Free Wise alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

5 of the 7 Wise alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Monzo, Cash App and PayPal rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Monzo	Free plan + paid	£3 a month (Extra)	No	iOS, Android, Web	8 of 8	68.8
2	Cash App	Free	—	No	iOS, Android, Web	5 of 5	52.6
3	PayPal	Free plan + paid	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	8 of 8	51.2
4	Remitly	Free	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	4 of 4	40.9
5	Xe	Free plan + paid	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	8 of 8	40.9

1. MonzoTop pick
Best for: UK residents who want a phone-first bank account with strong budgeting tools
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from Wise
A full UK bank with FSCS protection, overdrafts and budgeting tools, for day-to-day banking at home.
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 Wise Details 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 Monzo a good Wise 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)
2. Cash App
Best for: People in the US who want peer-to-peer payments, a debit card, stocks and bitcoin in one app
FreeiOS, Android, Web
52.6
score / 100
Why switch from Wise
For people in the US who mostly send money domestically, it offers free peer-to-peer payments.
Pros
Free peer-to-peer payments and no monthly card fee
Commission-free stock and bitcoin buying in the same app
Free tax filing and early direct deposit
Cons
Not a bank itself; services run through partner banks
Available in the US only
Investing and bitcoin balances are not FDIC insured
Visit Cash App Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
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 Cash App a good Wise alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Owner
Block, Inc.
Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
Stock trading
No commission fees
Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
Card fees
No monthly fees
Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
Bank status
Not a bank
Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
Active accounts
59 million+
Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
3. PayPal
Best for: People who pay online often or send money to friends across iPhone and Android
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
51.2
score / 100
Why switch from Wise
Sends money abroad to anyone with an email address, and the balance can be spent at many online stores.
Pros
Accepted at a very large number of online stores
Works on any phone and in the browser
Purchase Protection on eligible purchases
Cons
Fees on some transfers, currency conversion and receiving payments
Not a full tap-to-pay phone wallet in most countries
Features like Pay Later and crypto vary by country
Visit PayPal Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.341
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 PayPal a good Wise alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Account cost
Free to open
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
iOS, Android
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Buy now, pay later
Pay in 4, Pay Monthly (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Buyer protection
Purchase Protection
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
PayPal Checkout fee
3.49% + fixed fee (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Card payments fee
2.99% + fixed fee (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Fixed fee
$0.49 per US dollar transaction
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
International fee
Extra 1.50% on international commercial payments
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. Remitly
Best for: People sending regular remittances to family abroad, especially for cash pickup or mobile wallets
FreeWeb, iOS, Android
40.9
score / 100
Why switch from Wise
Better when the recipient needs cash pickup or a mobile wallet rather than a bank account.
Pros
Sends to 170+ countries with bank, mobile wallet and cash pickup options
Fee and exchange rate shown before you confirm
Support in 18 languages
Business accounts for paying overseas contractors
Cons
Exchange rates include a margin, so it is not always the cheapest route
You can only send from a limited list of countries
Costs vary by route and payment method, which makes comparing harder
Visit Remitly Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.37
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 Remitly a good Wise alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Destinations
175+ countries
Checked Nov 8, 2026remitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Delivery methods
Bank account, mobile wallet, cash pickup
Checked Nov 8, 2026remitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Support languages
18
Checked Nov 8, 2026remitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Headquarters
Seattle, US
Checked Nov 8, 2026remitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. Xe
Best for: People sending larger sums abroad who also want a trusted currency converter and rate alerts
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
40.9
score / 100
Why switch from Wise
Adds cash pickup and mobile wallet delivery, with competitive rates on larger sums.
Pros
Free currency converter, charts and rate alerts
Bank, mobile wallet and cash pickup delivery
Regulated in many countries and part of Euronet
Cons
Card payments add an extra fee
Exchange-rate margin makes the true cost less obvious than Wise's
Bank transfers can take up to three business days
Visit Xe Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.37
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 Xe a good Wise alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Owner
Euronet Worldwide
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Cash pickup
500,000+ locations
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Regulators
FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, ASIC and more
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Rate alerts
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
Transfer fees from $0
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Bank account payment
No additional fee
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Card payment
Small additional fee
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)
US online transfer limit
$535,000 USD per transfer
Checked Nov 8, 2026xe.com(opens source in a new tab)

Quick comparison

1. MonzoTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Cash App

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. PayPal

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Remitly

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Xe

Pros

Cons

Verified facts