Neobanks Switzerland simply explained
Neobanks in Switzerland
Zak, Yuh, neon, Alpian and Wise compared. What they cost and which one suits you.
Updated and checked on 13 November 2026 · Reading time approx. 6 minutes · by Helga Baechler, certified wealth advisor IAF
You no longer need to pay for an account and a card. With a neobank you save up to CHF 108 a year. In my neobank comparison for Switzerland you will see in 6 minutes which app suits you.
Which neobank is the best in Switzerland?
For everyday use, Zak, Yuh or neon free are enough. All three cost CHF 0 a month. If you travel a lot, neon or Alpian are worth it. At a traditional bank you often pay CHF 60 to 108 a year for an account and a card.
My codes for you
Click on the code to copy it. Enter it in the app when you sign up.
ZakCHF 50 starting credit
YuhCHF 50 + 250 Swissqoin
neonCHF 10 + free card
AlpianUp to CHF 120 bonusNeobanks Switzerland: what is a neobank?
A neobank is a bank on your phone. You open the account in the app, which only takes a few minutes. You get a Swiss IBAN and a card, usually for free.
5 terms briefly explained
- IBAN: your account number. Others use it to transfer money to you.
- Debit card: the money leaves your account immediately. You only spend what you have.
- TWINT: the Swiss app for paying with your phone.
- FINMA: the Swiss supervisory authority for banks.
- Deposit protection: if the bank goes bust, your money is protected up to CHF 100’000.
Traditional bank or neobank? This is how much you save
At a traditional bank you often pay twice, once for the account and once for the card. With Zak or Yuh you pay CHF 0 for both.
Zak and Yuh
CHF 0
per year for account and card
Raiffeisen, UBS, PostFinance
up to CHF 108
per year for account and card
What you gain with a neobank
Calculated with CHF 108 per year. That is what an account and card cost at Raiffeisen or UBS without discounts.
You can put this money to better use, for example for holidays or investing.
Pros of a neobank
- Usually completely free
- Account opened in minutes
- Push notification for every payment
- Savings pots and investing in the app
Cons of a neobank
- No branch and no advice in person
- No mortgage and no loan
- Support mostly by chat only
- Depositing cash is cumbersome
When do you still need a traditional bank?
- You want a mortgage or a loan.
- You often deposit a lot of cash.
- You want advice at the counter, for example about pillar 3a.
My tip
Many people do it like this. The traditional bank for the mortgage, the neobank for salary, card and everyday spending.
| Bank | Account + card per year | Cash abroad | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zak | CHF 0 | CHF 5 per withdrawal | |
| Yuh | CHF 0 | CHF 4.90 per withdrawal | |
| neon free | CHF 0 card one-off CHF 20 | 1.5% of the amount | |
| Alpian | CHF 0 metal card one-off CHF 60 | 2.5% of the amount | |
| Raiffeisen | approx. CHF 108 | CHF 4.50 per withdrawal | – |
| UBS | approx. CHF 108 | CHF 5 per withdrawal | – |
| PostFinance | approx. CHF 60 | CHF 5 per withdrawal | – |
As of October 2026, no guarantee. Raiffeisen CHF 60 account plus CHF 48 card, varies by Raiffeisen bank, account fee sometimes waived with salary payments. UBS CHF 5 account plus CHF 4 card per month, CHF 3 account with CHF 10’000 in assets. PostFinance Smart CHF 5 per month including card, free from CHF 25’000 in investments. The exception among traditional banks is Zürcher Kantonalbank, where account and debit card have been free since 2024 for clients from all over Switzerland.
Neobanks Switzerland: all fees at a glance
Here you can see what each app costs, in everyday life and when travelling.
| Provider | Per month | Cash in Switzerland | Cash abroad | Card abroad | TWINT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zak | Free | Free at Bank Cler, otherwise CHF 2 | CHF 5 | 2 % | Yes |
| Zak Plus | CHF 8 | Free | Free | 2 % | Yes |
| Yuh | Free | 1× per week free, then CHF 1.90 | CHF 4.90 | 0.95 % | Yes |
| neon free | Free | CHF 2.50 | 1.5 % | 0.35 % | Prepaid only |
| neon plus | CHF 2 | 2× per month free | 1.0 % | 0 % | Prepaid only |
| neon global | CHF 8 | 3× per month free | 0.5 % | 0 % | Prepaid only |
| neon metal | CHF 15 | 5× per month free | Free | 0 % | Prepaid only |
| Alpian | Free | CHF 2 | 2.5 % | 0.2 % | Prepaid only |
| Wise | Free | 2 withdrawals up to CHF 200 per month free | approx. 0.4 to 0.6% | No | |
As of October 2026, no guarantee. neon is cheaper with an annual plan, plus CHF 20, global CHF 80, metal CHF 150 per year. With neon free, cash at the checkout at Coop, Aldi and Lidl is free from a CHF 10 purchase. Alpian 0.5% at weekends. Wise uses the real exchange rate plus a small fee, depending on the currency.
A simple example
You pay CHF 3’000 a year by card abroad. With neon free this costs you approx. CHF 10.50, with Yuh approx. CHF 28.50 and with Zak approx. CHF 60. Work it out for yourself with my card fee calculator (in German) .
