N26 vs bunq
short answerBoth are traditional neobanks with similar positioning — the real differences are FX markup, fees, license and geography, compared field by field below.
N26: 8M+ customers; crypto via partner in some markets.
bunq: EU-wide; API-first; 'Bank of The Free'.
Side by side
| N26 | bunq | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | traditional | traditional |
| Audience | general | general |
| HQ | Berlin, DE | Amsterdam, NL |
| Founded | 2013 | 2012 |
| Custody | Custodial | Custodial |
| Regulation | Licensed bank | Licensed bank |
| License detail | German banking license | Dutch banking license |
| Card | MC · Debit | MC · Debit |
| Cashback | — | 1% (plan) |
| Yield | ~2-4% (region) | Up to ~3.4% interest |
| FX markup | 0% N26 markup on card payments; Mastercard rate passed through (Standard plan) (2026-07) | Mastercard rate + 0.5% up to €1,000/yr; 3% conversion fee above that (Free plan) (2026-07) |
| Services | crypto on-ramp, crypto off-ramp, fiat pay-in (bank rails), fiat pay-out (bank rails), own IBAN / account no., virtual cards | fiat pay-in (bank rails), fiat pay-out (bank rails), own IBAN / account no., multi-currency hold, virtual cards |
| Stablecoins | No | No |
| KYC | Yes | Yes |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Reported users | — | — |
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.