N26 vs. Revolut
Revolut is a low-fee banking option aimed at frequent travelers and digital nomads.
However, we’ve found N26 to be the best, most seamless banking experience with truly impressive benefits and extremely low fees.
With features like free worldwide ATM withdrawals, exceptional travel insurance coverage and an intuitive, extremely powerful app, we believe N26 is the best bank of any kind for most consumers, digital nomad or not.
Who are N26 & Revolut?
N26 and Revolut are online-only banks aimed at frequent travelers and digital nomads. They offer many of the services of a traditional bank–offline and online payments, foreign transactions converted at the inter-bank rate, etc.–as well as services most bank accounts don’t offer, like travel & medical insurance and intuitive, powerful apps.
This post will compare every aspect of these two banks to give you a clear understanding of which of them is better for you.
N26 Features vs. Revolut Features
| N26 | Revolut | |
| Apple Pay | YES | NO |
| Google Pay | YES | YES |
| Real-time transaction notifications | YES | YES |
| Transaction categories: | YES | YES |
| In-app PIN resets | YES | NO |
| In-app card freezing | YES | YES |
| In-app spending/withdrawal limits | YES | YES |
| Money transfers at the inter-bank rate | YES | YES |
| Group payment functionality | NO | YES |
| Cryptocurrency support | NO | YES |
| Virtual disposable cards | NO | YES |
| Sign up for N26 | Sign up for Revolut |
Winner: Tie.
Which app is better for you totally depends on how you use your bank. If you want to trade cryptocurrencies, then Revolut is clearly the winner, since N26 doesn’t offer crypto.
If you’re planning to use your card for everyday transactions, though, N26 comes out ahead. Apple Pay puts N26 over the top on features, not only because it makes it a much more useful app, but also because it demonstrates the company’s commitment to being on the cutting edge when it comes to technology. It’s no coincidence that N26 added Apple Pay support before Revolut even got its banking license (something N26 has had for years).
N26 Fees vs. Revolut Fees
| N26 | Revolut | |
| Standard account | Free | Free |
| Premium account | €9.90/month (N26 Black) | £7/month (Revolut Premium) |
| Super-premium account | €16.90/month (N26 Metal) | £13/month (Revolut Metal) |
| Foreign currency ATM withdrawals | 1.7% for standard members, free for N26 Black/Metal members up to an unlimited amount | Free for the first £200 for standard members (£400/£600 for Revolut Premium/Metal members), 2% fee thereafter |
| Account overdraft | 8.9% per year | Not available |
| Bank transfers | Free up to an unlimited amount | Free for the first £5,000/month, then 0.5% |
| Cryptocurrency transactions | Not available | 1.5% |
| Card delivery | Free | £5 |
| Sign up for N26 | Sign up for Revolut |
Winner: N26.
The monthly fees are similar for each of the card offerings, though N26’s overdraft support, free card delivery, free bank transfers and free foreign currency ATM withdrawals up to an unlimited amount for N26 Black and Metal members make a big difference in the day-to-day banking experience, and can turn into big-time money-savers.
Foreign Currency Transactions & ATM Withdrawals
| N26 | Revolut | |
| Weekday ATM Withdrawal Rate | Inter-bank rate | Inter-bank rate |
| Weekend ATM Withdrawal Rate | Inter-bank rate | Inter-bank rate + 0.5%-1% |
| Weekday foreign currency transactions | Inter-bank rate | Inter-bank rate |
| Weekend foreign currency transactions | Inter-bank rate | Inter-bank rate + 0.5%-1% |
| Foreign exchange in excess of £5,000/month | Inter-bank rate | Inter-bank rate + 0.5% |
| Foreign exchange on less common currencies | Inter-bank rate | Inter-bank rate + 1%-2% |
| Sign up for N26 | Sign up for Revolut |
Winner: N26 by a landslide.
In case the chart above isn’t clear enough, the simple way to read it is this: N26 always charges you the inter-bank rate (the best exchange rate) on your transactions and ATM withdrawals, while Revolut often adds fees on top of the inter-bank rate. Which bank would you rather work with?
Travel & Medical Insurance
Now we’ll compare the insurance policies that come with each bank’s premium offering: N26 Black and Revolut Premium. The biggest difference between the two policies is that N26 includes quite a few more features, some of which Revolut users need to pay to access and some of which aren’t available to them at all.
| N26 | Revolut | |
| Pay-per-day travel insurance | Insurance already included | Paid from £1/day |
| Flight/baggage delay insurance (after 4 hours) | Up to €400 | Up to £320 |
| Reimbursement for stolen cash | Up to €500 | NO |
| Reimbursement for stolen mobile phone | Included up to €300 | Paid from £1/week |
| Extended warranty on purchases | Up to €500 | NO |
| Trip cancellation insurance | Up to €5,000 | NO |
| Car rental / public transportation accident insurance | YES | NO |
| Sign up for N26 | Sign up for Revolut |
Winner: N26 by a landslide.
The trip cancellation insurance alone puts N26 a step above Revolut, and when you add in the extended warranty on purchases and reimbursement for stolen cash that N26 provides pro bono, it’s clear that N26 provides the better insurance offering.
