Comparison

UP by CBD vs AbsoluteCard

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

UP by CBD

This mobile banking app offers UAE businesses a fast and compliant way to manage finances. Open an account in minutes, get instant credit cards, and handle payments, payroll, and more with clear pricing.

Highlights
  • Instant business account opening
  • Immediate credit card access
  • Zero-balance account option
  • Local and international payments
  • WPS payroll management
  • Secure login and authentication
Features
Read full description

UP by CBD is a mobile business bank from Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), built for micro and small businesses to easily apply for an account in minutes & start operating immediately. UP by CBD combines the agility of a mobile bank with the strength of CBD, backed by over 50 years of experience supporting businesses in the UAE. Key Features Apply for a business account in minutes with seamless DUL integration (Dubai unified licence) Instant credit card from day one with higher credit limits as your business grows Zero-balance account, giving businesses the flexibility to select a tailored subscription plan. Make local and international payments, manage cards, run payroll (WPS), and stay on top of your finances — all with clear, simple pricing. Your money and data are protected with secure login, strong authentication, and real-time controls. Bank confidently with a fully licensed UAE bank regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Why UP by CBD? UP by CBD brings together everything your business needs - from a current account and access to credit to payroll, transfers and savings - in one unified, mobile-first business banking experience, backed by over 50 years of CBD experience supporting businesses in the UAE. Through CBD’s collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), you also get access to programmes and initiatives like Dubai Founders HQ and SME in a Box — helping you grow and scale. Who is it for? Small businesses and startups in the UAE seeking a fast, fully compliant mobile business banking experience. Business owners and consultants choosing a simple, seamless way to manage business finances - from faster invoicing and spend tracking to cashflow visibility and actionable insights. Employers managing WPS payroll while ensuring compliance with UAE labour regulations. Get started in minutes Download the UP by CBD app. Share your personal and business details to get set up. Start banking right away and take the next step in growing your business.

About

AbsoluteCard

Features
Read full description

Absolute is a secure corporate expense card management platform designed to provide organizations with structured control, visibility, and governance over business spending. Built for modern enterprises, Absolute enables secure user onboarding, corporate card lifecycle management, transaction monitoring, and approval-based payment workflows — all within a controlled and compliant environment. Corporate Card Lifecycle Management Absolute enables end-to-end management of corporate cards with structured administrative control. ● Corporate card issuance & activation ● Spending limit configuration ● Card freeze, block & reissue functionality ● Real-time card usage monitoring ● Centralized card administration Transaction Monitoring & Management Gain complete visibility into business transactions with intelligent tracking and control. ● Real-time transaction tracking ● Detailed transaction history ● Merchant & category-level insights ● Instant transaction notifications ● Structured transaction records Approval-Based Payment Workflows Maintain financial governance with controlled approval processes. ● Multi-level approval hierarchy ● Role-based authorization ● Controlled fund disbursement ● Transparent approval tracking ● Audit-ready activity logs

Screenshots

UP by CBD4 screens
AbsoluteCard4 screens

Verdict

The call

UP by CBD and AbsoluteCard are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UP by CBD ships an update fortnightly, AbsoluteCard every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
UP by CBD versus AbsoluteCard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUP by CBDAbsoluteCard
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size181 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCommercial Bank of DubaiH A Q KAMEL PAY SERVICES L.L.C

In-app purchases

None

UP by CBD

No in-app purchases

None

AbsoluteCard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UP by CBD free?
UP by CBD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AbsoluteCard free?
AbsoluteCard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do UP by CBD or AbsoluteCard have ads?
Neither UP by CBD nor AbsoluteCard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UP by CBD or AbsoluteCard?
UP by CBD ships an update fortnightly, and AbsoluteCard every 3 weeks. Most recently, UP by CBD was updated on September 26, 2026 and AbsoluteCard on September 15, 2026.

Other comparisons