Kontist
6.1/10Kontist is a German mobile business account for freelancers and small companies, with automatic tax set-asides, invoicing, receipt management and bundled sevdesk accounting.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Kontist, now branded Kontist by Ageras, is a Berlin-based business account built for freelancers and the self-employed in Germany. It is not a bank itself. Accounts are held at Solaris SE, which is licensed by BaFin, and deposits are protected up to 100,000 euros. Its best-known feature is real-time tax estimation: as money comes in, the app works out income tax and VAT and moves them into separate pots, which Trustpilot reviewers often praise. Every plan includes an invoicing tool, receipt management and a link to external accounting software. Each plan also comes with a period of free sevdesk accounting, which is 3 months on Free, 6 months on Start and a full year on Plus. Prices are per account, not per user. Free costs 0 euros with 5 SEPA transactions a month and one physical Visa debit card. Start costs 11 euros a month plus VAT and adds 3 subaccounts and 30 transactions. Plus costs 25 euros a month plus VAT and adds 5 subaccounts, 100 transactions, a VAT return and business evaluations. Integrations include SumUp, Apple Pay, Google Pay and bookkeeping tools, and business loans are offered through Froda. It suits sole proprietors, GbR, UG and GmbH companies that live in and pay tax in Germany. The main limitations are that it serves only Germany, it is not a full double-entry accounting system, and reviewers frequently complain about slow, inconsistent support.
Our Rating
Who Kontist is best for
Good fit
Built for German freelancers, with automatic tax and VAT set-asides.
Supports GmbH, UG and GbR companies with subaccounts and multiple cards, but the feature set is fairly light.
Less suited
Companies still in formation can open an account, and loans are available through Froda.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Automatic real-time tax and VAT set-asides, which Trustpilot reviewers repeatedly praise
- Free plan with no monthly fee, a German IBAN and a Visa debit card
- Every plan includes a free period of sevdesk accounting, up to a full year on Plus
- Deposits are held at BaFin-licensed Solaris SE and protected up to 100,000 euros
- The app is available in both English and German, which helps expat freelancers
Cons
- Only available to people who live in and pay tax in Germany
- Reviewers report slow, mostly email-based support that has to be chased repeatedly
- Free tier includes only 5 SEPA transactions a month, and extra transactions cost a fee
- No full double-entry ledger, so proper bookkeeping depends on sevdesk or another tool
- Past complaints include account closures and the handling of unauthorized payments
Key Features
Kontist Pricing
Free
- 1 physical card
- 2% foreign currency fee
- 3 months of sevdesk accounting
- Invoicing and receipt management
- Card limit of 20,000 euros a month
- Cash withdrawals up to 5,000 euros a month
- 5 free SEPA transfers and direct debits per month
Start
- 3 subaccounts
- 2 physical cards
- Price excludes VAT
- 1.75% foreign currency fee
- 6 months of sevdesk accounting
- Card limit of 40,000 euros a month
- 30 free SEPA transactions per month
- Cash withdrawals up to 8,000 euros a month
Plus
- 5 subaccounts
- 5 physical cards
- Price excludes VAT
- 1.5% foreign currency fee
- 1 year of sevdesk accounting
- Card limit of 50,000 euros a month
- VAT return and business evaluation
- 100 free SEPA transactions per month
- Cash withdrawals up to 10,000 euros a month
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Kontist does not hold a banking licence. Accounts are run by Solaris SE, which is licensed by BaFin, and deposits are protected up to 100,000 euros.
Freelancers, sole proprietors, and GbR, UG and GmbH companies, including companies still being formed. Applicants must be at least 18, live in Germany and file taxes there.
Yes. Every plan includes a period of sevdesk accounting: 3 months on Free, 6 months on Start and one year on Plus. VAT returns and business evaluations are included only in Plus.
Yes. You can change or cancel your plan at any time, and the change takes effect from the next billing cycle.
Ageras, a Danish company, acquired Kontist in 2022. The product is now branded Kontist by Ageras.
Yes. Business loans of up to 50,000 euros are available through Froda, a partner lender. They are for sole proprietors whose accounts have been open for some months.
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