Qonto
Best account for growing companies
from €0/month
- Sole proprietor to GmbH: all entity types
- Sub-accounts, team cards, roles
- DATEV export for tax advisors
- €0 Starter for solo, from €9: 30 transactions free
Business Account Comparison: 9 Accounts Tested
9 business accounts in test, focused on fees, bookkeeping integration, and the features freelancers and founders actually need.
Our Top 3 Picks
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Vivid Free Start
Cashback & free cards, €0
€0/month
- Transfers included, €0 fee
- 0.1% guaranteed cashback, up to 2% in categories
- Free physical + virtual cards
- SEPA instant included
Tide
Free business account for small firms
€0/month
- 5 free SEPA transfers a month
- Invoicing directly in the app
- Mastercard debit + virtual cards
- Fast account opening via app
Winners by category
A different account fits depending on your entity type, cash needs, and bookkeeping workflow.
Qonto
Scales from solo to GmbH with 50 employees. Sub-accounts, team roles, DATEV export.
Open QontoVivid Free Start
€0 per month, transfers included, 0.1% cashback. Free physical and virtual cards.
Open VividKontist
Automatic tax calculation on every incoming payment, VAT returns and BWA in the Plus plan.
Open KontistFYRST
Deposit cash at Deutsche Bank and Postbank branches, fee per price list.
Open FYRSTN26 Business
€0 per month, unlimited digital transactions, 0.1% cashback. Account opened in 10 minutes.
Open N26 BusinessHow we tested
Three criteria decide the order in the comparison, and we re-check them every month.
Real-world fees
We model a typical freelancer setup (20 transactions, 1 card, SEPA instant) and look at what's actually left over.
Bookkeeping integration
Open banking, DATEV export, automatic matching: we test how much manual work is left at month-end.
Account features
Sub-accounts, team roles, cash, e-invoicing, international transfers: we score what goes beyond a plain IBAN.
All 9 Business Accounts Compared
Scroll right for all columns →
| Provider | Price / Month | Cashback | Interest | Bookkeeping | Cards | Entity Types | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QontoAllrounder Growing companies | from €0 | 0.4–0.8% with Plus/X card | from Smart plan (variable) | DATEV interface, sub-accounts, receipts | virtual, phys. from Basic | Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH | Open → |
VividFree Cashback & multi-card | €0 | 0.1%, up to 2% by category | 0.1% (Free Start) | DATEV interface, sub-accounts, receipts | phys. + virtual free | Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH | Open → |
TideSME Pick Free SME account | €0 | 1.25–1.75% (savings) | Invoicing, DATEV | Debit + virtual | Sole, UG, GmbH | Open → | |
N26 Business Solo freelancer | €0 | 0.1% | Export possible | 1 virtual (phys. €10) | Self-employed only | Open → | |
Kontist Tax automation | €0–€25 | Tax calculation, VAT return (Plus) | Debit card | Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH | Open → | ||
Holvi Invoicing + banking | €0–€15 | Money market fund for GmbH/UG | Invoices, e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD) | virtual, phys. €3/month | Sole, UG, GmbH | Open → | |
FYRST Cash & branch network | €0, companies €6 from month 7 | 0.5% instant-access savings | DATEV connection | Giro + debit | Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH | Open → | |
Finom Solo Budget-conscious starters | €0 | 1–3% from Basic | Interest wallet (variable) | Invoicing, DATEV export | virtual, phys. €3/month | Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH | Open → |
Commerzbank Full-service & loans | €15.90 (year 1 €0) | Instant-access savings (variable) | DATEV interface | Giro + credit card | All | Open → |
Updated: September 2026 · 9 providers tested
All business accounts in detail
QontoAllrounder
From freelancer to GmbH: one account that grows with you
Qonto scales from solo to teams with 50 employees. From Basic at €9: 30 transactions included, sub-accounts for projects or tax reserves, role-based team access, and clean DATEV export: the first choice if you work with a tax advisor or your business is growing.
Open Qonto →- Monthly fee
- from €0 (Starter, solo only)
- Entity types
- Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH, etc.
