Penta vs Qonto
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Business Banking fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
46/100
Free tier
German freelancers, founders of GmbHs and UGs, and small digital businesses that want a fast, mobile-friendly, fee-free
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Basic plan with no monthly fee, but only 1 card, 2 users, and individual transaction fees apply
Fee notes:
- SEPA transfer (incoming): €0.15 per transaction
- SEPA transfer (outgoing): €0.25 per transaction
- Foreign exchange markup: 1.5% above interbank rate
- Card replacement: €10
- Cash deposit: starting from €2.50 per operation
⚠ Watch for:
- Transaction fees for SEPA transfers are not included in monthly plans
- Cash deposits are costly, with fees up to €10 depending on amount
- Card fees for additional or replacement cards
- Potential kick-off costs for account opening when migrating to Qonto
🔧 Features
✓ German Focus✓ Qonto Acquired✓ Fast Onboarding✓ Freelancer Focus✓ Gmbh Ug✓ Free Tier
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Penta's digital account opening is genuinely fast. For German residents, the process takes minutes, and the system automatically checks GmbH or UG registration data against public registries. This eliminates the delay of manual document submissions, which traditional banks still require. It's a massive time-saver for founders who want to start transacting immediately.
- The free basic account is a real differentiator. No monthly maintenance fees for most small businesses and freelancers, which is rare in German business banking where 10-20 EUR monthly charges are common. This makes Penta (and its successor Qonto) a cost-effective choice for solo founders and small UG/GmbH that want to keep fixed costs low.
- Native integrations with DATEV, Lexware, and sevDesk set Penta apart. Instead of manually exporting transactions and re-formatting them for accounting, you can connect your bank account to these tools with a few clicks. For German businesses that must comply with DATEV formats (like GAEB or CSV), this is a huge efficiency gain, reducing errors and saving hours of bookkeeping time each month.
- Expense tracking is built into the account. You can categorize transactions, attach receipts, and assign expenses to specific projects or cost centers. This is especially useful for freelancers who need to keep an eye on deductible expenses and want to be audit-ready without hiring a full-time bookkeeper.
⚠ Watch out for
- The Penta brand is being discontinued. Existing customers are being migrated to Qonto, which means even if you open a Penta account today, you'll eventually have to switch platforms. This transitional hassle includes re-entering standing orders, re-linking accounting software, and possibly learning a new interface. For a business, that disruption isn't trivial.
- Penta has no physical branches. All support is handled via chat or email, which can be frustrating for complex issues like international transfers, account freezes, or legal documents. If you prefer face-to-face banking or need instant resolution of a critical issue, this is a drawback.
- The platform is Germany-centric. It supports euros and German business structures predominantly. If you have international clients or need multi-currency accounts, Penta (and even Qonto) offers limited functionality compared to rivals like Wise or Revolut Business. You might need to pair it with another banking service for foreign currencies.
🎯 Best for
German freelancers, founders of GmbHs and UGs, and small digital businesses that want a fast, mobile-friendly, fee-free Euro business account with solid accounting-tool integrations.
🚫 Who should skip
Non-German companies, businesses that need loans or credit lines, and companies that rely on a physical branch or personal advisor.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — opening an account and basic banking can be done in under 30 minutes, and the interface is simple for freelancers and small business owners.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Penta is a solid choice if you're okay with eventually migrating to Qonto, but for new customers, it's wiser to sign up directly with Qonto. Avoid Penta if you need multi-currency or in-person support. Bottom line: Penta's legacy is innovation, but its future is Qonto—so compare Qonto's offers inste
56/100
230 Kč starting
French and European SMEs and freelancers who want a modern, spend-management-focused digital business account without ph
★ Best
💰 Pricing
Starting at 230 Kč (hybrid)
Fee notes:
- Monthly fees: Standard 9 EUR, Business 29 EUR, Premium 99 EUR (approx US$10, $32, $110, converted at 1.10).
- Transaction fees: over plan limits, 1 EUR per transaction (Standard 20/mo, Business 200/mo, Premium 1000/mo).
- Physical card issuance: 10 EUR per card (one free per plan).
- FX markup: 1% above interbank for transactions in foreign currencies (non-EEA).
- Cash deposit fees: 1% of amount (Standard plan, over 500 EUR/month), free up to plan limits for Business and Premium.
⚠ Watch for:
- Card replacement: 10 EUR per card beyond first free.
- EU transfer costs: 0.10 EUR per SEPA transaction after limit.
- Cash deposit fee on standard plan: 1% of amount above 500 EUR/month.
- Outgoing wire fees: 1% of amount for non-SEPA transfers, min 10 EUR.
🔧 Features
✓ French Origin✓ Multi Iban✓ Spend Controls✓ 400k Customers✓ Sme Focus
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Fast, fully digital onboarding: Qonto lets you open an account in under 10 minutes if you're a French business, and for other countries the process is still quick (usually within a few days). No branch visits required. You can complete everything online, from identity verification to signing contracts. This is a huge time-saver compared to traditional banks, which may require several days or weeks.
- Granular spend controls with team cards: The card management is top-tier. For each physical or virtual card, you can set custom monthly limits, restrict usage to specific merchant categories (e.g., block online gambling or fuel), and enable contactless payments. You can freeze or delete a card instantly from the dashboard — perfect for lost cards or when an employee leaves. Real-time notifications on every transaction keep you in the loop.
