Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Kontist by Shine vs Monzo
Kontist by Shine
Monzo
Higher score in this comparison
Kontist by Shine vs Monzo: the differences
| Compare | Kontist by ShineReviewVisitVisit | MonzoReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2% | 0%Lower |
| Free ATM withdrawals | €0 | £200 |
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 38 |
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.
Key differences
- Monzo scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Monzo: 0% vs 2%.
- Support channels: only Kontist by Shine offers Email.
- Audience: only Monzo offers Kids.
Our verdict on each
Kontist by Shine
Kontist by Shine is a business account with fees of €0 a month and no annual fee, and it suits freelancers and small teams who want tax tools and receipts in the app. Currency conversion at 2% is the catch for anyone spending abroad.
Monzo
Monzo pairs a fee-free debit account with a fee-free credit card, so it suits anyone who wants no monthly charge and no foreign transaction cost. The current account charges a monthly fee of £0 and the card runs at an APR of 29% on borrowing.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kontist by Shine | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Monthly fee €0 and annual fee €0 are both free, with currency conversion at 2%. | 9.4HigherMonthly fee of £0 and conversion fee of 0% lead the site's cost columns, though the £200 ATM allowance is mid-table. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.7HigherA credit card with an £0 annual fee, rewards type none, a 0% conversion fee and virtual card and travel features. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Kontist by Shine | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Kontist by Shine: 1. Additional countries for Monzo: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Kontist by Shine | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 28 of 1336 | 21 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 23 of 1020 | 18 of 1020 |
| Business debit cards | 6 of 201 | 5 of 201 |
| Travel cards | 17 of 443 | 13 of 443 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kontist by Shine | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Virtual card, Travel | Virtual card, Travel |
| Audience | Business | Kids, BusinessCovers more |
| Legal entity | Shine Germany GmbH | Monzo Bank Limited |
| Headquarters | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Credit cards
| Fact | Kontist by Shine | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €0 | £0 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 29% |
| Rewards type | None | None |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Perks | Automatic real time tax estimation, Receipt management and invoicing tool, Subaccounts on paid plans, Apple Pay and Google Pay, Deposit protection up to EUR 100,000, Free physical Visa business debit card, Mobile and browser app, Partnership discount offers | 0% interest over 3 months on purchases of GBP 100 or more, repeatable, 0% interest if you pay in full, No overseas fees (Mastercard exchange rate only), Section 75 purchase protection, Credit limit up to GBP 10,000, Flex purchases from up to 2 weeks ago, Instant notifications and real time balance updates, Separate paid card: Aura (GBP 15 a month) adds 1% cashback on groceries, 0.5% on everything else uncapped, auto invested cashback, Apple TV, Google AI Plus, 2 airport lounge and 2 fast track passes a year |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kontist by Shine | Monzo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2%above the median | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 38highest quarter | 8 |
Median across 387 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Kontist by Shine
Pros
- Monthly fee €0 and annual fee €0, matching the site median of €0
- Automatic real-time tax estimation, plus a receipt management and invoicing tool
- A free physical Visa business debit card, wallet payments and deposit protection Automatic real time tax estimation, Receipt management and invoicing tool and Subaccounts on paid plans
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 2% against a site median of 1%
- Free ATM withdrawals are €0
- Subaccounts need a paid plan
Monzo
Pros
- Currency conversion fee of 0% and monthly fee of £0, ranking 1 of 259 and 1 of 419 on the site.
- Free ATM withdrawals cover £200.
- A £0 annual fee credit card at 29% APR, with no interest when the balance is paid in full.
Cons
- Rewards type on the credit card is none, and cashback sits behind a separate paid card tier.
- The £200 free ATM allowance ranks 15 of 115 on the site.
- Borrowing costs 29% APR, while the site median APR is 20.97%.
Who each suits
Kontist by Shine
Who it suits
- Freelancers and sole traders who want tax estimates calculated as they spend
- Small teams that need a shared receipt and invoicing tool
- Businesses that want a physical Visa business debit card with no annual fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who move money often, since conversion costs 2% and ranks 160
- Anyone who needs a free ATM allowance, because free ATM withdrawals are €0
- Reward seekers, as rewards type is none
Monzo
Who it suits
- UK residents who want a debit account with a monthly fee of £0.
- People who spend abroad often, since the conversion fee is 0%.
- Households covering kids and business needs, from children's spending to business banking.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if paying 0.1% on currency conversion suits you better than Monzo's 0%.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if a secured credit card is the point and not a £0 fee-free debit account.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), if a US dollar product suits you better: its monthly fee is $0.
Current offers
Kontist by Shine
Current offer
Discount code
sevdesk: 60% off your accounting software: 60% discount
Exclusive for Kontist customers, via partner offer page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
beglaubigt.de: save 50 EUR on digital company formation or business address: 50 EUR
Exclusive for Kontist customers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
designenlassen: 20 EUR off with code kontist20: 20 EUR with code kontist20
Partner offer for Kontist customers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
exali: 10% off with code Kontist10: 10% with code Kontist10
Partner offer for Kontist customers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Recht 24-7: 5% off services with code KONTIST-5: 5% with code KONTIST-5
Partner offer for Kontist customers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Monzo
Current offer
Free trial
Annual Uber One Membership - 3 month free trial: 3 months free
Included with Monzo Perks and Max subscriptions; Ts&Cs apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
The 2026 Monzo Saving Challenge: Save from 1p to GBP 667.95 and be in with a chance of winning GBP 10,000; 5% AER (variable) paid monthly
Ts&Cs apply; Extra, Perks and Max customers unlock new challenge levels, bigger savings and monthly prize draws
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Kontist by Shine | Monzo |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Kontist by Shine
What does Kontist by Shine cost to run?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the annual fee is €0, so the account itself costs nothing. Currency conversion is the charge to plan for, and subaccounts are reserved for paid plans rather than the free tier.
How much does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Currency conversion runs at 2%, which sits above the site median of 1% and ranks 160 of 259 brands. Owners who bill in euros and spend in other currencies should expect to pay it on foreign purchases.
Monzo
How much does it cost to keep a Monzo account?+
The current account charges a monthly fee of £0, and the credit card has an annual fee of £0. On the site's monthly fee column that ranks 1 of 419, so there is nothing to budget for just to keep the account open.
What does it cost to spend abroad?+
The currency conversion fee is 0% on the Mastercard network, so spending abroad adds no conversion charge. The site median for the same column is 1%, while cards with no foreign fee peak at 1.95%.