Best bank accounts in Germany for freelancers & business owners: Our top 5

Managing money as a freelancer or small business owner in Germany can feel messy fast. Well, maybe not as fast as health insurance, but still.

A dedicated business bank account makes it easier to get paid, track expenses, and stay compliant at tax time.

But not every account fits every business. Your legal form, income flow, and tool stack all influence the right choice.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What to look for in a business account in Germany
Our top 5 picks (and who each is best for)
Typical fees, limits, and the hidden costs to watch
The integrations that will save your hours come tax season
How to choose based on your setup (freelancer vs. GmbH/UG/GBR)
Quick steps to open an account and move your banking over

By the end, you’ll know which account suits your business.

Let’s get started

The best business bank accounts, at a glance

Provider	Best for	Key strengths	Invoicing & receipts	Tax & accounting features	Cards included
Kontist	Freelancers and small businesses in Germany	Built specifically for German freelancers, strong tax automation, free entry plan	Yes (invoicing + receipt scanner)	VAT calculation, tax estimation, DATEV exports, VAT submission	Visa Debit (physical + virtual)
N26 Business	Freelancers wanting app-first banking	Clean mobile experience, cashback, fast setup	No (banking-focused)	Basic spending insights	Mastercard Debit (physical + virtual)
bunq Business	Entrepreneurs needing flexibility	Multiple sub-accounts, automation, advanced budgeting	Yes (invoice scanning)	Auto-VAT saving, budgeting tools	Virtual and physical cards
Finom Business	All-in-one financial admin	Banking combined with invoicing and expense tracking	Yes	Accounting integrations, categorisation	Virtual and physical debit cards
Holvi Business	Solo entrepreneurs wanting structure	Simple all-in-one workspace for banking and admin	Yes	Bookkeeping exports, cash-flow tracking	Virtual and physical Mastercard

1. Kontist

Kontist is the best business bank account for freelancers who want to get started quickly, as it empowers freelancers to concentrate on their clients while it sorts out their cashflow. This business account offers a practical solution for freelancers, small business owners, GmbH, UG & GbR owners, and founders who are just getting started.

Kontist users can personalise invoices, manage their receipts, benefit from useful accounting features, and rely on reliable tax estimations.

All Kontist business accounts come with a Visa Debit Card (or multiple in high plans) for easy and secure payments.

Features included with the Kontist Free plan:

Bank account with German IBAN
Physical and virtual Visa Debit Cards
5 to 30 free SEPA transfers/direct debits
Unlimited invoicing tool
Receipt scanner
Business insights
Interface to accounting software
Overdraft facility
VAT calculation
Transfer of VAT declarations to tax office
Free withdrawals in the Eurozone
Manually add external transactions
Business evaluation (Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung)
Exports like DATEV format, MT940 Datev and CSV.
Account switching service

Who is Kontist for?

Developed in Berlin, Kontist is made specifically to fit the needs of the German market. The basic free plan includes everything needed to invoice clients as a freelancer or small business with no monthly subscription fee. For that reason, it’s a great way for freelancers and businesses to get started quickly and easily. Additionally, the competitive prices for the paid plans make adding expanded services later on convenient and inexpensive.

2. N26:

N26 offers a streamlined, mobile-first business account designed for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small business owners who want to manage all their finances in one place. Across all plans, N26 provides a full EUR SEPA account, intuitive money-management tools, real-time notifications, and clean insights into your day-to-day transactions — all accessible via smartphone or desktop.

Depending on the plan, you can also access premium features such as insurance packages, advanced budgeting tools, and higher withdrawal allowances.

Features included with N26 Business:

EUR business account with full SEPA banking
Virtual and physical Mastercard Debit cards
Cashback on card purchases
Free SEPA transfers and instant payments
Sub-accounts (“Spaces”) for budgeting and savings
Spending insights and statistics
Mobile and desktop banking
Optional insurance coverage depending on the plan

Who is N26 Business for?

N26 is ideal for freelancers and small business owners who want a fast, modern, app-based banking experience. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your operations, N26 provides a flexible and easy-to-navigate setup that adapts to different business stages.

