You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for an in-depth N26 review. We’re going to break down everything you need about this financial platform.
There are many things to discover, so let’s get into the details of this review…
N26 Review: Who’s N26?
N26 is the pioneer of modern banking. The fully web-based and licensed European bank offers everything you need to manage your money, from saving to spending, to managing your money, all through a mobile app.
N26 customers enjoy the same banking features, regulations and customer service as regular banks. These benefits can be accessed via N26’s mobile app, which is lighter than going to a branch or signing in to your online account via a computer.
This is the story of N26:
N26 was founded by Maximilian Tayenthal and Valentin Stalf in 2013. Its goal is to make banking easier and more transparent. N26’s first products were launched in 2015, with a free account and N26 Mastercards for Germany and Austria.
N26 was granted its European banking license by the European Central Bank in 2016. N26 launched their metal card the following year (more details in a moment! ).
Fast forward to 2020 and N26 has over 5 million customers in 25 countries. They also boast a team of 1,500 employees. N26 currently has offices in Berlin, New York City, Barcelona, Vienna and Sao Paulo.
N26’s impressive growth can be seen.
What Does It Do?
N26 customers are issued a MasterCard which can be used to top up, transfer money and withdraw cash at ATMs all over the globe. For those who live in:
- Germany
- The United States
- Ireland
- Austria
- Spain
- France
- Italy
- Belgium
- The Netherlands
- Finland
- Luxembourg
- Portugal
- Slovenia
- Greece
- Estonia
- Slovakia
- Poland
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Liechtenstein
- Iceland
- Norway
N26 has partnered extensively with reputable financial companies including TransWise (for low foreign currency rates), Auxmoney (for credit), and Allianz and Clark [for insurance].
These strategic alliances provide access to all services that you would expect from a bank account.
- Get an international debit card with free euro withdrawals at ATMs.
- You can check your account balance using the N26 app.
- The N26 app allows you to send bank transfers in 19 currencies. )
- Currency exchange at mid-market rates.
- The N26 card allows you to make contactless payments in-person at stores.
- The N26 app allows you to save your payment information. This allows you to make payments even if your card is not available.
- You have the option to link your regular bank account with your N26 account, so you can charge your standard bank whenever you like (instead N26).
A N26 Review: The Cons and Pros of N26
Let’s begin with the perks.
The Pros
- This is great if your business operates in the global economy (mostly Europe and USA).
- Access to a mobile app that is intuitive and easy to use. You can manage all your banking requirements from this app.
- Register for an account now!
- You can activate an excess within minutes of receiving your phone. There are no penalties or fees. All terms and conditions are transparent.
- N26’s fees for are very low
- There are no withdrawal fees. With the free account, you can withdraw up to three ATMs every month from anywhere in the world. You can withdraw more funds for free with N26’s premium account. After you reach that threshold, EUR2 is charged per withdrawal. This is very competitive considering that most German banks charge EUR5-7 for the use of an ATM at another bank.
- N26’s foreign exchange fees are very affordable, since you don’t have to pay currency conversion fees. Only the actual exchange rate is charged.
- Only when you withdraw money from another country, will you be charged a fee.
- In less than 10 minutes, your N26 account can be up and running.
The Cons
Let’s now look at the downsides.
- N26 was not expectedly pulled from the UK
- N26 does not offer credit cards at the time this article was written. You’ll need to find an alternative service if that’s what you want.
- N26 doesn’t offer 24/7 telephone support
- N26 is only available to US and European users
- Some users complain about re-verification issues.
- About 6% of TrustPilot negative reviews involve users being locked out of their accounts or having their funds frozen. This can be very distressing.
- Nearly 9% of TrustPilot’s negative reviews focus on N26’s customer support, specifically slow card dispatch and insufficient assistance in the event that an account is blocked.
N26 Spaces
N26’s ‘Spaces” functionality is one of its best features. This allows you to create sub-accounts that will help you reach your financial goals. A ‘Space’ can help you organize your money and save for expensive items.
Even more, you can create rules to transfer recurring amounts from your N26 account to one or more of your ‘Spaces. It’s a bit like direct debits. All you have to do is create one rule and N26 will handle the rest. This is an easy way to save money and manage your finances.
You can also create “shared spaces.” This feature is relatively new and allows you to share money between friends, family, coworkers, and others. You can invite up 10 other N26 users to a shared area with any N26 paid-for account. A shared space can be useful, whether you are sharing the cost of living or saving for a trip with friends.
Budgeting using N26
Instant push notifications on your smartphone will be a benefit. These notifications are activated by N26’s mobile app.
You’ll be notified after each card, mobile payment, ATM withdrawal, bank transfer, direct debit and ATM withdrawal. This will ensure you always know where your money is at all times.
You can also use to help with your budget
- Set daily spending limits
- Lock or unlock your card
- Reset your PIN
The N26 app allows you to manage any of these tasks from any location, at any time. This app is great for helping you feel more in control of your spending habits.
N26 also tracks your spending. These stats are displayed on your smartphone so you can see where your money is going. Knowledge is power. It is important to understand where your money is going so that you can make changes if necessary.
N26 Perks
You can get exciting offers from partner brands with N26 These perks can be accessed by downloading the N26 app. Next, tap the Explore> tab followed by Discounts>. You can then explore all the offers and deals available to you. The instructions to redeem the offer should also be visible.
