Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Qonto vs Upgrade
Qonto
Upgrade
Higher score in this comparison
Qonto vs Upgrade: the differences
| Compare | QontoReviewVisitVisit | UpgradeReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €9 | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2%Lower | 3% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | €0 | $0 |
| Card network | Mastercard | Visa |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Currencies | from 30 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card type (Debit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Upgrade scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.6.
- Qonto is available in 7 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Qonto: 2% vs 3%.
- Support channels: only Qonto offers Chat.
- Features: only Qonto offers Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel.
- Features: only Upgrade offers Same day funding, Credit line.
Our verdict on each
Qonto
Qonto suits businesses that want a low-cost Mastercard debit card with included card insurance and account remuneration. It is less suitable for frequent cash withdrawals or overseas spending, because free ATM withdrawals are €0 and currency conversion costs 2%.
Upgrade
Upgrade suits US borrowers who want a direct lender with fixed rate personal loans, a credit line and quick access to money, and the fee is taken from the proceeds before you see it. It scores 6.4 on offer, and the arrangement fee runs 1.85% to 9.99% on top of the rate.
Score breakdown
| Area | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Qonto charges a monthly fee of €9, currency conversion costs 2%, and the card has an annual fee of €0. | 9.0Higher |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.4Direct lender with loans of $1,000 to $50,000 over 24 to 84 at 7.74% to 35.99%, plus same day funding and a credit line. |
| Trust | 8.4 | 9.4Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick Qonto if currency conversion fee matter most.
Pick Upgrade if cost matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| France | FR_ACPR PSD_PI FR_ACPR!68677 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Qonto: 8. Additional countries for Upgrade: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 12 of 1594 | 26 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 3 of 421 | 9 of 421 |
| Debit cards | 10 of 826 | 19 of 826 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel | Same day funding, Credit line |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | QONTO | Upgrade, Inc. |
| Headquarters | France | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Credit cards
| Fact | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €0 | $0 |
| APR | 17.5% | 7.74% to 35.99%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Fixed rate |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 3% cash back on gas, groceries, streaming and monthly subscriptions, and utilities; 1% on everything else, uncapped |
| Perks | Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost, Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans), Apple Pay and Google Pay compatible, 24/7 support in France, 7 days a week elsewhere | Visa Zero Liability protection, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Roadside Dispatch, Upgrade Shopping offers, Rewards do not expire, 24/7 fraud monitoring and real time alerts, Flexible payment options Pay Now, Pay in 4, Pay Over Time (coming soon) |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Savings
| Fact | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 1.5% | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Term | Not confirmed | 24 to 84 months |
| Minimum deposit | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | Not confirmed |
| 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 | Not confirmed |
| Account kind | Cash management | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Qonto | Upgrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2%above the median | 3%highest quarter | 1% |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2%at the median | 2% |
| Currencies | from 30highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8 |
Median across 336 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Qonto
Pros
- The Mastercard debit card has an annual fee of €0.
- Card insurance for travel, business purchases and fraud is included through Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
- Eligible Smart and Premium plans can receive account remuneration under the terms in Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
Cons
- Qonto charges a monthly fee of €9, while bunq lists a monthly fee of €0.
- Free ATM withdrawals are €0, which may be costly for a business that regularly uses cash machines.
- The currency conversion fee of 2% is above the site median of 1%.
Upgrade
Pros
- Fixed rate personal loans with an APR of 7.74% to 35.99%
- Free early repayment lets you settle the balance early without a charge
- Soft prequalification, so a soft prequal credit check comes before a hard search
Cons
- The arrangement fee of 1.85% to 9.99% is deducted from loan proceeds, so the amount received is lower than the amount borrowed
- The top of the APR range is far above the site median of 15.5%
- The smallest loan is $1,000 to $50,000, which rules out small emergency amounts
Who each suits
Qonto
Who it suits
- Businesses that regularly use a Mastercard debit card for travel or business purchases.
- Smart and Premium plan customers who meet the remuneration terms in Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
- Users who want chat, phone, email and help-centre support through chat, phone and email.
Who should look elsewhere
- Businesses focused on low cost that may prefer bunq, whose monthly fee is €0.
- Frequent overseas spenders who prefer Wise and want to compare its fee with Qonto's 2%.
- Cash-heavy businesses that want free ATM withdrawals, because Qonto offers €0.
Upgrade
Who it suits
- US residents who want one lender for a loan and a credit line
- Borrowers consolidating debt or funding home improvement who value a fixed rate
- Adults who prefer a soft prequal credit check before committing
Who should look elsewhere
- Borrowers who would rather pay fees up front, since the arrangement fee of 1.85% to 9.99% comes out of the amount borrowed
- Anyone outside the US, as eligibility is tied to US residency and citizenship status
- Borrowers who need a very large sum, since the maximum is $1,000 to $50,000
Current offers
Qonto
Current offer
Free trial
1-month free trial on all Qonto plans: 1 month free
Shown on Basic, Smart, Premium, Essential, Business and Enterprise plan cards on the pricing page.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Remunerated account: 5% AER for 2 months, then 1.5% AER: 5% AER for 2 months, then 1.5% AER
Smart and Premium plans; requires at least 5 eligible transactions per month; remunerated balance cap EUR 50,000 (Smart) or EUR 100,000 (Premium).
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Qonto | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| Portugal | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Qonto
What does Qonto charge each month?+
Qonto's account fee is €9. The Mastercard debit card itself has an annual fee of €0. The card also offers a deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost under Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
What does Qonto charge for currency conversion?+
Currency conversions cost 2%. This matters for business travel or purchases made outside the account's working currency. Qonto supports multi-currency features, but the conversion charge remains 2%.
Upgrade
What rate will I pay on an Upgrade personal loan?+
Upgrade offers fixed rate loans with an APR of 7.74% to 35.99% and terms of 24 to 84. Loans cover personal, debt consolidation, secured and car borrowing, and the model is fixed rate rather than variable, so repayments stay the same each month.
How much does an Upgrade loan cost in fees?+
An arrangement fee of 1.85% to 9.99% applies, and it is deducted from your loan proceeds rather than billed separately. That means the amount you receive is lower than the amount you borrow, so the fee and the interest rate stack up.
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