N26 Invest review 2026

Fees

N26’s pricing splits into trading fees and non-trading fees, and varies by subscription plan. Four plans are available:

• N26 Standard: the free account covering everyday banking.
• N26 Smart: adds features including dedicated sub-accounts.
• N26 Go (formerly N26 You): premium features aimed at travellers, plus 3 free trades a month.
• N26 Metal: the top tier, with 10 free trades a month and the lowest crypto fees.

Trading fees

Since 2 September 2026, N26 charges a €0.90 fee on one-off stock, ETF and ETC orders. N26 linked the change to the EU ban on payment for order flow, which took effect on 30 June 2026. Savings plans remain free on every plan.

To illustrate how the fees work in practice, we bought fractional shares of NVIDIA.

In the example below, we bought €10 of NVIDIA fractional shares with no fee. This was before September 2026: today, the same one-off order costs €0.90 on the Standard and Smart plans, or uses one of your free monthly trades on Go and Metal.

When you tap on the “Trading fee” tooltip, you will see more details concerning cost:

Non-trading fees

N26 Invest is transparent on pricing, with no hidden charges. That said, deposit and withdrawal fees vary by country and subscription plan, so check what applies to you.

The table below summarises the non-trading fees:

Products and markets

N26 Invest offers a deliberately focused range: stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

Users get access to thousands of stocks and ETFs, plus ETCs, with fractional shares from €1. Orders are executed and held in custody by the German investment firm Upvest. On the crypto side, N26 supports more than 300 coins, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

In some countries, N26 also offers Ready-made Funds managed with BlackRock, matched to different risk profiles. They charge an annual fee of 0.55% on Standard and Smart, 0.39% on Go and 0.29% on Metal, on top of the funds’ own costs, and they are not available in every country (Portugal, for example, is excluded). In 2026, N26 also launched a Flexible Cash Fund with Fidelity, initially for Metal customers.

The platform does not support bonds, forex, CFDs, options, or futures. ETCs (exchange-traded commodities covering gold, silver, and platinum) are available in selected markets, offering limited indirect commodity exposure.

That narrow range is a design choice. For someone building a straightforward long-term portfolio around index ETFs, everything necessary is there. For anyone wanting bonds, options, or access beyond the listed markets, it will feel constraining quickly.

If you need broader product coverage, our BrokerMatch tool can point you toward platforms suited to more experienced investors.

N26 also offers interest on cash through its Instant Savings account, and as a fully licensed bank, your deposits are protected up to €100,000. More details below.

Stocks and ETFs

Users can easily explore and invest in a broad selection of stocks and ETFs directly through the N26 app under the “Investments” tab.

This feature offers access to global stocks, including US stocks and ETFs tracking well-known indices. With fractional shares available starting from just €1, investing becomes accessible to all users, regardless of their budget.

Cryptocurrencies

N26 Invest also provides access to cryptocurrencies, enabling users to trade a diverse range of digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many others.

This feature is seamlessly integrated into the banking app under the “Finances” tab, offering a convenient way for users to explore crypto trading without needing an additional platform.

N26 Investment plans

N26 also offers Investment plans, which allow users to set up recurring investments in stocks or ETFs at no extra cost.

This feature enables users to build wealth over time through automated monthly contributions, making it simple for even novice investors to benefit from dollar-cost averaging.

How to create an investment plan on the N26 App?

1. Access investment plans:

• Open the N26 app and navigate to the “Investments” tab.
• Tap on “Start a healthy habit” to begin setting up a recurring investment plan.
• For illustrative purposes, we selected the VWCE ETF, although you can opt for stocks or other ETFs of your choice.

2. Configure and activate the plan:

• Set the investment amount (e.g., €300) and the frequency (e.g., monthly).
• Review the plan details, including fees (€0, free) and the start date.
• Tap “Confirm” to activate your plan. You can manage your plan anytime: track, pause or cancel it through the “Investment plans” section.

N26 Interest on uninvested cash

For users who prefer to keep funds in their accounts, N26 provides the opportunity to earn interest on uninvested cash through its Instant Savings feature.

The earned interest is paid in euros (€) and is protected up to €100,000 by the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Similar to the fees section, the interest rates may vary depending on your plan and location.

Since we’re based in Portugal, the current Instant Savings rates for our country are 0.30% on Standard and Smart, 0.50% on Go and 1.50% on Metal per year. For comparison, the ECB deposit facility rate has been 2.50% since 16 September 2026. Rates are variable and can change at any time.

To learn more about the interest rates available in your country and the specific N26 plan you choose, please visit the N26 website.

