Neon Alternative 2025: A comparison of the best digital banks

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Key points in a nutshell

Swiss neobanks at a glance: several Swiss banks now offer better conditions and more comprehensive services than neon.
The choice depends on your needs: based on your individual preferences, providers such as radicant, Yuh or Zak may be suitable alternatives.‍
Your benefits with radicant: radicant combines free banking (free bank account) with 0% fees on card transactions in any currency¹, free travel insurance, 0.1% interest on your CHF account and 0.5% on your EUR account² and sustainable investment opportunities.

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More than just a neon alternative – your banking experience with radicant

Switch to radicant now and benefit from attractive interest rates, fee-free card transactions abroad, and free travel insurance included – all in one intuitive app.

Download the app now

Secure your benefits now! Open your account now, enter the code SEARCH in your profile and get CHF 50.

neon at a glance

neon has established itself as one of the first mobile-only banks in Switzerland and offers a free personal account with a Mastercard debit card. One of neon's strengths is its free private account with no monthly basic fees. The Mastercard debit card enables cashless payments in Switzerland and abroad, although there is a fee of 0.35%³ for payments in foreign currencies.

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Introduction of new fees at neon

neon has adjusted its offer as of May 13, 2025. The neon free account now charges CHF 2.50 per cash withdrawal and a 0.35%³ exchange rate surcharge for card payments abroad. With radicant, on the other hand, you benefit from 0% fees for card transactions in any currency.

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The account is opened completely digitally via the user-friendly smartphone app, which makes neon attractive for digital-savvy customers. Although neon certainly offers convincing advantages for basic online banking, the Swiss banking landscape has evolved considerably in recent years, meaning that there are now other neobanks in Switzerland that offer more functions, better conditions or additional services for similar prices.

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Online banking is also possible without any problems with a neon alternative.

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Why look for an alternative to neon?

Despite neon's pioneering role in the Swiss banking market, there are legitimate reasons to look for alternatives. While neon remains a solid basic option for digital banking, other providers such as radicant now offer more attractive conditions and more comprehensive services.

One important point concerns the fees for foreign transfers. neon charges 0.35%³ for payments in foreign currencies and also levies the Mastercard surcharge. In comparison, radicant offers 0% fees for card payments in any currency¹ - with no hidden costs or VISA surcharge. This makes a significant difference for frequent travel or online purchases abroad. You also get 0% of interest³ with neon, whereas other banks offer much more attractive deals. In addition, some banks offer EUR accounts that allow you to benefit from the elimination of currency conversion. neon doesn’t offer any EUR account.

Also, if you want to invest your money with neon, you need appropriate investment knowledge, as you are on your own. With radicant, you don't have to worry about anything thanks to the asset management mandate.

Another advantage of radicant: with the saveback program, you can have up to 1% of your card spending credited to your investment portfolio with radicant.

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Save money with a neon alternative in Switzerland

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The best alternatives of neon in comparison

Unlike an online comparison service, we don't just look at the fees, but also the additional services and added value of the various providers. Here we compare the most important alternatives to neon so that you can find the right bank for you:

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Die besten neon Alternativen im Vergleich

Bank	Account management fees	Interest	Fees for card payments abroad	Conversion fees CHF to foreign currency	Cash withdrawals
radicant	free	0.1% on the CHF account and up to 0.5% on the EUR account²	free	0.90%	12 per year are included within Switzerland; CHF 2 per withdrawal abroad
neon	free	0%³	0.35% exchange rate surcharge for card payments abroad	conversion with Wise 0.8–1.7%	CHF 2.50 per withdrawal and 1.5% per withdrawal abroad
Alpian	free	0.1% up to CHF 25,000	free for CHF in Switzerland	CHF 0-7 (depending on currency and amount)	CHF 2 in Switzerland, CHF 2.5 abroad
Yuh	free	0% on current account, up to 0.25% on savings account	0.90%	0.30%	Weekly free withdrawal in Switzerland, 1.5% abroad
Zak	free	0.50% on the savings account	1.50%	not stated	5 free in Switzerland per month, thereafter CHF 2; abroad CHF 5 per withdrawal

radicant

radicant is aimed at anyone who expects more from their bank than just a free account. With its focus on the Travel Package, radicant is an excellent alternative for customers who are frequently travelling. You benefit from 0% fees on card transactions in any currency¹ and receive free travel insurance.

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radicant Benefits	radicant Drawbacks
Free account with no basic fees	Currently only debit cards available (no credit cards)
Up to 0.5% on the EUR account and 0.1% on the CHF account with no withdrawal limits²
0% fees for card payments in any currency worldwide¹
12 free withdrawals, then CHF 2 per withdrawal
Free travel insurance included
Saveback Programme: Up to 1% of your card spending is credited to your investment portfolio
Sustainable investment opportunities with transparent SDG Impact Rating
CO₂ footprint tracker for all payments
With every card payment, you support the restoration of mangrove ecosystems
Pillar 3a with 0.75% interest on the cash account or as an investment solution

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radicant is a good neon alternative for your banking needs.

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Alpian

Alpian is positioning itself as a digital private bank and is primarily aimed at wealthier clients who continue to value personalised advice but do not want to forego the digital benefits.

