AppBreakup
Submit an app

NatWest alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

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

Top picks

  • Barclays logo

    Best overall

    Barclays

    Starting price: £5 a month (Blue Rewards)

  • Monzo logo

    Best free option

    Monzo

    Starting price: £3 a month (Extra)

Common reasons people leave NatWest: spending abroad usually costs more than with Monzo, Starling or Wise, and some rewards need a qualifying account or paid package. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces NatWest, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Barclays currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Barclays logoBarclaysFree plan + paid£5 a month (Blue Rewards)NoiOS, Android, Web7 of 768.8
2Monzo logoMonzoFree plan + paid£3 a month (Extra)NoiOS, Android, Web8 of 861.8
3Wise logoWiseFree—NoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.4
  1. Barclays logo

    1. BarclaysTop pick

    Best for: UK customers who want an app plus branches, mortgages, savings and investing at one bank

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from NatWest

    Similar full-service UK bank whose app adds cardless cash and cheque imaging, usable from age 11.

    Pros

    • Cheque imaging, cardless cash and card freezing in one app
    • Savings, loans, mortgages and investing all reachable from the app
    • Usable from age 11, so families can bank in one place
    • Branch network for things the app can't do

    Cons

    • 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
    Visit Barclays Compare with NatWestDetails 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 Barclays a good NatWest alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Minimum age
    11
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile cheque deposit
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
    Card freeze
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
    Cardless cash
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
    Android Go support
    No
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    £5 a month (Blue Rewards)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, Barclays Bank Account with no monthly fees
    Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(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 NatWest

    App-only bank with budgeting Pots, instant notifications and fee-free card use 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 NatWestDetails 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 NatWest 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 NatWest

    Cheaper for foreign currency and international transfers than a high street account.

    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 NatWestDetails 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 NatWest 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 NatWest alternative for…

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

Barclays logo

Best NatWest alternative for most people

Barclays

Similar full-service UK bank whose app adds cardless cash and cheque imaging, usable from age 11.

Wise logo

Best NatWest alternative for a free option

Wise

Cheaper for foreign currency and international transfers than a high street account.

Monzo logo

Best NatWest alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Monzo

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

Barclays logo

Best NatWest alternative for iPhone and Android

Barclays

Similar full-service UK bank whose app adds cardless cash and cheque imaging, usable from age 11.

Barclays logo

Best NatWest alternative for working in the browser

Barclays

Similar full-service UK bank whose app adds cardless cash and cheque imaging, usable from age 11.

NatWest alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to NatWest?

Barclays ranks first right now. Similar full-service UK bank whose app adds cardless cash and cheque imaging, usable from age 11. Monzo and Wise follow it in our ranking.

NatWest vs Barclays: what's the difference?

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

Is NatWest free?

NatWest is free with paid plans. Subscription tracking: Yes; Deposit protection: Up to £120,000; Starting price: £2 a month (Reward account); Free plan: Yes, Select account with no monthly fee. Checked on NatWest's own site, November 2026.

How much do NatWest alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked NatWest alternatives: Barclays, £5 a month (Blue Rewards); 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 NatWest?

Yes. Barclays (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 NatWest?

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

Why do people switch from NatWest?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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