🏦 Which business account to choose in 2026: Qonto or Wise Business?

For that, an alternative like Heropay is more relevant.

• Qonto provides complete management for teams and accounting.

• Wise is relevant for your international transactions thanks to its real exchange rate.

• But their shared weakness is the lack of simple, fast financing.

• Heropay fills this gap with instant invoice financing in 24h.

• Your money finally works for you thanks to interest-bearing cash from Heropay.

• The verdict: Qonto for local admin, Wise for foreign currencies.

• To finance your growth, Heropay is the most suitable solution.

Quick overview of Qonto and Wise Business

Qonto in brief

Launched in France in 2017, Qonto is a payment institution aimed at freelancers, VSEs, and SMEs.

Its positioning is as an all-in-one premium business account, offering advanced tools for expense, accounting, and team management, with responsive customer support.

Wise Business in brief

Created in the UK in 2011 (formerly TransferWise), Wise is an electronic money institution.

Its core business is to provide a transparent and cost-effective solution for international finances, using the real exchange rate and allowing you to hold over 40 currencies.

Fees and pricing of Qonto and Wise Business

Qonto's plans: granular pricing

Qonto segments its offers by company type (freelancers, VSEs, SMEs) with monthly subscriptions.

• For freelancers: 3 plans from €11 to €45 per month (or €9 to €39/month billed annually). Transfer quotas and the number of sub-accounts increase with the price.

• For VSEs (1-9 employees): 3 plans from €59 to €249 per month (or €49 to €199/month billed annually). These plans include more cards and much higher transfer quotas.

• For SMEs (10+ employees): Plans at €119, €249 (annual basis) and a custom offer, focused on advanced team management and high transaction volume.

The Wise Business model: no subscription, pay-as-you-go

Wise adopts a radically different model, without a monthly subscription.

• One-time setup fee: €50 / £45 (single payment to get international bank details).

• Debit card: Free (a £4 / €4 delivery fee may apply).

• Receiving money: Free for 9 major currencies (EUR, GBP, USD...).

• Currency conversion: Very low, variable fees (from 0.39%) applied to the real exchange rate, with no hidden markup.

• Outgoing transfers: Variable fees depending on the currency and destination, clearly displayed.

Qonto justifies its high prices with a comprehensive management ecosystem for the local market, while Wise charges you nothing if you don't use it, making it very cost-effective for occasional or regular international use.

Included features and services

Company Formation (Share Capital Deposit)

Clear advantage for Qonto. The platform offers a 100% online company formation service (or "dépôt de capital" in France), which is fast and reliable (certificate in 12h) for €69 + VAT (linked to opening an account).

Wise Business does not offer this service. You will have to use a third party to register your company.

International and Multi-currency: The core duel

The verdict is clear: Wise Business is built for international trade, offering flexibility and unbeatable costs on exchanges.

Qonto allows SWIFT transfers, but its structure is not designed for daily multi-currency management, and its exchange fees are less competitive.

Financing

This is a weak point for both, but with nuances.

• Qonto offers financing options via integrated partners. The advantage is that the offer exists, but it is not instant and depends on the partner's response.

• Wise Business offers no financing solutions, loans, or overdrafts at all.

Neither is suitable for an urgent cash flow need, unlike Heropay.

Accounting and Invoicing

Here, Qonto takes the lead in the local market.

• Qonto offers a full suite: invoicing tool, expense management, dedicated accountant access, and deep integrations with local accounting software.

• Wise is limited to integrations with international software (Xero, QuickBooks) and batch payments. It offers no local management tools (like invoicing or tax authority calculations).

Pros and cons: the summary table

Which profile is Qonto suited for?

Qonto can be a good fit for local VSEs and SMEs (French, German, Italian, Spanish) looking for a centralized management solution for their expenses, teams, and accounting.

If you need a local IBAN, sub-accounts for your teams, and responsive customer support, while having limited international activity, Qonto is a robust option.

Which profile is Wise Business suited for?

Wise Business is relevant for any business (sole trader or company) whose main activity is international.

If you receive payments in USD, pay suppliers in GBP, or juggle multiple currencies, the real exchange rate and no-subscription model of Wise are major economic advantages.

