My neon Bank review, simply explained
neon review
The Swiss banking app with four plans. What neon can do, what it costs and who it is worth it for.
Updated and checked on 1 November 2026 · Reading time approx. 6 minutes · by Helga Baechler, certified wealth advisor IAF
neon is a Swiss bank account on your phone. In my neon Bank review I explain simply what the app can do, what it costs and when it is worth it.
In brief
Pairs well with neon
Many people combine a free account with a free credit card and a broker.
*Advertising, affiliate codes, no extra costs for you. Enter the code when you sign up. All codes on my Swiss promo codes page.
neon Bank review: is neon worth it?
Yes, especially if you travel. Even with the free plan neon free, you only pay a 0.35 % surcharge when paying by card abroad. Cash withdrawals in Switzerland cost 2.50 CHF with neon free, though. With the code liebefinanzen you get CHF 10 and the card for free.
neon
CHF 10+ free card
- neon free account at no cost
- Low fees abroad
- Enter the code when signing up in the app
- Copy code
- Download neon app
- Enter code
Not an affiliate link. Enter the code yourself when signing up in the app. Without a code, the first card costs a one-off 20 CHF.
*Advertising. The neon code is not an affiliate link, other links in this post may be affiliate links. There are no extra costs for you.
What is neon?
You can check all official prices on the neon website. In this neon Bank review I explain them in simple words.
neon is a banking app from Switzerland. You open the account on your phone in a few minutes. Your money is held at Hypothekarbank Lenzburg. It is protected up to CHF 100’000. More than 240’000 people use neon.
- Swiss IBAN with eBill and QR bills
- Debit Mastercard with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Garmin Pay
- Savings pots, which neon calls Spaces
- Investing and pillar 3a in the app
- No overdraft possible, you only spend what you have
- No cash deposits
neon Bank review: the 4 neon plans
You choose a plan. You can switch it in the app at any time. I use neon free myself.
| Plan | Per month | First card | Free cash in Switzerland | Card abroad | Cash abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| neon free | 0 CHF | 20 CHF, free with code | none | 0.35 % | 1.5 % |
| neon plus | 2 CHF | 20 CHF | 2× per month | 0 % | 1.0 % |
| neon global | 8 CHF | free | 3× per month | 0 % | 0.5 % |
| neon metal | 15 CHF | free | 5× per month | 0 % | free |
As of October 2026, no guarantee. Cheaper with an annual subscription, plus 20 CHF, global 80 CHF, metal 150 CHF per year. After the free withdrawals, cash in Switzerland costs 2.50 CHF. At Coop, Aldi and Lidl you get free cash at the till with a purchase of CHF 10 or more.
My tip
For most people, neon free is enough. If you often pay by card abroad, neon plus is worth it. For 2 CHF a month, the surcharge disappears completely.
neon Bank review: using neon abroad
Many people mix up two fees. One applies when you pay by card. The other applies when you withdraw cash at an ATM.
- Paying by card: 0.35 % with neon free, 0 % with all other plans
- Cash at the ATM: 1.5 % with free, 1.0 % with plus, 0.5 % with global, free with metal
Simple example
You withdraw 200 euros from an ATM in Italy. With neon free you pay 1.5 %, so approx. 3 euros. The ATM may also charge its own fee. If you want to compare your cards, use my card fees calculator.
You can send money abroad directly in the app via Wise. This usually costs 0.8 to 1.7 %. With neon global you get 20 % of that back, with neon metal 40 %. You will find more tips for your holidays in Paying cheaply abroad.
Account and card
You get a Debit Mastercard. In the app you can block it with one click. You set limits and see every payment straight away. The card comes in plastic, metal or wood.
- TWINT only works via TWINT Prepaid. neon does not have its own TWINT app.
neon duo and neon green
| Extra | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| neon duo | Joint account for two people, with a shared IBAN and two cards | 3 CHF per person per month |
| neon green | Wooden card, and neon plants trees with veritree, more in my neon green review | 3 CHF per month |
The Yuh partner account is free. I compare both in Free joint accounts in Switzerland.
