Penge vs Emma
Co-founder of Penge · Published 11 September 2026 · 4 min read
The bank list decides most of this comparison. Emma cannot connect banks outside the UK, US and Canada, so Nordic banks are excluded. Penge covers European banks, including Nordic and UK institutions. Emma still has real advantages in North America, platform breadth and its long Open Banking track record.
Key takeaways
- Penge connects to 2300+ banks in 30+ European countries, including Nordic banks and supported UK institutions.
- Emma supports bank connections in the UK, the US and Canada, and says it cannot connect banks outside those countries.
- The short version: UK banks work in both apps, Nordic banks only in Penge, US and Canadian banks only in Emma.
- Emma has Android, iPhone and iPad apps plus a paid web beta. Penge runs on iPhone.
- Emma has a free version and paid tiers. Penge is free with no ads.
Can you use Emma in the Nordics?
No, not for Nordic bank connections. Emma says it currently supports banks in the UK, the US and Canada and cannot connect banks outside those countries. A Norwegian, Swedish or Danish bank will therefore not appear. Emma still makes sense for its supported markets, while Penge is built for European coverage.
The UK is the overlap. Emma supports a long list of UK institutions, while Penge's catalogue also contains UK banks such as Monzo and Starling. Search for your exact bank rather than choosing from the country label alone.
| Penge | Emma | |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic banks | Yes, via Open Banking | No[1] |
| UK banks | Yes, where the institution appears in Penge's catalogue | Yes[1] |
| US and Canada | No | Yes[1] |
| Recurring payments | Scans for subscriptions, free | Detects subscriptions on paid plans[3] |
| Price | Free, no ads | Free version plus Plus, Pro and Ultimate tiers[5] |
| Platforms | iPhone | Android, iPhone, iPad and a paid web beta[4] |
What Emma does well
- It has connected UK banks through Open Banking since 2018, so its UK connections are mature and battle-tested.[2]
- It detects recurring payments and subscriptions in linked accounts on paid plans.[3]
- Its UK provider list includes credit cards, an investment platform, a pension provider and crypto services alongside banks.[6]
- It runs on Android, iPhone and iPad. Its paid plans also have a web app in beta.[4]
Where Penge has the edge for Nordic accounts
- Coverage comes first: 2300+ banks in 30+ European countries, including Nordic banks and supported UK institutions.
- Every transaction arrives with a category suggested from your own history, and you confirm it with one tap. Turn on automatic categorization in settings and Penge applies the most confident ones by itself, never overwriting a category you set.
- Subscription scanning is free. For each subscription, Penge shows the monthly cost, next expected charge, last charge date and every matched payment.
- Penge is free with no ads, and its bank connection is read-only.
The wider version of this argument, covering the American apps, is in Mint, Monarch and Copilot alternatives in Europe.
One search settles it. Check your bank
Who should pick which
- You need US or Canadian bank connections, or an Android or iPad app: Emma.
- You have Nordic and North American accounts: use both, or add the unsupported side as manual accounts in Penge.
- You want Nordic and wider European bank coverage, category suggestions and subscription scanning without a subscription fee: Penge.
Get a full overview with Penge
Connect your bank and let the app categorize and budget automatically.
Frequently asked questions
- Will Emma add Nordic banks?
- Emma has not published a Nordic launch in the sources we checked. Its current help page says bank connections remain limited to the UK, the US and Canada.
- Can I use Emma for my UK account and Penge for the rest?
- Yes, but check Penge's catalogue first because it also includes UK institutions. If Penge lists your British bank, one Penge overview may cover both. Otherwise, using both apps is an option. Penge's bank connection is read-only.
- What if my bank is not in Penge's catalogue?
- Add it as a manual account in Penge. You enter the balance yourself and it appears in the same overview as your connected accounts, so an unsupported US or Canadian account does not have to live in a separate app.
- Is Penge available in English?
- Yes. Penge is in English, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish, so an English-speaking resident of the Nordics gets the app in English and their banks connected.