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C24 vs N26 Bank In Germany [2024 English Guide]

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C24 vs. N26 Bank Summary

c24 logo

C24 offers a balanced, free checking account with all the important functions and transparent costs.

n26

N26 used to be the best free checking account for expats in Germany. But now its free plan doesn’t offer key services that C24 does.

👑 Winner: C24 wins in all the categories except English support. We find C24 a better choice if you are fine without an English banking app.

  • C24’s free checking account offers all the services you may need for daily banking. Thus, it’s a good option for your main checking account. N26 removed most its services from free plan. Thus, it’s not the best option anymore on the market.
  • N26 doesn’t offer phone customer support in its free plan. C24 offers customer support via phone, email, and in-app chat.
  • The unique selling point of C24 is the joining bonus of 75 € and 2.5% interest on the checking account. N26 doesn’t offer interest on checking accounts. You must open a savings account instead. Moreover, the interest rate is only 1.26% in the free plan.
  • The only shortcoming of C24 is that it is available in German only. So, it’s not the best option for people looking for English support. N26 offers banking in both German and English.
ParameterWeightageN26
(Score out of 10)
👑 C24 (Winner)
(Score out of 10)
Customer service20%3⭐ 6 
Ease to open an account10%= 10= 10 
English support20%⭐ 100
Fees20%7⭐ 9
Real-time transfer5%5⭐ 10
Overdraft facility5%5⭐ 10
Technology10%9⭐ 10
Special features10%7⭐ 9
Overall score6.16.9
To the providerN26*C24*
= Draw, both offer similar or the same service
Winner in a particular category or feature

As you can see, C24 is the winner in all the categories except English support. C24 free checking account is the best banking account in the market as of 2024.

Open free bank account with C24

c24 logo
  • Best free bank account in Germany
  • 2.5% interest on checking account
  • 0.5% cashback on every transaction
  • 4 free ATM withdrawals worldwide

Table of Contents

C24 vs. N26 – Customer service

👑 C24 (Winner)N26 
Score⭐ 63
Customer support channels In-app chat, telephone, and emailIn-app chat only (for free plans)
Rating on Trustpilot 4.9 out of 5 (10,177 reviews)3.8 out of 5 (31,582 reviews)
Rating on Finanzfluss 3.8 out of 5 (112 reviews)2.9 out of 5 (251 reviews)
Positive reviews
Opening a bank account✔️ Within a few minutes✔️ Within a few minutes
Moving an account✔️✖️
Amazing mobile app✔️✔️
Pockets (subaccounts)✔️ 4 to 8✖️ Not available in free plan
Paying with a card abroad✔️ No fees✔️ No fees
Negative reviews
Accounts were suddenly blocked YesYes
Transactions took longer than expectedYes Didn’t find such a review
Standard replies on chatYesYes
Long waiting times when contacting customer careYesYes
To the providerC24*N26*
= Draw, both offer similar or the same service
Winner in a particular category or feature
✔️ Offers the particular feature

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C24 vs. N26 – Ease to open an account

👑 C24 (Winner)N26 
Score1010
Number of ways to verify yourself 3: Video Ident, Going to a post office, Verifying using an existing German bank account2: Video Ident, Going to a post office
To the providerC24* N26*
Winner in a particular category or feature

C24 vs. N26 – Checking account and other fees

👑 C24 (Winner)N26 
Score⭐ 97
Account management fee✔️ 0 €✔️ 0 €
Girocard✔️⭐ 0 €✖️ Don’t offer a Girocard
Debit card✔️ 0 €✔️ 0 €
Credit card✖️ Don’t offer✖️ Don’t offer
Number of free ATM withdrawals per month  43
ATM withdrawal fee after exhausting free withdrawals2 € per withdrawal2 € per withdrawal
ATM withdrawal within or outside EuropeWithin EU: Same fees as in Germany
Outside EU: Same fees as in Germany
Within EU: Unlimited free withdrawal
Outside EU: 1.7% fee
Payment within Europe✔️ 0 €✔️ 0 €
Payments outside Europe✔️ 0 €✔️ 0 €
To the providerC24*N26*
Winner in a particular category or feature
✔️ Offers the particular feature

C24 vs. N26 – Overdraft facility

👑 C24 (Winner)N26
Score⭐ 105
Offers overdraft facilityYesYes
Interest in overdraft facility 7.49% to 11.49%13.4%
To the providerC24*N26*
Winner in a particular category or feature

C24 vs. N26 – Banking app and online banking

👑 C24 (Winner)N26 
Score 109
Playstore rating4.8 (30.8k people reviewed it)3.8 (133k people reviewed it)
Appstore rating4.8 (33.1k people reviewed it)4.6 (9.1k people reviewed it)
Customer feedbackPositivePositive
To the providerC24*N26*
Winner in a particular category or feature

C24 vs. N26 – Checking account’s features you’ll love

👑 C24 (Winner)N26 
Score 95
Language🇩🇪 🇩🇪 🇺🇸
Cashback on card transactions✔️ 0.5%✖️
(business account only)
Cashback on partner companies✔️✖️ (only in paid plans)
Pockets / Sub-accounts✔️ 4 to 8 ✖️ (only in paid plans)
Joint accounts✔️ Free✔️ Free
Spending analysis and automatic savings options✔️✔️
Free trading account✖️✔️
To the providerC24*N26*
Winner in a particular category or feature
✔️ Offers the particular feature

C24 vs. N26 – How safe is your money with these banks?

C24N26 
Score= 10= 10
Have a banking license?✔️✔️
Registered with BaFin✔️✔️
Deposit security insurance✔️ 100,000 €✔️ 100,000 €
IBAN✔️ 🇩🇪 ✔️ 🇩🇪
To the providerC24*N26*
= Draw, both offer similar or the same service
✔️ Offers the particular feature

C24 vs N26 – Conclusion, which account is better?

Nowadays, many banks offer free checking accounts. Thus, the verdict is based on the performance of C24 and N26’s free checking accounts.

Both C24 and N26 offer their customers great banking apps with many features. However, C24’s free checking account offers better overall services to customers looking for a main bank account. 

The only problem with C24 Bank is that it’s available only in German. On the other hand, N26 offers services in both English and German.

However, N26 is not the best option as its free plan doesn’t offer many services like sub-accounts, cashback, interest, customer care on phone, etc. On the other hand C24 does.

So, C24* is the clear winner here. But if English banking is a must for you, then you should consider Revolut.

c24 logo

C24 offers a balanced, free checking account with all the important functions and transparent costs.

n26

N26 used to be the best free checking account for expats in Germany. But now its free plan doesn’t offer key services that C24 does.

👑 Winner: C24 wins in all the categories except English support. We find C24 a better choice if you are fine without an English banking app.

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