4 Best N26 Alternatives in US: Account, International Transfer & Card
N26 is a German based neobank, which used to offer services in the US. Unfortunately N26 no longer provides accounts to US residents – so if you’re US based you’ll need a N26 alternative. Luckily we have some great options coming right up including Wise and Revolut.
In this guide to the best N26 alternatives for US citizens and residents, we’ll cover 4 different online and digital banks and providers, which offer services that are just as convenient as N26 was, with some great extra features and perks, too.
Here’s what we loved about these N26 alternatives in our comparison:
- Wise – accounts to hold 50+ currencies, with local banking details for 10 currencies, and linked global payment cards
- Revolut – range of account tiers so you can pick the features and fees you need – all accounts have multi-currency functionality covering around 25 currencies
- Ally Bank – fully fledged digital bank with a broad range of account products and connected financial services, such as mortgages and loans
- Axos Bank – FDIC insured digital bank with both business and personal account products, across checking, saving, investment and more
Can you use N26 in the USA?
N26 closed all US accounts in January 2022. All US based N26 customers were given notice of account closure, and time to withdraw funds to a different account provider.
Not sure which N26 alternative is right for you? This guide covers a few different sites like N26 where US citizens and residents can still open an easy to use, convenient account – whether you want a day to day checking product, an account to save, or a smart multi-currency account.
What is N26?
N26 is a German neobank, which offers a selection of personal and business account products for residents of supported countries. At the time of writing, all supported countries are in Europe, as N26 seeks to sharpen its focus, and has closed its operations in external markets like the US.
If you’re eligible for an account with N26 you’ll be able to pick between several different products which have varied features and fees – and all of which come with linked cards for easy spending. N26 also offers extras like insurance, budgeting tools, ways to invest in crypto, and international payments which are powered by Wise.
Pros and Cons of N26
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Alternatives to N26 Comparison
We’ll dive into some great N26 alternatives in detail in just a moment – but first, let’s take an overview of the providers we’ve picked
| Provider | Account | Card | International Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Personal accounts are free to open, and can hold 50+ currencies
No minimum balance and no ongoing fees | Available for international spending | Low fees from 0.41% |
| Revolut | Selection of accounts, including standard accounts with no ongoing fees, and higher tier options with maintenance charges
Features vary by plan type | Different card types for different account tiers | Low fees from 0.3% – 2% |
| Ally Bank | Large range of checking and saving accounts available, each with their own features and fees | Available for select accounts | Not available |
| Axos Bank | Large range of checking and saving accounts available, each with their own features and fees | Available for select accounts | 45 USD |
We’ll move into some more detail about each of the providers we have profiled above, in just a moment. First of all, here’s a one liner on which each of the providers we picked above is a good alternative to N26.
- Wise: No ongoing account fees, with options to hold, send, spend and exchange 50+ currencies with the Google exchange rate
- Revolut: Selection of account tiers, including standard plans and higher tier options with monthly charges and more features to enjoy
- Ally Bank: FDIC insured bank with a solid selection of checking and saving accounts, plus a suite of other banking services for personal customers
- Axos Bank: Personal and business accounts, with different features and fees to meet specific customer needs – FDIC insured, with a range of additional products and services
N26 Account Alternatives in US
There are quite a few sites like N26, offering digital accounts for day to day use, or to provide specific features like low cost ways to spend internationally. Let’s walk through some details about some of our picks for the best N26 alternatives, so you can see if any suits you.
1. Wise Account
Fintech company Wise offers digital accounts for personal and business customers, which you can manage online and through the Wise app.
Wise accounts are free to open – and let you hold, exchange, send and spend 50+ currencies. Plus, send payments to 70+ countries, and get a linked debit card to spend in 170+ countries. Learn more about it here: Wise Account Review
You’ll also get banking details for 10 currencies which you can use to get paid by local transfer from 30+ countries – may be ideal if you need to send or receive money in foreign currencies.
Best Wise features
Account options: Both personal and business account options, available to residents in the US and all but a small selection of countries around the world
Debit card availability: Wise debit cards offered for a one time fee of 9 USD, and no annual fee
Exchange rate: Google exchange rate whenever you switch between currencies or spend with your Wise card
Transfer options and speed: Send payments to 70+ countries, in 50+ currencies, with fees from 0.41%. 50% of payments are instant and 90% arrive in 24 hours.
