Top 5 Chime Alternatives in the US [2024]
Chime is a financial technology company with a solid range of account products and services, including checking and saving accounts, and credit building products. Chime is a popular option for low cost local banking – but it does have a few drawbacks which may mean you’re looking for a Chime alternative. Chime accounts can’t send or receive local or international wires for example, and you won’t have the option to hold multiple currencies for spending overseas.
The right Chime alternative for you will depend on how you choose to transact. This guide covers 5 great Chime alternatives like Wise and Revolut, suited to different customer needs.
In our comparison we discovered that:
- Wise – offers a powerful multi-currency account with no ongoing fees, which you can use to hold, spend and exchange 40+ currencies
- Revolut – hold 25+ currencies, and pick the account plan that matches your spending patterns, including some with no ongoing fees
- Ally Bank – has a large range of financial products – all delivered digitally – including checking, saving, loans and investments
- Discover Bank – lets you deposit cash to your account and earn 1% cash back when you spend with your card, with no foreign transaction fee
- OFX – offers accounts for business owners and online sellers looking to receive foreign currency payments
Why you should consider a Chime alternative
Chime is a popular digital provider of USD card and account services, and extras like credit building products. Standard accounts have very few fees which makes them an accessible option for many customers. However, Chime does have a few limitations. You can’t send or receive a wire payment for example, which will mean you can’t easily get paid from people overseas – plus any out of network ATM withdrawals, including abroad, are likely to incur fees.
Chime offers some great options in the US – but you might want to consider a Chime alternative if any of the following apply:
- You want to make no fee ATM withdrawals in the US and abroad
- You want to hold and exchange a selection of currencies beyond USD
- You need to be paid by others from abroad, using a wire
Still not sure? Here are a few more Chime pros and cons – and we’ll look at some great Chime alternatives one by one next.
| Chime pros | Chime cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Checking accounts have very few fees ✅ Accounts come with a debit card ✅ No foreign transaction fee for overseas spending ✅ Credit builder services available ✅ Trusted and easy to use provider | ❌ No wire payments in or out ❌ Out of network ATM fees apply at home and abroad ❌ No multi-currency account options |
Online banks like Chime: A comparison
This guide walks through 5 alternatives you might want to consider instead of Chime.
We’ve picked out a selection of different options, each with their own unique features, so you can choose the best Chime alternative for you, depending on the types of transaction you need to make.
| Provider | Best features | Account and card | Fees |
| Chime | Easy to use accounts which come with linked payment cards and very few fees | Checking and saving account options, including no fee overdrafts | No monthly fees, out of network ATM fees 2.5 USD per withdrawal |
| Wise | Accounts support 40+ currencies with mid-market rates and no foreign transaction fee | No ongoing account fees, with Wise international debit cards you can use globally | Free to spend a currency you hold, exchange fees from 0.43% for currencies you don’t have in your account |
| Revolut | Hold and exchange 25+ currencies, with some no fee weekday currency conversion included in all plans | 3 different account tiers for personal customers, including some with no ongoing fees. All accounts offer a card for payments and withdrawals | Monthly fees of up to 16.99 USD depending on account plan No fee to spend a currency you hold Out of hours currency conversion fees, and fair usage fees apply |
| Ally Bank | Checking and saving accounts, credit cards, investments and more – all available online and in app | Checking accounts have no ongoing fees and pay interest. In network ATM withdrawals are free, and you can be reimbursed for some domestic out of network withdrawals monthly | 1% international transaction fee 20 USD domestic wire fee – international wires not supported |
| Discover Bank | Checking and saving accounts, as well as retirement products | Checking accounts have linked payment cards and no ongoing fees, with no Discover imposed ATM charges | Out of network ATM fees may be imposed by ATM providers 30 USD outgoing wire fee |
| OFX | Global Currency Accounts for business customers and online sellers – plus advanced currency management tools | Accounts for business customers and online sellers, to receive, hold, send and exchange 7 major currencies | No ongoing fees Currency exchange includes a small markup |
Here’s a quick summary:
- Wise – a good alternative to Chime if you want a flexible multi-currency account and card with no ongoing fees
- Revolut – a good alternative to Chime if you want international account features and options to pick between different account plans
- Ally Bank – a good alternative to Chime if you want a large range of financial products – all delivered digitally – from the same provider
- Discover Bank – a good alternative to Chime if you want to deposit cash to your account and earn cash back when you spend with your card
- OFX – a good alternative to Chime if you’re a business owner or online seller looking to receive foreign currency payments
1. Wise
Wise could be a good Chime alternative if you’re looking for a digital account and card with multi-currency features and some free ATM withdrawals monthly.
Wise accounts can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%. Accounts also support low cost payments to 160+ countries, and come with local details to get paid for low or no fee from around the world, in several major currencies including USD, GBP and EUR. There are no monthly fees and there’s no minimum balance to maintain, making this a flexible account for occasional or everyday use.
