N26 Business or Revolut Business: our complete comparison for entrepreneurs in France

Choosing a business account is an essential step for any freelancer, entrepreneur, or SME owner living in France. It’s the financial tool that will manage your daily business operations, cash flow, and international payments.

Among neobanks available to professionals in France, two major players stand out: the German bank N26 and the British fintech Revolut.

Both promote a modern, mobile, and low-cost banking experience. But behind the appealing simplicity, their approaches, pricing structures, and especially their ability to handle international transactions differ greatly.

For entrepreneurs in France who work with clients or suppliers abroad, choosing the wrong provider could mean hundreds or even thousands of euros in hidden fees each year.

This comprehensive guide breaks down N26 Business and Revolut Business in 2025 — their features, costs, and international capabilities — to help you choose the right fit for your professional activity.

While N26 and Revolut are convenient for everyday banking, they have clear limitations when it comes to receiving or sending money from abroad without hidden fees. This is where the Wise Business account can complement them perfectly — helping you manage global payments at the mid-market exchange rate with full transparency.

Learn more about
the Wise Business account

Part 1: Overview — who are N26 and Revolut?

To understand their offers, it’s important to look at their DNA.

N26 Business: the mobile bank for European freelancers in France

N26 is a German-licensed bank, offering full EU deposit protection up to €100,000. Its “Business” offer is designed for self-employed professionals and freelancers (natural persons).

• Philosophy: Simplicity and a seamless mobile experience. N26 aims to be the main professional account for freelancers who mainly operate within the Eurozone.
• Target audience: Freelancers, consultants, and micro-entrepreneurs based in France who need an easy, affordable everyday account.
• Important note: N26 Business accounts cannot receive SWIFT transfers (international transfers outside SEPA). This is a key limitation if you work with clients outside Europe.

Revolut Business: the financial platform for borderless companies

Revolut began as a multi-currency payment app and evolved into a full financial “super-app.” Its “Business” offer is broader than N26’s and caters to both freelancers and companies (legal entities such as SARL or SAS).

• Philosophy: International flexibility and modular features. Revolut is designed for businesses that buy, sell, and operate in multiple currencies.
• Target audience: Startups, e-commerce businesses, import/export companies, and freelancers in France who have international clients or suppliers.
• Important note: Revolut Business allows both SWIFT transfers and balances in over 25 currencies.

Part 2: Comparing N26 and Revolut Business offers (2025)

Both providers follow a “freemium” model — a free plan plus several paid tiers.

Offers for freelancers and self-employed individuals

Feature	N26 Business Standard¹	**Revolut Business Basic (Freelance)**²
Monthly price	€0	€0
Physical card	€10 (delivery)	Yes, 1 free
Cashback	0.1%	0.4% (capped at €10k/month)
Card payments in foreign currencies	✅ Fee-free (Mastercard rate)	✅ Fee-free (Revolut rate)
Euro withdrawals	3 free / month (then €2)	Paid (2%)
Foreign currency withdrawals	1.7% fee	Paid (2%)
International transfers (outgoing)	Via Wise (real rate + Wise fees)	€5 per SWIFT transfer
International transfers (incoming)	❌ Not available (no SWIFT)	✅ Possible (fixed fees)

Paid offers: when should you upgrade?

Upgrading with N26 mainly unlocks travel insurance, free foreign withdrawals, and sub-accounts for budgeting.

Revolut’s paid offers, on the other hand, bring strategic advantages: higher exchange rate limits at the interbank rate, cheaper SWIFT transfers, and more tools for team management and expense tracking.

In summary for freelancers in France:

• The free N26 plan works well if you only deal in euros.
• The free Revolut plan is more limited for daily use but better suited for international clients. Paid plans are quickly worth it if you manage regular cross-border payments.

Offers for companies (SARL, SAS, etc.)

Here, Revolut stands alone. N26 does not support business accounts for legal entities.

Revolut offers several tiers (Basic, Grow, Scale, Enterprise) with increasing features: team cards, mass payments, APIs, and higher currency exchange and transfer limits.

Part 3: International transactions — where they differ most

For businesses in France working with clients abroad, managing multiple currencies efficiently is essential. Here’s how N26 and Revolut compare.

