Genome vs Nexo
Torn between Genome and Nexo? The comparison below is built from the same test data we use across the rest of the site.
Genome issues on Visa and Nexo on Visa · Mastercard; both ask for ID + proof; only Nexo takes crypto top-ups.
Nexo is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee, no top-up fee. Genome is the better fit for power users who need ad spend.
Two cards, one decision
| Field | Genome | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa | Visa, Mastercard |
| Card type | Digital Bank / Neobank | Crypto Card |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Virtual card 1 EUR (first 10); 10 EUR from 11th | Free (virtual card instant activation) |
| Monthly fee | Free EUR (card monthly fee); non-EEA personal account 20 EUR/mo or 200 EUR/yr | Free (no monthly/annual/inactivity fee) |
| Top-up fee | Non-Genome card top-up 3% (externally initiated 1%) | 0% |
| FX fee | Non-card currency transactions 2%; EUR/USD/GBP conversion 1% | 0.2% (EEA weekday) / 2% elsewhere (2.5% weekend) |
| Crypto funding | No | Yes (20+ blockchain funding; USDT/USDC/ETH/SOL etc.) |
| AI tool support | ChatGPT | ChatGPT / Claude / Midjourney |
| Risk level | Medium | Low-Medium |
| Our rating | 9.3 | 8.3 |
| User reviews | 159 | 783 |
| Best for | Ad spend · AI subscriptions | All-rounder · AI subscriptions |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
The head to head
- Nexo costs less to keep open, so it is the one to reach for if you are watching your budget.
- Nexo covers a wider spread of use cases; Genome is more of a single-purpose tool.
- Nexo can sit on a crypto balance; Genome cannot, so the call depends on how you fund it.
- In our scoring, Genome finished ahead of Nexo — not by a mile, but enough to tilt a tiebreak.
- If risk rating weights your choice, Nexo is the calmer of the two.
What sets them apart
Nexo is the cheaper card to hold: free to create and no top-up fee, against about $1.09 and a 3% top-up at Genome. Genome earns its keep only if you need ad-platform billing.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Genome scores 9.3/10 against Nexo's 8.3/10 in our tests, but the two split on fees, KYC and crypto funding. Read the table above, then match it to the checkouts you actually run.
Nexo works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance, no top-up fee. Genome adds about $1.09 per virtual card, a 2% FX fee, a 3% top-up fee.
Genome asks for ID + proof at signup; Nexo asks for ID + proof. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 5 of the same test scenarios, including ElevenLabs, Amazon US, Hetzner. They overlap on a good share of checkouts, so the choice between them matters most on those pages. Where one is accepted and the other is not usually comes down to the billing country and 3-D Secure handling.
Where both show up
Genome and Nexo both landed in our top picks for 5 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
🤖 AI Tools & Developer Tools 1
🛍️ Cross-border Shopping 1
🎮 Gaming 1
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇦🇺 Australia · 🇪🇺 Europe (EEA) — the country guides group every range we track from there.
What our charge log shows
Every count here is a real charge attempt we placed on that range, renewals included, with the gateway response recorded. Weeks tracked is how long the range has been in the programme: