Monzo Business vs Shine: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Monzo Business and Shine to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Monzo Business
6.5/10
Monzo Business is an app-based UK business bank account for sole traders and limited companies. It includes invoicing, Tax Pots, expense cards and accounting software bank feeds.
Shine
6.1/10
French online business account for freelancers and small companies, with Mastercard cards, built-in invoicing, receipt capture and accounting exports.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.5/10 | 6.1/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £9/mo Pro | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | £25/mo Team | Free Free |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Corporate Cards | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Monzo Business vs Shine cost by team size
| Team size | Monzo Business | Shine |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | £9/moPro | FreeFree |
| 5 users | £25/moTeam | FreeFree |
| 10 users | £25/moTeam | FreeFree |
| 25 users | FreeLite | FreeFree |
| 50 users | FreeLite | FreeFree |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Monzo Business
- Higher Compliance score (7/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Shine
- Higher Scalability score (4/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Monzo Business
Pros
- The Lite plan is free and includes Making Tax Digital software
- Pro adds invoicing, Tax Pots and live feeds to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage for £9 a month
- The Team plan adds expense cards, payment approvals and bulk payments for up to 15 users
- 24/7 in-app support on every plan
- Licensed UK bank with FSCS deposit protection
Cons
- Holds GBP only, and incoming foreign currency is converted at a 1% fee
- No general ledger or financial statements, so you still need separate accounting software
- Partnerships, LLPs, charities and non-UK businesses cannot open an account
- Cash deposits cost £1 each and are capped
- Reviews report frozen accounts and slow resolution, and there is no dedicated account manager
Shine
Pros
- A real free plan that includes unlimited quotes and invoices with automatic reminders
- Cash deposits through tobacconists, which few online business accounts offer
- Strong Trustpilot ratings of about 4.6 to 4.7 out of 5 across thousands of reviews, and an in-house support team based in France
- Paid plans have a 30-day trial and no commitment
Cons
- As a payment institution it offers no overdraft, loans or interest-bearing account
- Higher fees than some rivals on non-euro card payments and international transfers
- No phone support on the Free plan, and reviewers report accounts blocked without warning
- Garnishment processing fees of 10 percent, capped at 100 EUR, criticised as poorly signposted
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Monzo Business scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.5/10 against 6.1/10 for Shine. The largest gap is in Compliance: 7/10 for Monzo Business and 6/10 for Shine.
Yes, both Monzo Business and Shine have a free plan.
