Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
N26 Business review
What you need to know about the popular digital banking app in the Netherlands.
N26 is one of the first providers in Europe to offer a digital banking service in which everything can be managed via your mobile phone. Some of the notable features of its business account include expense tracking, sub-accounts, and multi-lingual support.
James Martin is a senior writer at Finder. He has written on a range of finance and business topics for over five years and his work has been featured in publications including The Irish Times, Companies 100, In Business and Q Magazine (UK). As a trained journalist, James can drill into the finer details of financial products to help you save time and money. In his spare time, James is a committed sports fan, novel reader and Thai food enthusiast.
It may be one of the biggest digital banks in Europe, but is N26 Business the best option for your company? This review of N26 Busines will look at its key features and costs, to make the process of choosing that little bit easier for you.
How does N26 Business work?
N26 is a digital bank, founded in 2013. They’re currently headquartered in Berlin. While being run from Germany, N26 is available in a number of countries throughout Europe and has an estimated 2.5 million customers across the continent. N26 currently offers a number of personal and business bank account options, the N26 app and cards.
The business accounts from digital bank N26 are designed for freelancers and comes with a number of features of the N26 personal accounts, plus a few extras. The accounts are managed on a smartphone, have great security features and four account options, including a free account.
Pros & Cons
Multi-lingual support
Useful budgeting and accounting tools
Sub-accounts for better expense management
No access to overdraft
No physical bank branches
Is your business eligible for N26?
N26 Business is for freelancers enrolled in professional registers, as well as freelancers and entrepreneurs with a VAT number. It does not accept applicants from partnerships, capital companies, or other entities. To check if your business is eligible for an N26 Business account, you can reach out to N26’s customer support team for answers.
Key features
The business account comes with a number of features, including:
Business Mastercard. Spend globally and get cash when you need it with an N26 Business Mastercard. You’ll have your choice of five colours.
Cashback. When you spend with your business Mastercard you’ll receive 0.1% cashback.
Expense tracking, tax returns and invoices. Keep your business organised with on-the-go business expense tracking and automatic categorisation of your transactions. You can also download statements and manage your account on the N26 web app.
Automated savings. Make sure you have enough set aside for large expenses and tax payments by creating rules for automatic savings transfers.
Sub-accounts. You will have access to up to 10 sub-accounts that you can use to organise your expenses and payments.
Instant payments. You can send request and receive money instantly with other N26 users through MoneyBeam. You can also receive payments instantly through SEPA Instant Credit.
Keep your account secure. The N26 Business Account comes with two-factor authentication, instant spending notifications and biometric identification for the app. Plus, your deposits up to €100,000 are protected.
Perks. Choose from a range of benefits to help build your business including discounts on Lime and Blinkist plus access to Google Ads and Fiverr.
Multi-lingual and multi-channel support. Get support from N26 when you need it through the in-app chat or the dedicated helpline. Support is offered in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Mobile payments. All N26 Business accounts are mobile payment-enabled, so you can spend on your smartphone with Apple Pay or Google Pay.
N26 business account options
There are four business accounts offered by this online-only bank: N26 Business, N26 Business Smart, N26 Business You and N26 Business Metal. These accounts are aimed specifically at freelancers and the self-employed – your account can only be registered in your name, not your company’s. Compare N26 business accounts below according to their pros and cons.
