Key takeaways
- Top pick: Revolut, best for: People who spend, save and send money across currencies.
- Also near the top: Ramp and Kalshi.
- Free to start: Revolut, Ramp and Kalshi.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Fintech Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Revolut ranks first, with a Lister Score of 96.9.
Revolut and
Ramp are the fastest-growing fintech startups globally: Revolut for consumer banking with about 80 million customers, Ramp for business spend management.
Kalshi is the largest regulated prediction market,
Airwallex is the pick for cross-border business payments, and
Mercury is the banking choice for startups.
Best Fintech Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  RevolutRevolut serves about 80 million customers and reported a pre-tax profit of £1.7 billion for 2025. | People who spend, save and send money across currencies | 96.9 | Free |
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| 2 |  RampRamp reports more than $2 billion in annualized revenue and more than 85,000 business customers. | Automated spending controls and software savings | 95.7 | Free |
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| 3 |  KalshiKalshi said its annualized trading volume rose from $52 billion to $178 billion in the six months before its May 2026 round. | Traders and institutions hedging on real-world events | 94.4 | Free |
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| 4 |  AirwallexAirwallex reported annualized revenue of $1.3 billion in March 2026, up 74% on a year earlier. | global businesses scaling internationally | 93.2 | – |
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| 5 |  PolymarketThe September 2026 round valued Polymarket about 40% above the $15 billion valuation set earlier that year. | People tracking the odds on major events | 91.9 | Free |
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| 6 |  PlaidPlaid's February 2026 valuation was 31% above its April 2025 mark but below its 2021 peak of $13.4 billion. | Fintech apps that need to link users' bank accounts | 90.6 | Custom |
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| 7 |  Bilt RewardsBilt Card 2.0 launched in early 2026 with a no-fee tier and premium tiers at $95 and $495 a year. | Renters who want rewards on their biggest monthly bill | 89.3 | Free |
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| 8 |  MercuryMercury says it has more than 300,000 customers, including one in three American startups. | Startups and small businesses | 88.0 | – |
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| 9 |  PennylaneThe January 2026 round valued Pennylane at about €3.6 billion, up from €2 billion in April 2025. | European small businesses and accounting firms | 86.7 | Custom |
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| 10 |  TideTide says it serves about 800,000 UK members, roughly 14% of the UK small business market, and more than 1.6 million members worldwide. | Sole traders and small businesses in the UK and India | 85.4 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Revolut (#1): People who spend, save and send money across currencies
- Ramp (#2): Automated spending controls and software savings
- Kalshi (#3): Traders and institutions hedging on real-world events
- Airwallex (#4): global businesses scaling internationally
- Polymarket (#5): People tracking the odds on major events
- Plaid (#6): Fintech apps that need to link users' bank accounts
- Bilt Rewards (#7): Renters who want rewards on their biggest monthly bill
- Mercury (#8): Startups and small businesses
- Pennylane (#9): European small businesses and accounting firms
- Tide (#10): Sole traders and small businesses in the UK and India
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Global banking and money app
Revolut, founded in 2015 in London, offers accounts, cards, payments, currency exchange, investing and business accounts through one app in dozens of countries. Reuters reported in October 2026 that its private valuation had reached $115 billion.
PROS- Wide range of products in one app
- Profitable at scale
CONS- Lending business still small
- Banking licences vary by country
- Best for
- People who spend, save and send money across currencies
- Where it falls short
- Lending business still small.
96.9
02
Build a smarter financial future
Ramp, founded in 2019 in New York, provides corporate cards, expense management, bill payments, procurement and AI spend tools for businesses. In October 2026 it raised $1.85 billion at a $60 billion valuation, four months after a $750 million round at $44 billion.
PROS- No monthly software subscription fees for the core platform
- Generous cashback rewards on corporate card spending
CONS- Corporate cards and physical issuance are primarily tailored for US entities
- Best for
- Automated spending controls and software savings
- Where it falls short
- It is primarily tailored for US entities.
- Pick something else if
- you operate outside the United States.
95.7
03
Regulated prediction market exchange
Kalshi, founded in 2018 in New York, runs a CFTC-regulated exchange where users trade contracts on the outcome of events, from economic data to sports. In May 2026 it raised a $1 billion Series F at a $22 billion valuation, led by Coatue.
