score<\/th>9.1<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td>6<\/span><\/span>Standard<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Customer satisfaction survey<\/th>4.5 <\/span>
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><\/td>
3.7 <\/span>
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Free spending abroad<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Arranged overdraft<\/th>No overdrafts<\/td>No overdrafts<\/td><\/tr>
Representative example<\/th>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Interest when you're in credit<\/th>0%<\/td>0%<\/td><\/tr>
Branch access<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
FSCS protected<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Sign-up bonus<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Amount<\/th>\u00a320<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Product image<\/th>
\"Revolut<\/td>		\"Monese\"<\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
See account<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

With the free Revolut account (its \u201cStandard\u201d<\/a> plan) you receive a blue and pink two-tone card, while with the free Monese account (its \u201cSimple\u201d<\/a> plan) you get a white card with a blue logo.<\/p>

Neither provider has branches, but you can deposit money into your Monese account at Post Office counters or PayPoints, although there is a 3.5% fee (with a minimum charge of \u00a33) for doing this. Revolut doesn\u2019t accept any cash deposits.<\/p>

You won\u2019t get any interest on your account balance with either brand, and you can\u2019t apply for any overdrafts either.<\/p>

Revolut has a UK banking licence which means it is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme<\/a> (FSCS), which protects individual customer funds up to the value of \u00a3120,000. <\/p>

Monese doesn\u2019t have a UK banking licence, but it\u2019s FCA-registered as an electronic money institution, which means customer funds must be kept in a separate account at a licensed UK bank, so the money is ring-fenced should the companies go under.<\/p>

In Finder\u2019s 2026 Banking Customer Satisfaction Awards<\/a>, 97% of Revolut customers said they would recommend one of its accounts, while only 77% of Monese customers said they would recommend one of its e-money accounts.<\/p>

Finally, Revolut currently runs a number of welcome promotions including a sign-up bonus for new customers where if you open an account, you can receive \u00a320<\/a>.<\/p>

Round 1: App features<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Revolut<\/a><\/td>\"Monese<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Visual breakdown of spending<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Spending categories<\/th>Customisable<\/td>15<\/td><\/tr>
Set spending budgets<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Set up direct debits in the app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Top up via bank transfer<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Have salary paid in<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Separate savings accounts<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Round-ups<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Customer service via the app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Customer service via a telephone line<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Cheque scanning<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Freeze\/unfreeze card in app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Send money abroad<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Fee for sending money abroad<\/th>Free in SEPA region, between 30p and \u00a35 to send elsewhere<\/td>2% fee, additional 1% fee on weekends (Subject to currency exchange fee)<\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
See account<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

Revolut and Monese both come with a wide variety of features in their mobile apps, allowing you do very similar things. Both have spending categories, where your transactions are automatically placed into an appropriate category, such as bills or transport. Although with Revolut you can create and customise your categories, whereas with Monese they are pre-set as 15 \u201clifestyle categories\u201d.<\/p>

You can also analyse your weekly or monthly spending insights in both apps, which helps you set budgets, as well as receive alerts when payments go out of your account.<\/p>

Revolut\u2019s \u201cPockets\u201d and Monese\u2019s \u201cPots\u201d let you set money aside for specific goals, like saving up for a holiday or a shopping treat. Both also offer \u201cround-ups\u201d, where spare change from your transactions can be rounded up and put into your savings bucket.<\/p>

You can pay your salary into either your Revolut or Monese account, manage direct debits and make international payments. You can freeze or unfreeze your card in the apps, as well as contact both customer service teams through the in-app chats, although neither challenger operates a telephone helpline where you can speak to someone in person.<\/p>

You can\u2019t pay cheques into either your Revolut or Monese account, digitally or otherwise.<\/p>