Investing with neon Invest
With neon Invest you buy shares and ETFs directly in the app. You see all prices in Swiss francs. There is no extra currency exchange fee.
| What | At neon |
|---|---|
| Range | More than 240 shares and more than 70 ETFs |
| Custody fee | None |
| Purchase fee Switzerland | 0.5 % |
| Purchase fee abroad | 1 % |
| Savings plan | Up to 6 investments, some ETFs without a purchase fee |
| Fractional shares | No, whole shares only |
Your securities belong to you. If neon goes bust, they are protected. More on this in neon Invest review and Free ETF savings plan in Switzerland. New to investing? Start with Investing for beginners in Switzerland. My guide to buying shares shows you how a purchase works step by step.
neon 3a: pillar 3a in the app
neon 3a has been available since November 2025. The fee is 0.38 to 0.45 % per year, depending on your balance. From CHF 50’000 you pay 0.38 %. You choose from 5 strategies. You can pay in from as little as CHF 1.
- Up to 5 accounts, which saves tax later when you withdraw
- Index funds from Swisscanto
- Transfer your existing 3a to neon for free
You will find all the details in my neon pillar 3a review.
My neon Bank review: pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan neon free
- Cheap abroad
- Investing and 3a in the app
- Joint account without paperwork
- Transfers abroad with Wise
Cons
- Cash in Switzerland costs 2.50 CHF with free
- No cash deposits
- TWINT only via Prepaid
- Phone support only in paid plans
You can see how neon compares with Zak, Yuh and Alpian in my neobank comparison. If you are looking for a bank with advice, read Alpian vs. neon.
Tax statement
You will find the tax statement for your account free of charge in the app from mid-January. The one for your Invest portfolio by the end of February at the latest.
Frequently asked questions about neon
Is neon really free?
Yes. With neon free you pay no basic fee. Costs mainly arise with cash withdrawals. The first card costs a one-off 20 CHF, with my code it is free.
Is neon a real bank?
neon itself does not have a banking licence. Your account is held at Hypothekarbank Lenzburg. This is a Swiss bank. Your money is protected up to CHF 100’000.
How old do I have to be for neon?
At least 15 years old. Investing is possible from 18.
Can I use TWINT with neon?
Only via TWINT Prepaid. neon does not have its own TWINT app.
How big is the neon bonus?
With the code liebefinanzen you get CHF 10 and the card for free. So you save CHF 30 in total.
Does neon offer a pillar 3a?
Yes, since November 2025. The fee is 0.38 to 0.45 % per year. You can open up to 5 accounts.
Does neon offer a joint account?
Yes, neon duo. It costs 3 CHF per person per month.
How do I close my neon account?
In the app under Profile, Accounts, Close account. You will receive a confirmation by email and text message.
Conclusion of my neon Bank review
I use neon mainly when travelling and for everyday spending. The app is simple and the fees are clear. neon suits you well if you are often abroad, invest small amounts in ETFs or want a joint account. If you often withdraw cash in Switzerland, add a second account such as Zak. If you are looking for an alternative with a savings plan from CHF 10, read my Yuh review.
neon
CHF 10+ free card
- neon free account at no cost
- Low fees abroad
- Enter the code when signing up in the app
- Copy code
- Download neon app
- Enter code
Not an affiliate link. Enter the code yourself when signing up in the app. Without a code, the first card costs a one-off 20 CHF.
Further reading
About the author. I am a finance blogger and certified wealth advisor IAF. Since 2020 I have been writing on liebefinanzen.ch about accounts, ETFs, dividends and pillar 3a. I use neon myself on the neon free plan, mainly when travelling.
Helga Baechler, certified wealth advisor IAF
*Advertising, affiliate links. The neon code is not an affiliate link. Other links in this post may be affiliate links, there are no extra costs for you. Not investment advice. Information without guarantee, fees change constantly.