Free business accounts in Germany what is actually free and what still costs

Snapshot

Free business accounts in Germany mostly mean no monthly fee for freelancers and sole traders, not no fees at all. N26 Business Standard, Finom Solo, Qonto Starter, Holvi Flex and a Kontist free plan are advertised with no monthly fee, as of 27 April 2026. A GmbH or UG needs a company account, which is rarely free.

Cheapest monthly fee: EUR 0 a month with N26 Business Standard for the self employed, as of 27 April 2026.
Who free suits: Freelancers and sole traders trading in their own name. Companies usually pay a fee.
Free for a GmbH?: Rarely. A company account in the entity name almost always carries a monthly fee.
Providers compared: 6 free or no monthly fee options noted here

Fees and features as of 27 April 2026Last reviewed 27 April 2026

General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.

Several providers advertise a business account with no monthly fee in Germany, but free means no monthly account fee rather than no fees at all. The free plans mostly suit freelancers and sole traders trading in their own name. N26 Business Standard, Finom Solo, Qonto Starter, Holvi Flex, a Kontist free plan and FYRST Base are advertised with no monthly fee, as of 27 April 2026, each with its own limits and per item charges. A GmbH or UG needs a company account, which is rarely free. Figures below are shown as of 27 April 2026.

What free means for a German business account

A free business account in Germany usually means no monthly account fee, not no fees at all. Providers still charge for items such as cash deposits and withdrawals, transfers beyond a monthly allowance, extra cards, and foreign currency conversion. The free plans are mostly aimed at freelancers and sole traders trading in their own name. A GmbH or UG is a separate legal entity that needs a company account, and company accounts are rarely free. Read each provider price and services list, the Preis und Leistungsverzeichnis, for the items you will actually use.

Free accounts for freelancers and the self employed

Several providers advertise a free monthly fee for the self employed, as of 27 April 2026. N26 Business Standard is advertised at EUR 0 a month for the self employed trading in their own name. Finom offers a free Solo plan and Qonto offers a free Starter plan, each with a German IBAN and lower limits than the paid plans. Holvi offers a Flex account with no monthly fee where you pay per use, and Kontist offers a free plan subject to a minimum monthly transaction value. FYRST, a Deutsche Bank brand, offers a free FYRST Base account for freelancers. Confirm the current terms and limits with each provider.

Why company accounts are rarely free

A GmbH, UG or AG must hold a business account in the company name, and these company accounts almost always carry a monthly fee, commonly from about EUR 9 a month with digital providers to roughly EUR 35 a month at traditional banks, as of 27 April 2026. A free personal name account such as N26 Business cannot be the holder for a registered company. If you run a company, compare low cost company plans rather than looking for a free account.

What still costs money on a free account

Before you choose a free account, look past the EUR 0 headline at the items you use. Verify with the provider

Transfers beyond any monthly allowance, and the cost of extra physical or virtual cards, as of 27 April 2026.
Cash deposits and withdrawals. N26 charges a fee on cash deposits and digital providers often limit free ATM withdrawals, as of 27 April 2026.
Foreign currency conversion. Holvi charges 1 percent on incoming foreign currency and Kontist charges 2 percent, while a multi currency provider such as Wise Business prices conversion near the mid market rate, as of 27 April 2026.

How to compare free accounts

Confirm your legal form. Free accounts mostly suit freelancers and sole traders. A GmbH or UG needs a paid company account.
List your monthly transactions, cards, cash use and any foreign currency, then total the per item charges on each free plan for your usage.
Read the provider price and services list for the current figures, since limits and fees change. Confirm before you open.

Compare business accounts available in Germany

These providers accept business customers in Germany. Fees and eligibility shown as of 27 April 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.

Compare business accounts →

Questions about free business accounts in Germany

What is the cheapest business account in Germany?

For freelancers and sole traders, N26 Business Standard is advertised at EUR 0 a month as of 27 April 2026. The cheapest overall depends on your transaction mix, since transfer, card, cash and currency fees add to the price. Compare the full fee schedule with the provider. This is general information, not advice.

Is there a free business account for a GmbH in Germany?

Rarely. A GmbH or UG must hold a company account in the entity name, and company accounts almost always carry a monthly fee, commonly from about EUR 9 a month, as of 27 April 2026. A free personal name account cannot be the holder. Verify with the provider.

Does free mean no fees at all?

No. Free usually means no monthly account fee. You may still pay for cash handling, transfers beyond an allowance, extra cards and foreign currency conversion. Read the provider price and services list for the items you use.

Which free accounts suit freelancers?

N26 Business Standard, Finom Solo, Qonto Starter, Holvi Flex, a Kontist free plan and FYRST Base are advertised with no monthly fee for the self employed, as of 27 April 2026, each with different limits. Confirm the current terms with the provider.

Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 27 April 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.