Comparison table
| Bank | Payment fees | Withdrawal fees | Exchange | Subscription | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W Wise Account + Card | 0% | Free < €250/mo | Interbank + 0.4% | €0 | ★★★★★ | See → |
| R Revolut Premium | 0% | Free < €400/mo | Interbank 7d/7 | €9.99/mo | ★★★★★ | See → |
| R Revolut Standard | 0% | Free < €200/mo | Interbank (weekend markup) | €0 | ★★★★☆ | See → |
| F Fortuneo Gold Mastercard | 0% | Free (unlimited) | Mastercard rate | €0 | ★★★★☆ | See → |
| B BoursoBank Ultim | 0% | 3 free/mo then 1.69% | Visa rate | €0 | ★★★★☆ | See → |
| N N26 Go | 0% | Unlimited free | Mastercard rate | €7.90/mo | ★★★★☆ | See → |
| N N26 Standard | 0% | 1.7% | Mastercard rate | €0 | ★★★☆☆ | See → |
| B Bunq Easy Travel | 0% | Plan-based | Market rate | €3.99/mo | ★★★☆☆ | See → |
Fees recorded in June 2026 for standard travel use. Withdrawal caps and exchange conditions vary by plan and country. Check the current pricing terms on the official website before signing up.
Our methodology
We scored these 8 travel banks and accounts on 14 criteria across 4 categories.
1. Foreign fees
35% of the scoreForeign currency payment fees, withdrawal fees, free caps, exchange rate quality (interbank vs applied markup), possible weekend markup.
2. Real costs
25%Monthly subscription, actual fees measured over 6 months of use, international transfer fees, physical card cost.
3. International features
25%Multi-currency accounts, local IBANs, SWIFT/SEPA transfer, virtual card, joint accounts, countries covered.
4. Services & coverage
15%Included travel insurance, yield savings, access to credit, customer service, mobile app and support response times.
Our commitments
- We open and use each account before scoring it.
- Editorially independent comparison: no advertiser influences the ranking.
- Fees measured over 6 months of real use across 3 continents.
- Full reading of each bank's pricing terms.
- Quarterly update of scores and pricing.
Who is it for?
Depending on your travel profile, different accounts come out on top.
€0 subscription
Nomad / freelancer
Wise Account
Interbank rate + 0.4%, 50+ local IBANs to receive payments like a local. Ideal for invoicing foreign clients.
Details →Daily use
Regular traveler
Revolut Premium
Unlimited interbank exchange 7 days a week, free withdrawals up to €400/month, included travel insurance, best-rated app on the market.
Details →Free in France
France resident
BoursoBank Ultim
Free payments everywhere, 3 free withdrawals/month outside the eurozone, full French bank (credit, savings) with no-fee Visa Premier.
Details →🥇 #1 — Best overall
Wise Account + Card
Rating: ★★★★★ · €0/mo
In brief
- • Pure interbank exchange rate + transparent 0.4 to 0.8% commission
- • 50+ local IBANs (USD, GBP, EUR, AUD...) to receive like a local
- • Free withdrawals up to €250/month, then around 1.75%
- • Regulated electronic money institution, client funds segregated
Our top score. Wise is not a bank but an electronic money institution: no overdraft or credit, but the best exchange rate on the market. You receive payments through local IBANs in 50+ currencies with no SWIFT fees, which makes it the reference tool for international freelancers. Conversion happens at the real interbank rate with a commission shown upfront.
✅ Pros
- • Best exchange rate in the panel (interbank)
- • 50+ local IBANs to receive payments
- • No monthly subscription
- • Transparent conversion commission
- • Joint account available since 2024
⚠️ Cons
- • Not a bank: no overdraft or credit
- • Free withdrawals capped at €250/month
- • No included travel insurance
Ideal for digital nomads, freelancers invoicing foreign clients, travelers who want the best exchange rate with no subscription.
💳 #2 — Best for daily use
Revolut Premium
Rating: ★★★★★ · €9.99/mo
In brief
- • Unlimited interbank exchange with no weekend markup (Premium)
- • Free withdrawals up to €400/month (€200 on the free Standard plan)
- • Included travel insurance (medical, cancellation) on the Premium plan
- • Best-rated app on the market, disposable virtual card
The reference for UX. The free Standard plan is enough for occasional use (€200 in withdrawals and €1,000 in free exchange per month, with a weekend markup). The Premium plan at €9.99 per month removes the exchange caps, raises free withdrawals to €400 and adds travel insurance. Instant notifications, real-time blocking and joint accounts round out the offer.
✅ Pros
- • Unlimited interbank exchange (Premium)
- • Most polished app and features
- • Included travel insurance on Premium
- • Disposable virtual card and instant blocking
- • Decent free Standard plan as backup
⚠️ Cons
- • Weekend exchange markup on the free plan
- • Subscription needed to remove caps
- • Electronic money institution, no credit
Ideal for regular travelers, daily card use abroad, those who want built-in travel insurance.
