Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Kontist vs PagBank
Kontist
Higher score in this comparison
PagBank
Where Kontist and PagBank differ
| Compare | KontistReviewVisitVisit | PagBankReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | R$0 to R$75 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2%Lower | 5% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | €2 | R$0 |
| Transfer fee | 0.25 EUR per additional SEPA transaction beyond the plan allowance (Free includes 5 per month) | Free (unlimited TED and Pix to any bank) |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | Not confirmed |
| Local account details | IBAN | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Kontist scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Kontist: 2% vs 5%.
- Features: only PagBank offers Free ATM, Digital only.
Our verdict on each
Kontist
Kontist is a free to hold German account aimed at freelancers and small businesses paid in euros, and deposits sit in the EU guarantee scheme: EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. The trade off is a charge on every SEPA transfer past the plan allowance, on an account built for freelancer and business.
PagBank
PagBank suits Brazilian businesses and freelancers who want a free everyday account with instant Pix payouts and a savings option on the side.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherA monthly fee of €0 and conversion at 2% give a low running cost for an account that mostly holds euros. | 8.6Cost score rests on BRL 0 to BRL 75 monthly charges, BRL 0 for cash withdrawals and 5% for card conversion. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherA free ATM allowance of €2 and local details covering iban make it usable day to day in the euro area. | 9.2Offer score rests on variable savings, Daily liquidity, redeem whenever you want and payouts to bank and wallet. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.8 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Kontist: 1. Additional countries for PagBank: 1.
Spending 1,000 abroad
Kontist
20
2% of 1,000
PagBank
50
5% of 1,000
Kontist comes out 30 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Business bank accounts | 14 of 563 | 16 of 563 |
| Accounts for freelancers | 7 of 130 | 9 of 130 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Freelancer, Business | Business, Freelancer |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee |
| Features | No credit check | Free ATM, Digital only, No credit checkCovers more |
| Legal entity | Shine Germany GmbH | PAGSEGURO INTERNET INSTITUIÇÃO DE PAGAMENTO S/A |
| Headquarters | Germany | Brazil |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2006 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, Chat |
Savings
| Fact | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | R$1 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Daily liquidity, redeem whenever you want |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Money transfer
| Fact | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery time | Not confirmed | Within minutes: cross-border payouts cleared in minutes to Pix or a PagBank account; Pix transfers instant 24/7 |
| Payout methods | Not confirmed | Bank, Wallet |
| Fee to send 1,000 | Not confirmed | R$0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kontist | PagBank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2%above the median | 5%highest quarter | 0.5% |
Median across 377 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Kontist
Pros
- Deposits are covered by the EU deposit guarantee scheme, EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so a business balance has a stated safety net.
- The account runs without a credit check, no credit check, so opening it does not involve a credit review.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so phone and chat sit alongside email and a help centre.
Cons
- Every additional SEPA transaction past the plan allowance is charged, so a payment heavy freelancer pays more as volume grows.
- The currency conversion fee of 2% is above the 0.5% median and ranks 214 of 312, so frequent conversion is where the account costs most.
- Local details cover iban alone, so the account is built around a single market rather than wider payment rails.
PagBank
Pros
- Transfers to any bank are Free (unlimited TED and Pix to any bank), which covers both Pix and TED.
- Cash access carries an allowance of BRL 0, so withdrawals do not add to the bill.
- Payouts reach bank and wallet, and cross-border money clears in minutes to Pix or a PagBank account.
Cons
- Currency conversion on the card costs 5%, which ranks 304 of 312 and sits above the site median of 0.5%.
- The service is digital-only, as free atm, digital only and no credit check shows, so it suits people comfortable running money from an app.
- Savings pay a variable rate, so returns can move.
Who each suits
Kontist
Who it suits
- Freelancers billing in euros who want a business account opened without a credit check, since Kontist runs no credit check.
- Small businesses and sole traders who need a euro account with a monthly fee of €0 and a German IBAN.
- Anyone who wants the balance inside the EU deposit guarantee scheme, EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, with support on email, chat and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for readers who judge on the monthly fee alone: PayPal Colombia also lists a monthly fee of $0, so the choice there comes down to what the account gives you, such as local details covering iban.
- Not for high volume SEPA users, because each additional transaction past the plan allowance is charged.
- Not for anyone who wants a banking licence relationship of their own: the accounts sit with partner bank Solaris SE under BaFin and European Central Bank supervision.
PagBank
Who it suits
- Brazilian sole traders and small companies that bill and pay in Pix
- Freelancers who want an everyday account with an easy access CDB alongside
- Anyone happy to manage the account from a phone
Who should look elsewhere
- Skrill, if a wallet outside Brazil fits better: its monthly fee is €0
- Plazo ES, if a Spanish product suits you instead: its monthly fee is €0
- PayPal Colombia, if a wallet for cross-border online payments is the job: its monthly fee is $0
Current offers
PagBank
Current offer
Discount code
Taxa 0% para novos clientes (0% merchant rate on card readers): 0%
New customers of the Conta PJ PagBank; card reader without rental fee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Moderninha ProFit com 90% off (Super Max): R$ 83,88 à vista (12x de R$ 6,99)
Super Max plan; promotional price valid under campaign terms
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Kontist | PagBank |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Kontist
How much does it cost to hold a Kontist account?+
The monthly fee is €0, so holding the account is free. The costs that do apply are currency conversion at 2% and a charge on each additional SEPA transfer beyond the plan allowance, where the Free plan includes a limited number of those transactions every month.
Is my money protected at Kontist?+
Deposits sit under the EU deposit guarantee scheme, EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. The accounts themselves are held by partner bank Solaris SE rather than by Kontist, and the arrangement is supervised by BaFin and the European Central Bank.
PagBank
What does PagBank charge to hold an account?+
The monthly fee runs BRL 0 to BRL 75, and the account is built around no monthly charge. PagBank ranks 1 of 500 on monthly fee across the site, the site median is €0, and the top of the site range reaches €449.
Are Pix and TED transfers really free?+
Transfers to any bank are Free (unlimited TED and Pix to any bank), and the Pix transfer charge is BRL 0. Pix is instant around the clock, and cross-border payouts clear in minutes to Pix or a PagBank account, with payouts landing on bank and wallet.