PROS- Federally regulated in the US
- Fast-growing institutional activity
CONS- Disputes with some US states over sports contracts
- Event trading carries high risk
- Best for
- Traders and institutions hedging on real-world events
- Where it falls short
- Disputes with some US states over sports contracts.
94.4
04
The intelligent financial platform for global businesses
Airwallex, founded in Melbourne in 2015, gives businesses multi-currency accounts, cross-border transfers, card issuing, payment acceptance and financial APIs. In June 2026 it raised a $320 million Series H at an $11 billion valuation, led by Addition.
PROS- Airwallex enables global transfers to over 200 countries at interbank rates.
- The product simplifies bookkeeping through extensive accounting software integrations.
- Best for
- global businesses scaling internationally
- Where it falls short
- It requires a global business model to utilize its international transfer capabilities effectively.
- Pick something else if
- you operate strictly within domestic borders.
93.2
05
Prediction markets on world events
Polymarket, founded in 2020 in New York, runs prediction markets where users trade on the outcome of events in politics, sport, economics and culture. In September 2026 it announced a $1 billion round at a $21 billion valuation, led by 1789 Capital.
PROS- Markets on a wide range of events
- Strong investor backing
CONS- Restricted in some countries
- Event trading carries high risk
- Best for
- People tracking the odds on major events
- Where it falls short
- Restricted in some countries.
91.9
06
Bank account connections for apps
Plaid, founded in 2013 in San Francisco, connects bank accounts to apps and provides identity verification, payments and fraud tools to fintechs and financial institutions. A tender offer in February 2026 valued it at $8 billion.
PROS- Widely used across fintech apps
- Expanding into identity and fraud
CONS- Older than most startups on this list
- Valuation below its earlier peak
- Best for
- Fintech apps that need to link users' bank accounts
- Where it falls short
- Older than most startups on this list.
90.6
07
Rewards on rent payments
Bilt Rewards, founded by Ankur Jain and based in New York, lets renters earn points on rent and runs a co-branded credit card and a neighbourhood rewards network. In July 2025 it raised $250 million at a $10.75 billion valuation, led by General Catalyst and GID.
PROS- Earns rewards on rent
- Backed by large landlords
CONS- Benefits mostly US only
- Best value needs regular use
- Best for
- Renters who want rewards on their biggest monthly bill
- Where it falls short
- Benefits mostly US only.
89.3
08
Radically different banking
Mercury, founded in 2017 in San Francisco, offers business banking, cards, bill pay and spend tools for startups and small businesses through partner banks. In May 2026 it raised a $200 million Series D at a $5.2 billion valuation, after conditional approval for a national bank charter.
PROS- The product offers free checking and savings accounts with zero minimums.
- The product allows users to apply online in just ten minutes.
- Best for
- Startups and small businesses
- Pick something else if
- you run a large enterprise team.
88.0
09
Accounting and finance software for SMEs
Pennylane, founded in 2020 in Paris, combines accounting, invoicing and financial management software for small businesses and their accountants. In January 2026 it raised €175 million at a valuation reported at $4.25 billion, led by TCV and Blackstone Growth.
PROS- Serves both businesses and accountants
- Backed by Sequoia, CapitalG and DST Global
CONS- Mainly focused on France
- Early in other European markets
- Best for
- European small businesses and accounting firms
- Where it falls short
- Mainly focused on France.
86.7
10
Business accounts for small businesses
Tide, founded in 2015 in London, offers business accounts, invoicing, accounting and payment tools for small businesses in the UK, India, Germany and France. In September 2025 it raised more than $120 million led by TPG at a $1.5 billion valuation.
PROS- Large UK small business base
- Growing in India
CONS- Smaller funding than larger peers
- Small business focus only
- Best for
- Sole traders and small businesses in the UK and India
- Where it falls short
- Smaller funding than larger peers.
85.4
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Fintech Startups?
Revolut ranks first on Lister. Revolut, founded in 2015 in London, offers accounts, cards, payments, currency exchange, investing and business accounts through one app in dozens of countries. Reuters reported in October 2026 that its private valuation had reached $115 billion.
What are the top 10 Fintech Startups?
1. Revolut; 2. Ramp; 3. Kalshi; 4. Airwallex; 5. Polymarket; 6. Plaid; 7. Bilt Rewards; 8. Mercury; 9. Pennylane; 10. Tide.
Sources
Where we checked each company's facts, and when.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.
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