N26 vs Rakuten Bank.
N26 (N85/100) and Rakuten Bank (R70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. N26 leads Rakuten Bank 6-0.
| N N26 №03 · BaFin 85 /100 | R Rakuten Bank №33 · JFSA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 85 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank BaFin | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.DE | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 24 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | 400 coins | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.1 ★ 130k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.4 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick N26 if…
Pick if you want a German credit institution and a DE IBAN that every European employer recognises without question.
Pick Rakuten Bank if…
Largest Japanese internet-only bank by customer count (~14M+) and the only TSE Prime-listed pure-play net bank (TYO: 5838, IPO 21 April 2023 — the largest Japanese IPO in five years at the time). Originally chartered as eBank in 2001; acquired by Rakuten Group (TYO: 4755) in 2009. Structural moat is the Rakuten Points + Rakuten Card + Rakuten Securities + Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Ichiba ecosystem — points cross-pollinate across the entire surface area. Full FSA Banking Act licence; statutory DICJ member at the JPY 10,000,000 ceiling.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection N26 won 1 of 2
- Best for reach N26 won 2 of 3
- Best for ux N26 won 2 of 2
N26 vs Rakuten Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is N26 better than Rakuten Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, N26 leads Rakuten Bank 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: N26 85/100 vs Rakuten Bank 70/100. N26 is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is N26 or Rakuten Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — N26: €0; Rakuten Bank: €0. Card FX markup — N26: Interbank; Rakuten Bank: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, N26 or Rakuten Bank?
N26 holds a Full bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Rakuten Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. N26 is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use N26 and Rakuten Bank?
N26 operates in 24 countries; Rakuten Bank operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.