N26 Alternatives 2026: Banks Like N26, by Country

The best N26 alternative depends on where you live, because N26 itself only opens accounts in a fixed list of European countries. In the eurozone, Revolut and bunq are the closest like-for-like swaps: both are app-first licensed banks with €100,000 deposit protection. If what you used N26 for was spending and receiving in other currencies, Wise is the stronger tool, though it is an e-money account rather than a bank. In the UK, where N26 closed every account in April 2020, Monzo and Starling are the nearest equivalents. In the US, where N26 stopped serving customers in January 2022, the closest match is a fee-free app such as Chime. This guide matches each alternative to the reason you are leaving.

Why People Look for an N26 Alternative

Most searches for "banks like N26" come from one of four situations, and each one points to a different answer.

• You cannot open N26 where you live. N26's own support page lists the countries where you can open an account: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (not for residents of the overseas departments and territories), Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (N26 support, read 7 November 2026). The UK and the US are not on it.
• N26 left your market. UK accounts were closed on 15 April 2020 after Brexit meant N26 could no longer serve the UK under its EU licence (TechCrunch, 11 February 2020). In the US, N26 said its service "will no longer be available to customers in the US after January 11, 2022" (N26 press release, 18 November 2021).
• You want more currencies. N26 is a euro account. If you are paid in pounds or dollars, or send money abroad often, a multi-currency account fits better.
• You want a different price or feature set. Some people outgrow the free plan; others want joint accounts, local IBANs in another country, or investing in the same app.

Before you switch, it is worth knowing what you are comparing against.

What N26 Offers Today (the Baseline)

These are the figures on N26's own plan page, read on 7 November 2026 (n26.com/en-eu/plans).

N26 lists worldwide card payments as free on all four plans, and deposit protection of up to €100,000 on every plan. N26 Bank SE is a licensed German bank. That combination — a free euro account, free card payments abroad and a full banking licence — is the bar any alternative has to clear. For the full picture, read our N26 review.

N26 Alternatives Compared

Sources for every row are linked in the sections below. Plans and prices change; check the provider's own page before you open anything.

Revolut: the Closest All-Round Swap

If you liked N26 because it is an app-first bank, Revolut is the nearest like-for-like choice for most Europeans. For customers in the EEA it operates as Revolut Bank UAB, authorised by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Lithuania, so eligible deposits are protected up to €100,000 — the same ceiling as N26. Where Revolut differs is breadth: it adds multi-currency balances, investing and a long list of extras on top of the current account.

The catch is the exchange allowance. Revolut does not charge every currency conversion the same way on every plan; on the free UK Standard plan, the allowance was £1,000 a month before a 1% fair usage fee, when we last checked Revolut's fee page on 30 September 2026. N26 has no equivalent cap on card payments in other currencies. If you mostly spend in euros, that difference will not matter; if you travel a lot on the free plan, it might. Our Revolut vs N26 comparison goes through the plans side by side.

bunq: Best for Local IBANs and Sub-Accounts

bunq is a Dutch bank regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank, so eligible deposits are protected up to €100,000. What sets it apart, according to bunq's site as recorded in our bunq review on 30 September 2026, is plumbing that matters to people who move around Europe: up to 25 accounts, each with its own IBAN, and local IBANs from the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland and Italy.

That last point is the practical one. Some landlords, employers and utilities still refuse an IBAN from another country even though EU rules say they should accept it (what to say when an IBAN is refused). A local IBAN removes the argument. If you are moving within Europe and N26 is not available in your new country, bunq is worth checking first.

Wise: Best if You Need More Than Euros

Wise is a different kind of product, and that is the point. It is not a bank: Wise says it "safeguards your money and will never lend it out", that customer money is held separately from its own, and that it is authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (Wise safety page, read 7 November 2026). There is no deposit-guarantee scheme behind the balance, so it complements a bank account rather than replacing one.

What it does better than N26 is everything involving other currencies. Wise's pricing page, read on 7 November 2026, lists registration and holding money as free, account details to receive money in 22 currencies, receiving domestic (non-Swift) payments as free in nine currencies including EUR, GBP and USD, and currency conversion "from 0.24%" at the mid-market rate (wise.com pricing). For anyone paid in one currency and living in another, that is a gap N26's euro-only account does not fill. Our Wise review covers the details, and if you already hold Revolut, see how to move money from Revolut to Wise.

