Every European neobanks and digital bank reviewed
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Free plan plus paid personal tiers, up to €18.99 a month (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: People who want a Dutch-licensed bank in one app, with a personal account and a business account side by side
bunq is a bank with a Dutch banking licence that sells four personal plans, from a free tier up to €18.99 a month, and keeps a business account in the same app. Against Chime, the first difference is the legal form: Chime says it is a fintech and not a bank, with The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank holding the deposits, while bunq holds the money itself and states Deposit Guarantee Scheme cover up to €100,000 per depositor.
The privacy statement names bunq B.V. as controller, registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under 54992060 at Basisweg 32 in Amsterdam, and says most operational data sits on AWS servers in Frankfurt. That is a cloud run by a US provider, so a strict reviewer should read it as an EU location and not as an EU-owned stack. The plan ladder is wider than Tomorrow's, but bunq publishes no consumer overdraft like Chime's SpotMe on the pages checked.
What bunq does well
- Dutch bank with Deposit Guarantee Scheme cover up to €100,000
- Free plan plus paid tiers up to €18.99 a month
- Personal and business accounts in one app
- Dutch registration number and Amsterdam address published
Where bunq falls short
- Four personal plans to compare before choosing
- Operational data runs on a US cloud provider, albeit in Germany
- Business account needs a verified personal account first
- Regulator not named on the pages checked
Standout feature. The one account in this list that offers a Dutch banking licence, a free tier and a business account inside the same app, with a named data location in Frankfurt.
Hamburg, Germany
Now from €0 (under 21 or €500 paid in monthly), Change €8.90 a month, Plus €17.90 a month (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: Customers who want the use of their deposits to be a stated part of the product
Tomorrow is a Hamburg account provider whose selling point is where the deposits go. The vendor says no money is invested in fossil fuels or weapons, and that part of the balances finances renewable energy, social infrastructure and affordable housing. Chime has no such statement; its pages concentrate on early pay, SpotMe and cash deposits at retailers, so the two accounts answer different questions.
Tomorrow GmbH, entered in the Hamburg commercial register under HRB 146816, does not hold a banking licence. Solaris SE is the licensed institution behind the German IBAN, which resembles Chime's arrangement with partner banks, except that the partner is a European bank under the national deposit guarantee of €100,000. The free Now plan needs either an age under 21 or €500 paid in each month, and it allows one free withdrawal a month.
What Tomorrow does well
- Stated exclusion of fossil fuels and weapons
- German IBAN with deposit guarantee up to €100,000
- Free tier for under 21s or €500 monthly inflow
- Account switch service
- Sub-accounts with interest on every plan
Where Tomorrow falls short
- Free tier needs age or inflow condition
- No own banking licence, Solaris SE is the bank
- Few withdrawals on lower plans
- Narrower product range than larger app banks
Standout feature. The only account here that makes the use of customer deposits a published part of the product, with a sustainability report to check it against.
Aarhus, Denmark
Free account and digital card; Plus and Unlimited paid plans (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: Customers in Denmark who want a local bank with a free account and interest on every plan
Lunar is an Aarhus bank with a free account and digital card, plus Plus and Unlimited plans above it. The vendor says it holds its own banking licence under the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and that interest is paid on every plan. Chime's savings rate depends on the tier, with 4.00% APY only for Prime members on the page we read, so a free Lunar account paying interest is a different structure.
The legal footer names Lunar Bank A/S, CVR 39697696, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lunar Group A/S, and deposits are covered by the Danish Guarantee Fund up to EUR 100,000. Lunar's pages checked quote kroner, which makes a euro comparison with N26 or bunq a conversion exercise. The business pages mention Denmark, Sweden and Norway, so a euro-area resident outside the Nordics should confirm eligibility first.
What Lunar does well
- Own Danish banking licence, supervised by the DFSA
- Deposits covered up to EUR 100,000 by the Danish Guarantee Fund
- Free account and digital card
- Interest paid on every plan
Where Lunar falls short
- Nordic focus, not a pan-EU account
- Business plan prices are quoted in kroner
- Data location not stated on the pages checked
- Personal plan prices not checked on the pages seen
Standout feature. The Danish bank on this list that pairs its own licence from the Danish FSA with interest on every plan, including the free one.
Berlin, Germany
Standard €0, Smart €4.90, Go €9.90, Metal €16.90 a month (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: Customers who want one euro app for everyday banking, savings and small-ticket investing
N26 is a Berlin bank that the vendor says holds a BaFin licence, with funds protected to €100,000 by the German Deposit Protection Scheme. Its Standard, Smart, Go and Metal plans cost €0, €4.90, €9.90 and €16.90 a month, and the site lists 24 markets, which is the widest country list among the app banks here. Chime serves US residents only on the pages we read, so N26 is the more natural pick for a euro-area household.
