N26 vs Discovery Bank.
N26 (N85/100) and Discovery Bank (D45/100), 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 Discovery Bank 9-0.
| D Discovery Bank №82 · SARB 45 /100 | N N26 №03 · BaFin 85 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 45 /100 | 85 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €95 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. SARB | Full bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | €100,000 EU.DGS.DE |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 24 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 400 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.1 ★ 130k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.4 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Discovery Bank if…
Premium ZA digital-first bank backed by JSE-listed Discovery Group. SARB full-bank licence since 2019. Vitality Money behavioural-banking model — your rates and rewards rise with healthy financial behaviour, integrated with Discovery Health/Life. CODI cover. The only ZA digital bank with a serious premium-tier offering (Black tier with metal card, lounges, Vitality Travel).
Pick N26 if…
Pick if you want a German credit institution and a DE IBAN that every European employer recognises without question.
- Best for fees N26 won 2 of 4
- Best for protection N26 won 2 of 2
- Best for reach N26 won 2 of 3
- Best for ux N26 won 2 of 2
N26 vs Discovery Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Discovery Bank better than N26?
Under our v3 methodology, N26 leads Discovery Bank 9–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Discovery Bank 45/100 vs N26 85/100. N26 is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Discovery Bank or N26 cheaper?
Monthly fee — Discovery Bank: €95; N26: €0. Card FX markup — Discovery Bank: 1.50%; N26: Interbank. N26 wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Discovery Bank or N26?
Discovery Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. N26 holds a Full bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. N26 is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Discovery Bank and N26?
Discovery Bank operates in 1 country; N26 operates in 24 countries. 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?
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