Nu earned its 105 million customers by being everything traditional Brazilian banks weren’t. But once a few million more joined, the cracks showed. The home feed leads with credit card upsells and Nu Crypto banners, human support waits stretch on weekends, and the occasional account block on a payday Pix burns days while documents get re-verified. If any of that has worn out the welcome, the Brazilian neobank market now has real Nu alternatives, each with a sharper angle on what Nubank does broadly.
This guide compares 7 Nu alternatives that fit different priorities, from higher yield to better SMB tools to a simpler everyday app. We tested each on what people actually want from Nubank: free Pix, a no-fee card, and an account that does not lose money sitting still.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free account | Card annual fee | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banco Inter | Super-app coverage | Yes | None | Inter Shop cashback, mortgages, brokerage |
| C6 Bank | Rewards on every spend | Yes | None | Átomos points, free global account |
| Mercado Pago | Highest account yield | Yes | None | Up to 105% CDI from day one |
| PicPay | P2P and cashback | Yes | None | Pix in installments to friends |
| PagBank | Wallet plus card machine | Yes | None | Same app for selling and saving |
| Will Bank | Lifestyle credit card | Yes | None | Will points convert to streaming and travel |
| iti Itaú | Traditional bank safety net | Yes | None | Itaú backing without the Itaú fees |
Why people leave Nubank
Nu still wins on raw simplicity, but the experience has gotten heavier in a few specific ways.
- Credit upsells in the feed. Loan offers, Nu Crypto, and Caixinhas Turbo now occupy half the home screen. Users on Reddit Brasil routinely complain that the bank app starts to feel like a marketplace.
- Slow human support. Chat answers are quick for routine questions but human escalations on disputed transactions can run days. Phone support exists but the call tree is long.
- Account blocks on payday. A larger-than-usual Pix or an unrecognised device can trigger a 72-hour review. Some users report repeat blocks on legitimate income transfers.
- Yield trails the market. The basic Caixinha pays 100% of the CDI. Several competitors now beat that on the default account balance.
- Limited investment depth. NuInvest covers basics but lacks the home-broker depth Inter and BTG Pactual offer.
Which Nu alternative should you choose?
- Banco Inter if you want the deepest super-app feature set.
- C6 Bank if you spend enough to make a points programme pay.
- Mercado Pago if you want the highest yield on the balance you keep.
- PicPay if you split bills with friends weekly.
- PagBank if you also sell anything on the side.
- Will Bank if a strong credit card is the actual draw.
- iti Itaú if you want a digital experience backed by a traditional bank.
1. Banco Inter — best Nu alternative for a full super-app
Banco Inter does what Nu’s roadmap keeps hinting at. The free account ships with a credit card, brokerage, mortgage origination, Inter Shop cashback, and the Inter Loop points programme. The same app handles a checking account and an investment platform with home broker, CDB, LCI, LCA, and pension plans, plus an international USD account with no maintenance fee.
Where it falls short: The app is heavier than Nu’s. New users sometimes get lost in the tabs. Customer support response times mirror Nu’s during peak weeks.
Pricing: Free account, no annual fee, no maintenance fee. Inter Loop is free. Loan rates start in line with Nu’s range and vary by profile.
Banco Inter vs Nu: Inter wins on investment depth, mortgage origination, and the Inter Shop cashback stack. Nu wins on first-time-user simplicity and the cleaner home feed.
Bottom line: Pick Inter when you want one app to cover the account, investments, the brokerage, and a points programme worth using.
2. C6 Bank — best for rewards on every purchase
C6 Bank built its account around Átomos, a points programme that pays on debit, credit, and PIX-on-credit transactions. The free Carbon card stacks well, and C6 Global gives a multicurrency account that holds USD, EUR, and GBP without monthly fees, which Nu does not match.
Where it falls short: The investment platform is decent but trails Inter on home broker tooling. Some premium tiers add a monthly fee.
Pricing: Free account. Carbon card free. C6 Global is free for the standard tier. Premium tiers gate concierge and airport lounge access.
C6 Bank vs Nu: C6 wins on rewards stacking and multicurrency. Nu wins on simplicity and the lighter home feed.
Bottom line: Pick C6 if you spend predictably on the card and want the points to actually compound.
3. Mercado Pago — best for yield on the balance you leave sitting
Mercado Pago pays up to 105% of the CDI on the account balance from day one, subject to a minimum monthly deposit and standard caps. The card has no annual fee, Pix is unlimited and free, and the wallet stacks with Mercado Livre installments up to 18x. The AI assistant inside the app handles routine queries faster than Nu’s chat on weekends.
Where it falls short: The home screen pushes Mercado Crypto and the Linha de Crédito hard. Account holds during disputes can mirror Nu’s worst cases.
Pricing: Free account. No annual fee on the standard card. Yield conditions apply at standard caps.