Beyond the current account, N26 adds Spaces, joint accounts, cards for under 18s and stocks and ETFs from €1 through Upvest Securities GmbH. The vendor labels its Flexible Cash Fund as an investment that carries a risk of capital loss, not as a deposit. Free euro ATM withdrawals rise from 2 a month on Standard to 8 on Metal.
What N26 does well
- BaFin licence and German deposit protection to €100,000
- Free Standard account
- Joint and under 18 accounts
- Stocks and ETFs from €1
- 24 markets listed
Where N26 falls short
- Free ATM withdrawals capped per plan
- Premium benefits need paid plans
- Securities run through a partner
- Fund and crypto are not deposits
Standout feature. The app bank on this list with the longest list of markets and a stock and ETF offer from €1 inside the same account.
London, United Kingdom
Free current account; paid plans from £3, £9 and £19 a month (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: UK residents who want a full bank in an app
Monzo is a London bank, registered in England and Wales under company number 09446231, whose personal current account is free and whose FSCS cover reaches £120,000 per person according to its site. It is built for UK residents, so it replaces Chime only for people who live in the United Kingdom, a country the European Commission recognises with an adequacy decision but which sits outside the EEA.
Monzo's tools go further than a debit card: Pots, Salary Sorter that splits income across Pots, savings up to 3.65% AER variable, investments from £1 and pensions for ages 18 to 70. Paid plans start at £3, then £9 and £19 a month. Several products require a Monzo current account, and cashback of 2 to 10 percent at chosen brands is the nearest thing to Chime's rewards.
What Monzo does well
- Free current account
- FSCS cover up to £120,000
- Pots and Salary Sorter budgeting
- Savings, investments and pensions in one app
- Joint and youth accounts
Where Monzo falls short
- UK residents only
- Some products need a UK current account
- Paid plans from £3 a month
- Investment values can fall
Standout feature. The UK bank on this list that puts budgeting Pots, savings, investments and pensions behind a single free current account.
London, United Kingdom
No fees abroad from Starling; savings rates published on the site (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: UK residents who want budgeting built into the account
Starling Bank is a London bank, regulated by the FCA and authorised by the PRA, with eligible deposits protected up to £120,000 by the FSCS according to its site. Where Chime sells early pay and a cash advance, Starling sells organisation: Spaces that set money aside, and virtual debit cards that are tied to a Space so spending stays inside a budget.
Bills Manager pays bills from a ring-fenced Space and shows what is due, paid and left. The site lists a Fixed Saver at 4.20% AER and a Flexible Cash ISA at 2.50% AER, both needing a Starling current account. The pages checked name no fees abroad from Starling and no paid plan ladder, which is simpler than Monzo, but the account is for UK residents and the AI feature for spending questions is new, with its depth undocumented.
What Starling Bank does well
- Spaces linked to virtual cards
- Bills Manager
- No Starling fees abroad
- FSCS protection up to £120,000
- Personal, joint, youth and business accounts
Where Starling Bank falls short
- UK residents only
- Savings need a Starling current account
- Savings bonuses are temporary
- AI feature is new and its depth is not documented on the pages checked
Standout feature. The UK account here that ties virtual cards to ring-fenced Spaces, so a card can only spend what its Space holds.
London, United Kingdom
No monthly account fees, no minimum deposit; new customers 3.00% AER variable including a 2.00% bonus for 12 months (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: UK customers who want interest on everyday balances
Kroo is a London bank, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA under firm number 953772, whose current account pays interest on the balance. New customers get 3.00% AER variable on balances up to £500,000, which includes a fixed 2.00% bonus for 12 months, after which a tracker rate applies. Chime pays its best savings rate on a separate savings account and only for its top tier.
The account has no monthly fee and no minimum deposit, and card spending abroad carries no Kroo markup and uses Visa's exchange rate, though ATM operators may add their own fees. Savings pots, a Cash ISA and personal loans sit in the same app, with FSCS cover up to £120,000. The range is narrower than Monzo or Starling, and Kroo is for UK residents only.
What Kroo does well
- Interest on current account balances
- No monthly fees
- Fee-free card spending abroad (no Kroo markup)
- FSCS protection up to £120,000
- Cash ISA and loans in the same bank
Where Kroo falls short
- Bonus rate is for new customers and 12 months
- UK only
- Narrower feature set than larger app banks
- ATM operators may add fees
Standout feature. The only UK bank on this list that pays interest on the everyday current account itself, without a separate savings step.
Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
0 euro account and card; shares and ETFs at €1 commission, €0 custody (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: Residents of Spain wanting a no-fee online account backed by a large banking group
Openbank is Open Bank, S.A., entered in the Banco de España register under number 0073, with its address in Boadilla del Monte near Madrid. The site calls it the online bank of the Santander group and says deposits are guaranteed up to €100,000 per depositor. Chime keeps its accounts at The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank, which are partners and not parents, so a group-owned bank is a structural difference.
