Ranked · Business
Best business bank accounts in Germany in 2026
The ten best business bank accounts in Germany for 2026, from Qonto and FYRST to N26, Kontist and Commerzbank, compared for freelancers, GmbHs and startups.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 10 min read
AI generatedChoosing the best business bank account in Germany used to mean a branch appointment and a stack of forms. In 2026 most freelancers, sole traders and GmbH founders open a Geschäftskonto online in minutes, get a German IBAN, and connect it straight to their bookkeeping. The harder part is picking the account that fits your legal form, your tax setup and how much cash you handle.
To build this ranking we compared the account offers that appear most often in German Geschäftskonto comparisons, then checked each provider's own website for current features, eligible legal forms and regulation. We looked at how the account handles invoicing and receipts, whether it offers a DATEV export or tax tools, card options, cash deposits, sub-accounts and support. We left out exact fees because they change often; every provider below publishes its current price list online.
At a glance
#1 · Best for Small companies and growing teams
Qonto
Best all-round account for companies
Qonto is one of the most widely used business accounts for small companies in Germany and Europe. It combines the account with employee cards, invoicing, spend management and an integrated accounting export, and it offers founding services for a GmbH, UG, GbR or holding company. Plans are tiered by team size, so a solo founder and a 50-person company can both start here.
- Company founding and share-capital deposit service
- Employee cards with spending controls
- Invoicing, e-invoicing and receipt capture
- DATEV interface and accounting integrations
- Real-time and international transfers
- Based in
- Paris, France
- Best for
- GmbH, UG, startups and SMEs
- Pricing
- Tiered monthly plans
#2 · Best for Founders who want a digital account with a big bank behind it
FYRST
Digital account with branch backing
FYRST is Deutsche Bank's digital brand for founders, freelancers and small companies. You open the account online in about ten minutes, but you can still pay in and withdraw cash at Deutsche Bank and Postbank branches and at thousands of cash machines. It accepts almost every German legal form, including GmbH, GmbH & Co. KG, GbR and registered associations.
- Online opening with a Debit Mastercard
- Cash deposits and withdrawals through the Deutsche Bank group
- DATEV and EBICS support
- Founder, association and e-commerce account variants
- Personal customer service
- Based in
- Germany (Deutsche Bank brand)
- Best for
- Businesses that handle cash
- Pricing
- Plans from a free base tier
#3 · Best for Freelancers who want a clean mobile account
N26 Business
Simple app for freelancers
N26 offers business versions of its accounts for freelancers and self-employed people, from a free Standard plan to Smart, Go and Metal tiers. The Smart plan includes up to ten Spaces sub-accounts with their own IBANs, which are handy for setting aside tax money, plus cashback on card payments. Opening happens fully in the app with video or photo ID.
- Free Business Standard plan
- Spaces sub-accounts with their own IBANs
- Cashback on N26 Mastercard payments
- Real-time spending insights
- Fully app-based opening
- Based in
- Berlin, Germany
- Best for
- Freelancers and sole traders
- Pricing
- Free plan, paid upgrades
#4 · Best for Self-employed people who dread tax season
Kontist
Best for tax-savvy freelancers
Kontist is built around one idea: showing freelancers how much of their balance they can actually spend. The account estimates income tax and VAT in real time and sets that money aside automatically. Accounts are held by the licensed German bank Solaris, and the free account can be opened without a SCHUFA check.
- Real-time tax estimate with automatic reserves
- Up to five sub-accounts
- Visa Business debit card
- Receipt matching for transactions
- Business loans through partner Froda
- Based in
- Berlin, Germany
- Best for
- Freelancers and Kleinunternehmer
- Pricing
- Free account, paid plans with more tools
#5 · Best for Businesses that want banking and bookkeeping in one place
Holvi
Strong invoicing and bookkeeping tools
Holvi packs invoicing, e-invoices, expense tracking and bookkeeping into its business account. It now accepts OHGs and KGs alongside freelancers, sole traders, GbRs and GmbHs, and it offers online company formation packages. A business credit card with a credit line is available once the account has been used for a while.
- Invoicing and e-invoice tool built in
- DATEV, Lexware Office and sevdesk interfaces
- Payment accounts in 18 currencies
- Business credit card option
- GmbH and UG founding service
- Based in
- Helsinki, Finland
- Best for
- Freelancers and small companies
- Pricing
- Paid plans, 30-day free trial
#6 · Best for Small firms that send a lot of invoices
Finom
Cashback and invoicing for small firms
Finom targets small businesses, the self-employed and registered companies with an online account that comes with a German IBAN, typically issued within a day. It promotes cashback on card spending and built-in e-invoicing, and it offers a free Solo plan for one-person businesses. International payments and chat support round out the package.
- German IBAN issued quickly
- Cashback on card spending
- E-invoicing built in
- Free Solo plan
- International payments
- Based in
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Best for
- Small businesses and solo founders
- Pricing
- Free Solo plan, paid tiers
#7 · Best for Businesses that want many sub-accounts and interest
Vivid Business
Most flexible with IBANs and interest
Vivid Business lets you open unlimited German IBANs, which is useful for separating projects, clients or shops. It combines instant SEPA and SWIFT payments with Visa cards for the whole team, cashback, interest on balances and investment options for company money. It serves freelancers as well as GmbHs, UGs, GbRs and associations.
