Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
KakaoBank vs N26
N26
Higher score in this comparison
KakaoBank
KakaoBank vs N26: the differences
| Compare | KakaoBankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | N26ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | ₩0 | €0 |
| Currencies | 9 | from 35 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | ₩0 | €2 |
| Transfer fee | 0 KRW - interbank transfer and automatic transfer fees waived, plus all-bank and convenience-store ATM deposit, transfer and withdrawal fees | Free: no extra charge for Wise-powered international transfers; MoneyBeam domestic transfers free |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Local account details | Not confirmed | IBAN |
Same on both: Currency conversion fee (0%).
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Key differences
- N26 scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at N26: 2013 vs 2016.
- N26 is available in 20 more countries.
- Support channels: only N26 offers Email.
- Audience: only KakaoBank offers Business.
- Audience: only N26 offers Expats, Travelers, Student.
- Pricing model: only N26 offers Low FX.
- Features: only N26 offers Joint account.
Our verdict on each
KakaoBank
KakaoBank suits Korean residents, businesses and teens who want a fee-free everyday account run from an app, with a currency conversion fee of 0% and a variable rate of 0.1%. The 2016 bank is licensed by the Financial Services Commission (Korea), so money sits with a regulated bank rather than an e-money firm.
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.
Score breakdown
| Area | KakaoBank | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Monthly fee of KRW 0, currency conversion fee of 0% and interbank and ATM fees waived. | 9.4Fees of €0 monthly and 0% to convert sit at position 1 of 500 and 1 of 312. |
| Offer | 9.1Variable interest at 0.1% on easy access terms, 9 currencies, 1-3 days remittance. | 9.5HigherAimed at expats, travelers and student, holding from 35 currencies, with a joint account, digital-only service and easy-access savings. |
| Trust | 8.4 | 8.5Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | KakaoBank | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 408 of 1420 | 22 of 1420 |
| Money transfer services | 302 of 1564 | 11 of 1564 |
| Student, teen and kids accounts | 120 of 273 | 6 of 273 |
| Online banks | 124 of 402 | 9 of 402 |
Spending 1,000 abroad
KakaoBank
0
0% of 1,000
N26
0
0% of 1,000
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
What we checked
KakaoBank
- kakaobank.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
N26
- n26.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | KakaoBank | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Business, Teen | Expats, Travelers, Student, Teen |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more |
| Features | Free ATM, Digital only | Free ATM, Joint account, Digital onlyCovers more |
| Legal entity | KakaoBank Corp. (주)카카오뱅크 | N26 Bank SE |
| Headquarters | South Korea | Germany |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Chat | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Savings
| Fact | KakaoBank | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 0.1% | 0.3% to 1.5%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Access terms | No contract period and no deposit limit; domestic residents aged 14+; interest settled monthly and paid the following day | 100% flexible: deposit and withdraw any amount, whenever you want |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Money transfer
| Fact | KakaoBank | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Delivery time | 1-3 days | Instant to 1 business day |
| Payout methods | Bank, Cash pickup | Bank, Card |
| Fee to send 1,000 | ₩4,900 | €0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | KakaoBank | N26 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 9above the median | from 35highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
KakaoBank
Pros
- No monthly charge, with interbank, automatic transfer and all-bank ATM fees waived on transfers
- Currency conversion fee of 0%, which ranks joint top of 312 brands on cost
- Free ATM access and a digital-only service, with interest settled monthly and paid the next day
Cons
- Interest is modest, at a variable 0.1% against a 3% median
- Currencies are limited to 9, behind the 9 median for everyday accounts
- Remittances cost KRW 4,900 and take 1-3 days
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
KakaoBank
Who it suits
- Domestic residents who want everyday banking with no monthly charge
- Small businesses that need business and teen banking and frequent transfers
- Teens opening a first account at a minimum age
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone holding a single currency, since 9 is short of the 350 seen site wide
- Savings seekers, because a variable 0.1% sits well under the 3% median
- People wanting cash abroad fast, since remittances take 1-3 days and cost KRW 4,900
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
| Country | KakaoBank | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
| Finland | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Greece | No | Yes |
8 of 22 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
KakaoBank
Is there a monthly fee for a KakaoBank account?+
There is no monthly charge on the account, which ranks joint top of 500 brands on that measure. Transfers are also free: interbank and automatic transfer fees are waived, together with deposit, transfer and withdrawal fees at all-bank and convenience-store ATMs. The balance earns a variable 0.1%, settled monthly and paid the following day.
What interest does the account pay and is it fixed?+
The rate is variable at 0.1%, and it moves rather than being locked in. That is well under the 3% median across the site, and there is no notice period to serve and no cap on the balance, so money can be taken out whenever. It is a spending and payment account rather than a home for savings.
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.
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Related by the facts
N26
KakaoBank