- Maximize rewards: Upgrade to attractive cashback rates on your everyday spending alongside interest on your balance.
- Personalize your wallet: Express yourself by choosing your physical Mastercard in your favorite color and design.
- Supercharge your budgeting: Get total financial freedom with up to 20 separate Pockets to split your expenses and savings effortlessly.
- Shop with maximum security: Generate up to 20 virtual cards to protect your personal details and enjoy included insurance covers for your purchases, extended warranties, and event tickets.
- Enjoy ultimate cash freedom: Perfect if you prefer cash, offering up to 20 free global ATM withdrawals and one complimentary cash deposit every month.
- Embrace life in Germany: You have your official registration (Anmeldung) sorted and don’t mind navigating a German-only app interface.
- €75 sign-up bonus: Get rewarded by C24 Bank for opening the account
We opened our own C24 Bank account and experienced the entire onboarding process firsthand. The digital opening for the C24 PLUS plan is fully automated, can be done entirely from home, and takes less than 15 minutes. C24 is giving you your first month of PLUS for free. After that, the account maintenance fee is due at the end of each month (based on your account opening date) and will be debited from your checking account. This means you have enough time to transfer your funds to the C24 PLUS account.
- Step 1: Digital sign-up (5-10 min) – Enter your phone and email, download the C24 bank app via the secure link, and fill in your personal details. You need to indicate a German address to complete the process. C24 will also perform a Schufa request (German credit history and score) but does not impose any specific requirements regarding income or assets. You will not encounter issues to open the account as long as you do not have any negative credit history (e.g., personal bankruptcy or reported missed instalments).
- Step 2: Instant ID verification (2-5 min) – Confirm your identity directly via Video-Ident, e-ID, or a simple login to an existing German bank account.
- Step 3: Immediate access (1 min) – The personal IBAN for your PLUS account is generated instantly. You can add your C24 Mastercard to Apple Pay or Google Pay immediately.
- Step 5: Delivery (3–5 Days) – Your physical PLUS bank card arrives by mail.
If you already have a German account, you can use the free digital C24 Bank switching service right after activation. The app automatically logs into your old bank, identifies your recurring payments (like rent, gym, or electricity), and moves them over to your new C24 Bank PLUS account within minutes.
The C24 PLUS account, of course, has all the benefits of the mobile app that are also available in the free SMART plan, i.e., spending tracking and analysis or contract optimization. A specific advantage is the ability to manage more pockets and virtual cards. This gives you many options for budgeting and security.
To give you an honest assessment, we thoroughly evaluated the C24 Bank PLUS account using official information, industry feedback, and the results of our own testing.
Based on average ratings on Trustpilot and Finanzfluss
Based on average ratings on App Store and Google Play Store
On major review platforms such as Trustpilot, Finanzfluss, and the official app stores, C24 PLUS enjoys an excellent technical reputation. Users consistently praise the blazing-fast digital onboarding process, the flawless app stability, and the high limits for cash management.
However, the community is sharply divided over whether the mid-tier PLUS account is the smartest choice. Pragmatic reviewers point out that for low-to-moderate spenders, the free SMART account is often entirely sufficient. Conversely, for power users who want a paid account to maximize returns, the community often recommends jumping straight to the MAX account.
Due to the cashback structure, the PLUS account mathematically neutralizes its monthly fee once you hit roughly €1,180 in monthly card spending (or faster through special promotional deals). However, because the MAX tier doubles the flat cashback rate, heavy spenders actually hit the fee break-even point even faster (at roughly €990 of monthly spending) while unlocking more features.
To help you decide if the PLUS account is truly your best option, here is a quick breakdown of what the other plans have to offer:
We have carefully selected several proven alternatives to C24 PLUS to help you make the right choice. Different neobanks offer distinct advantages, depending on whether you prefer an English interface, high cashback, or multiple sub-accounts. If you require unlimited cash withdrawals and deposits, a traditional retail bank with a physical branch network might be the way to go.
With 25 sub-accounts, 3 physical, and 25 digital cards bunq Pro is the all-rounder for sophisticated budgeting. bunq focuses on usability, sustainability and multi-currency account management for international transactions. Open your account in 6 languages throughout Europe.
Multi-language app and customer support
Account opening with a residence outside of Germany
, free debit card
Free cash withdrawals in the Eurozone
Monthly fee:
From €0
Not only is it fee-free, but it also lets you earn money through high interest and cashback on every Euro you deposit or spend. The app offers a variety of low-cost savings and trading options with account openings across Europe in 8 languages.
Multi-language app and customer support
Cashback program and interest earnings
Account opening with a residence outside of Germany
, optional debit card
Free card payments worlwide
Free cash withdrawals worlwide
Monthly fee:
€0
Commerzbank cleverly combines a girocard and Visa Debit into a single card with unlimited domestic cash withdrawals and deposits. Enjoy the reliability of Germany's second-largest private bank, personal in-branch support, and a fully English app.
Multi-language app and customer support
, free girocard, free debit card, optional credit card
Free cash withdrawals in Germany
Branch network in Germany
Monthly fee:
From €0
N26 Smart comes with a physical card in your favorite color, virtual cards, and smart sub-accounts. Pay globally and withdraw cash within the Eurozone completely fee-free. Thanks to a state-of-the-art app available across Europe, featuring 5 languages and investment options, N26 is the ultimate expat favorite.
Multi-language app and customer support
Account opening with a residence outside of Germany
, free debit card
Free card payments worlwide
Free cash withdrawals in the Eurozone
Monthly fee:
€4.9
In short, for expats who don’t mind the German-only interface and meet the residency requirements, C24 PLUS is an excellent choice. If you do not plan to use the Mastercard extensively, withdraw cash frequently, or need the additional app features, the free SMART version will be more than sufficient for you.
The C24 PLUS account is the upgraded version of the highly celebrated C24 SMART account, which already offers numerous features that other banks usually only provide for a monthly fee:
The paid PLUS account offers additional perks that can be interesting if you handle a lot of cash, use your Mastercard heavily, or want to budget diligently and securely:
The catch: The increased cashback technically covers the monthly fee if you spend at least €1,180 per month with your debit card. However, if your spending is that high, we would recommend directly upgrading to the C24 MAX plan. The MAX account offers 1% cashback (covering its fee with a monthly spend of just €990), along with CHECK24 discounts and travel insurance.
If you are still hesitating whether C24 Bank PLUS is the right choice for you, check our alternatives above.
Disclaimer: This blog and providing support are our passion and hobby. However, we do not intend to provide financial advice. All investments involve risks of loss. This post is non-binding, for informational purposes only, and does not represent a complete market overview. We do not take responsibility for the accuracy and up-to-dateness of the data (§18 ZKG).
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