N26
German mobile bank with Standard, Smart, Go and Metal plans, savings spaces and in-app investing
Quick Overview
| Company | N26 SE (bank entity N26 Bank SE) |
|---|---|
| Category | Neobanks and Digital Banks |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Germany |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Standard to Metal plans, joint account, Spaces sub-accounts, Instant Savings, stocks and ETFs from €1, crypto, travel insurance |
| Pricing | Standard €0, Smart €4.90, Go €9.90, Metal €16.90 a month (checked 28 October 2026) |
| Best For | Customers who want one euro app for everyday banking, savings and small-ticket investing |
| Replaces | Chime, Robinhood banking features, Cash App |
Detailed Review
N26 states that it holds a German banking licence from BaFin and that each customer's funds are protected up to €100,000 by the German Deposit Protection Scheme. The footer names N26 SE and the bank entity N26 Bank SE in Berlin.
Its site lists 24 markets. Plans scale from a free Standard account with a virtual card and monthly ATM withdrawals to Metal, which adds a metal card and more benefits.
Plan Ladder
Standard is free. Smart costs €4.90, Go €9.90 and Metal €16.90 a month. Free ATM withdrawals in euros rise from 2 a month on Standard to 3, 5 and 8 on the higher plans, and the higher plans add insurance and travel benefits such as a travel eSIM.
Investing is priced per trade: the vendor lists €0.90 per trade, with 3 free trades a month on Go and 10 on Metal.
Savings and Investing
Instant Savings pays interest flexibly, and the vendor says Metal customers earn 1.5 % p.a. A Flexible Cash Fund is offered on all plans; the vendor labels it as an investment that is not a deposit and carries a risk of capital loss.
Stocks and ETFs are offered from €1 through N26 Bank SE in partnership with Upvest Securities GmbH, which handles execution and custody.
Joint and Youth Accounts
N26 offers a joint account with its own IBAN and cards for under 18s with limits set by a parent. These are ordinary parts of the app rather than separate products.
Limitations to Consider
Useful extras sit behind paid plans, and the fund and crypto products are investments rather than deposits. N26 depends on a partner (Upvest) for securities execution. The pricing differs by country, so check your market before relying on these figures.
Who Should Use N26
Euro-area customers who want a single app for daily banking and occasional investing and are fine paying for a plan for extra benefits.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 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
Cons
- Free ATM withdrawals capped per plan
- Premium benefits need paid plans
- Securities run through a partner
- Fund and crypto are not deposits
Alternatives to N26
Other European neobanks and digital banks worth comparing before you decide:
bunq
Netherlands · Dutch licensed bank with four personal plans, free to €18.99
Tomorrow
Germany · Sustainable German current account from €0 with Solaris as bank
Lunar
Denmark · Danish bank with a free account, Plus and Unlimited plans
Monzo
United Kingdom · UK app bank with pots, savings, investments and pensions
See all European neobanks and digital banks or compare them directly against Chime on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The vendor states it has a German banking licence from BaFin and that deposits are protected up to €100,000 by the German scheme.
Standard is free. Smart is €4.90, Go €9.90 and Metal €16.90 a month on the vendor's EU plan page.
Yes, stocks and ETFs from €1 and crypto are offered, at €0.90 per trade with free monthly trades on Go and Metal.