🏦 Which business account to choose in 2026: N26, Revolut or Wise?

For that, an alternative like Heropay is essential.

• N26 targets the mobile sole trader, Wise the international business.

• Their common weakness: none offer financing for your cash flow needs or an interest-bearing account.

• For unexpected needs, Heropay stands out with instant financing available in 24h and your cash earning interest up to 5%.

• Choose N26 for cashback abroad, Wise for multi-currency transfers.

• The verdict: To finance your growth locally, an alternative like Heropay is essential.

Quick overview of N26 Business, Revolut Business and Wise Business

N26 Business in brief

N26 is a German mobile bank (founded 2013) primarily targeting sole traders/freelancers.

Its Business offering emphasizes a 100% mobile experience, a free account, cashback, and fee-free card payments in foreign currencies. IBAN provided might be German (DE) or Spanish (ES) depending on the user's location/signup date.

Revolut Business in brief

Revolut Business (UK, 2015) is a fintech with a banking license (Lithuania). Its positioning is international, serving freelancers and SMEs.

It offers multi-currency accounts (25+), team management tools, and extended features (API, investments...). UK account details (Sort Code/Account number) are provided.

Wise Business in brief

Wise (UK, 2011, formerly TransferWise) is an electronic money institution focused on transparency in exchange fees.

It allows holding over 40 currencies at the real exchange rate and receiving payments like a local in 9 currencies. Euro IBAN provided is Belgian (BE), UK details are also available.

Fees and pricing of N26, Revolut and Wise

N26 Business plans: from free to Metal

N26 offers four tiers for sole traders.

• Standard (€0/£0 /month): The free account with a virtual card and 0.1% cashback.

• Smart (€4.90/£4.90 /month): Adds the physical card and phone support.

• You (€9.90/£8.90 /month): Includes free foreign currency withdrawals and travel insurance.

• Metal (€16.90/£14.90 /month): Cashback increases to 0.5% with extended insurance.

N26 paid plans require a 12-month commitment.

Revolut Business plans: increasing quotas

Revolut structures its plans via monthly subscriptions with international quotas. UK plans differ slightly but follow similar tiers (Free, Grow, Scale, Enterprise).

• Basic/Free (€0/£0 /month): Limited quotas (e.g., £1k/€1k exchange at interbank rate).

• Grow (from £19/€25 /month): Higher limits (e.g., £10k/€10k exchange).

• Scale (from £79/€100 /month): For larger volumes (e.g., £50k/€50k exchange).

• Enterprise (custom): Tailored solution.

The Wise Business model: one-time fee then pay-as-you-go

Wise operates without a monthly subscription.

• One-time setup fee: £45 / €50 to get international bank details.

• Usage costs: Variable and transparent fees (from 0.43%) on conversions, applied at the real exchange rate. Free receiving in 9 major currencies.

In analysis, N26 is attractive for its free offering, Revolut for its features included in subscriptions, and Wise for its transparency and no fixed monthly fee model.

Included features and services

Company Formation / Share Capital Deposit

Major common weakness: none of the three (N26, Revolut, Wise) offer company formation services or handle share capital deposits required for setting up a limited company (Ltd).

You'll need another solution for this step.

International & Multi-currency: The Main Event

This is the core battleground for this trio.

The comparison shows distinct strengths:

• Wise is strongest for holding many currencies and guarantees the real exchange rate without quotas. Its Belgian Euro IBAN can be a drawback for some EU payments.

• Revolut is a good compromise with 25+ currencies, local details (including UK Sort Code/Account No.), but its interbank rate is limited by quotas.

• N26 is the least suitable for managing multi-currency flows, as its account is primarily in one currency. Its strength lies elsewhere.

Cards and Payments Abroad

Here, N26 Business stands out:

• It's the only one offering cashback.

• Its card payments in foreign currencies are consistently fee-free, regardless of currency or amount. This is ideal for expenses abroad.

Financing

This is the major shared weakness of all three.

None (N26, Revolut, Wise) offer simple and fast financing options for business cash flow (invoice advance, overdraft...).

Revolut offers investment tools, but that's not a solution for a short-term cash need.

Accounting and Invoicing

All three are relatively limited in this area for the UK market compared to dedicated software.

• N26: Expense categorization, simple exports.

• Revolut: Accounting integrations (Xero, QuickBooks...), basic invoicing tool.

• Wise: Integrations (Xero, QuickBooks), batch payments.

None offer deep integration with UK-specific payroll or tax systems (like HMRC).

Pros and cons: the summary table

Which profile is N26 Business suited for?

N26 Business can suit the "digital nomad" sole trader who primarily invoices in their home currency (EUR or potentially GBP if offered) but has frequent card expenses abroad (travel, software...).