Monzo and Starling: the UK Answer

Because N26 has not served UK customers since 2020, UK residents searching for an N26 alternative need a UK bank. Monzo and Starling are the two app-first banks most often compared with N26. Both hold UK banking licences, which means eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, now up to £120,000 per person per firm (FSCS, read 7 November 2026).

Monzo is the pick for budgeting tools and everyday spending; Starling tends to suit sole traders and people who want a business account from the same provider. See our Monzo review and Starling review for what each one charges.

Chime: the US Answer

N26's US service ended in January 2022, so US residents need a US provider. The closest match to N26's free, app-only model is a fee-free neobank such as Chime. Chime describes itself as "a financial technology company, not a bank"; banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, and Chime itself is not FDIC-insured (Chime, read 7 November 2026). Its SpotMe feature covers card transactions and cash withdrawals up to $200 with no overdraft fees for eligible members. Chime is open to US residents only. Our best US neobanks guide compares it with SoFi and Ally.

If You Used N26 for Freelance or Business Income

Some people opened N26 to keep freelance income separate. If that is you, compare dedicated business accounts rather than another personal one. Vivid Business offers a business account with a German IBAN for small and medium companies, the self-employed and freelancers, which is the closest fit for someone leaving an N26 account they used for work. Our best business neobanks guide covers the wider field, including options for UK and US companies.

How to Choose in Five Questions

1. Where do you live? UK residents: Monzo or Starling. US residents: a US neobank such as Chime. Everyone else in N26's country list can use N26 itself or any EEA alternative.
2. Do you need a deposit guarantee on the main balance? Choose a licensed bank (Revolut in the EEA, bunq, Monzo, Starling, N26) for your salary and savings. Wise is safeguarded, not guaranteed.
3. How many currencies do you use? Mostly euros: bunq or Revolut. Several currencies, or income in one and rent in another: add Wise.
4. Do you need a local IBAN? If an employer or landlord rejects a foreign IBAN, bunq's local IBANs solve it.
5. What do you actually pay for? Compare plans on the features you use, not the list. Paying €9.90 a month for travel perks you never use is the most common way an app bank becomes expensive.

Not sure where you fit? Our short which account do I need tool and the European banks directory are good next steps.

Common Mistakes When Leaving N26

• Closing N26 before the new account works. Move your salary, direct debits and card subscriptions first, then close.
• Treating an e-money account as a bank. Wise and similar accounts are useful, but your emergency fund belongs where a deposit guarantee applies. Our neobank safety guide explains the difference.
• Ignoring plan limits. Free plans often cap ATM withdrawals or currency exchange. Check the cap that applies to how you spend.
• Assuming availability. Every provider decides which countries it serves, and that list changes. N26's own exits from the UK and US show how quickly it can happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to N26?

For most people in the eurozone, Revolut or bunq: both are licensed banks with €100,000 deposit protection and an app-first experience. If you need several currencies, pair either with Wise. In the UK choose Monzo or Starling; in the US, a US neobank such as Chime.

Which banks are like N26?

App-only banks with a full licence: Revolut (Revolut Bank UAB in the EEA), bunq in the Netherlands, and Monzo and Starling in the UK. Wise is similar to use but is an e-money account, not a bank.

Is N26 available in the UK?

No. N26 closed UK accounts on 15 April 2020, and the UK is not on N26's current list of countries where you can open an account.

Is N26 available in the US?

No. N26 said its service would no longer be available to US customers after 11 January 2022.

Is Revolut better than N26?

It depends on use. Revolut offers more features and currencies; N26 has no monthly cap on card payments in other currencies and a simpler product. Our Revolut vs N26 comparison has the detail.

Is my money as safe with an N26 alternative?

With a licensed bank, eligible deposits are protected up to the national limit: €100,000 in the EEA, £120,000 under the FSCS in the UK, and FDIC cover through partner banks in the US. Money in an e-money account such as Wise is safeguarded, not covered by a deposit guarantee.

This is general information, not financial advice. Availability, prices and protection depend on where you live and change over time; check each provider's own terms before opening an account. Some links on this page are affiliate links, disclosed where they appear.