Mercado Pago vs Nu: Mercado Pago wins on default-balance yield and the AI support assistant. Nu wins on a cleaner card experience and fewer cross-promo banners.
Bottom line: Pick Mercado Pago when most of your cash sits idle and you want it to earn the moment it lands.
4. PicPay — best for splitting bills and quick transfers
PicPay started as a social wallet and the P2P flow still feels tighter than Nu’s contact-list Pix. Pix in installments up to 36x is unique to PicPay, the account yields 102% of the CDI, and the Gold, Platinum, and Black card tiers offer escalating cashback up to 1.2% on credit. Bill installment up to 36x is the second draw.
Where it falls short: The social feed feels dated compared with banking-only apps. Some partner cashback rates have shrunk in recent updates.
Pricing: Free account. Card tiers vary; Black has a fee tied to qualifying spend.
PicPay vs Nu: PicPay wins on P2P speed, Pix installments, and bill installments. Nu wins on a cleaner card-first interface.
Bottom line: Pick PicPay if you Pix friends weekly and want the option to pay big bills in installments.
5. PagBank — best if you also sell on the side
PagBank pairs the personal account with the Point card machine, useful for anyone running a side hustle, a freelance gig, or a small store. Pix lands instantly, the account yields 100% of the CDI, and the card has no annual fee. Selling and saving happen in the same app, which Nu does not match.
Where it falls short: The interface leans business-first, which adds clutter for users who only need the personal side.
Pricing: Free account. Point machine has zero rental and zero monthly fee. Card rates apply per transaction.
PagBank vs Nu: PagBank wins on dual personal-business use. Nu wins on a cleaner personal-only experience.
Bottom line: Pick PagBank when the same person needs an account and a card machine.
6. Will Bank — best for a strong lifestyle credit card
Will Bank built its account around the credit card and the Will Points programme, which converts spend into streaming credits, travel, and partner discounts. The card has no annual fee, and the digital account covers Pix, top-ups, and a basic investment menu. The brand sits between Nu and a points-programme card.
Where it falls short: The investment platform is light. Loan limits are tighter than Nu’s. Customer support volume scales with promotional periods.
Pricing: Free account. Card with no annual fee. Will Points programme is free to join.
Will Bank vs Nu: Will wins on rewards conversion and lifestyle perks. Nu wins on overall account depth.
Bottom line: Pick Will Bank if the card matters more than the rest of the account.
7. iti Itaú — best for digital simplicity with traditional backing
iti is Itaú’s digital-first sibling account. The app feels closer to Nu than to the full Itaú app, with quick account opening, a credit card with no annual fee, free Pix, and bill payments. It sits inside Itaú’s risk and compliance machinery, which means fewer surprise account blocks than the most aggressive neobanks.
Where it falls short: Investment options route back to Itaú’s broader platform with extra steps. Some features lag the main Itaú app.
Pricing: Free account. Credit card with no annual fee. Pix free and unlimited.
iti Itaú vs Nu: iti wins on traditional-bank stability without the legacy app weight. Nu wins on overall feature pace.
Bottom line: Pick iti if you want a Nu-like app with Itaú’s underwriting and account-recovery infrastructure.
How to choose
For a one-to-one Nubank replacement that does more, install Banco Inter. It covers what Nu does plus an actual brokerage, mortgage origination, and a points programme worth tracking.
For the best yield on cash sitting in the account, install Mercado Pago. The 105% CDI default is the cleanest answer if you keep four-digit balances idle.
For card-first spending, C6 Bank with Átomos or Will Bank with Will Points beat Nu’s reward profile when you spend predictably. If the card is the only draw, Will is the lighter app.
For mixed personal-business use, PagBank combines the account and the Point machine in one place. PicPay stays the right answer when P2P and bill installments are the daily drivers.
Stay on Nu when you mostly want one bank app to be quiet, a card that does its job, and Pix that lands without thinking. Nu still does that better than any traditional bank.
FAQ
What is the best Nu alternative for higher yield? Mercado Pago pays up to 105% of the CDI on the account balance from day one, the highest among major Brazilian neobanks. Banco Inter and C6 Bank also beat Nu’s 100% on certain product tiers.
Is Banco Inter better than Nubank? Inter is better than Nubank for users who want investments, a points programme, and mortgage origination in the same app. Nu is better for users who want a clean, single-purpose digital account.
Can I use Nubank and another bank at the same time? Yes. Most Brazilians keep two or three digital banks open and route specific use cases to each. Pix transfers between them are free and instant.
Which Nu alternative has the best credit card? C6 Bank’s Carbon card and Will Bank’s free card both compete on rewards. PicPay’s Black tier delivers the highest cashback rate for high spenders.
Is iti the same as Nubank? No. iti is Itaú’s digital account and sits inside Itaú’s compliance and customer-service infrastructure. Nu is an independent neobank with its own systems and risk model.
