Qonto vs Shine 2026: Which Is Better for French Freelancers?
Qonto
Shine
A detailed comparison of Qonto and Shine — France's two leading business banks for freelancers. We compare fees, invoicing, tax features, and scalability to help auto-entrepreneurs choose.
Quick Verdict
Shine is the better choice for solo French freelancers (auto-entrepreneurs) who want simplicity and automated URSSAF calculations. Qonto is better for freelancers who are growing, need multi-currency, or want deeper accounting integrations. Both are excellent — Shine for simplicity, Qonto for scalability.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Qonto | Shine | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | From €9/mo | From €7.90/mo Winner | Shine |
| Invoicing | Built-in with payment tracking | Built-in with payment tracking | Tie |
| Tax Automation | VAT tracking and categorization | Automated URSSAF calculation + reminders Winner | Shine |
| Currencies | 4 (EUR, GBP, USD, CHF) Winner | 1 (EUR only) | Qonto |
| Accounting Integrations | QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, Pennylane, and more Winner | Pennylane, limited others | Qonto |
| Team Features | Multi-user, team cards, expense management Winner | Single user (limited team features) | Qonto |
| Receipt Management | OCR scanning with auto-matching Winner | Receipt scanning and storage | Qonto |
| Customer Support | Chat + phone (premium plans) Winner | Chat + email | Qonto |
| Banking Group | Independent (backed by Tencent, Valar) | Société Générale subsidiary Winner | Shine |
| App Design | Feature-rich, professional | Clean, simple, beginner-friendly | Tie |
| International Payments | SEPA free, SWIFT from €5 Winner | SEPA only | Qonto |
| Business Insurance | Professional liability via partners | RC Pro insurance option built in Winner | Shine |
Which Should You Choose?
You're a solo auto-entrepreneur in France with straightforward needs
Shine — simpler, cheaper, and automated URSSAF calculations save real time.
You invoice international clients in USD or GBP
Qonto — multi-currency accounts in 4 currencies avoid costly conversions.
You're a growing freelancer who may hire contractors or employees
Qonto — team cards, multi-user access, and expense management scale with you.
You want the simplest possible business banking setup
Shine — designed for beginners with guided onboarding and plain-language financial guidance.
You use accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero
Qonto — deeper integrations with major accounting platforms.
Detailed Reviews
Qonto
Monthly Fee
€9 – €249/mo
Card Fee
Included (Mastercard)
Currencies
4+
International Transfers
SEPA free, SWIFT from €5
Pros
- Purpose-built for freelancers and SMEs
- Built-in invoicing and expense management
- Multi-user access with team cards
- Accounting integrations (QuickBooks, Xero, Sage)
- EUR, GBP, USD, CHF accounts
Cons
- Not free (starts at €9/mo)
- French IBAN only (FR)
- FX rates not as competitive as Wise
- Overkill for solo freelancers with simple needs
Ready to try Qonto?
Open Qonto Account →We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Shine
Monthly Fee
€7.90 – €22.90/mo
Card Fee
Included (Mastercard)
Currencies
1+
International Transfers
SEPA included
Pros
- Designed specifically for French freelancers
- Automated URSSAF calculation and reminders
- Simple invoicing with payment tracking
- Clean, beginner-friendly interface
- Part of Société Générale group
Cons
- EUR only (no multi-currency)
- France-only (FR IBAN)
- Fewer integrations than Qonto
- Limited features for growing businesses
Ready to try Shine?
Open Shine Account →We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The Bottom Line
Qonto and Shine are both excellent choices for French freelancers, but they serve different stages and needs.
Shine is the entry point. Built specifically for auto-entrepreneurs, it holds your hand through URSSAF declarations, automates tax calculations, and keeps everything simple. If you’re a solo freelancer who wants to focus on work rather than banking admin, Shine removes friction.
Qonto is the growth platform. Multi-currency accounts, deeper accounting integrations, team management, and advanced expense tools make it the right choice once your freelance business gets more complex — or if you work internationally.
Our Recommendation
- Just starting out as an auto-entrepreneur? Start with Shine (€7.90/mo)
- Working with international clients or growing your team? Go with Qonto (€9/mo)
- Both feel right? Start with Shine, switch to Qonto when you outgrow it