Here are some of the pros and cons of choosing N26 Business:
Free to open and manage your account
No minimum deposit
Free Mastercard debit card
Get 0.1% cashback as you spend
Five free ATM withdrawals in Euros per month
No fees for foreign currency transactions
All payments are completed within one working day
Make fee-free card transactions abroad
Transfer money into 19 currencies using TransferWise
3D Secure – giving you an extra layer of security in helping to prevent fraud
Google Pay and Apple Pay payments are accepted
Range of in-app security features, such as card freeze/unfreeze
Free planning and budgeting tools
Push notifications for payments and transfers
1.7% charge for foreign currency withdrawals, although this is competitive when compared to many banks in the Netherlands
€2 fee for each ATM withdrawal in Euros after your monthly allowance ends
It costs € 10.00 to get a replacement card if you lose yours
Travel insurance cover with Allianz
Unlike N26 current accounts, you can’t make foreign currency transfers in the app
Existing N26 users can’t switch to a business account
You can’t have your company’s name on the account or card
No access to an overdraft
No physical bank branches
Here are some of the pros and cons of choosing N26 Business Smart, which costs €4.90 per month:
Free to open and manage your account
No minimum deposit
Free Mastercard debit card
Get 0.1% cashback as you spend
5 withdrawals per month in Euros for free
No fees for foreign currency transactions
All payments are completed within one working day
Make fee-free card transactions abroad
Transfer money into 19 currencies using TransferWise
3D Secure – giving you an extra layer of security in helping to prevent fraud
payments are accepted
Range of in-app security features, such as card freeze/unfreeze
Free planning and budgeting tools
Push notifications for payments and transfers
1.7% charge for foreign currency withdrawals, although this is competitive when compared to many banks in Germany
€2 fee for each ATM withdrawal in Euros after your monthly allowance ends
It costs €10.00 to get a replacement card if you lose yours
Travel insurance cover with Allianz
Unlike N26 current accounts, you can’t make foreign currency transfers in the app
Existing N26 users can’t switch to a business account
You can’t have your company’s name on the account or card
No access to an overdraft
No physical bank branches
Meanwhile, N26 Business You, which costs €9.90 per month, includes the following pros and cons:
Free to open and manage your account
No minimum deposit
Free Mastercard debit card
Get 0.1% cashback as you spend
Free foreign currency withdrawals from ATMs in other countries
Five free ATM withdrawals in Euros per month
No fees for foreign currency transactions
Travel insurance cover with Allianz
All payments are completed within one working day
Make fee-free card transactions abroad
Transfer money into 19 currencies using TransferWise
3D Secure – giving you an extra layer of security to help prevent fraud
Google Pay and Apple Pay are available
Range of in-app security features, such as card freeze/unfreeze
Free planning and budgeting tools
Push notifications for payments and transfers
€2 fee for each ATM withdrawal in Euros after your monthly allowance is used up
It costs € 10.00 to get a replacement card if you lose yours
Unlike with N26 current accounts, you can’t make foreign currency transfers in the app
Existing N26 users can’t switch to a business account
You can’t have your company’s name on the account or card
No access to an overdraft
No physical bank branches
Lastly, N26 Business Metal comes at €16.90 per month. Here are some of its benefits and shortcomings for you to consider.
Free to open and manage your account
No minimum deposit
Free Mastercard debit card
Choose from 3 exclusive N26 Metal card designs
Contactless payments
Get 0.5% cashback as you spend
Free foreign currency withdrawals from ATMs in other countries
Eight free ATM withdrawals in Euros per month
No fees for foreign currency transactions
Insurance cover with Allianz including travel insurance, mobility, winter sports, car rental and phone insurance
All payments are completed within one working day
Make fee-free card transactions abroad
Transfer money into 19 currencies using TransferWise
3D Secure – giving you an extra layer of security to help prevent fraud
Google Pay and Apple Pay are available
Range of in-app security features, such as card freeze/unfreeze
Free planning and budgeting tools
Push notifications for payments and transfers
Priority N26 Metal customer service line
€2 fee for each ATM withdrawal in Euros after your monthly allowance is used up
It costs €45.00 to get a replacement card if you lose yours
Unlike with N26 current accounts, you can’t make foreign currency transfers in the app
Existing N26 users can’t switch to a business account
You can’t have your company’s name on the account or card
No access to an overdraft
No physical bank branches
Fees and limits
Monthly fees. You will pay a monthly fee of €0 for the standard account, €4.90 for Business Smart, €9.90 for Business You and €16.90 for Business Metal.
