Managing personal finances while constantly on the move—whether traveling for leisure, business, or studying abroad—remains one of the top concerns for many. Even with an increasing number of options available for a global account, choosing the right solution tailored to individual needs can still be challenging.
While traditional banks and fintech platforms differ significantly in terms of app interface and customer service, the real deciding factor often lies in the fees and conditions they offer. Wise and Revolut are among the most well-known apps for travelers and expats in Europe, but other emerging competitors are quickly closing the gap in terms of both service and product offerings.
It is crucial to keep in mind that both Wise and Revolut do not offer protection for the funds held in your account balance, meaning your money is not covered by a deposit guarantee scheme like those found with traditional banks. While these fintech platforms are regulated and offer many advantages for travelers, it’s important to treat them primarily as tools for managing expenses during trips rather than as a secure place for emergency savings or investments.
On this list, Monzo, Monese, N26, and Bunq offer some form of protection for customer deposits, either through the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) in the UK or the equivalent in the EU, ensuring that your balance is protected up to certain limits in case of financial trouble with the company. All fintechs mentioned here provide physical cards and ATM withdrawals, though it’s important to check each platform’s withdrawal limits and fees, particularly over weekends, as outlined below.
Wise
Founded in London in 2010 by Estonians Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus, Wise is one of the most popular fintech platforms among global travelers, attracting significant investment from Andreessen Horowitz, Richard Branson, and Peter Thiel. Their global account offers one of the most extensive currency portfolios on the market, supporting more than 50 currencies, including the euro, pound, and various types of dollars.
- Exchange Rate: Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate (without any added margins), making it one of the fairest platforms for currency conversion. There are no hidden fees for currency conversion
- ATM Withdrawals: You can withdraw up to €200 per month for free. After that, a 2% fee applies to any additional withdrawals
Revolut
Founded in 2015 by former banker Nikolay Storonsky and programmer Vlad Yatsenko, Revolut aims to revolutionize digital banking. The fintech is backed by major investors such as Index Ventures, DST Global, Ribbit Capital, and Tiger Global. Revolut’s global account also supports 50 currencies.
- Exchange Rate: Revolut offers the interbank exchange rate during weekdays with no additional fees, but charges a 2% markup on the exchange rate over weekends
- ATM Withdrawals: The free account offers up to €200 in free withdrawals per month. After that, a 2% fee applies to any further withdrawals. Premium and Metal accounts offer higher withdrawal limits
Monzo
The fintech, founded in 2015, supports over 60 different currencies, making it one of the leaders in currency options for travelers. It’s one of the few companies in this market that offer protection for the customer deposits, secured by the FSCS, up to £85,000 per person.
- Exchange Rate: Monzo uses the interbank market exchange rate without additional margin during weekdays. Over the weekend, a 3% fee is applied to the exchange rate
- ATM Withdrawals: The Monzo Plus account allows up to £200 of free international withdrawals per month, with a 3% fee charged on any withdrawals beyond that limit
Starling Bank
A UK-based digital bank fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that offers a range of financial services, including personal, business, and joint accounts, Starling was founded in 2014 by Anne Boden. The fintech has attracted investment from prominent backers, including Harald McPike, Peter Thiel, and others.
- Exchange Rate: Starling Bank offers the interbank exchange rate with no markup during the week. On weekends, a 0.5% surcharge is applied to the exchange rate for foreign currency conversions
- ATM Withdrawals: Starling offers up to £300 per month in free ATM withdrawals, after which a fee of 0.5% is charged on any additional withdrawals
N26
Founded in 2013 by Valentin Stalf and Maximilian Tayenthal, N26’s mission is to create a fully digital bank. The app supports more than 19 currencies. The company is licensed in Germany, and deposits are protected by the country’s deposit guarantee system (Einlagensicherung), covering up to €100,000 per person
- Exchange Rate: N26 uses the mid-market exchange rate during the week with no extra fees. There are no additional exchange fees on weekends either
- ATM Withdrawals: The free account offers up to 5 free withdrawals per month in the eurozone. For withdrawals outside the EU, a 1.7% fee applies. After the free withdrawals, there’s a €2 fee per withdrawal, even in the eurozone
Bunq
Bunq’s Premium users enjoy perks like free withdrawals worldwide, but freemium users pay for the service every time. Subscription fees range from €3.99 to €18.99 per month, depending on the account features. Among the 20 currencies supported on the platform, the platform offers transactions in Japanese yen, pound, and Australian dollars, in addition to euros. This fintech is regulated by the Central Bank of the Netherlands and offers protection of up to €100,000 per person, according to the European Union’s deposit guarantee system
- Exchange Rate: Bunq uses the market exchange rate during weekdays and applies a small margin over the weekend
- ATM Withdrawals: The free account charges €2 per withdrawal after the 10th ATM transaction
Monese
With FSCS protection up to £85,000 per person for funds held in the current account, Monese supports over 14 currencies, including the euro and US dollars, which are particularly useful for travelers in Europe. Premium users can enjoy higher ATM withdrawal limits for a €14.95/month subscription. The following details apply to freemium users.
- Exchange Rate: Monese uses the mid-market exchange rate during weekdays and typically charges around a 2% margin on weekends
- ATM Withdrawals: Freemium users are limited to £200 in free withdrawals per month. Beyond that, a 2% fee is applied to any additional withdrawals