Best Wise features
- Multi-currency account which supports 40+ currencies for holding and exchange
- Debit card available which comes with some free ATM withdrawals
- Fees are transparent and split out from the exchange rates you get, making it easy to see what international transactions cost you
- Exchange rate – all currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate
- Business accounts available, for business owners, freelancers and sole traders
| Wise pros | Wise cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Accounts support 40+ currencies ✅ Debit cards have no foreign transaction fee ✅ Mid-market exchange rates ✅ Send money overseas to 160+ countries | ❌ Transaction and currency conversion fees apply ❌ No cash back option |
2. Revolut
Revolut could be a good Chime alternative if you want international features and the option to pick from different account plans to match your spending and transacting patterns.
Revolut US offers 3 different account plans for personal customers, plus additional options for business users. All accounts come with options to hold and exchange 25+ currencies, linked cards, and some no fee ATM withdrawals. Plans include some no fee transactions such as weekday currency conversion – once you’ve exhausted your plan limit you’ll pay a fair usage fee. Limits depend on the plan you pick, giving good flexibility to choose the option which suits your transaction needs.
Best Revolut Features
- Hold and exchange 25+ currencies with some weekday no fee exchange offered for all plans
- Pick between 3 different plans, from 0 USD – 16.99 USD/month
- All accounts have linked cards you can use globally
- International payments supported with low fees
- Business services available in the US
| Revolut pros | Revolut cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Choose from several different account plans according to your needs ✅ All accounts have some no fee ATM withdrawals ✅ Get some no fee weekday currency conversion, to plan limits ✅ Use your linked debit card for payments and withdrawals globally ✅ Business services available | ❌ Monthly fees apply to unlock some account features ❌ Out of hours currency conversion fees, and fair usage fees apply |
3. Ally Bank
Ally Bank can be a good Chime alternative if you’re looking for checking accounts with no ongoing fees, and also want credit cards, insurance and other more complex financial services.
Ally Bank offers digital account products, credit cards, loans, investments and a selection of other financial services. Like Chime, there are no ongoing fees for checking accounts and services are offered in USD only. Unlike Chime, Ally does support incoming domestic and international wires, and outgoing local wires – for a 20 USD fee. Ally also reimburses some out of network ATM withdrawals in the US, and has a good range of networked ATMs for no fee withdrawals.
Best Ally Bank Features
- Selection of account products for checking and saving
- Credit cards, loans, insurance and other financial services available
- Accounts have no ongoing fees and few charges for standard transactions – be aware that foreign transaction fees apply when spending abroad though
- FDIC insured provider
| Ally Bank pros | Ally Bank cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Checking accounts have no ongoing fees ✅In network ATM withdrawals, and some out of network local withdrawals, free ✅Checking services with no extra fee ✅No fee for some overdraft services ✅Very strong selection of financial products, all from the same provider | ❌ 1% international transaction fee ❌ 20 USD domestic wire fee ❌ International wire transfers are not supported |
4. Discover Bank
Discover could be a good Chime alternative if you want a checking account with a linked debit card you can use to earn cash back as you spend.
Discover checking accounts have no ongoing charges and come with linked debit cards which offer no Discover ATM fees. Card spending comes with 1% cash back, and there’s no foreign transaction fee to pay when you’re abroad. It’s worth bearing in mind that other ATM operators may impose their own fee when you make an out of network ATM withdrawal, but overall this account offers a good selection of low or no fee transactions.
Best Discover Bank Features
- No ongoing checking account fees
- Ways to deposit cash to your account
- 1% cash back on card spending
- Discover does not impose ATM fees and has a large ATM network of over 60,000 locations
| Discover Bank pros | Discover Bank cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Get 1% cash back on card spending ✅Deposit cash to your account conveniently and with no extra fee ✅No monthly fees for checking accounts ✅Saving accounts and IRAs available ✅FDIC insured provider | ❌ Out of network ATM fees may be imposed by ATM providers ❌ 30 USD outgoing wire fee |
5. OFX
OFX can be a good Chime alternative if you want an account to receive business payments in foreign currencies.
OFX offers Global Currency accounts to business customers and online sellers, who need to be paid in any of 7 major foreign currencies conveniently. Accounts can hold, send, receive and exchange currencies – but do not come with linked debit cards which can be a disadvantage. OFX does however also offer some other great business tools for international customers, including currency risk management solutions, global payments and more.
Best OFX Features
- Hold and exchange 7 currencies, and receive payments from customers, PSPs and platforms easily
- Specialist business and online seller accounts – not for personal customers
- Large and trusted provider which operates globally
- OFX is a currency specialist which uses good exchange rates and offers international payments globally
| OFX pros | OFX cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Business customers and online sellers can hold and exchange 7 currencies ✅ Get paid in foreign currencies conveniently and with no OFX fee ✅ Send payments to a broad selection of countries online or in app ✅ Currency exchange uses a low markup with no extra fees to pay ✅ Currency risk management solutions available | ❌ Accounts for business customers only ❌ No debit card available |
Cards like Chime
Chime checking accounts come with a linked payment card which has no foreign transaction fee for overseas use. There’s no Chime ATM fee, but out-of-network costs of 2.5 USD are likely to apply if you use an overseas ATM.
