ZEN vs Wise: which multi-currency account is right for you?
Information checked on 12 October 2026 against the providers' official websites. Fees and availability change — always confirm on the provider's site before signing up.
Choose ZEN if…
- you mostly spend by card and value shopping extras — instant cashback, ZEN Care purchase protection and extended electronics warranty on paid plans;
- you want free cash withdrawals: up to €200 a month on Gold (€0.90/month) or €800 on Platinum (€6.90/month);
- you are Ukrainian and live in the EEA — ZEN accepts a Ukrainian international passport or biometric ID card.
Choose Wise if…
- you receive money from abroad — Wise gives free account details in 22 currencies;
- you convert irregularly and prefer no subscription — a fee from 0.2% per conversion at the mid-market rate;
- you send money internationally often and want to see the exact fee before each transfer.
Short version: ZEN is a spending account with plan-based perks; Wise is a transfer-and-receive account with per-use pricing. If your priority is getting paid from abroad, start with Wise; if it is card spending and cashback, look at ZEN.
ZEN (ZEN.COM) is a multi-currency account and card from a Lithuanian e-money institution supervised by the Bank of Lithuania, with UK and Singapore entities as well. It has four personal plans — Free, Gold, Platinum and Pro — that change exchange rates, transfer fees, ATM allowances and shopping benefits. Wise has no plans at all: the account is free, and you pay a fee each time you convert or send money, at the mid-market rate.
Below we compare them on fees, currencies, countries, cards, speed, limits and verification, using ZEN’s and Wise’s published euro prices.
ZEN vs Wise — Side-by-side comparison
Fees, currencies, countries, cards, speed, limits and verification at a glance.
| Feature | ZEN | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free €0; Gold €0.90; Platinum €6.90; Pro €6.90 (listed as a limited promo). | No subscription; account free. |
| Currency exchange | From 0.60% (Free), 0.30% (Gold) or 0.10% (Platinum, Pro). | Mid-market rate plus a fee from 0.2%, varying by currency. |
| Transfers out | Internal ZEN transfers free. SEPA out: €0.25 on Free and Gold, free on Platinum. Swift (SHA): 0.10% + €5 on Free, 0.10% + €3 on paid plans. | Fee varies by currency and is shown before you send; same-currency transfers between Wise contacts are free. |
| Receiving | Local and SEPA transfers in are free. | Free account details in 22 currencies; Swift receipts cost 2.39 EUR, 2.16 GBP or 6.11 USD. |
| Currencies | Multi-currency account; ZEN’s pricing table lists 28 currencies (other ZEN pages mention 35). | Hold and convert many currencies; receive in 22 with account details. |
| Cards | Free: 1 virtual. Gold: 1 virtual + 1 physical. Platinum/Pro: 3 virtual + 2 physical. Free worldwide shipping; works with Apple Pay and Google Pay. | Debit card for 7 EUR, no subscription. |
| ATM withdrawals | Free: 1.5% on every withdrawal. Gold: €200/month free. Platinum/Pro: €800/month free. Then 1.5%. | 250 EUR per month free, then 2.69% of the amount above. |
| Countries | EEA (passported from Lithuania), UK and other listed countries. Ukrainian residence addresses are not accepted. | Many countries; Ukraine is not on Wise’s list for holding money. |
| Speed | Internal ZEN transfers are free; SEPA and Swift timings depend on the scheme. | Depends on the currency route; estimate shown before you send. |
| Verification | ID document or residence permit during sign-up in the app. | Identity verification required for the account. |
Fees on real amounts
Worked examples using the providers' published fee schedules. Exchange-rate differences are not included unless stated.
- Converting €1,000 into another currency: ZEN Free — from 0.60% = from €6; ZEN Gold — from €3; ZEN Platinum — from €1 (plus €6.90 a month). Wise — from 0.2% = from €2, at the mid-market rate. Exact rates depend on the currency pair.
- Sending €1,000 abroad by Swift (shared fees): ZEN Free — 0.10% + €5 = €6; ZEN Gold or Platinum — 0.10% + €3 = €4. Wise prices international transfers per route and shows the total before you pay.
- Paying €500 to an EU bank by SEPA: ZEN Free or Gold — €0.25; ZEN Platinum — €0.
- Withdrawing €300 cash in a month: ZEN Free — 1.5% = €4.50; ZEN Gold — €100 above the €200 allowance × 1.5% = €1.50; ZEN Platinum — €0; Wise — €50 above 250 EUR × 2.69% = €1.35.
- Yearly cost of the plan or card: ZEN Gold — €0.90 × 12 = €10.80; ZEN Platinum — €82.80; Wise — €7 once for the card, no subscription.
Which to choose for…
Freelancers
If clients pay you in USD or GBP, Wise’s local account details in 22 currencies let them pay domestically, and domestic receipts in nine currencies are free. ZEN suits freelancers who are paid in euros by SEPA (free incoming) and then spend by card with cashback. Compare more options in digital wallets for freelancers.
Travel
ZEN Gold costs €0.90 a month and adds a physical card, €200 of free cash withdrawals and ZEN Care; Platinum raises free withdrawals to €800 and exchange from 0.10%. Wise needs no plan and gives 250 EUR of free withdrawals a month plus mid-market conversion. Occasional travellers may prefer Wise; frequent card spenders can save more with ZEN’s cashback and lower rates on paid plans.
Business
ZEN’s business account has a free Smart plan (currency exchange at market rate + 0.50%, SEPA out 0.10% with a €1 minimum, Swift SHA 0.10% + €15) and a €100-a-month Enterprise plan. Wise Business is priced separately on Wise’s business pricing page. ZEN also sells a payment gateway for online merchants.
Receiving payments from abroad
Wise is the more complete option: account details in 22 currencies, and fixed fees for Swift receipts (2.39 EUR, 2.16 GBP, 6.11 USD). ZEN receives local and SEPA transfers for free. Ukrainians living abroad can open ZEN with an international passport or biometric ID card; for Wise the deciding factor is also your country of residence. See also Wise vs Revolut.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the plan. ZEN starts from 0.60% on the Free plan, 0.30% on Gold and 0.10% on Platinum and Pro. Wise charges from 0.2% at the mid-market rate with no subscription. Occasional exchangers usually pay less with Wise; large monthly volumes can be cheaper on ZEN Platinum.
Only with a residence address outside Ukraine. ZEN accepts a Ukrainian international passport or biometric ID card if you live in a supported country without a local residence permit; the old booklet passport, driver’s licence and Ukrainian residence permit are not accepted.
Yes. ZEN Free costs €0 a month and includes one virtual card, exchange from 0.60%, SEPA out for €0.25 and a 1.5% fee on every ATM withdrawal.
Yes, ZEN’s pricing table lists Apple Pay and Google Pay for its cards. See also Apple Pay vs Google Pay.
ZEN Care is ZEN’s shopping-protection service. ZEN’s plan table includes it on Gold, Platinum and Pro but not on the Free plan; paid plans also add an extended warranty on electronics (one extra year on Gold and Platinum, up to two on Pro). Check ZEN’s terms for exactly what is covered.
ZEN states that UAB ZEN.COM is a licensed e-money institution supervised by the Bank of Lithuania and passported across the EEA, and that ZEN-UK Limited is supervised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority.
Wise, for most people: it gives free account details in 22 currencies, and domestic receipts in nine currencies are free. ZEN is fine for incoming SEPA and local euro transfers.