Which profile is Qonto NOT suited for?

If your profit margin is sensitive to exchange fees, Qonto is not the solution.

Likewise, if you are a freelancer with simple needs, Qonto's subscription fees can seem high. Its partner-based financing is not suitable for urgent needs.

Which profile is Wise Business NOT suited for?

If your business is purely domestic, the main advantage of Wise disappears.

According to Heropay, the total lack of financing, invoicing tools, and its Belgian IBAN make it very limited for the daily management of a local business.

Use case: a strategy consultant with local and foreign clients

David is a strategy consultant. He invoices 80% of his projects locally in Euros and 20% to a client in Switzerland (CHF). He needs to pay his local social charges and manage his expenses. He anticipates a cash flow gap to pay a local subcontractor before his Swiss client pays him.

• The challenge: Efficiently manage both currencies (EUR, CHF) while having a solution for a short-term local cash flow need.

• The solution:

  • Qonto is perfect for managing his local activity (invoicing, expenses, local IBAN). But it will be expensive for receiving CHF and doesn't solve the urgent cash flow need.

  • Wise Business is perfect for receiving CHF at a low cost. But it is unsuitable for his local activity (no invoicing, Belgian IBAN) and offers no financing.

  • Heropay's instant financing would allow him to pay his local subcontractor in 24h, a service neither of the other two provides.

What you should know before opening an account

With Qonto

• Not a bank: It's a payment institution. Your funds are secured, but there is no authorized overdraft.

• International fees: SWIFT transfers and currency conversions involve fees and a markup on the exchange rate.

• External financing: Loan solutions depend on partners and are not instant.

With Wise Business

• Not a bank: Your funds are protected by "safeguarding," a different mechanism from the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. No credit or overdraft.

• Belgian IBAN (BE) for Euro: While legal in Europe, this can still cause friction with some local administrations or companies.

• No local services: Does not offer cheque/cash deposits or local administrative tools.

Qonto vs Wise Business: the verdict

Your choice depends on your priority: local management or international cost.

• Opt for Qonto if your priority is a comprehensive management platform for your domestic business (accounting, teams, company formation) and your international needs are secondary.

• Opt for Wise Business if your absolute priority is to reduce your fees on international transactions. Its transparency and real exchange rate are its best arguments, but it is very limited for local management.

According to Heropay, their common weakness is their inability to quickly finance your local cash flow needs, which is an essential function for growth.

Top 10 alternatives to Qonto and Wise Business

If these two solutions don't meet your needs, here are other players to consider:

• Heropay: For its instant financing and interest-bearing cash (with local IBAN).

• Revolut Business: A competitor that combines Wise's international features with more banking services (team management, local IBAN possible).

• N26 Business: For sole traders with card expenses abroad.

• Shine: For its business creation tools and administrative management in France.

• Finom: A European challenger with invoicing tools.

• Blank: For its professional insurance and low price in France.

• Boursorama Pro: For the comprehensive offer of a major French online bank.

• Propulse by CA: For extreme simplicity backed by Crédit Agricole (France).

• Indy: For the integrated account + accounting for French freelancers.

• Vivid Business: For its cashback and investment features.

The alternative: why choose Heropay?

Qonto structures your local management, Wise optimizes your global flows. But Heropay finances your local growth.

It's a third way focused on profitability and flexibility in daily operations:

• A free business account with a local IBAN.

• Instant and integrated financing, up to €50,000 on your supplier invoices, so you're never blocked (service currently available in France).

• Interest-bearing cash up to 5%, so your money works for you.

FAQ on Qonto and Wise Business

Which one is better for setting up my company?

Qonto, without hesitation. Qonto offers a fast and reliable share capital deposit service. Wise Business does not offer this service.

Local IBAN?

Qonto provides a local IBAN (e.g., FR, DE, IT, ES). The Euro IBAN from Wise Business is Belgian (BE), which can sometimes cause issues.

Which is cheaper for international transfers?

Wise Business is almost always cheaper and more transparent because it uses the real exchange rate with a low commission. Qonto applies fees and a markup on the rate