You can also find other alternatives of brokers and digital banks offering high interest in our cash interest tool.

Safety and regulation

As a fully licensed digital bank, N26 is regulated by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank, which places it under the same supervisory framework as established German banks.

Protection differs by asset type, and the distinction matters:

• Cash deposits: covered up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Protection Scheme.
• Stocks and ETFs: held in custody by Upvest Securities GmbH, a BaFin-supervised investment firm, separately from its own assets, so they remain your property even if N26 or Upvest fails.
• Cryptocurrencies: no compensation coverage at all.

For crypto specifically, N26 partners with Bitpanda Asset Management GmbH, BaFin-licensed and using custodial cold storage. Since 30 December 2024, EU crypto services fall under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), setting harmonised requirements on governance, custody, and consumer protection. MiCA is a meaningful improvement on the previous position, but it does not extend deposit guarantees or investor compensation to crypto holdings.

N26 has also had regulatory issues. BaFin fined it €9.2 million in 2024 and, in December 2025, imposed new measures after an audit found structural weaknesses, including a special monitor and extra capital requirements. Its leadership has also changed: co-founder Valentin Stalf moved to the supervisory board in 2025, and former UBS executive Mike Dargan became CEO in April 2026.

Overall, N26 is a relatively young institution with a shorter track record than incumbent banks, but it holds a full banking licence under BaFin supervision.

Trading platform

While N26 accounts are accessible via web and mobile, N26 Invest is available only on mobile. It is fully integrated into the banking app, making it straightforward to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and crypto in a few taps alongside your everyday banking.

The mobile-only limitation is worth weighing. There is no desktop interface for reviewing holdings on a larger screen, no advanced charting, and no order types beyond the basics. For a long-term investor making periodic contributions, that is rarely a problem. For anyone wanting to analyse positions in depth, it is a real constraint.

The simplicity of the mobile app makes it an ideal choice for beginner investors.

However, one drawback is the lack of a desktop version, which limits access to the mobile platform.

Additionally, more experienced traders might find the platform lacking in advanced tools and analytics, which could make it less appealing to those seeking in-depth research features or more sophisticated trading options.

Account opening

Opening an N26 account is simple and can be done entirely online in just a few minutes. Just follow these steps:

1. Start your application: Go to the N26 website, choose your country of residence, and then click on “Open free bank account” to proceed.

2. Verify and set up: Confirm your email, download the N26 app, and go through the identity verification process. You’ll need to provide some personal and tax information along the way.

3. Create a password and enter a promo code: Set a secure password for your account and, to receive a welcome bonus, enter the promo code “nunodanm36988c” and redeem it.

4. Start investing: After verifying everything, your account will be active, and you’re ready to start investing in N26!

Customer support

N26 provides several ways for you to get in touch with customer support, ensuring help is always within reach. The easiest and most effective way is to open a secure chat directly through the N26 app while logged in. This allows N26 to verify your identity and provide the most accurate support.

You can reach support daily from 07:00 to 23:00 CET, including Sundays and holidays. If you’re on a paid plan (Smart, Go or Metal), you can also call the support hotline, as long as you’re calling from the phone number linked to your account.

If you don’t yet have an account and have general questions, you can open a visitor chat or send an email. If you ever lose access to your account or can’t log in, simply open a visitor chat, and the N26 team will help you out.

Countries available

N26 Invest (stocks and ETFs) is available in 18 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

N26 Crypto has a narrower footprint and is available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Bottom line

N26 Invest offers a straightforward route into investing for anyone who already banks with N26 or wants everything in one app. Free savings plans, fractional shares from €1, a few free trades on the premium plans and a full banking licence make a reasonable combination for someone starting out.

Three things to weigh before deciding:

• Fund by SEPA transfer, not card. After the first free top-up, the 3% card fee costs €15 on a €500 deposit before you buy anything.
• Prefer savings plans to one-off orders. Since September 2026, one-off orders cost €0.90 on the Standard and Smart plans, while savings plans remain free.
• Crypto pricing is expensive. At 1.5% to 2.5% per trade, a round trip costs 3% to 5%, well above dedicated exchanges.
• The product range is narrow and mobile-only. Fine for a simple ETF portfolio, limiting if you want bonds, options, or desktop access.

Set against dedicated brokers, N26 Invest trades breadth for convenience. If you value having banking and investing in one place and intend to build a simple long-term portfolio, that trade-off works well. If you want a wider instrument range or lower crypto costs, a specialist platform will serve you better.

Looking for alternatives? Try our investment platform comparison tool and BrokerMatch.

We hope this review helps you decide whether N26 Invest fits your goals. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us.