- Cards
- Virtual (Starter), phys. from Basic
- Cash deposits
- No
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- 0.4–0.8% with Plus/X card
- Interest
- from Smart plan (variable)
- Bookkeeping
- DATEV interface, receipts, sub-accounts
- Norman integration
- Yes, official Qonto-Norman integration
Vivid Free StartFree
Cashback and free cards with no monthly fee
Vivid is strong on extras: 0.1% guaranteed cashback, up to 2% in selected categories (up to 6% on the Pro plan), and physical and virtual cards at no extra cost. Useful if you need separate cards for clients or projects. Supports sole proprietors, partnerships, UG, and GmbH. No cash, no integrated bookkeeping.
Open Vivid →- Monthly fee
- €0
- Entity types
- Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH
- Cards
- Phys. + virtual free
- Cash deposits
- No
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- 0.1%, up to 2% by category
- Interest
- 0.1% (Free Start)
- Bookkeeping
- DATEV interface, receipts, sub-accounts
- Norman integration
- Yes, open banking
TideSME Pick
Affordable start as a British fintech
Tide starts with the Lite account for €0: 5 SEPA transfers a month are free, each further one costs €0.20. Invoicing and a DATEV connection are built into the app, and UGs and GmbHs can open an account too. The limitation: as a newer provider it's not as established as the competition.
Open Tide →- Monthly fee
- €0
- Entity types
- Sole, UG, GmbH
- Cards
- Debit + virtual
- Cash deposits
- Limited
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- No
- Interest
- 1.25–1.75% (savings)
- Bookkeeping
- Invoicing, DATEV
- Norman integration
- —
N26 Business Standard
The fastest free account for solo freelancers
N26 Business offers unlimited digital transactions, 0.1% cashback on card payments, and account opening in under 10 minutes. Cash access through CASH26 (1.5% fee). Limitation: only for sole proprietors and freelancers, no GmbH, UG, or partnerships.
Open N26 Business →- Monthly fee
- €0
- Entity types
- Self-employed only
- Cards
- 1 virtual (physical €10)
- Cash deposits
- CASH26 (1.5%)
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- 0.1%
- Interest
- No
- Bookkeeping
- Export possible
- Norman integration
- Yes, open banking
Kontist
Business account with integrated tax calculation
Kontist is built for self-employed people who want control over their taxes, without a separate bookkeeping tool. With every incoming payment, you see how much to set aside for VAT and income tax. The Free account costs €0 with 5 free transfers; Start (€11) and Plus (€25, both plus VAT) add more transactions, and Plus adds VAT returns and BWA. Since 2025 the account is called Kontist by Shine and is also open to partnerships, UGs, and GmbHs.
Open Kontist →- Monthly fee
- €0–€25
- Entity types
- Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH
- Cards
- Debit card
- Cash deposits
- No
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- No
- Interest
- No
- Bookkeeping
- Tax calculation, VAT return (Plus)
- Norman integration
- Yes, open banking
Holvi
Banking + invoicing in one
Holvi combines business banking with integrated invoicing and expense management. E-invoices in ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats can be created directly in Holvi, relevant since the 2025 e-invoicing requirement. Flex costs €0 plus €0.25 per transfer; the Lite plan (€9/month, €4.50 with annual subscription) includes 100 transfers.
Open Holvi →- Monthly fee
- €0–€15
- Entity types
- Sole, UG, GmbH
- Cards
- Virtual, phys. €3/month
- Cash deposits
- No
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- No
- Interest
- Money market fund for GmbH/UG
- Bookkeeping
- Invoices, e-invoicing
- Norman integration
- —
FYRST Base
The cash option with branch network
FYRST belongs to Deutsche Bank / Postbank and offers what no fintech can: real cash deposits through a branch network. 50 transactions per month included, each additional one costs €0.19. For freelancers and entrepreneurs with cash needs (tradespeople, hospitality, retail), one of the few practical options. FYRST Base costs €0 for the self-employed; GmbHs, UGs, and partnerships pay €6 a month after six months.
