In short:
- N26: a simple business account with a German banking licence and cashback, for sole traders and freelancers.
- Holvi: a business account with built-in invoicing and accounting, companies such as GmbH, UG and GbR included.
- Vivid: bundles cashback, investing and an interest account into one business account, companies included.
N26 and Holvi are among the best-known digital providers of a business account in Germany. Both target the self-employed, freelancers and companies that want to manage their finances entirely on mobile. In the direct comparison of N26 vs. Holvi, though, clear differences appear. They mostly concern pricing, accounting and the legal forms each account supports.
This comparison focuses on the business accounts of N26 and Holvi, the offers for the self-employed, freelancers and companies. We leave the personal accounts aside on purpose. We take a close look at the business account plans for 2026. At the end, we introduce Vivid Money as a modern alternative that bundles cashback, investing and an interest account into one business account. That way you can find the right account for your business.
N26 at a glance
N26 is a German direct bank with its own full banking licence and a mobile, app-based approach. The N26 Business account is aimed at the self-employed and freelancers who work under their own name. Companies such as a GmbH or UG are not supported. There are four plans: Standard at €0/month, Smart, Go and Metal. All card payments earn 0.1% cashback, and the Metal plan earns 0.5%. Every account comes with a German IBAN and deposit insurance up to €100,000. For idle funds, N26 offers a savings account (Tagesgeld) with interest. N26 does not include its own tool for invoicing or accounting.
Holvi at a glance
Holvi comes from Finland and combines a business account with tools for invoicing and accounting. That is the core of the offer: banking and paperwork in one app. Holvi is not a bank but a licensed payment institution supervised by the Finnish financial authority. Client funds are held separately at partner banks. There are four plans: Flex at €0/month, Lite, Pro and Business. Holvi issues up to 15 German IBANs and supports many legal forms, including GmbH, UG and GbR. Holvi offers no cashback. There is an investing option for idle funds, but only through a money market fund, not in stocks or ETFs.
Account fees in detail
In the Holvi vs. N26 comparison, the account fees are worth a first look. Both providers start with a free entry-level account: N26 Business Standard and Holvi Flex cost €0/month. The included features there are limited, though. N26 tiers its plans mainly through cashback, cash withdrawals and insurance. Holvi tiers by the scope of its invoicing and accounting features, the number of IBANs and the cards.
N26 Business: plans and pricing
| Plan | Price per month | Cashback | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| N26 Business Standard | €0 | 0.1% | getting started with a free account |
| N26 Business Smart | €4.90 | 0.1% | more Spaces and cash withdrawals |
| N26 Business Go | €9.90 | 0.1% | more features and travel extras |
| N26 Business Metal | €16.90 | 0.5% | higher cashback and an insurance package |
Holvi: plans and pricing
| Plan | Price per month | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Holvi Flex | €0 | getting started with invoicing, without free transfers |
| Holvi Lite | €9 | the self-employed with regular transfers |
| Holvi Pro | €15 | full invoicing and accounting features |
| Holvi Business | €69 | larger teams with many accounts and cards |
Good to know: with both providers the included features are limited per plan. On Holvi Flex, for example, no free transfers are included, and each SEPA transfer costs €0.25. The DATEV interface is available on the Flex plan for an extra fee. Add up your typical monthly transactions and check the current terms before you sign up.
N26 gives 0.1% cashback, while Holvi gives none. Vivid combines a business account at €0/month on the Standard plan with cashback and no monthly limit in the "All purchases" category.
Accounting and invoicing
For everyday business, how well an account works with your accounting matters. This is where Holvi is strongest. An invoicing tool, online accounting and e-invoicing are built in, along with integrations for DATEV, Lexware and sevdesk. So you can write invoices and capture receipts without switching apps. N26 takes a different approach. There is no dedicated invoicing or accounting tool, only basic exports. To handle accounting with N26, you need separate software on top. Vivid brings a DATEV interface and invoicing tools, and connects accounting directly with banking and investing.
Holvi includes invoicing and accounting, while N26 offers only basic exports. Vivid connects a DATEV interface and invoicing tools directly with banking and investing in one app.
Features in comparison
On the basics, N26 and Holvi are closer than many expect. Both offer a digital account with a German IBAN, SEPA transfers, a Mastercard and mobile payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay. The differences show up in cashback, in the accounting tools and in the legal forms each one supports.
| Feature | N26 Business | Holvi |
|---|---|---|
| German IBAN (DE) | yes, on all plans | yes, up to 15 IBANs |
| Free entry-level plan | Business Standard, €0 | Flex, €0 |
| Cashback on card payments | 0.1% (Metal 0.5%) | no cashback |
| Invoicing & accounting | basic exports only | built in, with DATEV, Lexware, sevdesk |
| Sub-accounts | up to 10 Spaces with own IBAN | multiple IBANs by plan |
| Eligible legal forms | self-employed and freelancers only | GmbH, UG and GbR included |
| Investing in the app | savings account with interest, no securities | money market fund only |
Mobile app and usability
N26 is known for being easy to use. The account runs mainly through the app, and the interface is clean and fast. Holvi is digital too, but its focus is the web dashboard. That is where invoicing, accounting and reports come together. The app covers the key functions, while the full scope sits on the desktop. Which approach fits you better depends on whether you run your account on the go or at your desk.
Security and regulation
Security is essential for a business account. N26 and Holvi are regulated in the EU and rely on modern safeguards: two-factor confirmation, push notifications for transactions and the option to freeze the card directly in the app. N26 holds a German full banking licence. Balances are protected by the German deposit insurance scheme up to €100,000 per client. Holvi is a payment institution. Client funds are held separately at partner banks. Vivid is an EU-regulated financial service provider too and relies on the same high security standards, from two-factor confirmation to encryption. In everyday business you are soundly protected with all three providers.
