# Monese vs BT Pay

The clearest difference is ads: BT Pay at none against Monese's shown. BT Pay also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (37% vs 19%). Monese's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Monese against 4.8 for BT Pay. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.4K and 2.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 19% of Monese's written reviews are positive against 37% of BT Pay's.

Monese ships an update every 3 weeks, BT Pay fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monese | BT Pay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monese-a-banking-alternative/id1102793407/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bt-pay/id1326751685/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | 2.1K |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | **36.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 203 MB | 439 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Monese LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1102793406) | [Banca Transilvania](https://appshunter.io/developer/409783345) |

## What reviewers say

### Monese

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monese-a-banking-alternative/id1102793407)

This app offers a digital banking alternative, allowing users to manage multiple currencies, send and receive money internationally, and access a contactless debit card. It provides budgeting tools, real-time notifications, and features like savings pots and virtual cards for secure online payments.

**Highlights:** Multi-currency accounts (GBP, EUR, RON), Contactless Mastercard debit card, International money transfers, Virtual card for online payments, Savings pots, Real-time spending notifications, Credit score building (UK only)

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### BT Pay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bt-pay/id1326751685)

Send and receive money easily using just a phone number. Manage your bank cards, view transaction history, and access exclusive offers. Integrates with HealthKit for personalized deals based on your activity.

**Highlights:** Send and receive money via phone number, Transfer money between your cards, View transaction history and card balances, Access STAR loyalty points and credit card payment info, Receive exclusive STAR partner offers, Personalized offers based on HealthKit data

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and fast
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💳 Excellent for managing cards and accounts
- 💳 Convenient payment features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 🔒 Restrictive security measures
- 🔌 Compatibility issues with non-Romanian devices/numbers
- 🔍 Lacking important features (transaction history, notifications, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to add/update personal details
- Payments and transfers often fail or get stuck
- App freezes during verification steps
- Inconsistent behavior when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to manually enter SMS verification codes
- Improve transaction history and notification features
- Enable support for non-Romanian users and devices
- Integrate advanced budgeting and analytics tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monese free?

Monese is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BT Pay free?

BT Pay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Monese or BT Pay?

BT Pay is rated higher. Monese averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while BT Pay averages 4.8 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do Monese or BT Pay have ads?

Monese shows ads; BT Pay does not.

### Which is updated more often, Monese or BT Pay?

Monese ships an update every 3 weeks, and BT Pay fortnightly. Most recently, Monese was updated on October 26, 2026 and BT Pay on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*