Finding the best banking app for the iPhone is mostly a question of where you bank and what you need. ING and DKB deliver the strongest overall package for direct-banking customers, with free apps and Apple Pay; anyone…
This comparison focuses on apps and prices in the German App Store. Availability and prices can differ in other regions.
Finding the best banking app for the iPhone is mostly a question of where you bank and what you need. ING and DKB deliver the strongest overall package for direct-banking customers, with free apps and Apple Pay; anyone tracking several accounts needs a multi-banking solution such as Finanzblick or Outbank, and Wise is hard to beat for cheap international transfers. A March 2026 update notes that the DKB app improved clearly after its redesign and that Finanzguru is worth mentioning as a budgeting tool alongside classic banking. The comparison covers three approaches: banks whose apps only handle the institution's own account, aggregators that bundle every banking connection into one interface, and apps that rethink banking altogether. Each app is assessed on usability, security concept, feature scope, Apple-Pay integration and multi-banking capability. All of them support Face ID or Touch ID, so the real questions concern how well two-factor authentication works, whether a separate TAN app is required, how fast a card can be blocked in an emergency, and how Apple Pay is wired in. ING and DKB offer Apple Pay directly in the app; in multi-banking apps such as Outbank all accounts are visible, but Apple Pay still runs through each bank's own app.
Our verdict
For pure online banking, ING and DKB are the strongest iPhone options: both are free, both support Apple Pay, and both are thoughtfully designed, with the ING app looking a little tidier and DKB catching up clearly after its major redesign. Anyone holding several accounts should consider Outbank, the best multi-banking app with genuine budget tracking, while Finanzblick from Buhl offers similar functions but targets users who want to analyze their finances in detail. Wise is essential for anyone making international transfers, because the real exchange rate without hidden markups saves money on every transaction. None of these apps is weak; each solves a different problem, and the choice depends on whether you need a strong single-bank app or a central multi-banking solution.
Wise, formerly TransferWise, handles international transfers at the real mid-market exchange rate without hidden fees, and its multi-currency account plus debit card make it a companion for travel and cross-border finance. The app is free and earns through transaction fees, with no app subscription. It is not a replacement for a German checking account; the source recommends it as an essential supplement for anyone regularly sending money abroad.
ING runs Germany's largest online bank, with a permanently free checking account that needs no minimum incoming transfer, alongside a securities depot and ETF savings plans in the same app. The app is free and rated 4.8 stars. The source praises the clean interface and integrated Apple Pay, while noting few budgeting functions; it is the first choice for anyone banking with ING.
DKB's app is free for DKB customers, and the DKB account itself is free with a monthly incoming transfer of €700; without that, the account costs €4.50 per month. Following a major redesign the app became more user-friendly, with a solid feature scope and no gimmicks. It is the natural choice for existing DKB customers managing account and depot.
Finanzguru keeps accounts, contracts and budgets in view by syncing German bank connections, adding contract management on top of transaction data. The basic version is free, with premium features such as budget planning, categorization and tax tools for around €5 per month. The source treats it as a supplement that surfaces forgotten contracts and savings potential, not as a classic banking app.
N26 is a mobile-first German bank with a free basic account, real-time push notifications for every transaction and separate Spaces for different savings goals. The Metal subscription costs around €17 per month and adds cashback and travel insurance. The source praises the design but notes expensive premium features and repeatedly criticized customer support.
PayPal is the standard tool for paying online and sending money to friends or family, with buyer protection for shopping. The app is free and earns through transaction fees. The source cautions that it cannot serve as a main banking relationship and that the service stays controversial, with account freezes a recurring source of complaints.
Sparkasse is the official app of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe for mobile account management, with Apple Pay and regular transfers built in. It is free and has no premium tier. The source calls it a mandatory app for Sparkasse customers, while noting quality varies strongly by regional savings bank and that it does not match the neo-bank experience.
Revolut is a digital bank strong on cheap foreign transactions, multi-currency accounts and virtual disposable cards for online security. The basic account is free, with a Metal subscription of around €10 per month adding cashback, free transfers and lounge access. The source notes many functions sit behind paid plans, so it is most valuable to frequent travelers.
Some apps were not returned for this store region.
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Questions & answers
Which banking app for the iPhone is the safest?
All the major banking apps rely on encryption, Face ID and two-factor authentication. ING and DKB each use an integrated TAN solution directly inside the app, so no separate TAN generator is required. Outbank stores banking data only locally on the device, not in the cloud. As a rule, banking apps from regulated banks are subject to the strict security requirements of BaFin, Germany's financial supervisor.
Can I manage several bank accounts in a single app?
Yes, that is exactly what multi-banking apps are for. Outbank and Finanzblick connect to practically any German bank through the FinTS/HBCI interface. Accounts, credit cards and securities depots all appear in one overview. The proprietary apps from ING and DKB, by contrast, show only the accounts held at the respective bank.
Which free banking app is the best?
ING and DKB offer their apps free of charge, together with a free checking account. The basic version of Outbank is also free, but extended features such as budget categories require the Pro version. Wise is free to install; fees only apply when a transfer is actually made.
What is better — the bank’s own app or a multi-banking app?
With just one account, the bank's own app (ING, DKB) is the better choice: faster access, Apple Pay directly integrated, and less setup work. With several accounts at different banks, a multi-banking app such as Outbank saves real time — everything in one place instead of three separate apps.
Do all banking apps support Apple Pay?
ING and DKB support Apple Pay directly, and Wise also offers Apple Pay through its own debit card. Multi-banking apps such as Outbank and Finanzblick display all your accounts, but Apple Pay still has to be set up through each bank's own app, since the aggregator cannot issue the payment itself.
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