Wise vs N26
Uno sguardo fianco a fianco a come si confrontano questi due portafogli — e quale vince per ciascun compito.
| Caratteristica | Wise | N26 |
|---|---|---|
| Punteggio | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ideale per | Cheap, transparent international transfers | Everyday banking in the Eurozone |
| Canone mensile | Free (one-time card fee in some regions) | Free → €16.90/mo (Metal) |
| Tasso di cambio | Mid-market + transparent fee (often <0.5%) | Mid-market on card payments |
| Invia / ricevi | Low variable fee (~0.33%+) | Free SEPA transfers in EUR |
| Prelievi | Free up to a monthly cap, then small fee | Limited free EUR; foreign ATM fee on free plan |
| Carta | Yes — physical & virtual debit Mastercard | Yes — debit Mastercard; stainless on Metal |
| Disponibilità | 160+ countries | ~24 European markets |
| Valute | 40+ currencies | EUR account; spends worldwide at mid-market |
| Regolamentazione | FCA (UK), NBB (Belgium), FinCEN (US) | BaFin / German full banking licence (ECB) |
| Fondata | 2011 | 2013 |
Wise
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the benchmark for transparent, low-cost international transfers, using the real mid-market rate plus a small visible fee. Its multi-currency account holds 40+ currencies with local account details, making it ideal for freelancers and frequent travellers. It is an e-money provider rather than a full bank, so it lacks credit products and bank-style deposit insurance.
Pro
- Mid-market exchange rate with low transparent fees
- Hold and convert 40+ currencies
- Local account details in multiple currencies
Contro
- Not a full bank (no deposit insurance like a bank)
- ATM withdrawals free only up to a monthly cap
- No credit or overdraft features
N26
N26 is a Berlin-based mobile bank with a full German banking licence and €100,000 deposit protection, offering a polished app and fee-free card spending at the mid-market rate. It is EUR-centric and limited to around two dozen European markets, so it is not a true multi-currency account. Best for clean everyday banking within the Eurozone.
Pro
- Full German banking licence, €100k protection
- No FX markup on card spending
- Clean, well-designed mobile app
Contro
- EUR-only account; not truly multi-currency
- Available only in select European markets
- ATM withdrawal limits/fees on free plan
In conclusione
Nel complesso, Wise ha la meglio con un punteggio di 4.5 contro 4.0 — ma la scelta giusta dipende dalle tue priorità. Verifica entrambi rispetto al tuo Paese e al tuo caso d'uso prima di decidere.