N26 vs Sony Bank.
N26 (N85/100) and Sony Bank (S69/100), 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 Sony Bank 7-0.
| N N26 №03 · BaFin 85 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 85 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| 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 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| 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 Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees N26 won 1 of 4
- 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 Sony Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is N26 better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, N26 leads Sony Bank 7–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: N26 85/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. 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 Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — N26: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — N26: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. N26 wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, N26 or Sony Bank?
N26 holds a Full bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Sony 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 Sony Bank?
N26 operates in 24 countries; Sony 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.