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N26 vs Revolut

A side-by-side comparison of N26 and Revolut — fees, FX, ATM access, cashback, custody, availability and travel use — so you can pick the right one or run both as backups.

N26

Licensed German mobile bank with fee-free card spending abroad and deposit protection.

Overall: 4/5Fees: 5/5Travel: 5/5
Revolut

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

Overall: 5/5Fees: 5/5Travel: 4/5
AttributeN26Revolut
Best forEU residents wanting a real bank with no-FX card spendingOne-app travel money with FX and extras
AvailabilityRegion-dependentRegion-dependent
TypeVirtual + physicalVirtual + physical
KYCRequiredRequired
FXNo foreign-transaction fee on card payments (Mastercard rate) on all plansInterbank rate within a monthly fair-usage allowance (about 1,000 in base currency on Standard), then a fair-usage fee on the excess (≈1% in the UK/EU, 0.5% in the US); a 1% weekend markup can apply outside FX-market hours on some currencies
ATMLimited free withdrawals by plan and country; non-Eurozone ATM withdrawals add 1.7% on Standard/Smart (no FX fee on Go/Metal)Free up to a monthly allowance (region and plan dependent, e.g. EUR 200 or USD 800), then about 2%
MonthlyStandard free; Smart, Go and Metal tiers roughly EUR 4.90–16.90 per monthStandard plan free; Plus, Premium, Metal and Ultra tiers carry recurring fees
CashbackSome paid tiers add perks or partner offers; not used as a ranking factorSome paid plans and card promotions offer cashback or perks; not used as a ranking factor
Apple PayYesYes
Google PayYesYes

Choose N26 if

  • EU residents who want a real bank with no-FX card spending
  • People who value deposit protection over multi-currency holding

Choose Revolut if

  • Travelers wanting one app for cards, FX and extras
  • People who stay within the free FX and ATM allowances

Related next steps

Not financial advice. Fees, availability and terms change — confirm current official terms with each provider before signing up.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, N26 or Revolut?

It depends on how you spend. Compare the FX, ATM and monthly fees in the table for your real usage, and remember cashback and rewards only help if you actually redeem them.

Can I use both together?

Often yes. Many travelers keep one as the primary option and the other as a backup rail, which protects you if one has an outage, a block or a regional limit.

Is either a full bank replacement?

Treat both as specialized tools, not insured bank accounts. Keep emergency funds and a backup card from a separate provider.