Banking · Decision Guide
Revolut vs N26: How They Compare for Expats
Revolut and N26 are the two most popular digital banks among European expats. Both offer app-based banking, competitive foreign exchange, and cards that work well abroad. But they've evolved differently: N26 focuses on being a straightforward bank account, while Revolut has expanded into a financial super-app with crypto, stocks, and more.
The choice often comes down to whether you want simplicity or features.
Last reviewed: January 2026
Decision-support content for research purposes. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify with official sources.
This page helps you understand the differences between Revolut and N26 for expat banking.
- How the core banking features compare
- Fee structures and pricing tiers
- Feature depth: N26's simplicity vs Revolut's super-app
- Regulatory status and deposit protection
- Which usage patterns each serves better
Compare provider options
These are examples, not recommendations. Compare options based on your specific needs.
Side-by-side comparison
High-level differences. Details vary by plan and country.
| Approach | N26: Simple banking | Revolut: Financial super-app Different product philosophies |
| Banking license | N26: German bank | Revolut: Lithuanian bank (EU) Both have EU banking licenses now |
| Deposit insurance | Both: €100k in EU Both covered by EU deposit guarantee |
| Multi-currency | N26: No | Revolut: Yes (30+ currencies) Revolut holds multiple currencies; N26 doesn't |
| Free plan limits | N26: Fewer limits | Revolut: Exchange/ATM limits Revolut free plan has monthly caps |
| Extra features | N26: Spaces | Revolut: Crypto, stocks, insurance Revolut bundles more services |
| Available in | N26: ~25 countries | Revolut: 35+ countries Revolut slightly wider availability |
Key tradeoffs
Important considerations that affect most people in this situation.
Where N26 typically works better
- • Straightforward primary bank account
- • Simpler fee structure (fewer limits to track)
- • Spaces for organized savings goals
- • Cleaner app without feature overload
- • Established EU banking reputation
Where Revolut typically works better
- • Multi-currency account holding
- • More free foreign exchange (within limits)
- • Crypto and stock trading in-app
- • Disposable virtual cards
- • Travel insurance and other add-ons
Simplicity vs features
N26 is a bank account. Revolut is a financial platform that includes a bank account. If you want straightforward banking without distractions, N26's focused approach is cleaner. If you want crypto, stocks, budgeting tools, insurance, and more in one app, Revolut consolidates them. Neither approach is better—it depends on what you want from your banking app.
Free plan structures differ
N26's free plan has fewer usage limits—no caps on exchanges or ATM withdrawals beyond a reasonable number. Revolut's free plan includes monthly limits on fee-free exchange (around €1,000) and ATM withdrawals (€200). Exceed them and fees apply. If you do moderate volume, Revolut's free plan works. Higher volume may push you to a paid plan or make N26's simpler structure appealing.
Both now have EU banking licenses
Revolut obtained its EU banking license (Lithuania) and has been migrating European customers to it. N26 has long held a German banking license. Both now offer deposit protection up to €100,000 in the EU. This was previously a differentiator favoring N26, but the gap has closed.
When N26 typically fits better
Scenarios where N26's approach works well.
- You want a simple primary bank — N26 does core banking well without pushing extra features
- Direct debits and standing orders are important — N26 handles recurring payments reliably
- You prefer fewer limits to track — N26's free plan doesn't cap exchanges or have complex tier limits
- German IBAN matters — for SEPA payments and some official purposes, a German IBAN is useful
- You find Revolut's app overwhelming — N26 is more focused, less cluttered
When Revolut typically fits better
Scenarios where Revolut's approach works well.
- You deal with multiple currencies regularly — Revolut lets you hold and exchange 30+ currencies
- You want crypto or stock access — Revolut includes trading features in-app
- Virtual cards appeal to you — Revolut makes creating disposable cards easy for online security
- You travel frequently — Revolut's travel features (insurance, lounge access on premium) are useful
- Budgeting and analytics matter — Revolut's spending insights are more detailed
Fee comparison
How costs compare across common scenarios.
- Monthly fee — N26: free to €17. Revolut: free to €14. Both have tiered plans with increasing features
- Currency exchange — N26: interbank rate, no markup on card spending. Revolut: interbank rate on weekdays within limits, 0.5-1% markup on weekends
- ATM withdrawals — N26: 3-8 free/month by plan, then €2. Revolut: €200 free/month on Standard, then 2%
- International transfers — N26 uses Wise (0.4-1%). Revolut: free within limits, fees beyond
- Card replacement — N26: free first card, €10 replacement. Revolut: varies by plan, often €5-6
Using both together
Some expats maintain both for different purposes.
- N26 for bills and salary — Use as primary account for direct debits and income
- Revolut for travel and spending — Use the Revolut card abroad and for discretionary spending
- Revolut for multi-currency — Hold client payments in original currencies until needed
- Diversification — Two accounts with different providers means backup options
- Try before committing — Free plans let you test both before deciding which fits better
Customer service considerations
Both rely primarily on in-app support.
Neither N26 nor Revolut has physical branches. Support is app-based, with varying quality reported by users. N26 offers phone support on higher tiers. Revolut has faced criticism for support responsiveness, though they've invested in improvements.
For straightforward issues, both are typically fine. For complex problems (fraud disputes, locked accounts), users report mixed experiences with both. This is a broader digital bank reality—if in-person support matters to you, neither fully provides it.
Common pitfalls
Issues that frequently catch people off guard in this area.
Common questions
Which is safer for my money?
Both now hold EU banking licenses with deposit protection up to €100,000. From a regulatory safety perspective, they're equivalent for EU customers. Revolut's EU customers are protected under Lithuanian deposit insurance; N26's under German deposit insurance. Both are solid.
Which has better exchange rates?
Both use the interbank (mid-market) rate as baseline. N26 doesn't mark up card spending. Revolut doesn't mark up weekday exchanges within limits, but adds 0.5-1% on weekends and beyond limits. For weekday transactions within limits, they're similar. N26 is more consistent; Revolut requires tracking limits.
Can I use these as my only bank?
Many expats do. Both work as primary accounts with direct debits, cards, and transfers. Considerations: neither has physical branches, support is app-based, and some official processes may want traditional banks. For most everyday needs, either works as a primary account.
Which is better for frequent travelers?
Revolut Premium/Metal includes travel insurance and airport lounge access. N26 You/Metal includes travel insurance. Revolut's multi-currency feature is useful if you visit non-Euro countries frequently. For occasional Euro-zone travel, either works. For extensive multi-currency travel, Revolut has more features.
Examples
These are examples of providers in this space, not endorsements. Options, features, and pricing change. Research current offerings before making decisions.
Next steps
Continue your research with these related guides.
Sources & references
Official Sources
- N26 website – Features and pricing
- Revolut website – Features and pricing
- European deposit insurance information – Coverage details by country
General References
- BaFin and Bank of Lithuania – Regulatory oversight
- User reviews and forums – Real-world usage experiences
Information gathered from these sources as of January 2026. Requirements and procedures may change.