Qonto • EUR
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Ingrid Schneider · Updated: 3 September 2026
Qonto Basic is one of the core plans from Qonto, a purely digital business account provider, aimed at freelancers, sole proprietors, small traders, GmbHs, partnerships and entrepreneurial companies looking for a fully online-managed business account with multiple company cards.
According to Qonto's offer page, the Basic plan starts at 9 euros per month, excluding VAT. Our database lists estimated total annual costs of around 228 euros for this account; this figure exceeds the plain entry price of 9 euros per month, likely because it factors in VAT and typical additional costs, such as transactions above the free allowance. On transaction costs, the database shows the first 30 online transactions per month are free, with 0.20 euros per item charged from the 31st transaction onward. Since Qonto is a purely online account without a branch, no fees apply for paper-based transactions. A tolerated (unauthorised) overdraft carries a 0% interest rate.
Qonto is currently advertising a welcome bonus of up to 600 euros for opening a new business account during the promotional period from 24 August to 30 September 2026. Important for customers specifically choosing the Basic plan: the bonus amount depends on the chosen tier. According to Qonto's offer page, customers on the Starter, Basic, Smart or Premium plans receive a bonus of 200 euros, while the higher-tier Essential, Business and Enterprise plans are rewarded with 600 euros. For Qonto Basic, the realistically achievable bonus is therefore 200 euros, not the frequently advertised 600 euros, which applies only to the more expensive tiers. To qualify for the bonus, customers must spend at least 1,000 euros with the Qonto card in each of three consecutive months; payout occurs, according to the provider, four months after account activation.
According to Qonto's offer page, the Basic plan includes one physical One Card Mastercard plus two virtual cards. For deposit protection, Qonto states coverage under EU directive rules, protecting balances up to the equivalent of 100,000 euros at 100% in the respective member state. The account is accessible exclusively online and via the app; unlike classic banks, Qonto has no branch or phone advice. Neither our database nor the offer page gives specific figures for domestic or foreign ATM fees.
Qonto Basic suits freelancers, sole proprietors, small traders, GmbHs and partnerships looking for a digital business account with multiple cards and willing to spend at least 1,000 euros per month on the company card over three months to realise the welcome bonus. Customers aiming for the higher 600 euro bonus instead would need to switch to one of the more expensive Essential, Business or Enterprise plans.
The entry price of 9 euros per month excluding VAT works out to roughly 10.71 euros gross per month at 19% VAT, or about 128.52 euros per year. A customer making an additional 50 online transactions per month above the free allowance of 30 pays 4.00 euros per month for those (20 times 0.20 euros), or 48.00 euros per year. These two items alone do not fully explain the roughly 228 euros our database lists as the estimated total annual cost; the calculation likely also factors in additional assumptions about card usage or a higher transaction volume. Customers with low transaction volumes and no add-ons tend to pay closer to the entry price of around 128.52 euros per year.
Qonto names freelancers, sole proprietors, registered traders, limited liability companies, general partnerships and entrepreneurial companies as the target group. This means Qonto Basic targets a broad range of small and mid-sized businesses, from the sole proprietorship to the corporation. Our data gives no information on civil-law partnerships for this account.
See the summary lists below for the account's main strengths and weaknesses.
Qonto Basic offers a digital business account with a physical and virtual company card plus a welcome bonus that, for this specific tier, is 200 euros rather than the more prominently advertised 600 euros reserved for the pricier plans. Customers who can meet the bonus conditions and want a purely online account without branch ties will find Qonto Basic a solid mid-tier plan with manageable monthly costs.
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