Kontist
Accounting software
Accounting & finance software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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€11 per month
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
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What is Kontist
Kontist is a Germany-focused business banking and accounting support product aimed primarily at freelancers and self-employed users. It combines a business account with automated tax estimation and bookkeeping-oriented categorization to help users set aside money for income tax and VAT and prepare data for accounting workflows. The product emphasizes day-to-day cash management, tax reserves, and simplified bookkeeping rather than full general-ledger accounting for multi-entity organizations.
Freelancer-focused tax estimation
Kontist centers on estimating income tax and VAT based on account activity and categorization, which fits common freelancer workflows. This helps users plan liquidity by reserving funds for upcoming tax payments. The focus is narrower and more operational than full ERP-style accounting suites, which can be excessive for solo operators.
Banking and bookkeeping linkage
By pairing a business account with transaction categorization, Kontist reduces manual steps between banking and bookkeeping preparation. Users can monitor cash flow and tax reserves from the same environment where payments occur. This can be simpler than using separate tools for banking, receipt capture, and bookkeeping handoff.
Germany-specific compliance orientation
The product is designed around German freelancer needs, including VAT handling patterns and local tax concepts. This localization can reduce configuration effort compared with general-purpose accounting platforms that require more setup for country-specific practices. It is particularly relevant for users operating primarily in Germany.
Not a full accounting suite
Kontist is not positioned as a full general-ledger accounting system with advanced financial reporting, multi-entity consolidation, or complex revenue recognition. Businesses that need accrual accounting controls, audit trails across modules, or deep financial statement customization may outgrow it. Teams looking for end-to-end ERP capabilities typically require additional software.
Geographic and language constraints
The strongest fit is for Germany-based freelancers and small businesses; international tax regimes and multi-country operations are not the core design point. Organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions may need tools with broader localization coverage. This can limit suitability for globally distributed teams.
Integration depth may vary
While transaction data supports bookkeeping workflows, the breadth of integrations (e.g., advanced AP automation, document capture pipelines, or extensive accounting app ecosystems) may be more limited than larger accounting platforms. Some users may still need manual export/import steps for their accountant or tax advisor. Integration requirements should be validated against the specific accounting and payroll stack in use.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | Business account with German IBAN; Physical Visa debit card; SEPA instant (instant) transfers; Real-time tax estimation; 5 SEPA transfers & direct debits included; Invoicing tool; Interface to accounting software; Receipt management. |
| Start | €11 per month (plus VAT) | Business account with German IBAN; Physical & virtual Visa debit cards; SEPA instant transfers; Real-time tax estimation; Subaccounts; 30 SEPA transfers & direct debits included; Invoicing tool; Interface to accounting software; Receipt management. |
| Plus | €25 per month (plus VAT) | Business account with German IBAN; Physical & virtual Visa debit cards; SEPA instant transfers; Real-time tax estimation; Subaccounts; 100 SEPA transfers & direct debits included; Invoicing tool; Interface to accounting software; Receipt management; VAT return (USt-VA) & business evaluation (BWA). |
Notes: Additional transactions beyond plan allowances are charged at €0.40 per transaction. Virtual cards are limited and can be unlocked in the Free plan for €2/month. Replacement physical card fee: €10. Foreign card payment/withdrawal fees vary by plan (e.g., 2% Free, 1.75% Start, 1.5% Plus). Prices shown are monthly and exclude VAT where indicated.
Seller details
Kontist GmbH
Berlin, Germany
2016
Private
https://kontist.com
https://x.com/kontist
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kontist/
