Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Qonto vs Salt Bank
Qonto
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
Qonto vs Salt Bank: the differences
| Compare | QontoReviewVisitVisit | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 1.5% | 5.3% to 5.9%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Minimum deposit | €0 | RON 500 |
| Access terms | Instant access to the money, no notice period; remuneration activated in the app, calculated daily on the total balance and paid on the 2nd of each month; requires at least 5 eligible payment transactions of at least 1 EUR per month | 3, 6 or 12 month terms in RON, EUR or USD; interest paid at maturity to the current account; deposits guaranteed up to EUR 100,000 per depositor by FGDB |
| Monthly fee | €19 | RON 0 |
| Account kind | Cash management | Fixed |
| Term | Not confirmed | 3 to 12 months |
Same on both: Deposit protection (EU DGS up to EUR 100,000).
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Key differences
- Salt Bank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Salt Bank is available in 2 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Salt Bank: 5.3% to 5.9% vs 1.5%.
Our verdict on each
Qonto
Qonto suits businesses and freelancers who want their day to day banking in one app and will not chase the highest rate. The monthly fee of €19 is the trade off, and the 1.5% headline rate ranks 350 of 473 brands.
Salt Bank
Salt Bank is built for expats and travellers who bank across Romania and further afield: 19 currencies sit on the same account, local receiving details are iban, and Banca Nationala a Romaniei supervises the bank, with a savings option alongside that pays out at maturity. It scores 7.7 in the comparison.
Score breakdown
| Area | Qonto | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8A monthly fee of €19 on the standard plan and a minimum deposit of €0, against a site median of €0 | 9.4HigherMonthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. |
| Offer | 9.1Headline rate of 1.5% is variable and sits at 350 of 473 | 9.5HigherA fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. |
| Trust | 8.3 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Qonto | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 8 of 1420 | 73 of 1420 |
| Online banks | 5 of 402 | 17 of 402 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Qonto | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| France | FR_ACPR PSD_PI FR_ACPR!68677 | Not confirmed |
| Romania | Not confirmed | Banca Nationala a Romaniei (National Bank of Romania) P.J.R. 40-043 |
Available in 8 countries for both. Additional countries for Salt Bank: 2.
A third option
AU Small Finance Bank has headline rate at 6.75%, against 1.5% for Qonto and 5.3% to 5.9% for Salt Bank.
AU Small Finance Bank reviewWhat we checked
Qonto
- qonto.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Salt Bank
- salt.bank: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Qonto | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No monthly fee, Low FX |
| Legal entity | QONTO | Salt Bank S.A. |
| Headquarters | France | Romania |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Everyday accounts
| Fact | Qonto | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | Payment institution | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.8% to 1.8% | 0%Lower |
| Currencies | from 30 | 19 |
| Audience | Business, Freelancer | Expats, Travelers |
| Features | Digital only | Free ATM, Digital onlyCovers more |
| Local account details | IBAN | IBAN |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | RON 900 |
| Transfer fee | 30 SEPA transfers/month included, then EUR 0.20 per extra transaction (Basic plan) | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Qonto | Salt Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 1.5%lowest quarter | 5.3% to 5.9%highest quarter | 3.25% |
| Term | Not confirmed | 3 to 12 monthsbelow the median | 24 |
Median across 658 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Qonto
Pros
- Minimum deposit of €0, so the account opens without tying up money
- Support runs on chat, phone and email
- Currency conversion of 0.8% to 1.8% suits frequent international invoicing
Cons
- The monthly fee of €19 makes it expensive for anyone holding a small balance
- The account is digital only, so there is no branch to visit
- The 1.5% rate is only paid while the transaction condition is met
Salt Bank
Pros
- Help is available by email, chat and phone.
- Cash withdrawals come with a free allowance of RON 900.
- Term deposits run in RON, EUR or USD and the interest lands in the current account at maturity.
Cons
- The service is digital only, per free atm and digital only, so there is no branch counter for cash or paperwork.
- Local receiving details are iban only, which limits how money can be received from other markets.
- The fixed deposit needs a minimum of RON 500 and ties the money up for the whole term.
Who each suits
Qonto
Who it suits
- Freelancers and sole traders billing across borders
- Small businesses paying and receiving in several currencies
- Anyone who wants their accounts, cards and invoices in one app
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone saving mainly for yield, since the 1.5% rate is variable and ranks 350 of 473
- People who want to hold a large balance while paying nothing, given the monthly fee of €19
- Anyone who prefers a branch, as the account is digital only
Salt Bank
Who it suits
- Expats and travellers named under expats and travelers, who want local and overseas money in the same account.
- Anyone paid in and out in Romania, since 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania there.
- Savers who can wait for interest at maturity and collect it in the current account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not a fee-based decision: Skrill charges €0 a month and eToro £0, so price alone does not separate them.
- Not for people who need UK sort code or US routing numbers for incoming pay, since local details are iban only, the gap to weigh against PayPal Colombia.
Current offers
Qonto
Current offer
Bonus
Up to 5% AER account remuneration for 2 months for new customers: 5% AER for 2 months, then 1.5% AER on the Smart plan
New customers only, first 2 months of the contract, on plans Smart and above; requires at least 5 eligible payment transactions of at least 1 EUR per month; remuneration capped at 50,000 EUR on Smart and 100,000 EUR on Premium; Account Remuneration currently available in France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
1-month free trial on business account plans: 1 month free
Offered on the Basic, Smart and Premium business account plans, prices excl. VAT
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Salt Bank
Current offer
First period offer
Prima luna este gratuit (first month free): First month of any Salt plan free
Applies to the Salt, Salt Everyday and Salt Premium plans on opening
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
13-lea salariu (13th salary campaign): An extra salary when you bring your salary to Salt
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Qonto | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Romania | No | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | Yes |
| Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| France | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
| Italy | Yes | Yes |
| Netherlands | Yes | Yes |
8 of 10 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Qonto
How much does Qonto cost each month?+
The standard plan charges a monthly fee of €19. SEPA transfers are included up to a set monthly allowance, and each transfer beyond it carries a small fixed charge. Currency conversion adds 0.8% to 1.8% on converted payments.
Is there a minimum deposit to open a Qonto account?+
There is no minimum, and the stated minimum deposit is €0. The account can therefore be opened and funded with a small balance, which suits a new business or a first freelance invoice.
Salt Bank
What does a Salt Bank account cost?+
The monthly fee is RON 0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, so there is no monthly or conversion charge to budget for. Payments in and out in Romania run at 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania, and cash withdrawals include a free allowance of RON 900. The conversion fee sits at rank 1 among the brands compared.
Is my money protected at Salt Bank?+
Deposits are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so a balance up to that limit is repaid by the scheme if the bank fails. The Romanian guarantee fund FGDB guarantees deposits per depositor as well, and the bank answers to Banca Nationala a Romaniei under licence P.J.R. 40-043.
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Related by the facts
Qonto
Salt Bank