KOHO’s fee structure depends on which plan you choose. The free Essential plan has no monthly charge and no transaction fees, but offers minimal savings interest (0.5%) and basic cashback (0.5%). Paid plans unlock higher rates, credit building, joint accounts, and on Premium, a zero FX fee. There are no NSF fees — the prepaid model declines transactions that exceed your balance instead of allowing overdraft.
KOHO Plan Fees
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $0 | $0 |
| Extra | $4 | $48 |
| Everything | $9 | $108 |
| Premium | $19 | $228 |
Full Feature & Fee Comparison by Plan
| Feature | Essential | Extra | Everything | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | $4 | $9 | $19 |
| Savings interest | 0.5% | 3.0% | 4.0% | 5.0% |
| Cashback (all purchases) | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 2% |
| Partner cashback | Up to 5% | Up to 5% | Up to 10% | Up to 10% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0% |
| Instant e-Transfer (outgoing) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Building | $7/mo add-on | Included | Included | Included |
| Joint account | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price match guarantee | No | No | No | Yes |
| ATM cash withdrawals | No | No | No | No |
| Registered accounts (TFSA/RRSP) | No | No | No | No |
| NSF fee | None (prepaid) | None | None | None |
| Overdraft | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Savings Interest: Is the Plan Worth It?
| Plan | Annual Cost | $5K Earnings | $10K Earnings | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $0 | $25 | $50 | — |
| Extra | $48 | $150 | $300 | ~$1,600 |
| Everything | $108 | $200 | $400 | ~$6,000 |
| Premium | $228 | $250 | $500 | ~$10,400 |
Break-even is the savings balance at which the plan fee is fully covered by the extra interest earned versus the free Essential plan. Extra breaks even at ~$1,600 — a low bar for most users. Everything’s $6,000 break-even is reachable for many Canadians maintaining an emergency fund or short-term savings. Premium’s $10,400 break-even is higher — users with smaller balances should also account for cashback gains and FX savings when evaluating Premium.
FX Fee: Essential/Extra/Everything vs Premium
On $5,000 in annual foreign-currency spending:
| Plan | FX Fee | Annual FX Cost | Annual Saving vs Standard Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential / Extra / Everything | 1.5% | $75 | $50–$50 (vs 2.5% cards) |
| Premium | 0% | $0 | $75–$125 (vs 1.5–2.5% cards) |
For travellers spending $5,000+ per year in foreign currencies, Premium’s 0% FX fee saves $75 in FX markup versus the 1.5% on other KOHO plans, and $125 versus a standard 2.5% bank card. This saving alone covers roughly a third of the $228 annual Premium fee on that spending level.
KOHO vs Big Five: Annual Cost Comparison
| Account | Monthly Fee | Annual Fee | Unlimited Transactions | Cashback | Savings Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOHO Essential | $0 | $0 | Yes | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| KOHO Everything | $9 | $108 | Yes | 1% | 4.0% |
| KOHO Premium | $19 | $228 | Yes | 2% | 5.0% |
| RBC Signature No Limit | $16.95 | $203 | Yes | 0% | ~0.01% |
| TD All-Inclusive | $16.95 | $203 | Yes | 0% | ~0.01% |
| CIBC Smart Account | $14.95 | $179 | Yes | 0% | ~0.01% |
At KOHO Everything ($9/month), you pay $95 less per year than a standard Big Five unlimited plan while earning 1% cashback and 4% savings interest — both of which the Big Five accounts do not provide on spending or on-deposit balances.
NSF Policy: No Fees, But Declines Happen
KOHO uses a strict prepaid model. There is no overdraft, no credit facility, and no NSF fee. If your KOHO balance is insufficient to cover a pre-authorised payment:
- The transaction is declined rather than processed
- No fee is charged by KOHO
- The merchant may retry the payment or cancel the subscription depending on their policy
The practical risk: recurring subscriptions (streaming services, gym memberships, SaaS tools) may fail and result in service interruptions if the KOHO balance is not maintained above the expected monthly total. Keeping a small buffer ($50–$100 above your regular monthly spend) mitigates this.