Not sure if Chime cards are right for you? Here’s a summary of the cards offered by the providers we looked at earlier as a reminder and comparison:
- Wise – spend globally with the mid-market rate, low conversion fees from 0.43%, and no ongoing card costs
- Revolut – get different cards depending on your account plan, all with some no fee currency conversion and ATM withdrawals
- Ally Bank – no fee for in network withdrawals, with some out of network withdrawals reimbursed – 1% foreign transaction fee applies
- Discover Bank – get 1% cash back on spending, with no Discover ATM fee to pay
- OFX – cards are not provided
Accounts like Chime
Chime offers checking or saving accounts, which you can manage online or in an app. Accounts hold USD only, but you can use your card globally with no foreign transaction fee to pay. Let’s take a quick look at a comparison of the account types available from the other Chime alternatives we picked out as a summary:
- Wise account – digital accounts to hold and exchange 40+ currencies with no minimum balance and no ongoing costs
- Revolut – 3 different account plans to hold and exchange 25+ currencies – some accounts have ongoing fees
- Ally Bank – checking and saving accounts, including CDs available, with low or no fees for everyday transactions
- Discover Bank – checking, saving, CD and money market account products on offer for personal customers
- OFX – multi-currency accounts for business customers and onlines sellers who need to receive, hold and exchange 7 major currencies
Online banking apps like Chime
Let’s round out our review with a comparison on each of our chosen alternatives against Chime, and a few final words on why we’ve selected them.
Wise vs Chime
Try Wise if you need an account for yourself or your business, to spend internationally, with no ongoing fees and some free international ATM use.
- Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies and have no ongoing fees
- There’s no foreign transaction fee to pay and currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate
- Get some free ATM withdrawals globally every month
Revolut vs Chime
Revolut is a good Chime alternative if you want to pick from several account tiers to find the one that suits your spending patterns.
- Revolut accounts hold 25+ currencies and all come with linked payment cards
- Choose from one of 3 account plans, including some with no monthly fees
- All plans have some no fee weekday currency conversion and some no fee ATM withdrawals overseas
Ally Bank vs Chime
Compare Ally Bank to Chime if you want to access a broad range of account services, credit cards, loans and more all from the same provider.
- Get credit, loans, mortgages and other financial products as well as checking and saving accounts
- No ongoing checking account fees, and no fee for some overdraft services
- Domestic wires are supported
Discover Bank vs Chime
Discover Bank might be a great Chime alternative for you if you want a card which earns cash back and which can be used abroad with no foreign transaction fee.
- 1% cash back on card spending
- No foreign transaction fees for international use
- Good selection of account products and services available
OFX vs Chime
Take a look at OFX if you specifically want a business account and would benefit from extra support in managing currency risk for your company.
- Hold and exchange 7 major currencies
- Get paid by customers, PSPs and marketplaces in foreign currencies
- Currency risk management and business advice available
Are these Chime alternatives safe?
Yes. All the providers we’ve picked as Chime alternatives are safe. The options we’ve covered include some banks and some financial technology services. Different providers may offer slightly different services – which can mean they’re licensed and regulated differently. However, they’re all safe to use and offer great products and services for eligible US customers.
Chime competitors in the US : Conclusion
Chime is a popular US provider for checking and saving accounts which come with payment cards. However, it’s got a few limitations. You can’t send or receive wire payments, and if you use your Chime card overseas you’ll likely pay ATM fees. This means that for local use it’s a strong option, but when you’re thinking about transacting internationally, Chime may not be your best bet.
- If you need to send and receive foreign currencies, or you’d prefer an account with no foreign transaction fee you might like Wise as a Chime alternative.
- If you’re looking for more services such as mortgages and insurance, a Chime alternative like Ally Bank might suit.
- If getting cash back on your card is important, check out Discover,
- While Revolut has a good selection of account plans to allow you to pick the one which matches your needs specifically.
Use this guide to help you pick a Chime alternative which works for you – whether that’s for international transactions with low or no fees, or to get cash back as you spend with your card.
Apps like Chime FAQs
What is the best alternative to Chime in the US ?
There’s no single best Chime alternative – which suits you will depend on how you like to transact. If you’re considering a Chime alternative to cut out foreign transaction fees you might like Wise for example, while other Chime alternatives like Ally Bank could be a good bet if you’d prefer to stick with a US based company which offers mortgages, personal lending and more alongside account services.
What is the catch with Chime?
There’s no catch with Chime – but you’ll want to compare the features and fees of Chime accounts carefully to pick out the right one for you. Or check out Chime alternatives like Wise or Revolut for multi-currency options, or Ally Bank for extensive financial products from a digital provider, to see if there’s something better for you out there.
