Review

Money transfer

N26 review: plans, currency conversion and ATM fees

N26 review: a euro bank account for listed European countries. EU plans: free Standard to EUR 16.90 Metal; non-euro cash costs 1.7% on Standard (Sep 2026).

Last checked:

Best for

  • Residents of N26’s listed countries who want a free euro account with deposit protection
  • Travelers who pay by card in other currencies and want no foreign-transaction fee on any plan
  • People who send SEPA and Instant SEPA transfers often

Choose something else if

  • If you need balances in several currencies, a multi-currency account such as Wise or Revolut fits better than euro-only N26.
  • If your country of residence is not on N26’s list, pick a provider that opens accounts in your country.
  • If you often withdraw non-euro cash on the free plan, the 1.7% Standard markup adds up (EU, as of 26 Sep 2026); Go or another card is the better fit.

Key numbers

Plans
Standard free; Smart EUR 4.90, Go EUR 9.90, Metal EUR 16.90 a month
EU plans, as of 26 Sep 2026
Card payments in other currencies
No foreign-transaction fee on any plan, Mastercard rate
as of 26 Sep 2026
Non-euro cash
1.7% on Standard and Smart; no N26 markup on Go and Metal; operator fees may apply
as of 26 Sep 2026
Cards
Virtual card free; physical card EUR 10
Standard, EU, as of 26 Sep 2026
Transfers
SEPA and Instant SEPA free
as of 26 Sep 2026
Account currency
Euro only
as of 26 Sep 2026

Verdict

N26 is a euro bank account with a Mastercard debit card. It suits people who live in a country on N26’s residence list (selected European countries, including Switzerland) and want a free or low-cost euro account with no fee on card payments in other currencies. Eligible deposits are covered by deposit protection.

EU plans (as of 26 Sep 2026): Standard is free, Smart costs EUR 4.90, Go EUR 9.90 and Metal EUR 16.90 a month. On Standard the virtual card is free and a physical card costs EUR 10. Card payments in other currencies carry no foreign-transaction fee on any plan and use the Mastercard rate. Cash in a currency other than euro costs 1.7% on Standard and Smart, with no N26 markup on Go and Metal; ATM operators may charge separately. SEPA and Instant SEPA transfers are free.

The main limitation: N26 holds euros only, so it is the wrong tool for keeping balances in several currencies. Eligibility follows your country of residence, and not every EEA country is on the list.

Card and payments

Type
Virtual + physical
Custody
Not applicable
KYC
Required
Apple Pay
Yes
Google Pay
Yes

What it costs you

Prices for N26 depend on where your account is registered. Enter your trip to see the total in fees.

Enter foreign-currency amounts at their value in EUR.

Assumes a euro card used in another currency outside Europe, so payments and cash are converted.

For this trip N26 Smart is cheapest: about 10.00 EUR; N26 Standard costs 15.10 EUR.

  1. 1
    N26 SmartCheapestEEA (euro account) · Review

    Trip total: 10.00 EUR

    Per month: 10.00 EUR

    Exchange
    0.00 EUR
    ATM
    5.10 EUR
    Plan
    4.90 EUR
    Card
    0.00 EUR

    card delivery extra

    Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source

  2. 2
    N26 StandardEEA (euro account) · Review

    Trip total: 15.10 EUR

    Per month: 15.10 EUR

    Exchange
    0.00 EUR
    ATM
    5.10 EUR
    Plan
    0.00 EUR
    Card
    10.00 EUR

    Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source

Open the full travel card cost calculator

Key fees by region

  • EEA (euro account) · N26 Standard

    No N26 fee on card payments abroad; 1.7% on non-euro cash; physical card EUR 10.

    Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source

  • EEA (euro account) · N26 Smart

    EUR 4.90 a month; no N26 fee on card payments abroad; 1.7% on non-euro cash.

    Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source

How it works

  • Euro account and Mastercard; IBAN country depends on the account market
  • Card purchases use the applicable Mastercard conversion rate
  • Virtual card on Standard; optional physical card has an issue charge

Pros

  • Eligible bank deposits have deposit-scheme protection
  • No foreign-transaction fee on card payments on any plan (Mastercard rate, as of 26 Sep 2026)

Cons

  • Not a multi-currency balance account
  • Not offered in every EEA country

Alternatives

Wise

Money transfer

Multi-currency account and card with transparent conversion pricing.

  • Travelers who spend in several currencies and want a clear conversion fee
  • Freelancers receiving and converting international payments
Last checked:
ReviewCheck terms

Revolut

Money transfer

All-in-one money app with multi-currency cards, transfers, crypto and travel extras.

  • Travelers wanting one app for cards, FX and extras
  • People who stay within the free FX and ATM allowances
Last checked:
ReviewCheck terms

Deel

Money transfer

Global contractor-payment platform with bank, card, e-wallet and stablecoin withdrawals.

  • Contractors whose clients already use Deel
  • Remote workers who want a stablecoin payout option
Last checked:
ReviewCheck terms

Head-to-head comparisons

N26 vs RevolutN26 vs Wise

Related next steps

Money transfer comparisonRelated next stepsFX fee calculatorRelated next stepsTravel money hubRelated next steps

FAQ

Who can open an N26 account?

Residents of the countries on N26’s official residence list: selected European countries, including Switzerland, and not every EEA country. The deciding factor is the country where you live, so living in the EEA is not enough on its own: your country has to be on the current list on N26’s support page “Can I open an N26 account in my country?” when you apply. Opening an account also requires an identity check.

Is N26 a multi-currency account?

No. N26 is a euro (EUR) account and holds no balances in other currencies. You can still pay by card in other currencies: N26 charges no foreign-transaction fee on any plan and converts at the Mastercard rate. To hold USD, GBP or other balances, use a multi-currency account alongside it.

What is N26’s currency conversion fee?

For card payments in other currencies (as of 26 Sep 2026) N26 adds no fee on any plan and uses the Mastercard exchange rate. For cash in a currency other than euro, N26 adds 1.7% on Standard and Smart and no markup on Go and Metal; the ATM operator may charge its own fee. Example: withdrawing the equivalent of EUR 200 in another currency on Standard costs EUR 3.40 in N26 markup.

How much does N26 cost?

EU plans (as of 26 Sep 2026): Standard is free, Smart costs EUR 4.90, Go EUR 9.90 and Metal EUR 16.90 a month. On Standard the virtual card is free and an optional physical card costs EUR 10. SEPA and Instant SEPA transfers are free.

Sources

  1. N26 foreign transaction fees — n26.com
  2. N26 deposit protection — support.n26.com
  3. N26 Crypto — n26.com
  4. N26 supported residence countries — support.n26.com
  5. N26 cash withdrawal conditions — support.n26.com
  6. N26 Standard virtual and physical cards — support.n26.com
  7. N26 Instant SEPA pricing and participation — support.n26.com
  8. N26 EU plan comparison — n26.com
  9. N26 card payments abroad — support.n26.com

Fees and terms change, so check the provider’s current price page before you sign up. How we compare