N26 Business Review
Best for freelancers on a budget · Founded 2013 · Berlin, Germany
Overview
N26 Business is strictly designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals — registered companies cannot open an account. It holds a full German banking license regulated by BaFin and the ECB, providing deposit protection up to €100,000 per depositor through the EdB (Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken) — the same level of protection as traditional German banks. Available in 24 EU/EEA countries, N26 offers free unlimited SEPA and SEPA Instant transfers (up to €100,000 per day) on all plans, with 0% card FX markup using Mastercard exchange rates.
The four plans — Standard (free), Smart (€4.90/month), Go (€9.90/month), and Metal (€16.90/month billed annually) — are differentiated primarily by travel perks, ATM withdrawal allowances, and virtual card count rather than team features. There are no outgoing SWIFT transfers, no team cards or delegation, and no receipt capture or approval workflows. The focus is entirely on the solo operator: a clean mobile experience, free domestic banking, transparent FX on card spending, and comprehensive travel insurance on premium tiers (Allianz partnership on Metal).
Plans & Pricing
Standard
Free
- Unlimited free SEPA transfers
- Free SEPA Instant (up to €100,000/day)
- 0% card FX markup (Mastercard rate)
- 1 virtual card (physical: €10 one-off)
- 2 free EUR ATM withdrawals/month
- 0.1% cashback
- No outgoing SWIFT
Local transfers: Unlimited
International: Not included
Cards: 1
Smart
€4.9/mo
- Everything in Standard
- 1 physical card + up to 6 virtual cards
- 10 Spaces for budgeting
- Budgeting automations
- 1.7% non-Euro ATM fee
Local transfers: Unlimited
International: Not included
Cards: 7
Go
€9.9/mo
- Everything in Smart
- Free ATM withdrawals outside Eurozone
- Basic travel insurance
- 1% cashback (promotional, up to 12 months)
Local transfers: Unlimited
International: Not included
Cards: 7
Metal
Billed yearly
- Everything in Go
- Metal card (18g)
- Comprehensive travel and purchase insurance (Allianz)
- 2% annual interest on Instant Savings (promotional)
- 0.5% cashback
- Free non-Euro ATM withdrawals
Local transfers: Unlimited
International: Not included
Cards: 7
Prices as of . See official pricing page for the latest rates.
Key Features
- Free unlimited SEPA and SEPA Instant (up to €100k/day)
- 0% FX card markup (Mastercard rate)
- Full German banking license with €100,000 EdB deposit insurance
- No outgoing SWIFT transfers
- Travel insurance on Go and Metal plans
- Up to 6 virtual cards (Smart+)
- Shared Spaces for budgeting (up to 10 on premium)
- Open Banking PSD2 API for accounting software
Key Information
| FX Fee | 0% |
|---|---|
| Supported Currencies | 1+ |
| Countries Served | AT, BE, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, IS, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, SK, SI, ES, CH |
| Target Audience | Freelancers and self-employed needing simple, low-cost banking |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Full German banking license with €100,000 deposit insurance
- Free unlimited SEPA and SEPA Instant on all plans
- 0% card FX markup (Mastercard rate)
- Simplest plan structure for solo operators
- Comprehensive insurance on Metal (Allianz)
Cons
- Freelancers and self-employed only — no registered companies supported
- No outgoing SWIFT transfers
- Single-user only — no team cards or delegation
- No receipt capture, approval workflows, or mileage tracking
- No native accounting integrations (manual CSV/PDF or Open Banking TPPs)
N26 FAQ
Can a registered company open an N26 Business account?
No. N26 Business accounts are strictly available to freelancers and self-employed individuals only. Registered companies — limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, or any other legal entity — cannot open an N26 Business account. If you operate as a registered company, you will need to look at alternatives such as Revolut Business, Qonto, bunq Business, Finom, or Vivid Business. N26 is one of the few neobanks that explicitly restricts business accounts to sole traders.
Does N26 Business support international SWIFT transfers?
No. N26 Business does not support outgoing SWIFT (international wire) transfers. The account is designed for domestic and SEPA-zone transactions only. If you need to make international transfers outside SEPA — for example, to the US, UK (post-Brexit), or Asia — you would need to use a separate service such as Wise Business alongside your N26 account. N26 supports SEPA transfers and SEPA Instant (up to €100,000 per day) with no fees.
What is N26's deposit protection?
N26 holds a full German banking license regulated by BaFin and the ECB. Deposits are protected up to €100,000 per depositor through the EdB (Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken) — Germany's statutory deposit guarantee scheme. This is the same level of protection provided by traditional German banks and is among the strongest protections available from any neobank in Europe. Unlike EMI-licensed competitors that offer safeguarding only, N26 provides formal deposit insurance.
How do N26 Business plans differ?
N26 offers four plans for freelancers. Standard (free) includes unlimited SEPA, 0% card FX, 2 free EUR ATM withdrawals/month, and 0.1% cashback. Smart (€4.90/month) adds up to 6 virtual cards, 10 Spaces for budgeting, and automations. Go (€9.90/month) adds free non-Eurozone ATM withdrawals, basic travel insurance, and promotional 1% cashback. Metal (€16.90/month billed annually) adds an 18g metal card, comprehensive Allianz travel and purchase insurance, promotional 2% Instant Savings interest, and 0.5% cashback. All plans include unlimited free SEPA and SEPA Instant transfers.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
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