Card fee. You will pay a card fee of €10 with the standard account.
ATM fees. You will be charged a transaction fee of €2 once you have reached your monthly free withdrawal limit for the Eurozone.
Currency conversion fee. All N26 accounts come with a 0% currency conversion fee.
How to sign up with N26
Opening a business account with N26 can take just eight minutes, according to the bank.
Compare N26 business accounts and pick one to sign up for. The paperless application process can be started from either your phone or computer. After confirming your email address and downloading the app to your smartphone, you’ll have to complete an ID verification. This is done by taking a selfie and a photo of your ID through the app. You’ll then have to pair your smartphone with your new account. After these steps, you’ll be able to add funds to your new business account.
You can then start using your account immediately, there’s no need to wait for your card to arrive in the post.
Our verdict
N26 stands out against other digital banks in the Netherlands is with its offer of up to 0.5% cashback on purchases. This might not sound like much, but it can add up quickly, especially if your company has a lot of outgoings a lot each month.
For example, you’d get € 50 in your company’s coffers for each € 10,000 you spend. N26’s business accounts have lots of other things going for them; including their easy-to-use app with handy features that can help you stay on top of your finances.
However, it’s a good idea to compare N26 business accounts, including all their benefits and costs, before settling on one that meets the needs of your business.
Opinions of N26
N26 scores 4 over 5 based on 15,000+ reviews and is rated Great on Trustpilot.
User ratings
# of reviews
What do customers say
4 / 5
15,051
“This internet-only, fully-licensed European bank offers most of the accustomed features, regulation, safety, and service of the regular banks, but in a lightweight mobile app.” — Alex Mambourg
“I have been a customer for over a year and I find the N26 bank very good, easy and comfortable to use. My experience is very positive, I have not encountered any problems and I find the customer service very good.” — Alex
“My card was recently used fraudulently, causing it to be locked. If you need a new card for this reason, you either need to wait over 2 weeks for a new one, or pay them 20€.” — Emma Dawkins
*Note: Information provided is based on the reviews and rating on Trustpilot (11 May 2021).
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Disclaimer: The products listed on this page are not representative of the whole market.
Frequently asked questions
You can feel confident that your money is secure with N26. Since 2016, the organisation has been a fully licensed bank by the European Central Bank meaning it must comply with the rules of the German financial regulatory authority. Essentially this means that all customer deposits of up to € 100,000 are held in the member states of the European Union.
Your cashback on all Mastercard purchases will be paid directly into your account. This gets deposited automatically on a monthly basis.
You can’t have two separate accounts at the same time. However, you may hold up to 10 sub-accounts with N26 Spaces.
To top-up your account or receive money into it you simply need to provide your N26 account’s IBAN and your full name.
Yes. Once your account is up and running, you can use a web version of N26 to view your account on your desktop or another larger device.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Aankondiging van adverteerders
Finder.com is een onafhankelijk vergelijkingsplatform en een informatiedienst die tot doel heeft om jou de tools te bieden die je nodig hebt om betere beslissingen te nemen. Hoewel we onafhankelijk zijn, zijn de aanbiedingen die op deze site verschijnen afkomstig van bedrijven waarvan finder.com een vergoeding ontvangt. We kunnen van onze partners een vergoeding ontvangen voor de plaatsing van hun producten of diensten. We kunnen ook een vergoeding ontvangen als je op bepaalde links op onze site klikt. Hoewel compensatieregelingen van invloed kunnen zijn op de volgorde, positie of plaatsing van productinformatie, heeft dit geen invloed op onze beoordeling van die producten. Interpreteer de volgorde waarin producten op onze site verschijnen niet als een onderschrijving of aanbeveling van ons. Finder.com vergelijkt een breed scala aan producten, providers en services, maar we geven geen informatie over alle beschikbare producten, providers of services. Hou er rekening mee dat er mogelijk nog andere opties beschikbaar zijn dan de producten, providers of services die door onze service worden gedekt.