These are just a handful of N26’s partners you can expect offers from:
- YOOX
- GetYourGuide
- Hotels.com
- TIDAL
- Soneva
- HelloFresh
- Booking.com
- Headspace
- Lime
- Babbel
- Skillyoga
- Blinkist
- adidas
- Fiverr
- Udemy
- 8fit
What is the Safety of N26?
N26 is extremely safe to use. Period.
Because it is a German-regulated bank, it has all the usual safeguards that official banks have. N26 uses a variety of security and safety measures to protect your account. N26 gives you complete control over your account’s security, including the ability to reset your pin and lock your card. You can also disable foreign and online payment within seconds. These tasks can be handled by simply going to the N26 App.
Mastercard SecureCode provides additional protection against fraud. You can also use fingerprint login instead of typing in your password. This method is widely recognized as more secure and convenient for accessing your apps.
Sign up
It’s easy to sign up for N26 – it takes just minutes to create an account!
Just:
- Enter your email address and confirm it.
- Choose your preferred payment plan (more details in a second)
- You will then need to prove your identity.
- Next you will be prompted to connect to your N26 account to download the N26 application.
- Enter the required details when asked.
- I agree to the terms and conditions
- Get your card (it will take a few more days for it to arrive)
You must have to open an N26 account.
- You can live in any of the listed countries
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Have a smartphone compatible with the N26 App
- You must be able to present a form ID. The documentation required depends on the country you live in, so it’s important to double-check your information on N26’s website.
Customer Support
You can contact N26 by launching a live chat via N26’s WebApp or mobile. It is possible to see where you are in the queue. This will help you manage your expectations. Keep your Mastercard handy for faster service. N26’s live chat service is available every day between 7 AM and 11 PM (yes, even Sundays and bank holidays).
You can also go to N26’s online Support Center if self-help is your preference. You’ll find many articles here.
What Does N26 Cost?
N26’s low operating costs can be attributed to its online presence and clever partnerships. This allows them to offer lower rates to customers. N26 has a presence outside of Europe. We are focusing our attention on their European packages, as this is where they excel.
N26 Standard
This account is N26’s online bank account that you can use for free. It allows you to:
- Transparent Mastercard debit card
- Contactless payments can be used at in-person shops.
- You have the option to link your N26 account to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- All your banking needs can be handled online. This includes sending and receiving transfer, standing orders and setting up direct debits. You can also send instant transfers.
- Unlimited payments in any currency are possible for free.
- Three ATM withdrawals are free within the Eurozone.
- N26’s monthly overview will give you a better understanding of your spending habits. N26’s monthly overview breaks down your spending into easily-reviewed categories, so you can see exactly what your money is doing.
- To better organize your money and save time, you can create as many as two sub-accounts ‘Spaces.
- Chatbots are available to answer basic questions round the clock. You can also contact N26 via live chat within the app.
- German Deposit Protection Scheme protects your funds (up to EUR100,000.
- 3D Secure (3DS), technology ensures that your online payments are secure
- Two-factor authentication is available (this adds an extra layer of security to keep your money safe).
N26 Smart
This bank account offers more control for EUR4.90 per month. This bank account could be ideal for you if your daily banking needs require a debit card.
All the N26 Standard Packages are included, plus
- When ordering your Mastercard debit cards, you can choose from five different colors.
- For a one-off fee, you can request an extra card.
- Up to five ATM withdrawals are free within the Eurozone.
- To help you budget better and save money, you can create up to ten sub-accounts called ‘Spaces’.
- Shared ‘Spaces can be created with up to 10 N26 users
- You can round up every card transaction to the nearest Euro. This is an easy way to save money.
- Get discounts and offers from the top brands N26 has partnered up with
- Access to a telephone number allows you to access telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a semaine.
N26 You
The N26 You account is a great option for managing your daily banking and travel needs. It costs EUR9.90 per month.
All the benefits of the other accounts plus
- Unlimited ATM withdrawals in any currency (worldwide).
- Get medical travel insurance that covers up to EUR1,000,000 to you, your partner and your family (this includes dental emergencies).
- Trip insurance up to EUR10,000 for cancellation or curtailment.
- You can get flight insurance. If a flight is delayed more than four hours, you can get coverage up to EUR500
- You have access to baggage coverage. You can get up to EUR500 in compensation for baggage delays exceeding 12 hours. You can also claim EUR2,000 compensation if your belongings are lost.
- Mobility insurance for car sharing, scooter, and bike hires up to EUR20,000
- Winter sports insurance that you can claim on in the unfortunate event of an accident while skiing
N26 Metal
This account is N26’s largest and most expensive, with a monthly cost of EUR16.90 per month. The new payment plan includes everything you get in the previous plans plus:
- Get an 18-gram Mastercard debit card made of metal (you have the option to choose from up to three metallic colors)
- Up to 8 ATM withdrawals free of charge per month within the Eurozone
- When you rent a car abroad, or further away from your home, you can get car rental insurance up to EUR20,000
- Get phone insurance for theft and damage up to EUR1,000
- Benefits and bespoke rewards are yours.
- Access to N26 Metalline is available seven days a semaine.
Who is N26 Best for?
The N26 solution is a good option for basic banking services. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional banks, N26 is a great online option.
This mobile banking app takes mobile banking to the next level. This online bank is great for both personal and international users.
As we have discussed previously, your account could be locked if you violate N26’s banking regulations. Your funds may also be frozen. These services are not uncommon. This is not uncommon with services like this. We recommend that you limit the amount of money you put in your N26 account to ensure safety.