The account and card are advertised at 0 euro, cash withdrawals are free at more than 5,000 Santander ATMs and shares and ETFs cost €1 commission with €0 custody. A remunerated account at 3.25% TAE runs for a year when Bizum is brought over, with conditions such as minimum income on some offers. The pages are Spanish and the offers target Spain, and availability elsewhere was not verified.
What Openbank does well
- 0 euro account and card
- Deposit guarantee €100,000 per depositor
- €1 commission on shares and ETFs
- Access to Santander ATMs
- Spanish banking licence and register entry
Where Openbank falls short
- Spanish-language, Spain-focused pages
- Promotional rates have conditions
- Part of a large banking group
- Other countries not verified
Standout feature. The Spanish online bank on this list that sits inside a large banking group, with free access to its parent's ATM network.
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Free account; Welcome and Ultim cards advertised as free; Metal offer paid (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: French residents wanting a low-cost online bank with savings and brokerage
BoursoBank is the brand of Boursorama SA, registered in Nanterre under RCS 351 058 151 at Boulogne-Billancourt, formerly known as Boursorama Banque. It offers a free account and a free Welcome card with no income condition, Ultim aimed at travellers and a paid Metal offer. Chime's card tiers are not described that way, so the French bank is the easier comparison for someone who wants a free card without a payroll condition.
The savings range covers Livret A, LDDS, PEL, CEL and LEP, plus term deposits, life insurance and brokerage. EasyMove moves an existing account over, and Wicount gives a budget view. The site is French and aimed at France, and the deposit guarantee, fees abroad and parent group were not verified on the pages checked, so a prospective customer should read those terms directly.
What BoursoBank does well
- Free account and Welcome card
- Wide range of French savings accounts
- Bank switching service EasyMove
- Brokerage and insurance in the same app
- Registered French company with published RCS
Where BoursoBank falls short
- French-language, France-focused
- Premium Metal offer is paid
- Business account is a separate product
- Deposit guarantee not verified on the pages checked
Standout feature. The French online bank here that combines regulated French savings accounts, brokerage and insurance with a switching service called EasyMove.
London, United Kingdom
Pay per use, no subscription; sending from 0.24% fee depending on currency (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: People who spend, send or receive money across currencies
Wise is Wise Payments Limited, which says it is authorised by the FCA under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, firm reference 900507. That makes it an e-money institution and not a bank, a distinction the vendor draws itself, and investment services come from a separate Wise Assets entity. Chime also describes itself as not a bank, but it uses partner banks, while Wise safeguards funds under its own e-money authorisation.
The pricing page lists no subscription or plan: opening is free, money is exchanged at the mid-market rate, and sending starts from 0.24% depending on the currency. ATM withdrawals are free up to a monthly limit, 250 GBP on the UK page, and charged beyond it. No credit, mortgage or overdraft appeared on the pages checked, so Wise complements a main account more than it replaces Chime.
What Wise does well
- No subscription plans
- Mid-market exchange rate
- Multi-currency account and debit card
- FCA-authorised e-money firm
- Business version available
Where Wise falls short
- Not a bank
- Fees and ATM limits vary by country
- Wise Assets is an investment, not a deposit
- Few lending products
Standout feature. The only account in this category with no plan ladder at all, since it charges per transfer and per conversion.
Charenton-le-Pont, France
Classic €25 a year; My Nickel €25 a year plus €10; Chrome €55 a year (checked 28 October 2026)
Demo on request
Best for: People in France who want a simple account with no overdraft and an in-person opening option
Nickel is the trading name of Financière des Paiements Électroniques, a simplified joint-stock company registered in Créteil under RCS 753 886 092 with its head office in Charenton-le-Pont. The service is available in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany according to its country selector. Against Chime, it charges for the card and not for the account: Classic €25 a year, My Nickel €25 plus €10, Chrome €55 a year.
The vendor says an overdraft is not possible, because a payment is only authorised when the balance is sufficient, so no overdraft fees exist but a payment without funds is declined. That is the opposite of Chime's SpotMe, which can advance $20 up to $200 or more. An account can be opened at a Point Nickel or online, and the vendor advertises about five minutes at the counter.
What Nickel does well
- Opening in person at a Point Nickel
- Predictable annual card fee
- No overdraft fees by design
- Available in five countries
- Registered French operator
Where Nickel falls short
- Card fee from €25 a year
- Basic range, no investing
- Declined payments without funds
- Mostly French-language site
Standout feature. The account on this list that can be opened in person at a Point Nickel and cannot go into overdraft by design.
