Lithic
Card Issuing & Payments Infrastructure
Best For
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card
Core Fee
B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card p
Settlement
99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtu
Sardine
Fraud Prevention & Compliance Platform — Enterprise Service
Best For
Fintechs, crypto exchanges, and financial institutions wanting real-ti
Core Fee
B2B enterprise pricing; varies based on transaction volume,
Settlement
Real-time fraud scoring; behavioral analytics; instant risk
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
| Audit Criterion | Lithic | Sardine |
|---|---|---|
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars) |
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| Cost Structure & Fees | ||
Transaction FeesPer-transfer costs, domestic & international |
B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features | B2B enterprise pricing; varies based on transaction volume, integration scope, and services required |
FX / Conversion SpreadMarkup above mid-market exchange rate |
Lithic charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Sardine charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Account MaintenanceMonthly or annual account-keeping charges |
Custom/tiered pricing — Lithic's fee structure depends on your account tier or usage volume.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
Custom/tiered pricing — Sardine's fee structure depends on your account tier or usage volume.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
Card Issuance FeesVirtual and physical card creation costs |
Lithic offers virtual and physical cards.
Check the Lithic app under card settings for current issuance fees.
Check Lithic app for current card fees |
Sardine does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Sardine app for current card fees |
| Settlement Speed & Reliability | ||
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time |
Lithic
99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtu
VS
Sardine
Real-time fraud scoring; behavioral analytics; instant risk
Both platforms offer comparable settlement speeds.
|
|
Cross-Border SpeedInternational corridor settlement time |
Lithic supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Sardine supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Uptime / ReliabilityReported annual platform availability rate |
Lithic publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Lithic status page for incident history |
Sardine publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Sardine status page for incident history |
| Security & Regulatory Standing | ||
Regulatory LicensesGoverning bodies and jurisdictions |
Enterprise-grade security; scalable infrastructure; 99.99% uptime; supports unlimited card creation; multi-campaign management
✓ Licensed |
Enterprise-grade security; SOC 2 compliant; advanced fraud detection algorithms; supports compliance with regulatory requirements
✓ Licensed |
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme |
Lithic holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Lithic |
Sardine holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Sardine |
2FA & AuthenticationMulti-factor security implementation |
Lithic supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Sardine supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Fraud DetectionAI/ML-powered transaction monitoring |
Lithic employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
Sardine employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
| Features, Limits & Access | ||
Ideal Use CasePrimary audience and core value proposition |
Lithic
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
Sardine
Fintechs, crypto exchanges, and financial institutions wanting real-time fraud detection, AML compliance, and risk management
|
|
Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category |
Card Issuing & Payments Infrastructure | Fraud Prevention & Compliance Platform — Enterprise Service |
Withdrawal LimitsDaily / weekly transfer and cash-out caps |
Lithic withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits |
Sardine withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits |
Supported CurrenciesFiat and digital asset coverage |
Lithic supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Lithic official site for full currency list |
Sardine supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Sardine official site for full currency list |
| User Experience & Support | ||
App Store RatingAggregate iOS + Android user satisfaction |
Lithic app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Sardine app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Customer SupportAvailable resolution pathways and SLA |
Lithic offers support through its help centre and official contact channels.
Check Lithic help centre for current support options |
Sardine routes support through its official help channels. Priority queue access varies by plan.
Check Sardine help centre for current support options |
KYC Verification SpeedAccount activation timeline post-submission |
Lithic KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Lithic app |
Sardine KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Sardine app |
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation |
Lithic WINS with 4/5 stars vs 3/5.
Why: Lithic excels at Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance. It also has a simpler fee structure (B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volu...). ✓ Choose Lithic if Fintechs and businesses wanting to launc ➜ Sardine is still solid for Fintechs, crypto exchanges, and financia |
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Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees |
Visit Lithic ↗ | Visit Sardine ↗ |
WealthBlueprint Verdict Summary
Lithic — Best For
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
✓ Strong in its core category
Sardine — Best For
Fintechs, crypto exchanges, and financial institutions wanting real-time fraud detection, AML compliance, and risk management
✓ Strong in its core category
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