Which account suits whom?
Which account fits best depends on your business. The key factors are your legal form, the number of invoices you send and how much accounting the account itself should handle.
Who is N26 for?
N26 suits solo self-employed people and freelancers with simple banking needs. If you want a free account, work on mobile and like cashback on card payments, you are in good hands here. Anyone who already uses their own accounting software also gets on well with N26. One thing to note: N26 Business is only for the self-employed and freelancers under their own name. For a GmbH or UG, the account is not intended.
Who is Holvi for?
Holvi suits anyone who sends invoices regularly and wants to bundle banking and accounting in one place. Service businesses, online sellers and small teams benefit from the built-in invoicing. Unlike N26, a GmbH, UG and GbR are possible too. If you want an all-in-one solution instead of many separate tools, Holvi is a good fit.
N26 vs. Holvi: pros and cons at a glance
Advantages of N26 Business
Disadvantages of N26 Business
Advantages of Holvi
Disadvantages of Holvi
Decision guide: Holvi or N26?
The choice between Holvi or N26 comes down to a few questions. Do you send invoices regularly and want to do your accounting inside the account? Then Holvi plays to its strengths. Are you looking for a free, mobile account with cashback and working as a sole trader? Then N26 fits better. Your legal form matters too: for a GmbH or UG, only Holvi works of the two. N26 stands out with a German banking licence and deposit insurance, Holvi with accounting and many IBANs.
So each one solves part of the puzzle. N26 covers free, mobile banking with cashback, and Holvi covers accounting. What both leave open is the combination of cashback with no limit, broad investing in stocks and ETFs and a flexible interest account. This is exactly the gap Vivid Money closes.
Vivid Money as a modern alternative
Why Vivid Money works for business
Vivid Money is a financial platform that connects a business account with building wealth. The offer is aimed at the self-employed and companies. You earn cashback on your business spending, in the "All purchases" category with no monthly limit. You invest your balance in the same app in stocks, ETFs, money market funds and bonds. The integrated interest account puts idle funds to work for you. Sub-accounts with their own IBAN keep your spending neatly separated, and you see the exchange rate transparently in the app before every transfer.
| Feature | Vivid | N26 Business | Holvi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback on business spending | yes, "All purchases" with no monthly limit | 0.1% (Metal 0.5%) | no cashback |
| Investing in the app | stocks, ETFs, money market funds, bonds | savings account only, no securities | money market fund only |
| Interest account | integrated interest account | savings account with interest | no interest account |
| Sub-accounts with own IBAN | included | up to 10 Spaces | multiple IBANs by plan |
| Accounting | DATEV interface and invoicing tools | basic exports only | built in, many integrations |
Opening an account happens fully online via video or selfie ID. On top of that come Visa Business cards, a DATEV interface for accounting and a free Standard plan to get started. This way Vivid brings banking, investing and the management of your company finances together in one place.
N26 offers only a savings account, Holvi only a money market fund. Vivid bundles broad investing in stocks, ETFs and bonds together with an interest account into one app.
A business account with cashback and investing in one app
Open your Vivid business account fully online and bring together what other accounts keep apart: cashback on your business spending, integrated investing and an interest account.
N26 vs. Holvi: our verdict
In the direct comparison of N26 vs. Holvi there is no overall winner. Both offer a solid business account and shine in different areas. N26 suits the self-employed and freelancers who want a free, mobile account with a German banking licence and cashback. Holvi works for anyone who handles invoicing and accounting inside the account and also runs a GmbH or UG.
In the end your needs decide. If you mainly want a simple account with cashback, N26 is a good choice. If accounting is at the centre, the path leads to Holvi. And if you want to combine cashback, investing and an interest account in one business account, Vivid Money offers a mix that a classic account does not. It can pay off to test several accounts and find the offer that fits.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
N26 or Holvi: who offers a free business account?
Both. N26 Business Standard and Holvi Flex cost €0/month. The plans differ in scope, though. N26 includes cashback, while Holvi includes no free transfers on the Flex plan. Add up your typical transactions, because the cheapest account depends on your needs. Vivid offers a free Standard plan with cashback on business spending on top.
Can I open a business account faster with N26 or Holvi?
Both providers open the account fully online. N26 is known for being especially fast. Sign-up runs in a few minutes via video ID, and the account is often usable shortly after. With Holvi, sign-up takes around 10 minutes, and the document check can take a few business days depending on the case. If you are in a hurry, N26 is usually ready sooner.
Are there free transfers with Holvi and N26?
With N26 Business, SEPA transfers are included on all plans without per-item fees. With Holvi it depends on the plan: on Flex each SEPA transfer costs €0.25, from Lite 100 transfers are free, and from Pro they are unlimited. Instant transfers can trigger extra fees with both providers.
Is N26 or Holvi suitable for a GmbH or UG?
There is a clear difference here. N26 Business is only for the self-employed and freelancers who work under their own name, so not for a GmbH or UG. Holvi, on the other hand, also supports companies such as GmbH and UG as well as the GbR. Vivid offers a business account for the self-employed and companies.
Which business account offers cashback, investing and an interest account in one?
N26 offers a savings account, Holvi a money market fund. Broad investing in stocks and ETFs together with cashback and an interest account is offered by neither. Vivid combines it all in one business account: cashback on business spending in the "All purchases" category with no monthly limit, investing in stocks and ETFs and an integrated interest account.
As of June 2026. The information on N26 and Holvi was compiled to the best of our knowledge based on the official provider websites and can change at any time, in particular prices, plans and conditions. No claim is made to completeness or accuracy. Please check the current terms directly with the respective provider. N26 and Holvi are trademarks of their respective companies; there is no business relationship between Vivid and these providers.
