Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
bunq vs Wirex
bunq
Wirex
Higher score in this comparison
bunq vs Wirex: the differences
| Compare | bunqReviewVisitVisit | WirexReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% to 3% | 0%Lower |
| Card network | Mastercard | Visa |
| Currencies | 8 | 150Higher |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $400 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 8% |
| Custody | Not confirmed | Custodial |
Same on both: Card type (Debit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Wirex scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Founded is lower at bunq: 2012 vs 2014.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Wirex: 0% vs 0.5% to 3%.
- Currencies is higher at Wirex: 150 vs 8.
- Support channels: only bunq offers Email.
- Support channels: only Wirex offers Help centre.
- Features: only Wirex offers Custodial.
Our verdict on each
bunq
bunq suits readers in the Netherlands who want a debit card with crypto trading in the same app, and students who want no recurring charge. A monthly fee of €0 keeps holding the account cheap, so the number that matters is conversion at 0.5% to 3% when you spend abroad.
Wirex
Wirex suits people who want one balance for crypto and everyday spending, with a monthly fee of $0, a conversion fee of 0% and an FCA licence in the UK. Budget for trading fees of 1.5% to 2.5%, and know your holdings sit with Wirex rather than in your own wallet.
Score breakdown
| Area | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Monthly charge of €0 and conversion at 0.5% to 3%, but trading at 0.25% to 1.99% sits above the 0.2% site median. | 9.4HigherMonthly fee of $0 and a conversion fee of 0% keep everyday card running costs low, though trading fees run 1.5% to 2.5%. |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.6HigherCard covers 35 coins and 150 currencies, with a cashback rate of 8% and virtual cards in the feature set. |
| Trust | 8.8Higher | 8.7 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 3 of 297 | 15 of 297 |
| Crypto debit cards | 3 of 145 | 12 of 145 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 902025 |
Additional countries for bunq: 1. Additional countries for Wirex: 1.
Where these facts come from
bunq
- bunq.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Wirex
- currencyexpert.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coincodecap.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- budgetfitter.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- news.bitcoin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Travel | Crypto, Custodial, Multi currency, Travel, Virtual cardCovers more |
| Audience | Student | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | bunq B.V. | Wirex Limited |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat | Chat, Help centre |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.25% to 1.99%Lower | 1.5% to 2.5% |
| Coins listed | from 350 | 35 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FCA |
| Fiat deposit methods | Not confirmed | Card, Bank |
| Maker fee | 0.25% to 1.99% | Not confirmed |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | Only gas fees |
| Exchange type | Cex | Cex |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | bunq | Wirex | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% to 3%above the median | 0%below the median | 0.25 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $400highest quarter | $0 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 8%highest quarter | 2% |
| Currencies | 8below the median | 150above the median | 30 |
Median across 58 listed providers.
Pros and cons
bunq
Pros
- A €0 monthly fee, so the debit card costs nothing to keep open.
- Conversion at 0.5% to 3% sits well below the 10.5% charged at the priciest end of the market.
- A coin list of from 350, above the 62 median for the exchanges and cards compared, without leaving the banking app.
Cons
- Support runs on email and chat only, where phone support appears on 66.4% of the crypto cards compared.
- Trading fees of 0.25% to 1.99% sit above the 0.2% median taker fee across the sites compared.
- The account holds 8 currencies, so spending in anything outside that set is charged 0.5% to 3%.
Wirex
Pros
- No monthly fee, with the card ranking top of the field on that measure in 379 brands
- Currency conversion at 0%, first for that measure across 237 brands
- Covered by an FCA licence, reference 902025
Cons
- Trading fees of 1.5% to 2.5% sit well above the site median of 0.2%
- Coins covered, 35, trail the site median of 62
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, with no phone line
Who each suits
bunq
Who it suits
- Readers in the Netherlands who want a debit card and a crypto account in the same app.
- Students, who make up the listed audience for the account, since the monthly fee is €0.
- Travellers who convert often, with 8 currencies on the balance and multi currency, crypto and virtual card listed for the plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bitpanda, for readers who want currency conversion at 0% instead of the 0.5% to 3% bunq charges.
- Wise, whose account also carries a £0 monthly fee, for anyone who would rather not hold crypto inside their bank app.
Wirex
Who it suits
- People who want crypto spending and card payments from one balance
- Travellers who convert and withdraw often, given the conversion fee of 0% and free ATM withdrawals of $400
- UK residents who want a regulated crypto debit card under an FCA licence
Who should look elsewhere
- Frequent traders, since fees of 1.5% to 2.5% sit far above the site median of 0.2%; Monzo Flex and Wise charge nothing monthly but carry no trading fees
- Coin collectors, as 35 covers fewer coins than the site median of 62
- Anyone wanting to hold keys themselves, since custody is custodial; Bitpanda also holds assets, so a self-custody wallet suits better
Current offers
Wirex
Current offer
Bonus
Up to 8% Cashback on Card Spend - Wirex: Up to 8% cashback
Earnings subject to eligibility
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
bunq
What does bunq cost to hold each month?+
The personal account carries a monthly fee of €0, so there is no recurring charge for keeping the card and the account open. Money leaves through activity instead: currency conversion is charged at 0.5% to 3%, and crypto trading adds taker fees of 0.25% to 1.99% and maker fees of 0.25% to 1.99%. The fixed cost is the easy part to judge.
Who regulates bunq and where is it based?+
bunq is supervised in the Netherlands by De Nederlandsche Bank. The account is run by bunq B.V., headquartered in the Netherlands, and the firm was founded in 2012. Crypto is listed among multi currency, crypto and virtual card for the account, so the crypto side sits inside the same banking app rather than needing a separate exchange sign-up.
Wirex
What does it cost to hold a Wirex card?+
The monthly fee is $0, so the card costs nothing to keep. Wirex places first of 379 brands on that measure. Converting currency is charged at 0%, and the real cost for traders is the trading fee of 1.5% to 2.5%.
What are Wirex trading fees?+
Trading fees run 1.5% to 2.5% on the exchange side of Wirex. That sits well above the site median of 0.2% and above the upper end of 0.8%. Buying and selling often will cost more here than on lower-fee venues.