🏦 Qonto Review: Our Complete Analysis for 2026

Heropay explains everything you need to know about Qonto:

• Qonto offers 9 different plans, from €9/month to €249/month, with variable transaction quotas and cards.

• Prices increase significantly as soon as you add team members or exceed your monthly quotas.

• You benefit from an intuitive interface, instant SEPA transfers, and over 2,000 integrations.

• Warning: Qonto does not offer integrated financing for large amounts, and charges for advanced options between €29 and €69 per month on top.

• It's an offer that becomes expensive as soon as you experience strong growth.

• If you're looking for a solution that supports your growth, Heropay is a complete alternative thanks to its financing up to €50,000 and cash management remunerated up to 5%.

Quick Overview of Qonto

Qonto was launched in 2017 in France and now claims more than 600,000 customers across Europe. It is a payment institution, not a bank in the strict sense. The difference? Your funds are protected, but not by the traditional Deposit Guarantee Fund.

Qonto's positioning is clear: offer a premium experience to professionals with an intuitive interface, 24/7 support, and integrated management tools. The main target: freelancers, micro-businesses, SMEs, and startups looking for a modern solution.

Qonto accepts most European professional structures from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands. Qonto is not available in Ireland or in the United Kingdom. 

What Are Qonto's Pricing Plans?

Qonto offers 9 different plans depending on your profile and company size. Prices vary considerably depending on your needs.

For Self-Employed Professionals

Basic: €9/month (annual billing) or €11/month

• 1 Mastercard One

• 30 transfers or direct debits per month

• 1 main account

• Customer and supplier invoicing

• 24/7 support

Smart: €19/month (annual) or €23/month

• 1 Mastercard One

• 60 transactions per month

• 1 account + 1 sub-account

• Accounting access and accounting tools

• 24/7 support

Premium: €39/month (annual) or €45/month

• 1 Mastercard One

• 100 transactions per month

• 1 account + 4 sub-accounts

• Priority support

• Advanced accounting access

For Micro-Businesses (1 to 9 employees)

Essential: €49/month excl. VAT (annual) or €59/month excl. VAT

• 2 Mastercard One cards

• 150 transactions per month

• 1 account + 4 sub-accounts

• Unlimited team members

Business: €99/month excl. VAT (annual) or €119/month excl. VAT

• 10 cards

• 500 transactions per month

• 1 account + 9 sub-accounts

• Manager role

• Dedicated advisor

Enterprise: €199/month excl. VAT (annual) or €249/month excl. VAT

• 30 cards

• 1,000 transactions per month

• 1 account + 24 sub-accounts

• Priority support with dedicated advisor

For SMEs (10+ employees)

The Business and Enterprise plans are identical to the micro-business offerings. Qonto also offers a custom package with premium cards and personalized payment methods.

Additional Options

Qonto charges for additional modules:

• Team expense management: €69/month

• Supplier invoice management: €29/month

• Customer invoice management: €35/month

• Cash management: €29/month

These options are added to the main subscription price.

What Are Qonto's Key Features?

Qonto offers a complete ecosystem to manage your professional activity on a daily basis.

Banking services: online business account with local IBAN, instant SEPA and SWIFT transfers, physical and virtual Mastercard cards. Cards come in several ranges: One (up to €20,000/month), Plus (up to €40,000/month), and X (up to €200,000/month).

Management tools: integrated invoicing to create quotes and invoices, automatic transaction reconciliation, external account aggregation, over 2,000 integrations with third-party tools.

Collaboration: accounting access, unlimited team members, customized roles and approval workflows for expenses.

Financing: access to cash loans up to €50,000, and benefit from their partnerships to finance your growth up to €10 million.

Cash management: since September 2025, Qonto offers an interest-bearing account up to 4% for 2 months for new customers, then up to 2% under conditions. Returns are paid monthly and the money remains available.

Qonto's Advantages and Disadvantages

Qonto User Case Study: Mary

Mary runs a 4-person design agency. A Qonto customer for 3 years, she was satisfied with the interface and support. Her agency has just landed a major contract with an international client. The project requires quickly recruiting two senior profiles and purchasing software licenses.

Her problem: she needs immediate cash to finance these expenses before receiving payment from the client in 60 days. She also needs to add cards for her new team members.

Qonto's limitations:

• There is no integrated supplier financing solution. Mary must approach a traditional bank to obtain a loan, which takes even longer since she is not a customer there.

• Adding additional cards forces her to upgrade to the Business plan at €119/month, an 80% increase in her subscription while her needs remain temporary.

• The cash in her Qonto account only generates 2% interest under conditions, minimal return on her €30,000 cash that this major international contract will generate.

Result: Qonto was a suitable solution at startup, but becomes a costly obstacle as soon as the company accelerates its growth.

The 3 Best Alternatives to Qonto

Verdict: Our Final Opinion on Qonto

Qonto can suit freelancers and micro-entrepreneurs who are starting out with predictable needs. The interface is pleasant, support works well, and the tools are comprehensive.

But as soon as you add team members, multiply transactions, or seek to finance your growth, the limitations quickly appear. Prices increase significantly and options are charged separately.

For micro-businesses and SMEs with development ambitions, Qonto becomes an expensive tool.

Heropay: The Alternative Designed for Growing Companies

Heropay was designed for entrepreneurs who don't want to juggle multiple tools. A single account to manage your operations, finance your purchases, and make your cash work.

Company creation: create your articles of incorporation and deposit your capital while being supported for free by Hero!

Instant financing: get up to €50,000 in a few clicks to pay your suppliers in 3 or 4 installments, or recover your marketplace sales from D+1. No need to approach a bank.

Interest-bearing cash: your available money generates up to 5% gross annual for 60 days on the first €100,000, then 1.85% beyond. Interest is paid every month.

Transparent pricing: €0 per month to start with Hero X (financing up to €1,000), or €39 excl. VAT per month for Hero Pro (financing up to €50,000). No hidden additional modules.

All included: local IBAN, VISA Platinum Business card, instant transfers, receipt centralization, accounting export. You have everything you need to manage your business.

Over 20,000 accounts opened and €100M already financed. Heropay supports growing companies, without slowing them down.

Your Questions About Qonto Business Account (FAQ)

Is Qonto a real bank?

No. Qonto applied for a banking license in 2025, but has not yet obtained it. Qonto is a payment institution, not a bank. Your funds are secure and separate from those of the company, but they do not benefit from the traditional bank deposit guarantee. In practice, you have access to the same daily services as a traditional bank: IBAN, cards, transfers.

What are Qonto card limits?

It depends on the type of card. The One card allows withdrawals up to €1,000 and payments up to €20,000 per month. The Plus card goes up to €2,000 in withdrawals and €40,000 in payments. The X card can go up to €200,000 in monthly payments. Limits are customizable from the app.

Can you use Qonto for international transactions?

Yes, Qonto allows SWIFT transfers and international card payments. However, exchange fees apply to transactions outside the eurozone. Qonto does not offer multiple IBANs in multiple currencies, which can limit companies that work regularly internationally.

Why is Heropay a better alternative to Qonto for a micro-business?

Heropay combines business account, instant financing, and interest-bearing cash in a single offer. Financing up to €50,000 is accessible directly from your account. And your available money works for you with an interest rate up to 5% gross annual.