Best Chase Current Account Alternatives 2026: 6 Top Options
Last updated: 13.06.2026
Chase UK has made a strong case for itself as a free digital current account. There is no monthly fee, no foreign transaction charges on spending abroad, Apple Pay and Google Pay are both supported, and the linked easy-access saver offered a genuinely competitive boosted rate when we tested it. For most people who want a solid everyday account with zero running costs, Chase is hard to fault on the basics.
That said, three specific gaps push a meaningful number of people to look elsewhere. First, the 1% cashback on debit card spending is capped and time-limited rather than a permanent feature, so the headline perk fades after the introductory period. Second, Chase offers no arranged overdraft at all, which rules it out for anyone who needs even a small buffer between paydays. Third, the app-only model with no branch network whatsoever means anyone who values face-to-face banking support has nowhere to turn. If any of those points matter to you, the alternatives below are worth a close look.
The best alternatives Chase Current Account
Best for: Everyday banking with permanent budgeting tools, an arranged overdraft option, and a market-leading app.
Monzo's core current account costs nothing per month and is a fully licensed UK bank, meaning your deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000. The app is consistently rated among the best in the market for ease of use, with savings Pots, bill-splitting, spending categorisation, and instant payment notifications all included at no charge.
Foreign ATM withdrawals are free up to £400 within any 30-day period; above that limit a 3% fee applies for withdrawals outside the EEA. For most occasional travellers that threshold is generous enough to cover a typical holiday. Apple Pay and Google Pay are both supported, and the online account opening process takes under ten minutes.
- Savings Pots with competitive rates, including a Round Up feature that moves spare change automatically
- Paid tiers (Monzo Extra, Max) unlock travel insurance, cashback on bills, and higher overdraft limits
- Strong 24/7 in-app support with human agents, not just bots
- Arranged overdraft available for eligible customers, unlike Chase
The main drawback is that the most compelling perks, particularly cashback and insurance, sit behind paid tiers starting at around £5 per month. The free account alone does not earn cashback on spending.
Compared to Chase, Monzo's biggest practical advantage is the arranged overdraft facility, which Chase does not offer at all. If you occasionally dip below zero, Monzo is the more complete option.
Best for: People who want a permanent no-fee account with the cleanest abroad spending experience and genuinely responsive customer service.
Starling is a fully licensed UK bank and FSCS-protected up to £85,000. In our testing it stood out for having no foreign transaction fees and no ATM withdrawal fees abroad at all, with no monthly cap on free overseas cash withdrawals. That is a genuine advantage over Chase, which caps fee-free ATM use at £500 per month before a 1.5% charge kicks in.
The account is free, includes a Mastercard debit card, supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, and can be opened entirely online. Starling also pays in-credit interest on current account balances, a feature Chase does not offer on the standard account.
- Unlimited fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad with no Starling surcharges
- In-credit interest paid on your current account balance
- Spaces (virtual sub-accounts) for budgeting without needing a separate savings account
- Consistently top-rated customer service, reachable by phone as well as in-app
There are no paid tiers, which means there are also no premium perks such as travel insurance or cashback programmes built in. For those extras you would need a separate product.
Compared to Chase, Starling wins clearly on overseas ATM use and on the permanence of its proposition; there is no introductory period or expiry attached to its benefits.
Best for: Savers who want a current account that pays meaningful interest plus cashback on Direct Debits, without paying a monthly fee.
Zopa Bank's Biscuit Current Account is a fully licensed UK bank account with FSCS protection up to £85,000. The headline offer is 2% AER interest paid on the current account balance itself, with no upper cap on the balance that earns. A linked Regular Saver pot pays a significantly higher rate for disciplined monthly savers, and there is up to 4% cashback available on Direct Debits up to £2,000 per year.
The account is free to open and carries no monthly fee. Spending and ATM withdrawals abroad are fee-free via Visa's real exchange rate, and Apple Pay and Google Pay are both supported. Opening is fully online.
