Monzo vs Solid Card
Torn between Monzo and Solid 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 Solid Card on Visa; both ask for ID + proof; only Solid 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. Solid Card is the better fit for power users who need crypto funding and ad spend and AI subscriptions.
The two, compared
| Field | Monzo | Solid 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 | — |
| Crypto funding | No | Yes (USDC) |
| AI tool support | — | ChatGPT / Claude / Midjourney |
| Risk level | Low-Medium | Low |
| Our rating | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| User reviews | 407 | 847 |
| Best for | App Store / Play · Free issuance | All-rounder · Ad spend |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
Side by side
- If you wear several hats, Solid Card is the more flexible of the pair.
- Only Solid Card takes crypto top-ups in our data — worth knowing before you decide.
- Solid Card carries the lower risk flag in our file, which some users prefer for a primary card.
The short version of the matchup
Both cards clear the same checkouts in our tests, so the call comes down to cost. Monzo is cheaper on issuance (free) and top-ups (no top-up fee), while Solid Card is worth the premium only for crypto funding and ad-platform billing.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Monzo scores 8.3/10 against Solid 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 is the cheaper card to run. Both Monzo and Solid Card issue virtual cards for free.
Monzo asks for ID + proof at signup; Solid 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 Contabo. 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 Solid 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:
🌐 Cloud & VPS 1
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇬🇧 UK · 🇺🇸 US — 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: