Marqeta vs Pomelo: Features, Coverage and Pricing Compared (2026)
Updated November 10, 2026 · Reviewed by Benjamin Margolis
Marqeta and Pomelo both run card issuing and processing for fintechs and brands. Marqeta is the public US leader, certified in more than 40 countries. Pomelo, founded in Buenos Aires in 2021, focuses on Latin America, with teams for Mexico, Brazil, and the Southern Cone.
Our analysts compared the two on November 10, 2026, using each company's own product, pricing, and company pages and our full reviews of Marqeta and Pomelo.
Choose Marqeta if
- your program is in the US or spans several regions
- you need proven scale and just-in-time funding
- you want UK and EEA licenses through TransactPay
Choose Pomelo if
- your program is in Latin America
- you need BIN sponsorship in countries where you lack a license
- you are moving off an older regional processor
Marqeta scores 74 and Pomelo scores 75 in our ratings. Marqeta suits programs centered on the US or several regions. Pomelo is the regional specialist for Latin America.
Key Features Compared
Marqeta vs Pomelo at a Glance, November 2026
| Feature |  Marqeta |  Pomelo |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Fintech Index score | 74 / 100 | 75 / 100Higher score |
| Overview | ||
| What it is | Public card issuing platform that issues and processes debit, prepaid, and credit cards through APIs | Buenos Aires card issuing, processing, and BIN sponsorship platform for Latin America |
| Who uses it | Fintechs, lenders, and large brands, including Block's Cash App, Ramp, and DoorDash | Fintechs, banks, and large companies, including crypto and remittance firms |
| Main products | Debit, prepaid, and credit card issuing and processing, just-in-time funding, and program management | Prepaid, debit, and credit card issuing and processing, a credit core, loyalty, stand-in processing, chargeback management, and risk tools |
| Where it operates | Certified to operate in more than 40 countries; UK and EEA e-money licenses through TransactPay since July 2025 | Latin America, with country managers for Mexico, Brazil, and the Southern Cone |
| Pricing | ||
| How pricing works | Contract pricing based on volume and the services used | Quoted per program, with BIN sponsorship and processing in one contract |
| Published prices | Quote only | Quote only |
| Technology and compliance | ||
| Licenses and regulation | UK and EEA e-money licenses through TransactPay; handles bank relationships, network approvals, KYC, AML, disputes, and chargebacks | BIN sponsorship for clients without a license; built-in risk and chargeback tools |
| Developer tools | Open APIs, a sandbox, and just-in-time funding controls | Modern APIs built for fintech teams, with a card and risk dashboard |
| Integrations and partners | Card networks and sponsor banks, with large clients such as Cash App, Ramp, and DoorDash | Card networks and regional partners; migrations off older regional processors |
| Onboarding and support | Sales-led onboarding built for programs with real volume; Ramp reached its first transaction in under 70 days | Country teams for Mexico, Brazil, and the Southern Cone |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2010 | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Ownership | Public (Nasdaq: MQ) | Private |
| Funding | Publicly traded since 2021 | ~$160M, including a $55M Series C in January 2026 co-led by Kaszek and Insight Partners |
| Key leader | Mike Milotich | Gastón Irigoyen |
| Scale | $382.5B total processing volume and $624.9M net revenue in 2025Larger volume | Billions of dollars in payment volume |
Fintech Index Scores Compared
We rate every company on eight criteria from 0 to 100, four tied to what buyers in its sector need and four shared by every company, and the rating is their average. Marqeta scores 74 and Pomelo scores 75.
Criterion Scores Out of 100
Key Differences Between Marqeta and Pomelo
Regional Focus
Pomelo built its platform for Latin America and has country managers for Mexico, Brazil, and the Southern Cone. Marqeta is strongest in the US and expanding in the UK and Europe through TransactPay.
Scale
Marqeta processed $382.5B in 2025 and trades on Nasdaq. Pomelo says it processes billions of dollars and raised a $55M Series C in January 2026, bringing its total to ~$160M. Gastón Irigoyen co-founded Pomelo.
Services
Pomelo offers BIN sponsorship, a credit core, loyalty, stand-in processing, and chargeback management. Marqeta offers just-in-time funding and can take on compliance work such as KYC, disputes, and chargebacks.
Pros and Cons
Marqeta
Pros
- Largest scale in the group, with $382.5B of processing volume in 2025
- Just-in-time funding gives fine control over each payment
- Certified in more than 40 countries, with UK and EEA licenses since 2025
- Public company with audited financials
Cons
- No published prices
- Built for programs with volume, so small launches may find it heavy
- Block's Cash App is its largest client, a concentration risk
Pomelo
Pros
- One platform for cards across several Latin American countries
- BIN sponsorship where the client lacks a license
- Credit core and stand-in processing
- Well funded, with a $55M Series C in 2026
Cons
- Weak fit outside Latin America
- Young company, founded in 2021
- No published prices
Who Each Is Best For
Marqeta
A fintech, lender, or brand with real card volume that wants to run its own card program through APIs and control how each payment is approved.
Pomelo
A fintech, bank, or large company that wants to issue cards across Latin America through one regional platform.
Alternatives to Marqeta and Pomelo
These companies, all reviewed and rated on The Fintech Index, cover some of the same ground as Marqeta and Pomelo.
Other Card Issuing and Processing Companies
| Company | Score | Best for | Comparisons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thredd | 74 | Card programs in the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific | Thredd vs Marqeta |
| SoFi Technology Solutions | 76 | Programs that want a proven US processor and a banking core | Marqeta vs SoFi Technology Solutions |
| Lithic | 79 | US card programs that want strong APIs and quick launches | Marqeta vs Lithic |
| Highnote | 77 | US platforms that want issuing and acquiring on one ledger | Marqeta vs Highnote |
| i2c | 75 | Banks that want credit and debit processing on one platform | None yet |
| Paymentology | 76 | Multi-country card programs in emerging markets | None yet |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Marqeta work in Latin America?
Marqeta says it is certified in more than 40 countries, but Pomelo has deeper regional teams in Mexico, Brazil, and the Southern Cone.
Which offers BIN sponsorship?
Pomelo offers BIN sponsorship for clients without a license.
Do Marqeta and Pomelo publish prices?
No. Both price by quote.
Sources
- The Fintech Index analysis of Marqeta and Pomelo, conducted November 2026 (As of November 10, 2026)
- Marqeta, investor relations: https://investors.marqeta.com/ (As of November 10, 2026)
- Marqeta, company site: https://www.marqeta.com/ (As of November 10, 2026)
- Pomelo, about page: https://pomelo.la/en/about-us (As of November 10, 2026)
- Pomelo, Series C announcement: https://pomelo.la/en/blog/pomelo-series-c-round (As of November 10, 2026)