Note: If you’re looking for a truly watertight travel insurance policy, check out our review of SafetyWing insurance, which offers an extremely comprehensive $37/month policy.
N26 Black vs. Revolut Premium
Many of the differences between N26 Black and Revolut Premium have already been captured in the sections above: N26’s far-superior insurance plan, the differing currency exchange rates on foreign transactions and ATM withdrawals, etc. Here’s a very quick summary.
| N26 Black | Revolut Premium | |
| Monthly fee | €9.90/month | £7/month |
| ATM withdrawal limit | No limit | £400/month, 2% fee thereafter |
| Travel & medical insurance | Excellent | Mediocre |
| Virtual disposable cards | NO | YES |
| Sign up for N26 | Sign up for Revolut |
Winner: N26.
This comparison doesn’t look as lopsided as the others above, but believe me, it is. When you factor in just how much better N26’s insurance policy is, and how much you’ll save on ATM withdrawals (taking out £2,000/month will cost you £32 in fees with Revolut Premium), N26 Black handily beats Revolut Premium every time.
N26 Metal vs. Revolut Metal
| N26 Black | Revolut Premium | |
| Monthly fee | €16.90/month | £13/month |
| ATM withdrawal limit | No limit | £600/month, 2% fee thereafter |
| Travel & medical insurance | Excellent | Mediocre |
| Virtual disposable cards | NO | YES |
| 24/7 concierge | NO | YES |
| Partner offers | 10+ (see here) | NO |
| Sign up for N26 | Sign up for Revolut |
Winner: N26.
Again, this comparison doesn’t look as lopsided as the others above, but N26 Metal beats Revolut Metal for the same reasons N26 Black beats N26 Premium: better benefits, lower fees and a much better insurance policy.
How To Sign Up
If it wasn’t abundantly clear already, the best bank card for most people is N26. Their fees are extremely low, they include plenty of benefits with your card, and they have thousands of positive reviews from users all over the world.
You don’t need an N26 promo code to sign up–simply click the button below and you’re all set. If you want even more information, read our 3,000-word N26 review.
FAQs About N26 & Revolut
How soon is my Revolut card delivered once I order it?
Revolut will mail your card within 1 business day of signing up, though it can take up to 3 days to arrive with express shipping and 9 days with standard shipping. You can track the shipping status of your card in the Revolut app.
Is my Revolut card safe and easy to use while traveling abroad?
Yes! Revolut lets users spend, fee-free, in more than 150 different countries.
It’s also backed the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), and the app can be password- or fingerprint-protected. Users can instantly freeze spending on their accounts within the app if they believe their card has been lost or stolen.
How do I top up my Revolut card?
Cardholders can top up their accounts automatically or manually. The app lets users draw funds from a linked bank account and place them into their Revolut account, either on a one-time basis or automatically when the Revolut account balance dips below a designated level.
Topping up your Revolut card with your credit card appears on your credit card statement as a regular transaction, not a cash advance, so you won’t be charged any additional or unexpected fees.
How does Revolut make money?
Revolut makes money by charging monthly fees to Revolut Premium and Revolut Metal members, as well as from merchants each time a cardholder makes a purchases, just like MasterCard and American Express do.
How does Revolut verify my identity?
New account holders verify their identity when signing up for Revolut by submitting a photograph of their face alongside an official identification card issued by a national government.
Can I use N26 if I’m not a European citizen?
As you can see here, you can open an N26 account from any of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Estonia, Greece, Slovakia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and the United States.
For example, I'm Canadian, but I signed up for N26 as soon as I moved to Berlin.
If you live in one of the countries above AND are a citizen of one of the 164 countries below, you can sign up for N26:
Is TransferWise safe to use?
YES. Millions of people, including myself, use TransferWise (the currency conversion platform that N26 has partnered with) to send money to international friends or businesses every month. They’re a completely reputable money transfer service, and unlike other banks, you receive regular updates on the status of your transfer as it’s being sent. Due to their unique approach to currency conversions, you pay about 8x less in fees than you would by sending money through a traditional bank. There have been zero reported cases of TransferWise fraud. TransferWise is based in London.
perhaps worth mentioning is that Revolut doesn’t work in e.g. China. Cards nor app, which makes topping up impossible as well as communicating with Revolut. And for Premium customers: the free travel insurance is a bit of a hoax. N26 worked fine on my last trip to China.
Hi Jos – my N26 card also worked fine when I was in China a couple of weeks ago, both for withdrawing cash from the ATM and to pay for purchases here and there. It looks like the problem is that the Great Firewall blocks Revolut, though not N26.
“exceptional travel insurance”, sorry man but what are you talking about.
That’s only up to 90 days a year, after which you’re not covered anymore unless you go back to where you signed up.
Hey Lucio, you’re completely right that you need to go back to your home country after 90 days of travel to restart your insurance policy with N26, though that doesn’t mean that you’re limited to 90 days per year. If you leave for a trip in January, return home in April and then leave again in May, you’ll be covered for May, June and July as well.
