Up vs ING

Both offer innovative features, but is Up or ING a better fit for you?

If you're looking for a new transaction and savings account or you want an additional account to manage your everyday banking, both ING and Up are good options to consider.

Up is a new digital bank, created by technology company Ferocia and backed by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. ING is one of Australia's original online banks and offers a range of products but has no branches.

Both offer useful features to help you manage your money. Compare them side by side here to find out which is right for you.

Verdict: Up vs ING

  • Best for spending insights: Up
  • Best for payment options: Up
  • Best for use as a joint account: ING
  • Best for saving: ING
  • Best for bill splitting: Up
  • Best for travel: Up and ING
  • Best for security and support: Up and ING
UpING
Account typeTransaction account and linked savings accountTransaction account and optional linked savings account
Spending analysis and insights
  • Winner

Transactions in your Up account will list the merchant name, location and logo of the business and time of the transaction. Your spending will be automatically categorised, you'll get a weekly spend figure and you can see real-time reports into your spending.

You can check your transaction history for the last three years, search your transactions by keywords or time periods and select which account balances you see in the app.
Payment options
  • Winner

Up lets you pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay, and Samsung Pay.

ING offers Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Joint accountYou can use Up as a joint account.
  • Winner

ING's account can be used as a joint account.

Domestic ATM access
  • Winner

You can use your Up debit card at any ATM in Australia. You won't be charged any ATM fees at most major ATMs including Bendigo Bank and the 4 major banks., but you may be charged a fee when using an ATM from a smaller provider (even if you meet the account conditions).

ING's Orange Everyday account will rebate you any domestic ATM fees for up to 5 transactions a month when the account conditions are met (you need to deposit $1,000 each month and make at least 5 purchases on your linked ING Orange Everyday debit card each month).
Bill splitting
  • Winner

Up's conversational payments feature lets you make payments and track history of payments using a WhatsApp-style messaging interface.

You can make payments using the ING app and let the recipient know you've paid them using SMS or email.
Savings account

Up offers a round-up feature to help you save automatically and lets you create multiple savings accounts that can be tied to your goals. Currently, a bonus interest rate of 4.35% each month you make 5+ purchases with your linked Everyday Account. Bonus interest is available on balances up to $1M.

  • Winner

If you link the ING Savings Maximiser to your ING Orange Everyday account, you can earn 5.5% if you deposit $1,000 each month and make at least 5 purchases on your linked ING Orange Everyday debit card each month. You can also set up regular round-ups from your transaction account. The bonus rate is slightly less than Up's rate, but ING pays bonus interested on balances up to $100,000 so we've called this one a tie.

Travel benefits
  • Tie

You won't be charged fees for international purchases online or in-store but a $0 international ATM fee applies.

  • Tie

There is an international transaction fee of 3% and an international ATM fee of $5 but these will both be refunded as long as you deposit $1,000 per month and make at least 5 card purchases per month that are settled.

Security and support
  • Tie

Lock and unlock your card instantly and contact Up at any time through the app.

  • Tie

Lock and unlock your card instantly and contact ING at any time through the app.

Fees to consider
  • $0 monthly account keeping fee
  • 11.23% overdraft rate
  • 0% currency conversion fee
  • $0 international ATM fee
  • 0% standard interest rate
  • 4.35% bonus interest rate
  • $0 monthly account-keeping fee
  • $5 overseas ATM fee (refunded if you deposit $1,000 per month and make at least 5 card purchases per month that are settled)
  • Any ATM fees you are charged by ATM operators will be refunded 100% if you deposit $1,000 per month and make at least 5 card purchases per month that are settled
  • 3% foreign currency fee (refunded if you deposit $1,000 per month and make at least 5 card purchases per month that are settled)
  • 5.5% bonus interest rate if you deposit $1,000 per month and make at least 5 card purchases per month that are settled)
MoreUp full reviewING full review

The verdict

The transaction accounts from both ING and Up offer convenient features designed to make managing your money easier. However, there are a couple of key differences. For example, Up comes out on top for giving you insights into your money and offering a more diverse set of payment options. Its innovative conversational payments interface also lets you easily manage payments to and from friends.

Thomas Stelzer's headshot
Our expert says

"I've been with Up Bank for 3 years now and think it's the best bank I've ever used for travelling. I travel a few times a year and Up's zero conversion fees feature has ended up saving me a lot of money. It also offers a pretty competitive savings rate for your spare cash."

Journalist
ING stands out for the benefits you get when you meet the account conditions. If you link the ING Savings Maximiser to your Everyday account you can continually earn the bonus 5.5% rate if you make monthly deposits of $1,000 (such as your salary) and make at least 5 purchases on your card each month that are settled. You can also set up regular round-ups from your transaction account. When these conditions are met you'll also pay no ATM fees world-wide and no international transaction fees, either.

Up's savings account offering offers a much lower bonus interest rate of up to 4.35%. To earn this bonus rate you need to make 5 or more t transactions from your Up transaction account.

Up and ING also tied for travel benefits. Up charges no international transaction fees online or in-store but does charge you a $5 international ATM fee. ING does have international fees but these will be waived entirely if you meet the minimum deposit and purchase conditions. So, depending on how you use your account, one of these options should allow you to spend fee-free internationally.

The accounts are both good offerings and the slight differences in travel and savings offerings, as well as ING being available as a joint account, may help you decide between the two. If neither of these accounts sound like they meet your needs, you can compare more digital banks here and more bank accounts from traditional providers here.

Elizabeth Barry's headshot
Journalist

Elizabeth Barry is an experienced journalist with over 10 years of expertise in personal finance, contributing to outlets like the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, and 7News. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Technology Sydney, and has earned multiple award nominations, including a Highly Commended recognition at the 2017 Lizzies. Elizabeth began her career at Finder in 2013, progressing through roles to become Lead Editor, where she oversaw a wide range of personal finance coverage until 2024. See full bio

Elizabeth's expertise
Elizabeth has written 210 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Banking
  • Personal finance
  • Investing

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