Choosing between a traditional banking model and fintech apps depends on your needs regarding fees and currency conversion. We compare popular plans and deposit protection levels.
Plan costs and monthly fees
Many apps offer free basic plans. N26 Standard has a monthly fee of 0 EUR, similar to bunq Free (0 EUR) and Revolut Standard (0 PLN). Klarna Core is distinguished by a monthly fee of 9 PLN.
For users requiring more features, paid subscriptions are available. N26 plans include Smart 4.9 EUR, Go 9.9 EUR, and Metal 16.9 EUR. Revolut offers a wide range, from Standard Plus 19.99 PLN to Ultra 260 PLN. bunq provides plans from Core 3.99 EUR to Elite 18.99 EUR, while Klarna offers options from Plus 35 PLN to Max 150 PLN.
Currency conversion and ATM withdrawals
The conversion mechanism affects travel costs. N26 Standard offers 0% card conversion (Visa/Mastercard or market rate), and Klarna Core applies 0% additional fee (Visa reference rate). Revolut Standard charges 1% for conversion, while bunq Free charges 0.5% up to 1,000 € spent by card in foreign currencies annually, increasing to 3% after that limit.
Cash withdrawals also incur costs. N26 Standard allows 2 withdrawals/month without fee in EUR, then 2 € per withdrawal; in other currencies (e.g. PLN), a 1.7% fee of the amount applies. Revolut Standard charges 2% of the withdrawn amount (min. 5 PLN) after exceeding the limit of 5 withdrawals or 800 PLN per month. For bunq Free, the cost is €2.99, while ATM withdrawals are unavailable in Klarna Core.
Deposit protection and licenses
The security of deposits depends on the banking license of the institution. N26 holds a German bank license, providing a guarantee up to 100,000 EUR. A similar level of protection (up to 100,000 EUR) is offered by bunq (bank in the Netherlands) and Revolut (bank in Lithuania).
Klarna operates as a bank in Sweden, where the deposit protection guarantee is 1,150,000 SEK.
Data: banks’ pages and fee tables in our database. General information, not financial advice.