Exchange rates and hidden fees

• N26: For card payments in foreign currencies, N26 applies the Mastercard rate with no extra markup — a very competitive rate. For outgoing international transfers, N26 partners with Wise directly in the app, ensuring the mid-market exchange rate. This is a major advantage.
• Revolut: Offers the “interbank rate,” but only within monthly limits depending on your plan (e.g. €1,000/month on the free plan). Beyond that, a 0.6% fee applies, plus about 1% on weekends.

Receiving money from abroad

Here’s where the difference is clear:

• N26 Business: Can only receive SEPA transfers in euros — no SWIFT payments from countries like the US, Canada, or Australia.
• Revolut Business: Can receive SWIFT transfers in multiple currencies. However, each received payment may incur a fixed fee (e.g. €5). The IBAN provided is often Lithuanian, which might lead to extra sender fees.

Part 4: How Wise complements N26 and Revolut

As we’ve seen, N26 works well for euro transactions but struggles with international ones. Revolut handles cross-border flows better but can still get expensive once you exceed your plan’s limits.

The smartest strategy for entrepreneurs in France? Combine them with Wise Business, your international finance hub.

Wise Business: the international layer for your company

Wise isn’t a bank but a financial platform built for cross-border transactions. It can connect seamlessly to your main account to handle everything international.

Here’s how Wise fills the gaps:

1. Local account details in 9 major currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, CAD, and more — all with local bank details (IBAN, Sort Code, Account Number…).
2. Receive money like a local, without fees: Share your US or UK details with clients abroad — they send local transfers (ACH or domestic), free for them and for you.
3. Pay and convert at the real rate: Wise always uses the mid-market exchange rate with minimal, transparent fees — no limits, no weekend markups.

The ideal setup for freelancers and entrepreneurs in France

• Scenario 1 (with N26):
  • Use N26 Business for your everyday euro transactions in France.
  • Use Wise Business for clients abroad: receive USD, GBP, or CAD, then convert and transfer to N26 when needed.
• Scenario 2 (with Revolut):
  • Use Revolut Business for your company’s European operations.
  • Use Wise Business whenever you exceed your exchange limit or receive payments from countries outside Revolut’s network.

Conclusion: N26 or Revolut — which to choose in France?

Your choice depends on your business model and geography:

• Choose N26 Business if:

  • You’re a freelancer or self-employed professional.
  • Your business activity is mainly within France or the Eurozone.
  • You want a free, simple, mobile-first account for everyday use.

• Choose Revolut Business if:

  • You’re a freelancer or company (SARL, SAS…).
  • You work with international clients or suppliers.
  • You need advanced features — team cards, APIs, or multi-currency management.

But the best approach isn’t to choose between them — it’s to combine them with Wise Business, creating a complete system: one account for daily banking in France, another for global operations.

Open your Wise Business account

FAQ: N26 Business vs Revolut Business in France

Are N26 and Revolut real banks?

N26 is a licensed German bank with EU deposit protection up to €100,000. Revolut operates in Europe through its Lithuanian banking entity, also offering the same protection.

Can I deposit cheques or cash?

No, both are 100% digital. Cash deposits are only possible with N26 through partners in certain countries (not standard in France).

Which is better for card payments abroad?

Both are very competitive. N26 uses the Mastercard rate, Revolut uses its own rate — both are close to the real mid-market rate and without hidden markups.

Can I open an N26 Business account for a company (SAS, SARL)?

No. N26 Business is only for self-employed professionals. For companies, choose Revolut Business or Wise Business.

Is the cashback worth it?

Not really — 0.1% (N26) or 0.4% (Revolut) is minimal compared to potential savings on exchange and transfer fees.

Can Wise fully replace N26 or Revolut?

For purely international businesses, Wise may suffice. But N26 and Revolut still offer classic banking features (direct debits, expense tracking, etc.) that can complement Wise perfectly.

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Sources:

¹ N26 Business Fees in France
² Revolut Business Fees in France
³ N26 Support - SWIFT Transfers

Last verified on October 9, 2025.

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.