- Unlimited German IBANs
- Interest on balances
- Visa team cards with cashback
- SEPA Instant and SWIFT payments
- Approval rules and custom roles
- Based in
- Berlin, Germany
- Best for
- Companies managing cash reserves
- Pricing
- Plans from free
#8 · Best for Companies with international customers or suppliers
Revolut Business
Best for multi-currency trade
Revolut Business is the pick for companies that pay suppliers or collect money in several currencies. You can hold and exchange multiple currencies, send transfers to more than 150 destinations and issue physical and virtual cards to employees. Expense management and an API are built in for teams that want to automate payments.
- Multi-currency accounts
- Transfers to 150+ destinations
- Physical and virtual team cards
- Expense management
- Business API
- Based in
- London, UK
- Best for
- International trade and remote teams
- Pricing
- Tiered monthly plans
#9 · Best for Owners who want a full-service bank
Commerzbank Geschäftskonto
Best branch bank for owners
Commerzbank remains a solid choice for business owners who want a nationwide branch network and a personal adviser. Its business accounts cover founders, freelancers and established companies, with digital opening and, for legal entities, account opening within about 48 hours. Card terminals, credit and debit business cards and investment loans are available from the same bank.
- Nationwide branches and personal advisers
- Digital opening, including for legal entities
- Business credit and debit cards
- Card terminals through Commerz Globalpay
- Founder support and financing
- Based in
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Best for
- Established small and mid-sized firms
- Pricing
- Several account models
#10 · Best for Teams that budget with many sub-accounts
bunq Business
Many sub-accounts for team spending
bunq Business lets you open up to 25 accounts with their own IBANs in seconds and gives teams digital, debit, credit and metal cards. It supports payments in more than 20 currencies and syncs automatically with more than 50 accounting and finance tools. It suits digital businesses that like to organise money in separate pots.
- Up to 25 accounts with their own IBANs
- Debit, credit and metal cards
- Payments in 20+ currencies
- 50+ accounting integrations
- Real-time team spending
- Based in
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Best for
- Digital businesses and small teams
- Pricing
- Tiered monthly plans
How to choose
Start with your legal form. Some online business accounts are built only for freelancers and sole traders, while a GmbH, UG or GbR needs a provider that accepts company accounts and handles share-capital deposits for a new company. If you are founding a company, a Gründerkonto with a capital deposit confirmation saves time. Also check whether you get a German IBAN, since some customers and authorities still prefer one.
Then match the account to your daily work. Freelancers benefit most from automatic tax estimates, receipt capture and a DATEV interface for their tax adviser. Retail and trade businesses that take cash need deposit options at ATMs or branches. Growing teams should compare employee cards, spending limits and approval rules. If you want a free business account in Germany, look closely at transaction limits and what the free plan leaves out, because the best value often sits one plan higher.
Frequently asked questions
Is a business bank account mandatory in Germany?
+
Corporations such as a GmbH or UG need a separate business account, if only to pay in the share capital. Freelancers and sole traders are not legally required to have one, but keeping business and private money apart makes bookkeeping and tax audits far easier, and many banks do not allow commercial use of private accounts.
What is the best business bank account in Germany for freelancers?
+
Kontist, N26 Business, Holvi and FYRST are the accounts most often chosen by freelancers. Kontist stands out for its real-time tax estimate, N26 for a simple app with sub-accounts, and FYRST for combining a digital account with Deutsche Bank's cash network.
Can I open a German business account without SCHUFA?
+
Kontist advertises its free business account as available without a SCHUFA check, and several other online providers focus on identity verification rather than credit history. Overdrafts and credit products usually still involve a credit check.
Which business accounts work for a GmbH or UG?
+
Qonto, FYRST, Holvi, Finom, Vivid Business, bunq and the branch banks such as Commerzbank and Postbank accept GmbH and UG customers. N26 Business is aimed at freelancers and self-employed people rather than companies.
Qonto vs N26 Business: which is better?
+
Qonto is built for companies and teams, with employee cards, invoicing, DATEV export and support for founding a GmbH. N26 Business is a lighter account for freelancers with Spaces sub-accounts and cashback on card payments. Pick Qonto if you have a team or a company, N26 if you work alone.
Can I deposit cash into an online business account?
+
Some can. FYRST customers can pay in cash at Deutsche Bank and Postbank branches and machines, while several app-only accounts offer limited cash deposits through retail partners for a fee. If you handle a lot of cash, a branch bank or FYRST is the practical choice.
Which business accounts have a DATEV interface?
+
Qonto, FYRST and Holvi all advertise a DATEV interface, and Holvi also connects to Lexware Office and sevdesk. This matters if a tax adviser handles your bookkeeping, since transactions and receipts can be passed on without manual exports.
Are online business accounts in Germany safe?
+
Accounts held with a licensed bank are covered by the statutory EU deposit guarantee of up to 100,000 euros per customer. Kontist, for example, states that its accounts are held by its partner bank Solaris. Check who holds the money, since some fintechs are e-money institutions that safeguard funds instead of offering deposit insurance.
There is no single best Geschäftskonto for everyone. Qonto and FYRST cover the widest range of businesses, Kontist and N26 suit freelancers who want a simple app, and Commerzbank or Postbank make sense if you handle cash and value branch service. Check eligibility for your legal form, compare the plan you would actually need, and remember that switching later is easier than it used to be, since several providers now offer account-switching help.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
Written by
Bitezine Editorial Team
Rankings, reviews & guides
Our editors research every piece from makers’ documentation, independent tests and owner reports, and update it when products change.