Open FYRST →- Monthly fee
- €0 (companies €6 from month 7)
- Entity types
- Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH
- Cards
- Giro + debit
- Cash deposits
- Yes, at branches (per price list)
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- No
- Interest
- 0.5% instant-access savings
- Bookkeeping
- DATEV connection
- Norman integration
- —
Finom Solo
The best start with no monthly costs
Finom Solo costs €0 and still delivers: German IBAN, a virtual card, invoicing directly in the account, and DATEV export for your tax advisor. Transfers up to €2,500 a month are free, above that 0.3% applies. A physical card costs €3 a month. If you need more volume, cards, or sub-accounts, upgrade to Basic (from €9) or Smart (from €19).
Open Finom →- Monthly fee
- €0
- Entity types
- Sole, partnership, UG, GmbH
- Cards
- Virtual, phys. €3/month
- Cash deposits
- No
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- 1–3% from Basic
- Interest
- Interest wallet (variable)
- Bookkeeping
- Invoices, DATEV export
- Norman integration
- Yes, open banking
Commerzbank Business
Full-service, loans, and personal advice
Commerzbank is the right choice if you need loans, personal advice, or a classic full-service business account. The nationwide branch network, lending options, and personal contacts make it attractive for companies with complex financing needs. The trade-off: by far the highest fees in this comparison.
Open Commerzbank Business →- Monthly fee
- €15.90 (year 1 €0)
- Entity types
- All
- Cards
- Giro + credit card
- Cash deposits
- Yes (branch network)
- SEPA instant
- Yes
- Cashback
- No
- Interest
- Instant-access savings (variable)
- Bookkeeping
- DATEV interface
- Norman integration
- Yes, open banking
Connect your business account + bookkeeping
The best account doesn't help if you type transactions into Excel by hand. Connect your account to Norman and automate the rest: receipts, income-surplus statement, and VAT return included.
Test Norman for free →FAQ
Do I need a business account as a freelancer?
Legally no. But almost all banks prohibit commercial use of personal accounts in their terms. Mixed accounts make bookkeeping unnecessarily complicated and can become a problem during a tax audit. Short: not required, but strongly recommended.
Which business account is really free?
Qonto Starter, N26 Business Standard, and Vivid Free Start have no monthly base fee. But "free" doesn't mean fee-free: cash deposits, extra cards, or international transfers cost extra at all providers. Check which transactions you need regularly before opening.
Which is the best business account with bookkeeping?
Qonto: a DATEV interface, receipts right in the account and sub-accounts, plus the official Qonto-Norman integration, which transfers transactions and receipts to Norman. Alternatively, any business account can be connected to bookkeeping software like Norman via open banking. Then you have free choice of bank and still get automatic bookkeeping.
Can I connect my business account to Norman?
Yes. Norman connects most German business accounts via open banking or CSV import. Qonto also has the official Qonto-Norman integration: it transfers not only the transactions but also the receipts. Norman categorizes the transactions automatically and matches them with receipts, and the income-surplus statement and VAT return are pre-filled in the background.
Are business account fees tax deductible?
Yes. Monthly fees, transaction costs, and card fees are business expenses and can be deducted in the income-surplus statement or balance sheet. This also applies to credit card fees and cash deposit costs.
How quickly can I open a business account?
With digital banks like Qonto, Finom, N26, or Kontist often the same day. Identification runs via VideoIdent: you just need your ID and a few minutes. With traditional banks for GmbH/UG it takes a few days to two weeks due to document review.
What is open banking / PSD2 and why do I need it?
Open banking (based on the EU PSD2 directive) is the open interface that gives your bookkeeping tool secure read access to your account. That's how Norman pulls in your transactions automatically, without you sharing login credentials or moving CSV files around.
Which business accounts offer a DATEV connection?
Qonto, Finom, Tide, FYRST, and Commerzbank offer a DATEV export or a DATEV interface. If your tax advisor needs DATEV-Unternehmen-Online, these are the safest picks.
How does switching to a new business account work?
Open the new account first, keep the old one running in parallel, then update the IBAN with customers, suppliers, tax office, and health insurance. Standing orders need to be migrated manually: only a few providers offer an automated account switch service. Close the old account only once all direct debits have been moved over.