Best online banks in France for micro-businesses: complete comparison
Comparison of the best online banks for micro-businesses (sole traders). Discover the rates and offers to make the right choice.
Are you hesitating between the Boursorama Pro account and the Wise Business account? That’s understandable: Bourso Pro is one of the cheapest professional accounts offered by traditional banks in France. But compared to the Wise Business account, is it really competitive? In this article, we provide a comprehensive comparison between Wise Business and Boursorama Pro for expats in France.
What you need to know: You can open a Wise Business international multi-currency account for a one-time fee of €50. Unlike Bourso Pro, you don’t pay a subscription or account maintenance fee. EUR transfers within the SEPA zone are also free. International transfers are made at the mid-market exchange rate without hidden markups. Plus, you can receive balance remittances in EUR, GBP, and USD.
Learn more about the Wise business account
Let’s start by comparing the basic subscription costs. With Bourso Pro, the account is free under certain conditions. With Wise, opening the account costs €50 once, with no subscription fees afterwards.
| Bourso Pro | Wise Business Account | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (under certain conditions¹) | €50 (one-time only) |
Unlike Bourso Pro, the Wise Business solution charges only when you send or convert foreign currency. Keeping a Wise Business account and holding balances in multiple currencies only requires a one-time opening fee of €50.
Here’s a look at fees for money transfers within the eurozone:
| Bourso Pro | Wise Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing a SEPA transfer including instant transfer | Free | Free |
| Issuing a daily value transfer (France only) | €14.35 | N/A |
| Setting up a standing order transfer | Free | Free |
Foreign currency transfers can incur significant fees at traditional banks. Here’s how Bourso Pro and Wise compare:
| Bourso Pro | Wise Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Sending a non-SEPA transfer in EUR | Free² | Low and transparent fees |
| Applicable exchange rate | BoursoBank exchange rate | Mid-market exchange rate |
Here’s the comparison when receiving funds from abroad:
| Bourso Pro | Wise Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving a non-SEPA transfer outside EUR | 0.10% (min €20) | Free |
| Exchange rate margin | 1% | Mid-market exchange rate |
In addition to transfers, here are other fees to consider:
| Bourso Pro | Wise Business | |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal fees in foreign currency | 1.69% | Up to €200 free |
| Card reissue or replacement | €10 | €7 shipping fee |
Some account services may generate additional costs.
| Bourso Pro | Wise Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Standing order transfer setup fee | €5 (in branch) | Free |
| Order a checkbook | €5 (in branch) | N/A |
| Issuance of bank details | €5 (in branch) | Free (online only) |
| Account opening certificate | €5 (in branch) | Free (online only) |
The cards offered by the two companies have very different conditions:
| Card offered by Bourso Pro | Price |
|---|---|
| Visa Classic Freedom Card | Free |
| Visa Welcome Card | Free (otherwise €5/month with no transaction) |
| Visa Ultim Card | Free (otherwise €9/month with no transaction) |
| Metal Card | €9.90/month (physical) or €5.90/month (digital) |
With Wise Business, you receive a free international debit card (no minimum monthly spending required), with a €7 delivery fee.
With Bourso Pro, online card payments in France or abroad are free and unlimited as long as the limits in your contract are respected. Withdrawals in euros, including abroad, are also free. Payments in foreign currencies abroad are free up to 3 withdrawals per month, then charged at 1.69%³.
Internal transfers between Boursorama accounts (personal and business) are instant and free, which can make managing both accounts easier if you are already a Boursorama customer.
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|
| Bourso Pro | - Up to €150 welcome bonus³ - Free card if conditions are met | - Requires a personal account - Free cards subject to conditions - No multi-currency support |
| Wise Business | - Multi-currency balances + remittances - No monthly or account maintenance fees | - For businesses/self-employed only - 100% online, no physical branches |
Boursorama Pro could be a good option if you mostly operate in France, spend little abroad, need a checkbook, and are okay with conditions for free banking.
Wise Business could be a good option if you don’t want monthly fees, want to expand your business internationally, send money in 54 currencies to 70 countries, and receive balance remittances in EUR, USD, and GBP.
Open your Wise Business account
Yes, provided you already have a personal Boursorama account. The business account can then be opened quickly via the same app.
No. The cards offered by Boursorama require systematic authorization (Visa Classic Freedom, Welcome, Ultim, Métal). They are debit cards, not true credit cards.
The Bourso Business offer may suit freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small businesses, but it does not include multi-user access, advanced accounting tools, or management features often needed by growing startups. It remains more suitable for early-stage businesses.
Yes. Bourso Business cards can be used for online and international purchases without fees, up to the free monthly withdrawal limits. Beyond 3 foreign currency withdrawals per month, a 1.69% fee applies.
| 💡 You can get up to 20 foreign currency account numbers with Wise. |
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Last verified on July 8, 2025
This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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