Kontist review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Kontist suits German self-employed people and small firms that bank through it and want a flexible credit line rather than a fixed loan. Borrowing runs at 17%, the line covers €500 to €50,000 and early repayment is free, so the rate is the thing to watch.

Key facts

Best for
Self-employed and small business owners in Germany needing flexible working capital.
APR
17% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
€500 to €50,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Term
1 to 24 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Arrangement fee
0 EUR - no additional fees (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit check
Soft prequal (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Funding time
Disbursed within 24 hours (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Broker (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free early repayment
Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Eligibility
Self-employed or small business (freelancers, sole traders, GmbH/UG/GbR, firms in formation) with a Kontist account used actively for at least 3 months; resident in Germany, taxed in Germany, aged 18+ (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Business, Credit-line (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit needed
Poor (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Shine Germany GmbH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Credit line
Official website
kontist.com

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App StoreGoogle Play
Elsewhere
Wikidata

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 0 EUR - no additional fees on the borrowing
  • Free early repayment, so overpaying interest is avoidable
  • Support covers email, chat and phone
  • Funds arrive Disbursed within 24 hours

Cons

  • The published rate of 17% sits above the site median of 12%
  • A Kontist account used actively for a minimum period is needed first
  • Kontist is a broker, so the rate on offer is set by a partner bank
Kontist

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Scored 8.7 / 10 by BorrowCue.

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Who it suits

  • Freelancers and sole traders in Germany with an active Kontist account
  • Small companies, including firms still in formation
  • Anyone who prefers a revolving line and repays early without cost

Who should look elsewhere

  • Borrowers wanting a large fixed loan, since the line tops out at €500 to €50,000
  • Anyone without a Kontist account, because the account is the starting point
  • Employed consumers, since the product serves the self-employed and small firms

Where it sits among rivals

On loan amount, Kontist ranks 378 of 685 brands tracked, well down the field, which fits a line built for working capital rather than big finance. On APR it ranks 231 of 350, a mid-table place leaving both cheaper and costlier options on the table. The size ceiling is the real trade-off here.

How Kontist compares

Where Kontist is available

Available
Germany

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does a Kontist business credit line cost?+

The published rate is 17% and the arrangement fee is listed as 0 EUR - no additional fees. Borrowing cost is the rate itself, with nothing bolted on top. Set against the site median APR of 12%, it is a mid-range price rather than a cheap one.

How much can I borrow and for how long?+

The line covers €500 to €50,000 and terms run 1 to 24. Being a credit line, you draw what you need and repay against that limit. Larger single loans sit outside what it is built for.

Who can apply?+

Eligibility covers self-employed people and small businesses, from freelancers and sole traders to small limited companies and firms still in formation. Applicants must live in Germany, be taxed there, be an adult and have used a Kontist account actively for a minimum period.

Does a credit check affect my score?+

The credit check is a soft prequalification, so the enquiry carries less weight than a hard search. The product aims at borrowers with poor credit, which is why the check is staged this way. A full check can still follow before a partner bank lends.

How is the money delivered?+

Funds are Disbursed within 24 hours once approved, which suits short-notice business needs. As a broker, the application goes to partner banks, so timing depends on their response. Support runs on email, chat and phone.

Is there a penalty for repaying early?+

Early repayment is free, so settling the balance ahead of schedule costs nothing. Short-term use is the cheaper path, since interest runs for less time. Draw only what you need and clear it when cash allows.

What type of product is this?+

It is listed as a business loan and a credit line, suiting owners who want a facility rather than a one-off payment. The broker model means an intermediary handles the application. The provider is Shine Germany GmbH, based in Germany.

Sources

  • kontist.com checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Support channels

    “kannst du uns jederzeit eine E-Mail an support@kontist.com schreiben oder in unseren Hilfebereich schauen. Soll es schneller gehen, erreichst du uns telefonisch unter +49 30 311 986 00 oder per Chat”

  • kontist.com/imprint checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity

    “Shine Germany GmbH ... 10245 Berlin Deutschland”

  • kontist.com/posts/kredite-fuer-selbststaendige checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: APR, Arrangement fee

    “Als Kontist-Kunde kannst du deinen Firmenkredit bis 50.000 EUR bequem per App beantragen - schnell, unkompliziert und ohne zusätzliche Gebühren”

  • kontist.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Features

    “Beantrage einen Dispositionskredit bis zu 3.000 EUR - direkt in deiner Kontist App. 3 Monate nach Kontoeroeffnung verfuegbar.”

  • kontist.com/product/unternehmenskredit checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, Credit check, Credit needed, Eligibility, Free early repayment, Funding time, Lender type, Loan types, Term

    “Kreditbetrag von 500 bis 50.000 Euro”

Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Representative example.

Kontist

Kontist

Self-employed and small business owners in Germany needing flexible working capital.

8.7/10Visit

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