Penta vs Qonto.
Penta (P61/100) and Qonto (Q51/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | Q Qonto №70 · Payment institution license 51 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 61 /100 | 51 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | 1.70% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank BaFin | Payment inst. |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 8 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews | 4.8 ★ 50k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.3 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Penta if…
The German SME-focused partner-bank neobank with the deepest DATEV-first workflow in the category. Customer deposits sit at Solaris Bank AG (BaFin-licensed credit institution) with DGS pass-through cover — structurally distinct from EMI-licensed Tide / Finom / Anna / Holvi. The structural fit for German GmbH / UG companies needing DGS-protected operating cash plus DATEV / Lexoffice / sevDesk integration depth without Qonto's freelancer-tier UX baggage.
Pick Qonto if…
Pick if you run an EU SME and need multi-currency invoicing, accounting integrations, and proper receipts.
- Best for fees Penta won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Penta won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Qonto won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Qonto won 2 of 2
Penta vs Qonto — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Penta better than Qonto?
Penta and Qonto are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Penta 61/100 vs Qonto 51/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Penta or Qonto cheaper?
Monthly fee — Penta: €9; Qonto: €9. Card FX markup — Penta: 1.00%; Qonto: 1.70%. Penta wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Penta or Qonto?
Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Qonto holds a Payment inst. licence under Payment institution license (France, 2018); EU passport across served markets; filed for full French banking license in July 2025; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Penta is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Penta and Qonto?
Penta operates in 1 country; Qonto operates in 8 countries. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.