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Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team

bunq vs N26

bunq scores 8.9 and N26 9.1 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
bunq

bunq

8.9/10
Visit
N26

N26

Higher score in this comparison

9.1/10
Visit

bunq vs N26: the differences

bunq vs N26
ComparebunqbunqReviewVisitVisitN26N26ReviewVisitVisit
Headline rate3.01%Higher0.3% to 1.5%
Access termsWithdraw any amount free up to 2 times a month, rising to 3 free monthly withdrawals after 12 months; interest paid weekly100% flexible: deposit and withdraw any amount, whenever you want

Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Deposit protection (EU DGS up to EUR 100,000), Monthly fee (€0), Account kind (Easy access).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • N26 scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
  • Founded is lower at bunq: 2012 vs 2013.
  • bunq is licensed in 6 more countries.
  • N26 is available in 14 more countries.
  • Headline rate is higher at bunq: 3.01% vs 0.3% to 1.5%.
  • Support channels: only N26 offers Phone.
  • Pricing model: only N26 offers Low FX.

Our verdict on each

bunq

bunq suits savers who want an easy-access euro account that costs nothing to keep and pays a variable rate with weekly interest, protected by an EU guarantee. The rate of 3.01% is solid rather than remarkable, and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.

Read the full bunq review

N26

N26 suits people who want banking costs to stay flat and who move money across currencies often: the monthly fee is €0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%. It is aimed at expats, travelers, students and teens, and savings sit alongside the everyday account.

Read the full N26 review

Score breakdown

bunq vs N26
AreabunqN26
Cost9.1Monthly fee of €0 on a no monthly fee account, with a currency conversion fee of 3% on the free plan.9.4HigherFees of €0 monthly and 0% to convert sit at position 1 of 500 and 1 of 312.
Offer9.1Rate of 3.01% that is variable, close to the savings median of 3%.9.5HigherAimed at expats, travelers and student, holding from 35 currencies, with a joint account, digital-only service and easy-access savings.
Trust8.7Higher8.5

How they place

bunq vs N26
RankingbunqN26
Savings accounts6 of 142022 of 1420
Student, teen and kids accounts3 of 2736 of 273
Online banks3 of 4029 of 402

Every fact side by side

bunq vs N26
FactbunqN26
Pricing modelNo monthly feeNo monthly fee, Low FXCovers more
Legal entitybunq B.V.N26 Bank SE
HeadquartersNetherlandsGermany
Founded2012Lower2013
Support channelsEmail, Chat, Help centreEmail, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more

Everyday accounts

bunq vs N26
FactbunqN26
Currency conversion fee3%0%Lower
CurrenciesNot confirmedfrom 35
AudienceExpats, Travelers, Business, StudentExpats, Travelers, Student, Teen
FeaturesJoint account, Digital onlyFree ATM, Joint account, Digital onlyCovers more
Local account detailsIBANIBAN
Free ATM withdrawalsNot confirmed€2
Transfer feeNot confirmedFree: no extra charge for Wise-powered international transfers; MoneyBeam domestic transfers free

Money transfer

bunq vs N26
FactbunqN26
Exchange rate markupNot confirmed0%
Delivery timeNot confirmedInstant to 1 business day
Payout methodsNot confirmedBank, Card
Fee to send 1,000Not confirmed€0

Where each stands against the rest

bunq vs N26
FactbunqN26Median
Headline rate3.01%below the median0.3% to 1.5%lowest quarter3.25%
Monthly fee€0at the median€0at the median€0

Median across 658 listed accounts.

Pros and cons

bunq

Pros

  • The monthly fee is €0 and the pricing model is no monthly fee, so keeping the account open costs nothing each month.
  • Interest is paid weekly and the rate type is variable, so money keeps earning between withdrawals without a term to serve out.
  • Balances are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so there is a payout route if the provider fails.

Cons

  • The rate type is variable, so the return follows the base rate and the account ranks 240 of 473 brands on the headline rate.
  • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, which leaves phone callers with a narrower route in.
  • Features list joint account and digital only, so the service is digital only and there is no branch counter.

N26

Pros

  • Deposits are protected through EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, with N26 Bank SE supervised by BaFin in Germany.
  • The savings pot is easy access and fully flexible, so deposits and withdrawals happen in any amount, whenever you want.
  • Support is broad for an app-based bank, running on email, chat and phone.

Cons

  • The savings rate is variable and sits at 0.3% to 1.5%, below the 3% median across savings accounts on the site.
  • Local payment details run on iban, so UK sort codes and US ACH numbers are not part of the standard setup.

Who each suits

bunq

Who it suits

  • People who want an easy-access euro account that pays interest weekly and costs nothing to hold.
  • Travellers and expats, part of the expats, travelers and business bunq targets, who convert currency and want a local IBAN.
  • Students and savers who value EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 over a higher rate.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone chasing a top fixed rate, since 24.19% at plazo pays far more.
  • Customers who need a phone helpline, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
  • Anyone wanting a branch counter, because features list joint account and digital only and the service is digital only.

N26

Who it suits

  • Expats, travelers, students and teens who want spending and savings in the same app, with from 35 currencies to hold.
  • Readers who move money across borders, since transfers arrive in Instant to 1 business day and pay out to a bank account or a card.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Pixpay FR, because its monthly fee of €3.99 suits readers who will put regular use through the account rather than those who want a fee-free everyday account.
  • bunq Spain Bank Account, because a currency conversion fee of 3% suits readers banking mainly in euros and converting rarely.

Current offers

N26

Current offer

  • Bonus

    1% travel cashback: 1% cashback for up to 12 months on qualifying Mastercard transactions outside the EEA, Switzerland and the UK

    N26 Go and Metal customers only; enrolment required via in-app message, email or push notification; up to 12 months

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

bunq vs N26
CountrybunqN26
AustriaNoYes
DenmarkNoYes
EstoniaNoYes
FinlandNoYes
GreeceNoYes
IcelandNoYes
LiechtensteinNoYes
LuxembourgNoYes

8 of 21 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

bunq

What does bunq charge to keep a savings account?+

The monthly fee is €0 and the account is priced on a no monthly fee basis, so there is no recurring charge to keep it open. The one cost to watch when you spend abroad is currency conversion at 3% on the free plan. Interest is still paid weekly with no fee deducted.

How much interest does the account pay?+

The rate is 3.01% and the rate type is variable, so the figure follows the base rate instead of being fixed to a term. Across the savings accounts on the site, the median headline rate is 3%, which puts bunq near the middle. Interest is credited weekly rather than monthly.

N26

What does N26 cost to keep open each month?+

The everyday account is free to run: the monthly fee is €0, and N26 sits at position 1 of 500 brands on that column. Spending, savings and support all sit in the same app, so holding the account costs nothing to maintain.

How much does it cost to convert or send money abroad?+

Foreign currency conversion costs 0%, and the exchange rate margin is 0%. The transfer fee is free: no extra charge is added to Wise-powered international transfers, and MoneyBeam domestic transfers are free. That keeps the cost of moving money abroad close to nothing.

Other options to compare

bunq

Visit

N26

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