Freelancers and sole traders in Germany trade under their own name, so an account held in a personal legal name fits and several are free. N26 Business, Finom and Qonto all serve the self employed, with a German IBAN, invoicing and accounting export. Add the cost of the items you use, not just the monthly fee.
Suits freelancers best
A free or low cost account in your own name. N26 Business Standard is advertised at EUR 0 a month for the self employed, as of 21 June 2026.
Typical monthly fee
EUR 0 to about EUR 12 a month with digital providers, as of 21 June 2026.
Non resident position
Possible but harder. Many providers ask for a German address. Verify with the provider.
Providers that fit
3 covered here, 10 or more in the market
Fees and features as of 21 June 2026Last updated 21 June 2026
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
Freelancers and sole traders in Germany are not legally required to hold a separate business account, but a dedicated account keeps bookkeeping and the annual tax return clean. Because you trade in your own legal name, you can use accounts that are off limits to a GmbH, including free ones. N26 Business Standard is advertised at EUR 0 a month, Finom offers a free Solo plan, and Qonto offers a free Starter plan with a German IBAN and a small number of SEPA transfers, all as of 21 June 2026. Compare the cost of transfers, cards and any cash handling, since the headline fee rarely tells the whole story.
What Freelancers and Sole Traders in Germany need from a business account
Freelancers and sole traders need a clean separation between business and private money, a German IBAN for SEPA transfers and direct debits, simple invoicing, and an export or sync to tools such as DATEV, sevDesk or Lexware so the tax return stays current. Sub accounts that set aside money for value added tax and income tax are useful. Cash handling is rarely a priority. If you bill clients abroad, look at the cost of receiving and converting foreign currency.
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N26 Business
Free for the self employed trading in their own legal name. Not for a GmbH or UG. Cash deposits carry a fee, as of 21 June 2026. Verify with N26.
Best for
The self employed who want a free account in their own name
A German IBAN issued at sign up, with invoicing and accounting export. The free Solo plan has lower limits than the paid plans. Confirm current pricing with Finom.
Best for
Solo owners who want invoicing built in
Monthly fee
Free Solo plan, Basic about EUR 8.99 a month, as of 21 June 2026
A German IBAN with invoicing, receipt capture and accounting sync. The free Starter plan includes a small number of SEPA transfers, then paid plans add more. Verify current plan limits with Qonto.
Best for
Freelancers who want stronger tooling as they grow
Monthly fee
Free Starter plan, paid plans from about EUR 9 a month, as of 21 June 2026
Compare accounts for Freelancers and Sole Traders in Germany
These providers accept Freelancers and Sole Traders in Germany. Fees and eligibility shown as of 21 June 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.
Questions about banking for Freelancers and Sole Traders in Germany
Are freelancers in Germany required to have a business account?
No. Freelancers and sole traders are not legally required to hold a separate business account, unlike a GmbH or UG. A dedicated account is still useful to keep business and private money apart for the tax return. This is general information, not advice.
What is the cheapest account for a freelancer in Germany?
N26 Business Standard is advertised at EUR 0 a month for the self employed, and Finom and Qonto each offer a free entry plan, all as of 21 June 2026. The cheapest overall depends on your transfers, cards and any foreign currency use. Confirm the full fee schedule with the provider.
Can I use a personal account for freelance work in Germany?
You can in some cases, but many banks restrict personal accounts to private use in their terms, and mixing business and private money complicates the tax return. A dedicated business account in your own name avoids that. Verify the account terms with the provider.
Do freelancer accounts include invoicing?
Several do. Finom and Qonto include invoicing with payment tracking on their plans, and many providers export or sync data to DATEV, sevDesk or Lexware, as of 21 June 2026. Check the included features and any limits with the provider.
Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 21 June 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.