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Barclays alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll mobile banking apps

Top picks

  • NatWest logo

    Best overall

    NatWest

    Starting price: £2 a month (Reward account)

  • Monzo logo

    Best free option

    Monzo

    Starting price: £3 a month (Extra)

Common reasons people leave Barclays: doesn't support Android Go devices, and spending abroad typically costs more than with app-only banks like Monzo or Wise. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Barclays, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. NatWest currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1NatWest logoNatWestFree plan + paid£2 a month (Reward account)NoiOS, Android, Web9 of 968.8
2Monzo logoMonzoFree plan + paid£3 a month (Extra)NoiOS, Android, Web8 of 861.8
3Wise logoWiseFree—NoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.4
  1. NatWest logo

    1. NatWestTop pick

    Best for: UK customers who want a mainstream bank with Round Ups, subscription tracking and a credit score in-app

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Barclays

    Another big UK high street bank with an app used by millions, plus Round Ups and a subscription tracker.

    Pros

    • Subscription Manager helps catch forgotten recurring payments
    • Round Ups and a built-in credit score check
    • Used by more than 10 million customers a day, so it's well tested
    • Child and teen accounts plus a pocket money app

    Cons

    • Spending abroad usually costs more than with Monzo, Starling or Wise
    • Some rewards need a qualifying account or paid package
    • App needs a UK mobile number, or one from a short list of countries
    Visit NatWest Compare with BarclaysDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NatWest a good Barclays alternative?

    Verified facts

    9 of 9 verified
    Daily app users
    Over 10 million
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum age
    11
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Subscription tracking
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Round Ups
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deposit protection
    Up to £120,000
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    £2 a month (Reward account)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, Select account with no monthly fee
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Reward Silver plan
    £12 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Reward Platinum plan
    £23 a month
    Checked Nov 3, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Monzo logo

    2. Monzo

    Best for: UK residents who want a phone-first bank account with strong budgeting tools

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Barclays

    App-only bank with instant spending notifications, budgeting Pots and fee-free card spending abroad.

    Pros

    • Pots and salary sorting make budgeting simple
    • No fees from Monzo on card spending abroad
    • FSCS deposit protection like a high-street bank
    • 24/7 in-app support

    Cons

    • Only open to UK residents
    • Paying in cash costs a fee at PayPoint or the Post Office
    • Best savings rates and some tools need a paid plan
    Visit Monzo Compare with BarclaysDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Monzo a good Barclays alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Paid plans
    From £3 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deposit protection
    FSCS up to £120,000
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Eligibility
    UK residents only
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    16 million
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, Monzo Free (16+)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    £3 a month (Extra)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Perks plan
    £9 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max plan
    From £19 a month, 3 months minimum
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Wise logo

    3. Wise

    Best for: Expats, freelancers and travellers who send, receive or spend money in several currencies

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Barclays

    Better for holding and spending many currencies, with low fees on international transfers.

    Pros

    • Mid-market exchange rate with fees shown upfront
    • Holds and converts 40+ currencies in one account
    • Local account details for receiving payments abroad

    Cons

    • Not a full bank in most countries, so no overdrafts or loans
    • Per-transfer fees still apply, especially for small amounts
    • Funds are safeguarded rather than covered by deposit insurance in many regions
    Visit Wise Compare with BarclaysDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Wise a good Barclays alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Currencies
    40+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wise.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Account fee
    Free to open
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wise.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Fund protection
    Safeguarded accounts
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wise.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Barclays alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

NatWest logo

Best Barclays alternative for most people

NatWest

Another big UK high street bank with an app used by millions, plus Round Ups and a subscription tracker.

Wise logo

Best Barclays alternative for a free option

Wise

Better for holding and spending many currencies, with low fees on international transfers.

Monzo logo

Best Barclays alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Monzo

App-only bank with instant spending notifications, budgeting Pots and fee-free card spending abroad.

NatWest logo

Best Barclays alternative for iPhone and Android

NatWest

Another big UK high street bank with an app used by millions, plus Round Ups and a subscription tracker.

NatWest logo

Best Barclays alternative for working in the browser

NatWest

Another big UK high street bank with an app used by millions, plus Round Ups and a subscription tracker.

Barclays alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Barclays?

NatWest ranks first right now. Another big UK high street bank with an app used by millions, plus Round Ups and a subscription tracker. Monzo and Wise follow it in our ranking.

Barclays vs NatWest: what's the difference?

Both Barclays and NatWest are free with paid plans. Verified prices: Barclays £5 a month (Blue Rewards), NatWest £2 a month (Reward account). Both run on iOS, Android and Web.

Is Barclays free?

Barclays is free with paid plans. Starting price: £5 a month (Blue Rewards); Free plan: Yes, Barclays Bank Account with no monthly fees. Checked on Barclays's own site, November 2026.

How much do Barclays alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Barclays alternatives: NatWest, £2 a month (Reward account); Monzo, £3 a month (Extra). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Barclays?

Yes. NatWest (free plan + paid), Monzo (free plan + paid) and Wise (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Barclays?

None of the 3 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Barclays?

The complaints we hear most: doesn't support Android Go devices; spending abroad typically costs more than with app-only banks like Monzo or Wise; best perks sit behind paid or eligibility-based reward packages.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Barclays, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.