Zak: free account with savings pots
Zak belongs to Bank Cler, a proper Swiss bank. With the savings pots you can easily split your money, for example for holidays or rent.
- TWINT directly with the Bank Cler TWINT app
- Account from age 12
- Investing with Zak Invest from 18
- Rather expensive abroad, 2% surcharge on every card payment
Zak
CHF 50starting credit for free
- Account and card free
- Savings pots and TWINT included
- Enter the code in the app when you sign up
- Copy the code
- Download the Zak app
- Enter the code
Yuh: bank and investing in one app
Yuh belongs to Swissquote. In one app you have an account, a card and investing. You can buy shares from CHF 10, even of expensive companies like Nestlé or Apple. You simply buy a small piece of them.
- TWINT directly in the app
- Youth account Yuh 14+ from age 14
- Free joint account for couples
- Cash abroad costs CHF 4.90
- Card abroad 0.95% surcharge
New to investing? Start with my guide Investing for beginners in Switzerland (in German).
Yuh
CHF 50trading credits + 250 Swissqoin
- Account, card and TWINT free
- Invest from CHF 10
- Enter the code in the app when you sign up
- Copy the code
- Download the Yuh app
- Enter the code
Bonus after a deposit of CHF 500. The trading credits are valid for 3 months.
neon: 4 plans, ideal for travel
At neon you choose from four plans. Free costs nothing, plus, global and metal cost a little. In return you pay less or nothing abroad.
- Card abroad very cheap even with free
- Account from age 15
- Joint account neon duo for couples
- No own TWINT app, only TWINT Prepaid
- Cash in Switzerland costs CHF 2.50 with free
- First card with free costs a one-off CHF 20, free with my code
neon
CHF 10+ free card
- neon free account free
- Low fees abroad
- Enter the code in the app when you sign up
- Copy the code
- Download the neon app
- Enter the code
Without a code, the first card costs a one-off CHF 20.
Alpian: digital private bank with advice
Alpian is a digital private bank with its own FINMA banking licence. Unlike the others, you can get personal advice here if you want it.
- Account in several currencies
- Very good exchange rates with the card
- Payment with Garmin Pay possible
- Only from age 18, TWINT prepaid only
- The metal card costs a one-off CHF 60
Alpian
Up to CHF 120bonus for free
- Account and virtual card free
- Good exchange rates, several currencies
- Enter the code in the app when you sign up
- Copy the code
- Download the Alpian app
- Enter the code
CHF 55 after a deposit of CHF 500, another CHF 65 with an investment mandate. The metal card costs a one-off CHF 60.
Wise: for foreign currencies
Wise is not a Swiss bank. You get a Belgian IBAN, and there is no TWINT or eBill. In return, Wise exchanges your money at the real rate. Good as a second account for travel, but not as your main account.
I do not have a code for Wise.
Tip for your emergency fund
A neobank with savings pots is ideal for your reserve. How long your money lasts without a salary is shown by my reserve calculator (in German) in 10 seconds.
Neobanks Switzerland: which one suits you?
| What matters to you | My recommendation |
|---|---|
| Simply free | Zak or Yuh |
| Investing too | Yuh |
| Travelling often | neon or Alpian |
| Personal advice | Alpian |
All basic versions are free, so you can try several. I use several accounts myself, each with its own purpose.
Neobanks Switzerland: frequently asked questions
Which neobank is free in Switzerland?
With Zak and Yuh, the account and card are completely free. With neon free the account is free, the first card costs a one-off CHF 20, free with my code. With Alpian the metal card costs a one-off CHF 60.
How much does a bank card cost at a traditional bank?
At Raiffeisen and UBS you pay approx. CHF 108 a year for an account and card without discounts, at PostFinance approx. CHF 60. With Zak or Yuh you pay CHF 0.
Do I still need a traditional bank?
Only for a mortgage, a loan or advice in person. For salary and everyday spending, a neobank is enough.
Are neobanks safe?
Yes. Zak runs via Bank Cler, Yuh via Swissquote Bank, neon via Hypothekarbank Lenzburg. Alpian has its own banking licence. Your money is protected up to CHF 100’000. Wise is not a Swiss bank and has no Swiss deposit protection.
Can I use TWINT with neon?
Only via TWINT Prepaid. Zak and Yuh have TWINT built in.
From what age can I open an account?
Zak from 12, Yuh 14+ from 14 and neon from 15. Alpian and Wise from 18. Investing is only possible from 18 everywhere.
How do I get the bonus?
Copy my code, download the app and open the account. Enter the code when you sign up. You can see the exact conditions in the app.
Can I use several neobanks?
Yes. The basic versions are free. Give each account a purpose, for example everyday spending and travel.
Conclusion
You no longer need to pay for your everyday card. With a neobank you save up to CHF 108 a year. Zak and Yuh are great for everyday use, neon and Alpian are strong when travelling. You only need a traditional bank for the big things.
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*Advertising, affiliate links and codes. This costs you nothing extra. Not investment advice. No guarantee, fees change constantly.
