An independent magazine for building a life in Germany.
Comparison
The accounts, tax software, and insurance every freelancer (Freiberufler) in Germany actually needs, and which to pick based on your situation.
By Mahiuddin Al Kamal · 5 options
Going freelance in Germany means you become your own back office. No employer withholds your tax, sorts your insurance, or gives you a business account. You do all of it. These are the tools that make that manageable, picked for expats who are still learning the system.
You need three things sorted early: a separate account to keep business and personal money apart (the Finanzamt will thank you at tax time), software to file your Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung and annual return without a 300 EUR Steuerberater bill, and liability insurance (Berufshaftpflicht) that many German clients require before they'll sign a contract.
01 / At a glance
Pick an option name to jump to its full write-up below.
| Option | Rating | Best for | English | Monthly fee | English app | German IBAN | Branches | Price | Best case | Refund est. | Type | From | Cancel | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick N26 | 4.5 | English-first digital bank | — | Free | Full | Yes | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | Visit N26 website, opens in a new tab |
| C24 Bank | 4.3 | Interest on balance | — | Free | No | Yes | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | Visit C24 Bank website, opens in a new tab |
| Wundertax | 4.3 | Simple employee returns | Yes | — | — | — | — | ~€35 | Employees | Yes | — | — | — | Visit Wundertax website, opens in a new tab |
| Taxfix | 4.3 | Fast mobile filing | Yes | — | — | — | — | ~€40 | Employees | Yes | — | — | — | Visit Taxfix website, opens in a new tab |
| Getsafe | 4.3 | English app, cheap liability | 100% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Liability+ | €3/mo | Monthly | Visit Getsafe website, opens in a new tab |
Scroll the table sideways to see every spec.
02 / In detail
Free mobile bank account with a German IBAN. Fully digital, English-friendly app.
Pros
Cons
Free smart banking with up to 2.5% interest on your balance. German-only app.
Pros
Cons
Simple online tax return software in English. Average refund: 1,063 EUR.
Pros
Cons
Mobile-first tax app that files your return in under 30 minutes. Simple Q&A format, average refund over 1,000 EUR.
Pros
Cons
App-based insurer for liability (Haftpflicht), household, legal, and more. Fully in English, cancel monthly.
Pros
Cons
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