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Alpian Benefits	Alpian Drawbacks
Low currency exchange fees (0.2–0.5%)	Management mandate only from CHF 30,000, advisory mandate from CHF 10,000
Multi-currency account (CHF, EUR, USD, GBP)	Higher fee structure than smartphone-only banks
ETF saving plans possible	Less focus on everyday banking
Fair investment management fee of 0.75%	No pillar 3a available
	Expensive cash withdrawals: no free ATMs in Switzerland and high fees (2.5%) abroad

^*Source:^{https://www.alpian.com/pricing}^{accessed: 16.04.25; 2:11 pm}

Yuh (Swissquote and PostFinance)

Yuh is a company of Swissquote and PostFinance and combines banking with investment opportunities. Yuh is a good alternative for newcomers to the world of investing who are looking for a simple platform for banking and initial investment experience.

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Vorteile Yuh	Nachteile Yuh
Multiwährungskonto mit 13 Währungen	Teure Bargeldbezüge an Bancomaten im Ausland
Handel mit Kryptowährungen	Keine Portfolios oder Mandate verfügbar, nur Eigeninvestitionen
Belohnungssystem „Swissqoins“	Höhere Fremdwährungsgebühren als bei anderen Banken
Säule 3a Anlagelösung möglich mit 0.5% Kosten	Keine Zinsen auf Privatkonto, nur noch auf das Sparkonto
Kostenloser wöchentlicher Bancomat

^*Quelle:^{https://www.yuh.com/en/pricing/}^{; letzter Zugriff: 16.04.25; 14:18 Uhr}

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Online banking is a convenient way to do your banking from anywhere.

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Zak (brand of Bank Cler)

Zak is the digital banking app from Bank Cler, offering straightforward financial management. Zak is particularly suited to users looking for simple digital banking with innovative savings pot features, while valuing the security of an established Swiss bank.

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Zak Benefits	Zak Drawbacks
Savings pots for different savings goal	No investments
Shared group budgets	Pillar 3a investment solution is relatively expensive, with product costs around 1.25%
Integration into the Swiss banking infrastructure	Fees for all transactions abroad
Pillar 3a possible	Lack of fee transparency

^*Quelle:^{https://www.cler.ch/de/info/zak/preis}^{; letzter Zugriff: 16.04.25; 14:25 Uhr}

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Get more out of your money with radicant

Open your free radicant account and experience banking that does more. You’ll enjoy 0% fees on card transactions in all currencies⁶, free travel insurance, and a positive impact with every payment.

Download the app now

Secure your benefits now! Open an account today, enter the code SEARCH in your profile, and receive CHF 50.

Summary: Get your free radicant account as a neon alternative

radicant offers an attractive alternative to neon. While neon provides a solid basic digital banking service, the mobile bank radicant stands out with significantly better conditions and a unique SDG Impact Rating System for your investments. With a free account, 0% card transaction fees in any currency¹, free travel insurance, the Impact Rating System, 0.1% interest on the CHF account and up to 0.5% interest on the EUR account², radicant delivers a well-rounded package.
A key highlight is the holistic approach: with radicant, you get not only banking but also sustainable investment solutions and a pillar 3a option either as cash or investment.

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Manage your assets with the neon alternative radicant

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FAQ

Which one ist better, neon or Yuh?

Choosing between neo-banks like neon and Yuh depends on your personal priorities. neon is great for simple, free everyday banking, while Yuh stands out with its multi-currency account—though it charges slightly higher foreign currency fees. You could also consider radicant, which offers a free account, 0% card transaction fees in all currencies, a Saveback programme, and free travel insurance.

Which neo-banks are available in Switzerland?

Several established neo-banks operate in Switzerland, including neon, radicant, Yuh, Zak, Yapeal, Alpian, as well as digital offerings from traditional banks like UBS key4. Each one has its own focus, from sustainable banking to simplified investing or innovative savings pot features.

Which is the best online bank in Switzerland?

radicant stands out as a top online bank in Switzerland, offering a free account with 0% fees on card transactions in all currencies¹ and free travel insurance. You can also earn up to 0.5% interest on your EUR account².

Which digital bank is the best?

The best digital bank depends on your individual needs, but radicant offers a compelling overall package with free banking, attractive interest rates, 0% fees on card transactions in any currency¹, free travel insurance, and sustainable investment solutions.

Disclaimer

¹ radicant reserves the right to change the applicable fees at any time.

² For CHF accounts: 0.1% on the total balance. For EUR accounts: 0.5% up to EUR 250,000. 0% above EUR 250,000. Interest rates may change at any time due to market conditions. Interest rate changes take effect at the time of the adjustment without separate notification to customers. Interest is calculated daily based on the end-of-day balance. Interest accrued during the year is paid out on December 31st. The interest rate adjustment is effective as of March 25th, 2025. Interest rates are subject to change at any time depending on market conditions. Rate changes become effective at the time of the change. The applicable interest rates are published on the radicant website.

³ Neon plans; accessed; 22.05.25, 8:31 am.

⁴ Alpian Pricing; accessed; 16.04.25; 2:11 pm

⁵ Yuh Pricing; accessed; 16.04.25; 2:18 pm

⁶ Zak prices; accessed; 16.04.25; 2:25 pm

Neon Alternatives in Switzerland: Top Banks Compared

Key points in a nutshell

More than just a neon alternative – your banking experience with radicant