Online banks are a blessing of the modern era—they’re convenient, easy in use and always accessible. However, choosing the right one for you may be challenging. In this article, we’ll compare N26 vs Revolut vs Wise and decide which expats’ financial services are better.
N26 vs Revolut vs Wise: Requirements to open an account
The main criterion for choosing a bank is its availability. Your documents may be enough for one bank, while others might not accept your application. Opening a local bank account is essential if you plan to live and receive a salary in France (in this case, you should also know what French payslip is). So let’s see how you can do it.
To open an N26 account in France, you’ll need
- An ID (you must be over 18 years old);
- French visa or another proof of your residence;
- Tax residency and Tax ID number;
Once you download the N26 bank app, you’ll be asked to take a selfie and a photo of your ID right in the application. Maybe it’ll be a video call instead of the picture—it depends. This is a requirement to prove your identity.
To open a Wise bank account in France, you’ll need
- Your national ID (you must be over 18 years old);
- Proof of your residence in France;
- Proof of your address in France;
For Wise bank, it’s better to translate your documents into French (officially, not with the help of Google Translate) because they may ask you to do so while reviewing your application.
To open a Revolut bank account in France, you’ll need:
- Your national ID (you must be over 18 years old);
- Proof of your residence in France;
- Proof of your address in France;
Revolut bank states that this list is 100% included in the registration process, but some additional documents may be required.
The core documents are more or less the same. However, each bank may ask for extra information during the registration process. Our advice is to have as many official papers as you can to show that you’re a legal and responsible expat in France. Overall, online bank accounts are easier to open than traditional ones, so they are among the best banks in France for expats if you need a card urgently.
Plus, online banks are becoming more known and popular worldwide, so you can easily explore the world with them. We will not include travelling opportunities in this Revolut, Wise and N26 bank review, so if you want to use their cards abroad, check where they are accepted on the official websites.
N26 vs Revolut vs Wise: Account plans
N26 bank accounts in France are presented in four types
| Standard | Smart | You | Metal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month, EUR | Free | 4.90 | 9.90 | 16.90 |
| Virtual card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Physical card | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The interest rate for savings account | 1.05% | 1.05% | 1.25% | 2.75% |
| Free ATM withdrawals in euros | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
There are more offerings for each type, but overall, if you plan to use this card for daily expenditures, the Standard plan in N26 bank should be enough. Later, you can always switch to another account type. That’s it for the N26 bank review for now.
Wise bank accounts in France
Are less diverse—you’ll be suggested to choose between personal and business types. For most people, we recommend going with the personal one as it’ll be enough for your needs as an expat. What you can do in the Wise bank for free as an owner of a personal account:
- Withdrawing 200 EUR or less each month
- Paying with the virtual card;
- Holding 40+ currencies on one account;
- Receiving non-swift payments.
Other offers are not free, mostly. For example, if you want a physical card, you must pay 7 EUR, and ATM fees will be 1,75% once you exceed the 200 EUR limit.
Revolut bank accounts vary the most, as there are five plans
| Standard | Plus | Premium | Metal | Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee, EUR | Free | 3.99 | 9.99 | 16.99 | 45 |
| ATM withdrawals for free/per month, EUR | 200 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 2000 |
| Currency exchange/ per month, EUR | 1000 | 3000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Physical card (delivery & production fees may apply based on card type and number requested) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts for your children under 18 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
You can also open a business account in Revolut bank, but it’s not suitable for your everyday needs. Additionally, Revolut offers free subscriptions to services such as Tinder, Uber, NordVPN and more for Premium, Metal and Ultra accounts. It’s a nice bonus if you are already using them and want to save money as an expat.
When looking for the best banks in France for expats, we recommend paying attention to the following aspects:
- Withdrawals limits as you may need cash for rent, groceries and other payments;
- Monthly fee because we’re clever migrants who are saving money while living abroad;
- The availability of a physical card, such as an online one, may not always work. Especially with the ATMs!
Moving forward with our review of expats’ financial services, let’s check the transfer fees of each of the banks.
N26 vs Revolut vs Wise: Transfer fees
We’ll compare each bank’s standard plans, starting with the N26 bank review. Fees may differ for other plans, so check the official website if you want to open an upgraded account.
N26 fees
If you want to open an N26 bank account in France, fees for sending and receiving will be as follows:
- Transfers received in EUR from EEA states and Switzerland are free;
- Transfers sent in EUR to EEA and Switzerland are also free;
- SWIFT incoming fee is 12.50 EUR + 0.1% (max. 100 EUR) of the total amount. However, you’ll not be charged anything if the total is less than 150 EUR.
- SEPA transfers 0.99 EUR until 08.01.2025, after that date — free of charge.
Overall, N26 bank is convenient for small transfers within Europe.
Wise fees
What about the Wise bank account in France?
- Receiving non-swift (domestic) transfers is free;
- Receiving USD wire and Swift will be charged 6 USD. This is fixed.
- Receiving GBP Swift will be charged 2.16 GBP. Also fixed.
- Meanwhile, the EUR Swift fee is always 2.39 EUR.
- The fees for sending money vary based on the currency, starting from 0.47%;
- Sending to other Wise bank users is free.
Revolut fees
Lastly, let’s check the Revolut bank account prices.
- Sending to other Revolut bank users is free;
- Local payments in EUR (local currency in France) are free of charge.
- SEPA transfers are free.
- Fees for sending to another card (not Revolut) will depend on the total sum and the country you send to. Fees start at 0.20 EUR with a max of 57.50 EUR.
Here, we will end our N26 vs Revolut vs Wise comparison. We had a helpful overview when deciding which bank to choose. If you can’t choose yet, try opening free accounts in each bank and see which suits you best. It’ll take time and effort, but it will grant you a clear understanding of online banking in France.
If you’re an expat in France, all three banks will be comfortable to use since the difference between them is not so huge. However, when it comes to sending funds back home, use Profee—an indispensable expats’ financial service.
- Unbeatable rates from EUR to dozens of other currencies;
- 90+ countries available;
- We accept your Wise/Revolut statements as proof of living in Europe;
- Profee transfers are fast and secure, so you can enjoy French aesthetic life and cuisine without worrying.
- The registration process is easy as a pie.
- Our customer support speaks English and French, so our communication will go smoothly.
Try sending funds today with Profee!
Conclusion
In this article, we compared N26 vs Revolut vs Wise, one of the best banks in France for expats. Choose whatever feels right for you while keeping an eye on the fees and account limits you’re offered. You may even download all three apps but be careful when choosing a plan—you probably don’t want to pay extra!
Once you settle down and start thinking about sending money back home, join Profee and enjoy beneficial and secure transfers. The process is simple, the rates are great, and the interface is client-friendly. Everything you need for a pleasant transfer is here.
