OCTIS vs Qonto vs Tide vs Holvi for a German business account
Three online business accounts: plan prices, free allowances, eligibility and who holds your money.
Last checked · 4 sources
Otty's short answer
Tide has no monthly fee and includes 5 free SEPA transfers, with no SCHUFA check, but says it is not a bank (accounts are provided by Adyen N.V.). Qonto is paid beyond its free Starter (€9, €19, €39 per month, excluding VAT) and lists the widest set of legal forms. Holvi starts at €0 on Flex and offers up to 15 IBANs. Business-plan pricing was not shown for Holvi.
Side by side
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| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | Qonto | Tide | Holvi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | 10–30% below your current bill | €0 / €9 / €19 / €39 | €0 account fee | From €0 (Flex) |
| Higher plan price | Prices not published | Listed per plan | Smart Plan price not stated | Business plan not on page |
| Free SEPA transfers | Collect and send payments via licensed partners | 5 on Starter, up to 200 | 5 per month | Not stated on page |
| Extra transfer | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | €0.20 each | Not stated on page | Not stated on page |
| Interest on balance | Not an OCTIS product | Smart: 1.92% after 3 months (GmbH/UG) | 1.25% Lite, 1.75% Smart | Not stated on page |
| Cards | Corporate card via licensed partners | Virtual and physical by plan | Free Debit Mastercard | Physical, virtual, credit line to €50,000 |
| SCHUFA check | Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there | Not stated on page | No | Not stated on page |
| Legal forms | Hong Kong company, owners can live anywhere | Sole trader to AG, KG, oHG | German seat, tax number needed | GmbH, UG, sole trader, GbR |
| Extra IBANs | International multi-currency account via licensed partners | 1 / 4 sub-accounts on Smart / Premium | Not stated on page | Up to 15 |
| Foreign currencies | Multi-currency account via licensed partners | Transfer FX 0.56% to 2.0% | International transfers | 18 currencies |
| Is it a bank | No, OCTIS is not a bank; banking runs via licensed partners | Not stated on page | No, accounts via Adyen N.V. | Not stated on page |
| Accounting links | Bookkeeping by OCTIS accountants | DATEV, Lexware, sevdesk, Stripe | Accounting and DATEV | Not stated on page |
If you have staff, premises or local sales in this country, its own registration and tax rules still apply. OCTIS can help you arrange them.
Data sources & disclaimer: Comparison data was compiled from publicly available sources — including the competitors' own published pricing and feature pages — captured on 9 November 2026. Figures reflect the typical or advertised pricing at that time and may have changed since; plans, inclusions and prices vary by provider, region and promotion. OCTIS is independent and not affiliated with the named companies; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information only and is not professional, legal or financial advice — please verify current details with each provider before deciding.
Which one fits you
OCTIS · Hong Kong company + OCTIS global plan
Choose OCTIS if you sell to customers in several countries and want banking access, accounts and CRM in one place.
Qonto
Choose Qonto if you run a GmbH, UG or team and want plan tiers, accountant access and DATEV links.
Tide
Choose Tide if you want a free account, a free debit card and no SCHUFA check, and are fine with a non-bank provider.
Holvi
Choose Holvi if you want many IBANs to separate projects and a business card with a credit line, and will check Business-plan pricing first.
What the table does not show
Who holds your money
Tide's German page says Tide is not a bank: Tide Platform S.A. offers the accounts, which are provided by Adyen N.V., a Dutch company with a De Nederlandsche Bank licence, and deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the Dutch scheme. We did not verify the same detail for Qonto or Holvi on the pages we read, so check the partner bank and deposit protection in each provider's terms.
Interest on idle cash
Qonto lists 4.92% p.a. for 3 months then 1.92% on Smart, for GmbH and UG customers, and 5.02% then 2.02% on Premium. Tide shows 1.25% on Lite and 1.75% on Smart after a promotion, with a 4.5% first-four-months offer valid to 30 November 2026. Rates are variable and promotional rates fall away, so compare the rate after the promotion.
Opening requirements
Tide asks for a business seat in Germany with a Steuer-ID and Steuernummer, a photo ID, proof of address and a video identity check. A trade licence is needed only for sole traders. Qonto lists legal forms from sole traders to AG and says single-person forms cannot be opened through a proxy. Holvi says features vary by place of residence and does not state criteria.
Where OCTIS fits
OCTIS is not a bank and has no partnership with Qonto, Tide or Holvi. If your Malaysian or Hong Kong company opens a German entity, whichever account you choose, the books still need doing. OCTIS bookkeeping can take the German statements into the group view, and a quote can show 10–30% off your current bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free business account in Germany?
Qonto offers Starter at €0 with 5 transfers a month. Tide lists €0 monthly account fees with 5 free SEPA transfers and a free debit card. Holvi shows Flex from €0 per month. Fees beyond the allowances differ, so read each price list.
Is Tide a bank?
No. Tide's German page says "Tide ist keine Bank". The accounts are provided by Adyen N.V., a Dutch company with a bank licence from De Nederlandsche Bank, and deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the Dutch scheme, according to Tide.
Can I open a Geschäftskonto without a SCHUFA check?
Tide says it runs no SCHUFA check and verifies identity by video call. The Qonto and Holvi pages we read do not state a SCHUFA rule, so ask them before you apply if this matters to you.
Which account suits a new GmbH or UG?
Qonto lists GmbH and UG, including in formation, and says Basic is free for the first year for those in formation. Holvi has pages for GmbH and UG with teams. Tide does not list legal forms but asks for a German seat and a tax number.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.