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Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team

N26 vs Step

N26 scores 9.1 and Step 8.8 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
N26

N26

Higher score in this comparison

9.1/10
Visit
Step

Step

8.8/10
See alternatives

What sets them apart

N26 vs Step
CompareN26N26ReviewVisitVisitStepStepReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
Monthly fee€0$0
Deposit protectionEU DGS up to EUR 100,000FDIC up to USD 250,000
Local account detailsIBANUs ACH
Transfer feeFree: no extra charge for Wise-powered international transfers; MoneyBeam domestic transfers freeSmall fee for Instant Transfer to a linked debit card
Currency conversion fee0%Not confirmed
Currenciesfrom 35Not confirmed
Free ATM withdrawals€2Not confirmed

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 8.8.
  • Founded is lower at N26: 2013 vs 2020.
  • N26 is available in 20 more countries.
  • Local account details: only N26 offers IBAN.
  • Local account details: only Step offers Us ACH.
  • Audience: only N26 offers Expats, Travelers, Student.
  • Pricing model: only N26 offers Low FX.
  • Features: only N26 offers Joint account, Digital only.

Our verdict on each

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

Step

Step suits teens and students in the US who want a free everyday account and easy access savings, with an overall score of 6.3. Costs sit at $0 a month and savings run at 3% variable, but that rate waits on a status earned by card spending or qualifying direct deposits.

Read the full Step review

Score breakdown

N26 vs Step
AreaN26Step
Cost9.4HigherFees of €0 monthly and 0% to convert sit at position 1 of 500 and 1 of 312.9.3Monthly fee of $0 on a no monthly fee model, with free atm for ATM withdrawals.
Offer9.5HigherAimed at expats, travelers and student, holding from 35 currencies, with a joint account, digital-only service and easy-access savings.9.4
Trust8.5Higher8.1

Positions in our rankings

N26 vs Step
RankingN26Step
Savings accounts22 of 1420490 of 1420
Student, teen and kids accounts6 of 273152 of 273

Where each is licensed and available

N26 vs Step
CountryN26Step
GermanyNot confirmed
United StatesNot confirmed

Additional countries for N26: 21. Additional countries for Step: 1.

What we checked

N26

  • n26.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026

Step

  • step.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • help.step.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026

Every fact side by side

N26 vs Step
FactN26Step
AudienceExpats, Travelers, Student, TeenCovers moreTeen
Pricing modelNo monthly fee, Low FXCovers moreNo monthly fee
FeaturesFree ATM, Joint account, Digital onlyCovers moreFree ATM
Legal entityN26 Bank SEStep Financial LLC
HeadquartersGermanyUnited States
Founded2013Lower2020
Support channelsEmail, Chat, Phone, Help centreChat, Email, Phone, Help centre

Savings

N26 vs Step
FactN26Step
Headline rate0.3% to 1.5%3%Higher
Rate typeVariableVariable
Minimum depositNot confirmed$0
Access terms100% flexible: deposit and withdraw any amount, whenever you wantNo savings minimums; 3.00% on savings requires Step Black status, earned by spending $500 with the Step Card or $300 in qualifying direct deposits each calendar month
Account kindEasy accessEasy access

Money transfer

N26 vs Step
FactN26Step
Exchange rate markup0%Not confirmed
Delivery timeInstant to 1 business dayNot confirmed
Payout methodsBank, CardNot confirmed
Fee to send 1,000€0Not confirmed

Where each stands against the rest

N26 vs Step
FactN26StepMedian
Currency conversion fee0%below the medianNot confirmed0.5%
Currenciesfrom 35highest quarterNot confirmed5
Free ATM withdrawals€2above the medianNot confirmed€1

Median across 536 listed accounts.

Pros and cons

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.

Step

Pros

  • Monthly fee of $0 on a no monthly fee account
  • Savings rate of 3% variable with a minimum deposit of $0
  • free atm means no ATM charge when you need cash

Cons

  • The full savings rate is tied to a status earned by card spending or qualifying direct deposits, so an inactive month earns less
  • Small fee for Instant Transfer to a linked debit card for an Instant Transfer to a linked debit card

Who each suits

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.

Step

Who it suits

  • Teens in the US building their first account
  • Students who keep a direct deposit in place to keep the better savings rate

Who should look elsewhere

  • bunq and bunq Spain Bank Account, where a euro account serves a euro market rather than a US teen account
  • Pixpay FR, which charges a monthly fee of €3.99

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

Step

Current offer

  • Bonus

    Cashback on Step Card purchases with Step Black: Up to 10% cashback on purchases with select Step Black Partners, and unlimited 1% cashback on everything else

    Requires Step Black enrollment; Step Black is an earned status available at no cost and full status is earned by meeting qualifying activity thresholds each month

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Bonus

    Step savings reward: 3.00% on your savings balance (cash rewards, not interest)

    Step Black is an earned status available at no cost; full status is earned by meeting qualifying activity thresholds each month; percentage is variable and may change

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

N26 vs Step
CountryN26Step
AustriaYesNo
BelgiumYesNo
DenmarkYesNo
EstoniaYesNo
FinlandYesNo
FranceYesNo
GermanyYesNo
GreeceYesNo

8 of 22 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

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.

Step

How much does a Step account cost each month?+

The monthly fee is $0 and the account follows a no monthly fee model, so there is nothing to pay simply for holding it. Cash handling is covered by free atm, so withdrawing at an ATM costs nothing either. The one charge to watch is Small fee for Instant Transfer to a linked debit card to a linked debit card.

What interest do I get on savings?+

The headline savings rate is 3% and it is variable, so it can move rather than being locked. The minimum deposit is $0, which means you can start small. Savings are easy access, so you can take money out without giving up a fixed term.

Other options to compare

N26

Visit

Step

See alternatives