5 Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers in Germany (2026)
A detailed comparison of the top bank accounts for Freiberufler and Selbstständige in Germany. We evaluated fees, tax features, international payments, and daily banking to find the best options.
Our Pick: Wise
For German freelancers with international clients, Wise offers unmatched exchange rates and local bank details in 10+ countries. Pair it with N26 or Kontist for your German IBAN needs.
All 5 Banks Compared
#1 — Best Overall
Wise
Monthly Fee
Free
Card Fee
€7
Currencies
40+
International Transfers
0.33–2.85%
Pros
- Best exchange rates for international payments
- Local bank details in 10+ countries
- Transparent fee calculator
- EUR IBAN included
Cons
- No German tax integration
- No credit or overdraft
- Limited cash deposits
#2
N26
Monthly Fee
Free – €16.90/mo
Card Fee
Free (Mastercard)
Currencies
1+
International Transfers
Via Wise (integrated)
Pros
- Full German bank (BaFin regulated)
- German IBAN
- Spaces (sub-accounts) for tax savings
- Insurance bundles on premium plans
Cons
- EUR only (no multi-currency)
- International transfers via Wise integration
- Customer support can be slow
#3
Revolut
Monthly Fee
Free – €13.99/mo
Card Fee
Free (virtual)
Currencies
36+
International Transfers
Free weekday FX up to €1,000/mo
Pros
- All-in-one app (banking, crypto, stocks)
- Multi-currency accounts
- Budgeting and analytics
- Virtual disposable cards
Cons
- Lithuanian IBAN (not German)
- Weekend FX markup
- Free plan limitations
Ready to try Revolut?
Open Revolut Account →We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
#4
Kontist
Monthly Fee
€9 – €12/mo
Card Fee
Included
Currencies
1+
International Transfers
Standard SEPA
Pros
- Built specifically for German freelancers
- Automatic tax calculation (VAT + income tax)
- Tax savings sub-account
- Direct integration with tax advisors
Cons
- EUR only
- Not free (starts at €9/mo)
- Fewer features than general neobanks
- Limited international transfers
Ready to try Kontist?
Open Kontist Account →We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
#5
Holvi
Monthly Fee
€9 – €15/mo
Card Fee
Included
Currencies
1+
International Transfers
Standard SEPA
Pros
- Built for self-employed in Europe
- Invoicing tool built in
- Receipt scanning
- Business expense management
Cons
- EUR only
- Higher monthly fees than competitors
- Limited banking features
- Slow customer support
Ready to try Holvi?
Open Holvi Account →We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
How We Evaluated
We tested each bank account based on criteria that matter most to German freelancers:
- Cost: Monthly fees, card fees, ATM fees, and hidden charges
- Tax features: Automatic VAT calculation, tax reserve accounts, Finanzamt integration
- International payments: Exchange rates, transfer speed, multi-currency support
- Daily banking: App quality, card features, budgeting tools
- IBAN type: German IBAN vs. foreign IBAN (matters for some German institutions)
Our rankings are based on real-world testing and updated for 2026 pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do German freelancers need a Geschäftskonto (business account)?
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