- 2% AER in-credit interest on the full current account balance, paid automatically
- Up to 4% cashback on Direct Debits, making it one of the more rewarding free accounts in the UK
- Linked Regular Saver pot at a boosted rate for structured monthly saving
- Full FSCS protection as a licensed UK bank up to £85,000
Zopa Biscuit does not fully support the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), which means moving your salary and Direct Debits from another bank requires more manual effort than usual. There is also no joint account option and no cash deposit facility.
Compared to Chase, Zopa Biscuit offers ongoing, structural rewards rather than a time-limited cashback period, and adds meaningful in-credit interest that Chase's standard account simply does not pay.
Best for: People who want a lean, no-nonsense account with zero fees at home and completely unlimited free ATM use abroad.
Kroo is a fully licensed UK bank with FSCS protection up to £85,000. The account is free, the debit card carries no foreign transaction fees and no ATM withdrawal fees anywhere in the world, and the app supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. Opening is online-only and takes a few minutes.
Kroo's differentiating feature alongside its travel proposition is a social layer: the app makes it easy to split bills with other Kroo users and to create shared spending groups. It also pays in-credit interest on current account balances, adding a modest saving incentive on top of the everyday account.
- Completely fee-free ATM withdrawals and card spending abroad, with no Kroo surcharges and no monthly cap
- In-credit interest on current account balances
- Group bills and social spending features built into the core app
- Full UK banking licence and FSCS deposit protection
Kroo's account is relatively young, with fewer third-party integrations than more established neobanks. There is currently no overdraft facility and no premium tier with extras such as travel insurance.
Compared to Chase, Kroo matches the zero-fee abroad proposition on card spending and removes the £500 monthly cap on free ATM withdrawals, making it a stronger pick for heavy cash users when travelling.
Best for: Frequent international travellers and people who regularly send or receive money in multiple currencies at competitive rates.
Revolut's Standard plan is free and provides a multi-currency account with the ability to hold and exchange over 30 currencies. It supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and online account opening. FSCS protection up to £85,000 is available following Revolut's UK banking licence authorisation.
Foreign card spending is free on the Standard plan, though a fair usage fee applies to ATM withdrawals above £200 per month (2% thereafter). Weekend currency exchanges carry a small markup on the Standard plan. Paid tiers (Plus, Premium, Metal) offer higher limits and no weekend markups for frequent currency users.
- Multi-currency wallets in 30-plus currencies at competitive exchange rates on weekdays
- Instant international money transfers at low cost relative to traditional banks
- Budgeting analytics, savings Vaults, and spending breakdowns in app
- Virtual cards for safer online shopping included on the free plan
Customer support on the free tier is primarily handled by a chatbot; human agents are less accessible than on Monzo or Starling. The weekend FX markup and relatively low free ATM limit are genuine friction points for heavy cash users.
Compared to Chase, Revolut's multi-currency capabilities are far more extensive, making it the stronger option for anyone who regularly transacts in currencies other than sterling or wants to hold foreign currency balances.
Best for: People who value having real branches and face-to-face service alongside a capable digital app, and who do most of their spending in sterling.
Nationwide FlexDirect is a free current account from the UK's largest building society, with FSCS protection up to £85,000. Unlike every other account on this list, Nationwide operates a nationwide branch network, giving customers the option of in-person service. The account includes a Visa debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and online account opening.
Nationwide regularly offers an introductory in-credit interest rate on the current account for the first 12 months, after which the rate reverts to a lower standard level. An arranged overdraft is available for eligible customers, a meaningful feature that Chase does not provide. Foreign card transactions carry a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee, making it a poor choice for regular international spending.
- Access to hundreds of UK branches, the only account on this list with that option
- Arranged overdraft facility for eligible applicants
- Introductory in-credit interest rate for the first year of account holding
- Strong member benefits as part of a mutual building society structure
The 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee is a significant disadvantage for anyone who travels regularly or shops online in foreign currencies. It is the one area where Nationwide clearly falls behind every digital-first competitor in this comparison.