💰 #3 — Best free option
Fortuneo Gold Mastercard
Rating: ★★★★☆ · €0/mo
In brief
- • Payments and withdrawals outside the eurozone fully free
- • No monthly fee (subject to usage conditions)
- • Real French bank: credit, savings, regulated accounts
- • Travel insurance and assistance included with the card
The most complete free option for French residents. The Fortuneo Gold Mastercard applies the Mastercard rate with no bank commission on foreign currency payments, and stands out with free withdrawals and no cap, where most cards apply a limit. It is a full French bank, useful to keep a French IBAN and access credit.
✅ Pros
- • Free withdrawals outside the eurozone with no cap
- • Foreign currency payments with no commission
- • No monthly fee
- • Full French bank (credit, savings)
⚠️ Cons
- • Usage or income conditions depending on the card
- • No multi-currency account
- • Mastercard exchange rate (not pure interbank)
Ideal for French residents who travel regularly and want a free card with no foreign fees.
🏦 #4 — Best mobile-only
N26 Go
Rating: ★★★★☆ · €7.90/mo
In brief
- • Foreign currency payments with no commission at the Mastercard rate, weekends included
- • Unlimited free withdrawals abroad on the Go plan
- • Travel insurance included on the Go and Metal plans
- • Free Standard plan with 1.7% fee on withdrawals
The most polished German neobank on the card side. The Standard plan is free but applies 1.7% on foreign withdrawals. The Go plan at €7.90 per month adds unlimited free withdrawals outside the eurozone and travel insurance. The Metal plan at €16.90 per month extends coverage (medical up to €1,000,000, cancellation, purchase protection).
✅ Pros
- • Foreign currency payments with no commission, weekends included
- • Unlimited free withdrawals on Go
- • Travel insurance included (Go and Metal)
- • Clear app and German IBAN
⚠️ Cons
- • 1.7% fee on withdrawals on the free plan
- • No multi-currency account
- • German IBAN only (tax declaration required)
Ideal for travelers who want a simple neobank, unlimited free withdrawals and built-in travel insurance.
🇫🇷 #5 — Best French bank
BoursoBank Ultim
Rating: ★★★★☆ · €0/mo
In brief
- • Free payments everywhere in the world, in euros and in foreign currency
- • 3 free withdrawals per month outside the eurozone, then 1.69%
- • No-fee Visa Premier, travel insurance and assistance included
- • Full French bank: credit, savings, regulated accounts
The best choice to keep a French bank while traveling. The Ultim card charges no commission on foreign payments and offers 3 free withdrawals per month outside the eurozone. Beyond that, 1.69% applies. It is a full bank that covers the administrative needs (French IBAN, credit, savings) that neobanks do not.
✅ Pros
- • Foreign payments with no commission
- • Free Visa Premier with travel insurance
- • Full French bank (credit, savings)
- • French IBAN for administrative needs
⚠️ Cons
- • Withdrawals outside the eurozone capped at 3 free/month
- • No multi-currency account
- • Income or usage conditions for the card
Ideal for French residents who travel several times a year with no intent to leave France, as a complement to a neobank.
FAQ
What is the best bank for travel in 2026? +
Wise or Revolut, which to choose? +
Is Wise a bank? +
What are the foreign withdrawal fees by bank? +
Should you keep a French bank when traveling long-term? +
Does a travel card cover full travel insurance? +
What exchange rate do these banks apply? +
Should you declare a Wise or Revolut account to the French tax office? +
Best travel bank 2026
This comparison covers full accounts for travel: current accounts, multi-currency accounts, international transfers and cards with no foreign fees, for regular travelers and digital nomads alike. For the payment-card-focused comparison, see our travel credit card comparator.
We opened and used 8 accounts over 6 months of real use, across three continents, measuring effective payment, withdrawal and exchange fees. The figures below were verified in June 2026 against official pricing schedules. Free caps and exchange conditions change regularly: always check the current terms before signing up.
This comparison is purely informational and descriptive. It does not constitute financial advice or a personalized recommendation.
Sources and references
- Banque de France: regulation of payment institutions
- ACPR: approval of electronic money institutions
- Service-Public.fr: declaring foreign accounts (form 3916)
- UFC-Que Choisir: banking fee comparisons
- Official pricing schedules of the 8 banks (consulted June 2026)
Update history
- June 17, 2026: comparison reworked into structured sections, 2026 fees and subscriptions verified (Revolut €9.99/mo, N26 Go €7.90/mo, BoursoBank Ultim 3 free withdrawals).
- May 22, 2026: first publication.
Other comparisons
- Best travel credit card: Revolut, Wise, N26
- Best travel insurance: Chapka, Heymondo, ACS
- Best travel eSIM: Airalo, Holafly
- Travel budget calculator: estimate by destination
Comparator written by Mathieu D., ex-financial analyst. Last updated: June 17, 2026.
Independence: this comparison is editorially independent. No advertiser influences our ranking or our opinion.