Also, given that most credit cards, including premium credit cards that cost $300+ per year, generally only offer travel insurance for trips of up to 14 days (or 28 days if they’re very generous), we believe this 90-day policy offers really good value for N26 cardholders. Hopefully you’ll be able to make good use of it on your next trip!
May I ask few questions ?
1. Can I use N26 to wire money to my friends oversea if they also have N26 account ?
2. What if they dont have N26 account, can this still work ?
3. Are there any fees on the money transfer ?
4. Are there any limiation on the currencies to be transfered to my friends ? for example : only Euro is allowed to be transferred, or any other currencies are applicable ?
Thank you so mucy for your help.
Hi Steven:
Thank you so much !!!
Dear How I Travel,
The information you provide regarding who could use N26 is simply not true. I live in UAE and I often visit Europe for prolonged periods of time. During one of my visits I tried to get an N26 account for me and got the message, that N26 is not supported for UAE residents and I may signup for early notification if they ever decide to expand their operations to UAE. I guess, you must be an European *tax* resident to use N26 banking, while they care little about your country of origin and/or citizenship. Please, update this aspect in your otherwise interesting reviews to not to mislead your readers.
—
Regards,
Paul
Hi Paul, thanks for your comment. Like we say in the post, you need to live in one of the countries mentioned (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Estonia, Greece, Slovakia, the UK, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and the United States) to open an N26 account. Living in the country encompasses paying taxes to that country. Since you live in the UAE, unfortunately you can’t open an N26 account yet. Sorry if we didn’t make this completely clear.
All the best, Paul.
I get it that you prefer N26 judging by other content on this site, but the comparison you are making is a bit unfair and if you dig into the small print, there are some minor, but important differences.
– N26 uses the Mastercard exchange rate, while Revolut uses the Interbank rate. The interbank rate is slightly better.
– Although they have a steep markup in the weekend, you can create an account in a lot of currencies that you can then immediately top up. If you top it up before the weekend, you can spend all weekend from that local currency account at the rate you converted of course. Of course you have to know how much you are going to spend and agree it’s less convenient but there are ways around that 0.5-1% markup. The fact you can set up and use an account in a huge number of currencies is definitely useful
– Revolut now has smart delay meaning you get lounge access if your flight is delayed more than an hour which is brilliant if your frequent flyer status is not usable (low cost carriers).
– Reading the fine print on the travel insurance policies, the most important difference is that you can ONLY use your N26 insurance if you used your N26 card to pay for the travel (or at least a big part). Additionally, business travel is NOT covered under the N26 insurance.
– The list of activities that is not covered in the insurance policy is a lot longer for N26 than for Revolut. In general, the Revolut policy seems to be less restrictive of what it covers. But then again, N26 covers more scenarios like trip cancellations or huge delays.
– To get car rental coverage you have to go N26 Metal, the You account only covers car sharing solutions, not rentals.
– If you go for Revolut Metal, you get a cashback of 1% outside of Europe, 0.1% otherwise, which is pretty cool if you travel a lot overseas.
I guess for digital nomads, N26 may be the better choice, but for (very) frequent travelers a Revolut Premium or Metal account might be not as bad of a choice as the article suggests 🙂
hello
one question
so far to open a online bank account everybody needs a regular bank account to move theirs personal money so nobody can be off the regular market of the banks accounts true or im missing something
Hi Erika, that’s not quite true. You don’t need a “regular” bank account at all. If you wish, you can just use your N26 account as your sole bank account.
* Revolut does support Apple Pay (as from Jun-19)
* Revolut doesn’t have any transfer amount limit for premium and metal accounts.
* Revolut doesn’t charge for cards delivery in premium and metal accounts.
* Revolut allows users to buy cryptocurrencies (only the most popular ones) with no commission.
* Revolut offers commission-free stock trading in premium and metal accounts. (only a few US stocks available at the moment and there is a limit in the amount of commission-free trades)
I believe the last 2 features allow Revolut to provide additional value. Since you can also manage some basic investments through the app and not rely on Degiro, eToro, etc which are not commission-free.
I’ve been using both for more than a year so far and both have pros and cons, it depends on your user-profile and needs to lean towards one or the other. Also, let’s see how Revoluts deals with Brexit.
I am Croatian citizen but I work in UK,Ihave been using monzo to get paid,but now THEY are closing my account for unexplained reasons,so I got a revolut free account to receive my pay, BUT I need to take put AS MUCH CASH as possible when I visit home…would it be smart to open an N26 card also and shift money on both revolut AND n26…so as to be able to take out as much cash as possible daily (free)..what IS the daily cash withdrawal from ATM in the UK for n26?..any other suggestions?
Hi Monika, yes, this would be a good idea given your situation. You can choose your daily withdrawal limit in the N26 app up to a maximum of €2,000 per day. Here’s a direct signup link for you.
Hi, can you advise me on what bank to use? I need a borderless bank account that supports multicurrency and a virtual card. I live in Nigeria and also a citizen of Nigeria. I’ve tried transfer wise but unfortunately they don’t give cards to Nigerians and I can’t even send money to Nigeria.