Compared to Chase, Nationwide is the right call if in-person branch access or an arranged overdraft are priorities. For international spending, Chase wins by a wide margin.
Chase Current Account compared directly
| Chase Current AccountChase Current Account | Monzo Current Account | Starling Current Account | Zopa Bank Biscuit Current Account | Kroo Current Account | |
| Rating | 5.0 /5 | 5.0 /5 | 5.0 /5 | 4.2 /5 | 4.0 /5 |
| Monthly fee | £0/month | £0/month | £0/month | Free | £0/month |
| Debit card | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Credit card | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Apple Pay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Pay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cash withdrawal abroad | Free up to £500/month; then 1.5% | Free up to £400/30 days; then 3% (outside EEA) | Free (no Starling fees) | ✓ | Free (no Kroo fees) |
| Online account opening | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit protection | 85.000 | 85.000 | 85.000 | 85.000 GBP | 85.000 |
| iOS app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branches | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
How we chose
What to look for in an alternative
Choosing a Chase alternative is not just about matching what Chase does for free. It is about identifying which specific gap in Chase's offer matters most to you, then finding the account that fills it without creating new costs elsewhere. Here are the five most important criteria to weigh before deciding.
Overdraft access. Chase offers no arranged overdraft at all. If you need even a small safety net between paydays, this is a hard block that no amount of good features can work around. Monzo and Nationwide both offer arranged overdrafts to eligible customers. Check the representative APR carefully before applying, as neobank overdraft rates can be high despite the account itself being free.
Permanence of rewards. Chase's 1% cashback is an introductory offer with a time limit. Before switching, establish what you actually get once the period ends and you are left with a plain free account. Zopa Biscuit offers ongoing cashback on Direct Debits up to 4% and in-credit interest at 2% AER with no expiry date attached. If you spend a meaningful amount via Direct Debit each month, that could be worth considerably more per year than a temporary 1% on card spending.
Overseas ATM and spending costs. Chase covers fee-free ATM withdrawals up to £500 per month abroad, then charges 1.5%. Starling and Kroo impose no cap at all. Revolut's free tier caps fee-free ATM withdrawals at £200 per month before a 2% fee applies. If you travel regularly and rely on cash, Starling or Kroo will cost you nothing regardless of how much you withdraw. If you mostly pay by card abroad, Chase, Starling, Kroo, Revolut, and Monzo within its free allowance are all equally competitive.
Deposit protection and bank status. All six alternatives carry FSCS protection up to £85,000 per person per institution, exactly the same as Chase. There is no meaningful difference in safety among these options provided you keep balances below the threshold at any single institution. None of the alternatives on this list are e-money institutions; all are fully licensed UK banks or building societies.
Branch and human support access. Five of the six alternatives are app-only with no physical branches. Nationwide is the sole exception. If you ever need to pay in cash, resolve a complex issue face to face, or simply feel more confident with a physical presence behind your account, Nationwide is the only option on this list that provides it.
Quick scenario routing: frequent traveller paying mostly by card abroad -- Starling or Kroo; salary budgeter wanting long-term cashback and interest -- Zopa Biscuit; someone who occasionally goes overdrawn -- Monzo or Nationwide; regular multi-currency sender or receiver -- Revolut; wants branches and a safety net for overdrafts -- Nationwide.
How to switch
Switching your UK current account is straightforward thanks to the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), a free seven-working-day guaranteed switch available from most UK banks and building societies. Here is how it works in three clear steps.
Step 1: Open your new account. All the alternatives on this list can be opened online, usually in under 15 minutes. Most require a valid UK address, proof of identity (passport or driving licence), and a selfie for biometric verification. You can start using the account immediately while the switch is being arranged in the background.
