Monzo vs Solflare Card
Torn between Monzo and Solflare Card? The comparison below is built from the same test data we use across the rest of the site.
Monzo issues on Visa · Mastercard and Solflare Card on Visa; both ask for ID + proof; only Solflare Card takes crypto top-ups.
Monzo is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee, 0% foreign transaction fees. Solflare Card is the better fit for power users who need crypto funding and AI subscriptions.
Where they split
| Field | Monzo | Solflare Card |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa/Mastercard | Visa |
| Card type | Digital Bank / Neobank | Crypto Card |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Free (with Monzo account) | Free |
| Monthly fee | Free (standard account) | Free |
| Top-up fee | — | — |
| FX fee | No FX fees | 1% |
| Crypto funding | No | Yes (Solana ecosystem) |
| AI tool support | — | ChatGPT / Claude / Midjourney |
| Risk level | Low-Medium | Low-Medium |
| Our rating | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| User reviews | 407 | 499 |
| Best for | App Store / Play · Free issuance | All-rounder · AI subscriptions |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
The short version of the matchup
- Multi-task users get more from Solflare Card — it clears more of the checkouts we run through our test suite.
- Only Solflare Card takes crypto top-ups in our data — worth knowing before you decide.
The head to head
Run the numbers against your own usage. Monzo runs free to create plus no top-up fee per top-up; Solflare Card runs free plus no top-up fee. For one or two subscriptions the first column wins; for crypto funding and AI subscriptions, the second does.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Monzo scores 8.3/10 against Solflare Card's 8.5/10 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.
Monzo works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance, 0% foreign transaction fee. Solflare Card adds a 1% FX fee.
Monzo asks for ID + proof at signup; Solflare Card 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 1 of the same test scenarios, including Zoom Video Communications. 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
Monzo and Solflare Card both landed in our top picks for 1 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
🧳 Travel & Productivity 1
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇬🇧 UK · 🇪🇺 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: