N26 vs Revolut vs Wise: Which EU Digital Bank Is Best in 2025?
The rise of digital banking has transformed how Europeans manage their money. N26, Revolut, and Wise are three of the most popular fintech platforms in the EU, each offering a unique set of features, fees, and benefits. But which one is right for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we break down everything you need to know to make the best choice for your financial needs.
Quick Overview
N26 is a fully licensed German digital bank founded in 2013. It offers a complete mobile banking experience with a real IBAN, debit card, and a range of personal finance tools. N26 is regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Revolut was founded in London in 2015 and has grown into one of Europe's most feature-rich fintech platforms. It offers banking, currency exchange, stock trading, crypto, and more. Revolut received a full EU banking license in Lithuania in 2021, giving European users added protection.
Wise (formerly TransferWise) was founded in 2011 with a laser focus on international money transfers and multi-currency accounts. It is not a full bank but operates as a licensed financial institution regulated across multiple jurisdictions including the EU.
1. Account Opening: Which Is Easiest to Set Up?
N26 offers a smooth, fully digital onboarding process that takes around 8 minutes. You verify your identity via video call or ID scan, and your account is typically approved within one business day. N26 is available in most EU and EEA countries.
Revolut has one of the fastest onboarding experiences in the industry. Sign up takes just a few minutes via the app, with ID verification completed through an automated photo scan. Accounts are usually active within hours.
Wise account opening is equally straightforward. You sign up online or via the app, verify your identity with a photo ID, and your account is ready within one business day. Wise is available in over 160 countries.
Winner: Revolut — fastest onboarding with near-instant account activation.
2. Fees: Which Is the Most Affordable?
N26 offers a free basic account with no monthly fee, no foreign transaction fees on card payments, and free ATM withdrawals up to a limit. Premium plans — N26 Smart, You, and Metal — range from €4.90 to €16.90 per month and include additional perks like travel insurance and higher ATM limits.
Revolut also offers a free standard plan with basic features. Paid plans — Plus, Premium, and Metal — range from €3.99 to €13.99 per month. The free plan has limits on fee-free currency exchange and ATM withdrawals, with a fair usage fee applied beyond those limits.
Wise does not charge a monthly fee for its standard account. It charges a small, transparent fee for currency conversions based on the mid-market exchange rate, typically between 0.35% and 1%. ATM withdrawals are free up to £200 or equivalent per month, with a 1.75% fee beyond that.
Winner: Wise — most transparent and affordable fee structure, especially for international transfers.
3. International Transfers: Who Sends Money Best?
N26 supports SEPA transfers within the EU for free and international transfers via a partnership with Wise. Transfer fees and exchange rates depend on the destination and currency.
Revolut offers currency exchange at the interbank rate during weekday hours for free up to a monthly limit, with a 0.5% markup on weekends. International transfers are available in 29 currencies and are generally fast and affordable.
Wise is the undisputed leader in international money transfers. It uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no hidden markups, supports transfers in over 50 currencies, and delivers funds faster than most traditional banks. Wise is consistently rated as the cheapest and most transparent option for sending money abroad.
Winner: Wise — the best platform for international transfers by a significant margin.
4. Currency Accounts: Which Supports the Most Currencies?
N26 operates primarily in euros and does not offer multi-currency accounts. It is best suited for users whose primary currency is EUR.
Revolut offers multi-currency accounts supporting over 30 currencies. You can hold, exchange, and spend in multiple currencies from a single account, making it excellent for frequent travelers and international businesses.
Wise offers a powerful multi-currency account supporting over 50 currencies. You can hold money in multiple currencies simultaneously, receive payments with local bank details in 10+ currencies, and convert between currencies at the mid-market rate.
Winner: Wise — widest currency support with the most competitive exchange rates.
5. Debit Card: Which Card Is Most Useful?
N26 provides a free Mastercard debit card with every account. The card works worldwide with no foreign transaction fees and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. Premium cardholders receive a metal card with additional travel perks.
Revolut offers a free Visa or Mastercard with its standard plan, with premium metal cards available on higher-tier plans. The card supports contactless payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and has no foreign transaction fees within fair usage limits.
Wise provides a Visa debit card that lets you spend in over 150 currencies at the real exchange rate. It's one of the best travel cards available, with low conversion fees and wide global acceptance.
Winner: Wise — best for international spending due to real exchange rates and wide currency support.
6. Savings and Investment Features
N26 offers a Spaces feature that lets you create sub-accounts for saving toward specific goals. N26 also offers a savings account with competitive interest rates for premium users, though investment features are limited.
Revolut is the most feature-rich platform for savings and investments. It offers savings vaults with competitive interest rates, commission-free stock trading, cryptocurrency buying and selling, and commodities trading. Revolut is essentially a financial super-app.
Wise does not currently offer savings accounts or investment features. Its focus remains on payments and currency management rather than wealth building.
Winner: Revolut — by far the most comprehensive platform for savings and investments.
7. Security: Which Is the Safest?
N26 is a fully licensed bank regulated by BaFin. Customer deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme, making it the safest option for storing larger sums of money. It offers instant transaction notifications, card freezing, and two-factor authentication.
Revolut holds an EU banking license through its Lithuanian subsidiary, meaning European customer deposits are also protected up to €100,000. It offers advanced security features including disposable virtual cards, location-based security, and instant card freezing.
Wise is not a bank and therefore customer funds are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes. Instead, Wise safeguards customer funds by holding them in segregated accounts with top-tier financial institutions. It is regulated by multiple financial authorities across the EU and UK.
Winner: N26 and Revolut — both offer full EU deposit protection up to €100,000.
8. Customer Support: Who Responds Fastest?
N26 offers in-app chat support and email support. Response times can be slow for non-premium users, and phone support is limited. Premium account holders receive priority customer service.
Revolut provides 24/7 in-app chat support for all users, with priority support for premium subscribers. Response times are generally fast, though complex issues may take longer to resolve.
Wise offers email and in-app support, with phone support available in select regions. Response times are generally good and the support team is knowledgeable about international payment issues.
Winner: Revolut — 24/7 support available to all users regardless of plan.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | N26 | Revolut | Wise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Full Bank | Full Bank (EU) | Payment Institution |
| Monthly Fee | Free / €4.90–€16.90 | Free / €3.99–€13.99 | Free |
| Currencies Supported | EUR primarily | 30+ | 50+ |
| International Transfers | Via Wise partnership | Yes (29 currencies) | Yes (50+ currencies) |
| Deposit Protection | Yes (€100,000) | Yes (€100,000) | No (safeguarded) |
| Investment Features | Limited | Stocks, Crypto | None |
| Best For | EU banking | All-in-one finance | International transfers |
| Customer Support | Limited | 24/7 | Good |
Final Verdict: Which EU Digital Bank Is Best?
The best platform depends entirely on your needs and lifestyle.
Choose N26 if you want a straightforward, fully licensed digital bank for everyday EU banking, you prefer a clean and simple mobile banking experience, and you value deposit protection and regulatory security above all else.
Choose Revolut if you want an all-in-one financial super-app, you need multi-currency accounts and competitive exchange rates, you want to invest in stocks and crypto alongside your banking, and you travel frequently across multiple countries.
Choose Wise if you regularly send money internationally or receive payments from abroad, you need a multi-currency account with the best exchange rates, and you want the most transparent and affordable fee structure for cross-border payments.
Many savvy users choose to use two or even all three platforms together — N26 for their primary EU banking, Revolut for travel and investments, and Wise for international transfers. This combination gives you the best of all three worlds.
This article is for informational purposes only. Fee structures, features, and regulations may change over time. Always refer to the official websites of N26 (n26.com), Revolut (revolut.com), and Wise (wise.com) for the most current information.
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