Its free plan, cashback, and fee-free payments are its assets.

Which profile is Revolut Business suited for?

Revolut Business is a relevant choice for businesses (freelancers, SMEs) with regular international activity seeking a comprehensive platform.

If UK account details, team management, or broader financial tools (excluding simple financing) are important, it's a solid option.

Which profile is Wise Business suited for?

Wise Business can suit any business (sole trader or company) actively managing multiple currencies.

If you frequently receive and send international transfers, Wise's guaranteed real exchange rate and transparency are major economic advantages.

Which profile is N26 Business NOT suited for?

If you have a Limited Company, you are not eligible.

If you need financing, cheque/cash deposits, or to make SWIFT transfers, N26 is not the solution.

Which profile is Revolut Business NOT suited for?

If you are setting up your company, the lack of formation services is an issue.

If absolute fee transparency and the guaranteed real exchange rate are your top priority, Wise is more direct. The lack of simple financing is also a gap.

Which profile is Wise Business NOT suited for?

If your activity is purely domestic (UK/Eurozone), Wise's main advantage disappears.

The Belgian Euro IBAN can sometimes cause friction. According to Heropay, the lack of financing makes it unsuitable if you have cash flow needs.

Use case: an e-commerce seller and imported stock

Mehdi sells decorative items online. He mainly sources from a supplier in China (payment in USD) and sells to customers in the UK (GBP). He needs cash flow to pay his supplier before receiving money from his sales.

• The challenge: Pay the Chinese supplier in USD at the best rate, quickly, and manage the gap between this expense and his GBP revenue.

• The solution:

  • N26 is unsuitable (no SWIFT transfers).

  • Wise and Revolut are both excellent for paying the Chinese supplier cheaply. Wise guarantees the real rate; Revolut offers UK account details for customers.

  • But neither helps him finance his stock. Heropay's instant financing (e.g., to pay other UK suppliers) would be an essential complement to manage his working capital.

What you should know before opening an account

With N26 Business

• Sole traders only.

• German/Spanish IBAN possible: Can complicate direct debits with some UK organisations expecting local details.

• No "physical" services (cheques, cash).

• No financing.

With Revolut Business

• No company formation service.

• Customer support mainly via chat.

• Interbank rate limited by quotas depending on the plan.

• No simple financing.

With Wise Business

• Not a bank: Funds secured differently (safeguarding, not FSCS directly). No overdraft/credit.

• Belgian IBAN (BE) for Euro. UK Sort Code/Account No. provided for GBP.

• Cost tied to usage of conversions/transfers.

• No financing.

N26 vs Revolut vs Wise: the verdict

Your choice will depend on your status, and the nature and volume of your international flows.

• Opt for N26 Business if you are a sole trader and your main need involves card payments abroad and cashback.

• Opt for Revolut Business if you are a sole trader or company, need a comprehensive international platform (multi-currency, team, API...) and prefer a subscription. UK details are a plus.

• Opt for Wise Business if you are a sole trader or company, your priority is the guaranteed real exchange rate and absolute transparency, via a no-subscription model.

According to Heropay, their major shared weakness for a UK business is critical: the total lack of simple financing solutions tailored to the local market.

Top 10 alternatives to N26, Revolut and Wise

If these international specialists don't cover all your needs, especially local financing:

• Heropay: For its instant financing and interest-bearing cash (with FR/DE IBAN).

• Qonto: For more structured management in France and company formation.

• Shine: For its business creation tools and administrative management in France.

• Finom: A European challenger with invoicing tools.

• Blank: For its professional insurance and low price in France.

• Boursorama Pro: For the comprehensive offer of a major French online bank.

• Propulse by CA: For extreme simplicity backed by Crédit Agricole (France).

• Indy: For the integrated account + accounting for French freelancers.

• LCL Essentiel Pro: For those who prefer the support of a traditional French bank.

• Vivid Business: For its cashback and investment features. (Note: For UK-specific alternatives, consider Tide, Starling Bank, Monzo Business, Mettle)

The alternative: why choose Heropay?

N26, Revolut, and Wise connect you to the world but often overlook essential local needs like financing. Heropay is designed to finance the ambition of the European entrepreneur.

It's a third way focused on profitability and flexibility:

• A free business account with a local IBAN (FR/DE currently).

• Instant and integrated financing, up to €50,000, so you're never blocked.

• Interest-bearing cash up to 5%, so your money works for you.

FAQ on N26, Revolut and Wise Business

Which offers UK Sort Code & Account Number?

Revolut Business and Wise Business both provide UK account details. N26 Business typically provides a DE or ES IBAN.

Which is cheapest for international transactions?

For transfers, Wise is often cheapest due to the guaranteed real rate. For card payments, N26 is simplest (always fee-free). Revolut depends on your plan's quotas