3. bunq

bunq offers a highly customisable digital business account designed for freelancers, solo founders, and small businesses who want full control over their finances. All bunq plans include multiple sub-accounts, instant payments, and smart budgeting features — allowing users to separate business expenses, automate savings, and manage cash flow in real time.

Beyond core banking, bunq offers powerful tools like auto-VAT saving, invoice scanning, international account options, and sustainable banking features such as tree-planting with card payments (depending on the plan). Everything is handled digitally, without paperwork or branch visits.

Features included with bunq:

Multiple sub-accounts to organise finances
Fully digital onboarding in minutes
Virtual and physical cards (Apple Pay / Google Pay enabled)
Instant SEPA payments
Smart budgeting and spending insights
Automated saving tools (e.g., auto-VAT, auto-save)
International account features depending on the plan
Real-time financial management via app

Who is bunq for?

bunq is ideal for entrepreneurs who value flexibility and total financial control. Whether you manage multiple income streams, need advanced budgeting tools, or prefer a highly customisable banking setup, bunq adapts to a wide range of workflows.

4. Finom

Finom provides a digital business account that combines banking with invoicing, expense management, and automated bookkeeping tools — making it especially strong for freelancers and small businesses operating online. Across all plans, users benefit from seamless financial organisation.

Finom’s plans include a German IBAN, virtual and physical debit cards, cashback incentives, and the ability to create multiple sub-accounts. Premium tiers add features such as more team members, additional cards, and higher transaction limits.

Features included with Finom Solo:

German IBAN with full SEPA banking
Virtual and physical debit cards
Integrated invoicing and expense-tracking tools
Receipt capture and automatic categorisation
Sub-accounts for budgeting
Cashback on purchases
Accounting integrations
Multi-user access depending on the plan

Who is Finom for?

Finom suits freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small businesses that want banking and financial admin in one place. If you want invoicing, expense tracking, and banking tools tightly integrated into a single dashboard, Finom offers one of the strongest all-in-one solutions.

5. Holvi

Holvi offers a digital-first business account aimed at freelancers and small entrepreneurs who want to simplify their day-to-day financial tasks. Across its plans, Holvi combines a German IBAN account with invoicing tools, receipt management, cash-flow tracking, and bookkeeping features — all accessible via app or desktop.

Higher-tier plans add more advanced tools such as automated bookkeeping exports, physical debit cards, or additional accounts.

Features included with Holvi:

German IBAN business account
Virtual and physical Mastercard debit cards
Integrated invoicing tools
Receipt capture and categorisation
Cash-flow insights and financial overviews
Multiple IBANs depending on the plan
Instant SEPA transfers
Browser and mobile app access

Who is Holvi for?

Holvi is designed for freelancers and solo entrepreneurs who want a simple, structured way to handle banking, invoicing, and expenses without switching between multiple tools. It’s especially helpful for those who prefer an all-in-one financial workspace.

The final overview and a recommendation

All of the providers above offer strong digital tools for freelancers and small businesses, whether you're just getting started or already growing your client base. Each provider has its own strengths — from mobile-first banking to flexible sub-accounts or integrated invoicing tools. Here’s a simple recap of what they bring to the table:

Kontist: the only free business account designed specifically for freelancers in Germany, offering tax forecasting, VAT handling, smart budgeting tools, and seamless integrations that help you stay compliant and organised throughout the year.

N26 Business: a streamlined, mobile-first business account with real-time insights, budgeting features, and cashback on card purchases.

bunq Business: a flexible and highly customisable account with multiple sub-accounts, instant payments, and smart automation tools.

Finom Business: a powerful all-in-one solution combining banking with invoicing, expense tracking, and small-business accounting features.

Holvi Business: a clean, easy-to-use business account that integrates invoicing, receipt management, and cash-flow tracking in one workspace.

Our recommendation: Each option has advantages, but if you're looking for a provider built around the realities of freelancing in Germany, with tax features you won’t find elsewhere, Kontist is the best choice.