Wise Pros and Cons
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2. Revolut
Revolut offers account services primarily through its app for convenient mobile banking. You can open a personal or business account with Revolut, with no-fee accounts available – or higher tier products which have a monthly fee but also come with more features and higher transaction limits.
All Revolut personal accounts come with some no-fee currency exchange which uses the Google exchange rate, although the amount you can convert may be capped, depending on your account plan.
Best Revolut features
Account options: Personal and business accounts available. Personal accounts range from the standard plan without monthly fees, to the 16.99 USD/month Metal plan
Debit card availability: All accounts come with a linked card – exact card issued depends on the account tier
Exchange rate: All personal accounts have some currency exchange which uses the midmarket exchange rate – but you’ll need to pay a monthly account fee to avoid caps on the amount you can exchange with no-fees applied
Transfer options and speed: International payments available, with varied fees which are usually from 0.3% to 2% based on destination. Transfer speed varies based on destination, value and country
Revolut Pros and Cons
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3. Ally Bank
Ally Bank is an FDIC insured provider with a US banking license. That means it can offer a broad range of products and services including checking and saving accounts, credit cards, investment and retirement products, mortgages and loans. Accounts are managed online or in-app, which can be convenient – and can also help to keep costs down overall.
Ally Bank doesn’t offer international wire transfers, which is a drawback – but you can always choose an alternative provider like Wise to use alongside your Ally checking account when you need to make an overseas transfer.
Best Ally Bank features
Account options: Broad range of account options, depending on customer needs
Debit card availability: Cards issued with selected accounts
Exchange rate: 1% fee added onto the card issuer’s exchange rate when spending and withdrawing internationally
Transfer options and speed: International money transfers not available
Ally Bank Pros and Cons
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4. Axos Bank
Axos is another fully fledged bank which has an impressive range of accounts and other services, including loans and lots of different ways to invest and save. You’ll be able to pick from a selection of different day to day accounts, which all come with their own features and fees.
Axos offers international services, including card spending which has a relatively low 1% foreign transaction fee, and overseas payments which cost 45 USD.
Best Axos features
Account options: Broad range of account options, depending on customer needs
Debit card availability: Cards issued with selected accounts
Exchange rate: 1% fee added onto the card issuer’s exchange rate when spending and withdrawing internationally
Transfer options and speed: International wires cost 45 USD, delivery times vary based on destination
Axos Pros and Cons
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N26 Business Account Alternatives in the USA
In Europe, N26 offers business account solutions – but as N26 is no longer operating in the US, this isn’t an option for US residents. To help you pick a different provider, we’ll quickly cover some alternative business accounts that you can open online, to manage your business finances easily:
Wise business account: Open a Wise business account for a one time fee, to hold and exchange 50+ currencies, and get local account details to get paid fee free in 10 currencies. You can order debit and expense cards for you and your team, and send international payments to contractors, suppliers and staff with the Google rate and low fees from 0.41%.
Conclusion: What is the best alternative to N26 in USA?
N26 offered a handy range of online and digital accounts in the US – but has now withdrawn services here in order to focus more on building their business in Europe. There are plenty of other N26 alternatives out there, which also offer easy ways to manage your money online and on the move – often with low fees and handy features like multi-currency banking and linked cards for easy spending.
Use this guide to the best N26 alternatives to pick a provider that suits your needs – no matter what they might be.
FAQs on Alternatives to N26
- Is N26 available in the USA?
N26 used to be available in the USA, but withdrew US services in January 2022. If you want an online account to manage your money you’ll need to pick an alternative, like a digital bank such as Ally Bank or Axos Bank – or a specialist service like Wise or Revolut.
- What is the best online bank in the US?
There’s no single best online bank in the US. However, in this article, we’ve picked some of the top N26 alternatives, which are online banks and specialist providers:
- Wise: Accounts to hold, send, spend and exchange 50+ currencies
- Revolut: Standard plans without monthly fees and higher tier options based on customer needs
- Ally Bank: Solid selection of checking and saving accounts, plus FDIC insurance
- Axos Bank: Personal and business accounts, with different features and fees to meet specific customer needs