Step 2: Request the switch using CASS. Once your new account is open, tell the new bank you want to use the Current Account Switch Service and provide your old Chase account details along with a switch date at least seven working days ahead. CASS then automatically moves all your Direct Debits, standing orders, and incoming payments including your salary to the new account, and closes the Chase account on the agreed date. A payment redirect sits on the old account for at least three years, so any misdirected payments still reach you automatically.
Step 3: Verify and confirm. Note that Zopa Biscuit does not fully support CASS at the time of writing, so if you choose that account you will need to update your Direct Debits and notify your employer of the new sort code and account number manually. For all other accounts on this list, CASS handles everything automatically. Once the switch completes, verify that your first payslip and first set of Direct Debits arrive correctly before closing any backup arrangements.
Verdict
For most people looking to move away from Chase, Starling is the strongest all-round alternative. It is a fully licensed bank with no monthly fee, no foreign transaction fees, no ATM cap abroad, in-credit interest on your everyday balance, and customer service that extends to a real phone line. It simply does more than Chase without imposing conditions, time limits, or monthly spending thresholds. In our testing it handled everything a Chase account does while costing nothing extra.
If long-term cashback and in-credit interest on your everyday balance matter more than overseas ATM costs, Zopa Biscuit rewards you structurally and permanently rather than temporarily. For anyone who needs an arranged overdraft, Monzo is the natural digital-first choice, with Nationwide the right pick if you also want branches. Revolut earns its place for regular international currency users, and Kroo is the specific answer if unlimited fee-free overseas ATM withdrawals are the precise gap you need to fill. Every account here is FSCS-protected to the same standard as Chase, so the decision comes down purely to features and fit.
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FAQ
Several accounts match or beat Chase depending on what you value. Starling and Monzo both rate 5.0 in our testing and offer permanent benefits rather than time-limited cashback. Zopa Biscuit pays ongoing interest and cashback on Direct Debits. The best account for you depends on whether overdraft access, travel costs, long-term rewards, or branch access is most important.
Starling, Monzo, Kroo, and Zopa Biscuit are all completely free at their core tier with no monthly fee and no minimum deposit. Revolut Standard and Nationwide FlexDirect are also free. Starling and Kroo go furthest on costs because they also charge nothing for foreign card spending or ATM withdrawals abroad, with no monthly cap.
Starling and Kroo both offer completely unlimited fee-free ATM withdrawals and zero foreign transaction fees on card spending, with no monthly threshold to track. Chase caps fee-free ATM withdrawals at £500 per month, after which a 1.5% charge applies. For heavy cash users abroad, Starling or Kroo are the stronger options. Revolut is better if you regularly need to hold or exchange multiple currencies.
All six alternatives are fully licensed UK banks or building societies covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. FSCS protects up to £85,000 per person per banking institution. If a bank fails, FSCS aims to return eligible deposits within seven working days. This protection is identical to what you have with Chase. To protect sums above £85,000, spread deposits across different institutions rather than different brands under the same parent bank.
Yes, there is no restriction on holding multiple UK current accounts simultaneously. Many people keep a second account for travel spending, savings, or as a backup. You only need your salary and Direct Debits to sit in one place, so running two accounts in parallel adds very little administration beyond monitoring two balances.
All six accounts on this list are FSCS-protected up to £85,000 per person per institution. If a bank fails, FSCS will pay back eligible deposits, usually within seven working days. If you hold more than £85,000 at a single institution the excess may not be recoverable, so spreading larger sums across different banks is sensible financial hygiene.
Use the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), which is free and takes seven working days. Open your chosen new account first, then ask the new bank to run the CASS switch. It will transfer all your Direct Debits, standing orders, and incoming payments automatically and close your Chase account. Note that Zopa Biscuit does not fully support CASS, so choosing that account means updating payees manually.
Yes. The 1% cashback on debit card spending is an introductory offer and does not continue indefinitely at the same rate. Once the promotional period ends, Chase becomes a straightforward free current account without ongoing cashback. If permanent rewards matter to you, Zopa Biscuit's Direct Debit cashback of up to 4% and 2% AER in-credit interest are both structural and not time-limited.