- Multiple IBANs for organization: With Qonto, you can create up to 10 IBANs (depending on plan) within a single account, allowing you to separate cash flows by client, project, or entity. This eliminates the need to open multiple bank accounts and simplifies reconciliation. It's particularly useful for freelancers with multiple income streams or businesses with distinct departments.
- Real-time expense tracking with receipt attachments: The expense management workflow is smooth. Connect a per-card to the app, snap a photo of the receipt, and it attaches to the transaction automatically. Admins can approve or reject expenses, and you can export reports to your accountant. This feature alone can save hours of manual bookkeeping each week. It's available even on the Essential plan with limited files.
- Transparent pricing and no hidden fees: Qonto's pricing is straightforward: Essential at $10/month, Business at $50/month, and Premium at $169/month. There are no quarterly fees, no inactivity charges, and no minimum balance requirements. The dashboard clearly shows your plan's limits and what will incur extra costs (e.g., additional cards). This predictability is a relief for small businesses watching their overhead.
⚠ Watch out for
- Not a licensed bank — no loans, overdrafts, or credit lines: As an EMI, Qonto cannot offer credit products. If your business occasionally needs a line of credit or overdraft protection, Qonto won't help. You'll need a traditional bank or alternative lender, which means managing a second relationship. This is a significant limitation for companies with fluctuating cash flow.
- Limited geographic coverage and no multi-currency accounts: Qonto is only available to businesses in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Even within those countries, you must have a registered business. There are no foreign currency accounts — everything is in EUR (or possibly GBP? No, only EUR). If you deal with clients in USD or other currencies, you'll have to manually convert funds and pay FX fees, which could be costly. The lack of multi-currency support is a major gap for international businesses.
- Advanced features gated behind expensive plans: While the Essential plan is affordable, many useful features require the Business or Premium tiers. For example, accounting integrations (like linking QuickBooks, Xero) are only available on Business and Premium. The number of cards, IBANs, and transfer limits are also tiered. If you need more than the basics, the cost jumps significantly — from $10 to $50 or $169 per month, which is steep for a small startup.
- No dedicated mobile app for Android? Actually, Qonto has a mobile app for both iOS and Android, but it lacks some features compared to the web dashboard. For instance, you cannot set up new cards or change merchant restrictions from the app; you must use the web. This can be annoying if you're on the go and need to adjust a limit quickly.
- Customer support can be slow: While Qonto offers in-app chat and email support, response times are not always immediate. Some users report waiting 24 hours or more for a reply, and there's no phone support. For urgent issues (like a lost card), this can be frustrating, though you can freeze cards yourself from the dashboard.
🎯 Best for
French and European SMEs and freelancers who want a modern, spend-management-focused digital business account without physical branches.
🚫 Who should skip
Companies that need credit facilities, overdrafts, or multi-currency accounts, or businesses based outside Qonto's four supported countries.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the interface is straightforward and familiar to anyone who has used a modern banking or Fintech app; most users are fully operational within a day.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Qonto is a top choice for freelancers, startups, and SMEs in France (and now other EU countries) that want fast, digital banking with excellent spend controls. Its multi-IBAN and expense management features make it perfect for teams that rely on card payments. However, if you need loans, overdrafts,
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CasePentaQonto
German Freelancer Business Banking95—
Designed specifically for German freelancers with simplified onboarding, a Germa
GmbH or UG Startup Accounting88—
Fast account opening for German limited companies and direct integration with DA
Everyday Expense Tracking for Small Businesses80—
The mobile app and free basic account make it easy to manage incoming and outgoi
Multi-Currency International Business30—
Penta did not offer robust multi-currency accounts; it was built for euro-denomi
Team Expense Management—95
Real-time expense tracking, customizable spend limits, and instant transaction f
Startup Banking—85
Fast onboarding, multiple IBANs, and collaborative access are ideal for startups
Freelance / Independent Work—80
Simple invoicing, expense categorization, and accounting integrations reduce adm
Multi-entity Cash Flow Separation—75
Multiple IBANs allow you to separate client funds, project budgets, or subsidiar
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Penta if...
- You are: German freelancers, founders of GmbHs and UGs, and small digital businesses that want a fast, mobile-friendly, fee-free
- 👍 Digital account opening in minutes for German residents with automatic checks of GmbH/UG registratio
- 👍 Free basic business account with no monthly maintenance fee for most small businesses and freelancer
- 👍 Native integration with German accounting tools like DATEV, Lexware, and sevDesk.
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: Penta as a brand is being discontinued; customers are forced to migrate to Qonto
Choose Qonto if...
- You are: French and European SMEs and freelancers who want a modern, spend-management-focused digital business account without ph
- 👍 Fully digital and fast to set up — most French businesses can open an account in under 10 minutes fr
- 👍 Excellent spend control features: custom card limits, merchant-level restrictions, and instant card
- 👍 Multiple IBANs per account let you organize financial flows by client, project, or entity without ex
- 💰 From $10/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Not a licensed bank — Qonto is an EMI, so it doesn't offer overdrafts, loans, or
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Penta's business account cost?
The basic Penta account was free with no monthly maintenance fee for most German freelancers and small businesses. Certain extras, such as international wire transfers, cash deposits, or additional cards, may incur separate per-use fees.
Can I use Penta as a freelancer with a UG or GmbH?
Yes. Penta was specifically designed for German business structures like GmbH, UG (haftungsbeschränkt), and freelancers. Onboarding requires a German business registration and proof of identity.
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