Shine alternatives: which French business account to pick, and how to switch cleanly
Six destinations, one per reason for leaving, and a seven-step switching plan.
The short answer: Qonto if you are turning your micro-entreprise into a company or hiring, Indy if you are a freelancer who wants a free account tied to your bookkeeping, Bourso Business if you are a sole owner who wants a real bank with no monthly fee, Tide for a small budget with a physical card included, Manager.one if you want a named adviser, Memo Bank if your company needs an overdraft. One thing first: none of these six has a cash deposit network like Shine's tobacconists. If you bank cash every week, Shine is one of the few online accounts that does. We compared all six and read their official price lists in 2026.
Some links are affiliate links. They don't change the order or the opinions on this page.
Why people leave Shine, and what won't change elsewhere
Shine has strong ratings: 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot from close to 8,000 reviews, with only 6% one-star reviews. So people don't leave because the product is bad. They leave in six specific situations, which show up in reviews, on forums and in Shine's own price list. One more, specific to readers of this page: Shine is built for the French market: its French offer, pricing page and help centre are in French only, even though a global English site exists at shine.co.
A frozen account at the worst moment
The most common complaint in negative reviews: an account frozen during a compliance check, sometimes in the middle of a supplier payment, with several thousand euros stuck for days. Shine admits on its own blog that it sometimes blocks accounts, mainly for security reasons.
Be realistic: these checks are a legal duty for every provider in France, Qonto included. Switching doesn't remove the risk. Running two active accounts does.
Support that's hard to reach during a crisis
One-star reviews tell the same story: no way to reach an adviser, short answers, waits of several days. On a French freelancer forum, one customer describes two-line replies and legal help kept for higher plans.
Shine also promotes a 2026 customer service award. Both can be true: day-to-day support works, a frozen account is where it struggles. If you need to explain your situation in English, that gap gets wider.
No overdraft, by design
Shine is a payment institution, not a bank, and says plainly that it offers no overdraft. A loan offer exists, but it won't cover you the month a big client pays late.
Qonto, Indy, Tide and Manager.one share that limit. For a real overdraft you need an actual bank, such as Memo Bank or a high-street bank.
Becoming a company means a new account
Your Shine micro-entrepreneur account doesn't turn into your new SASU's account: the company has its own SIREN number, so it needs its own account. One customer says Shine refused him a second account during that transition.
That makes incorporation the natural moment to compare: you are opening an account anyway.
Cash and cheques are pricey on the small plans
Depositing cash at a tobacconist costs 5% of the amount on Shine Free, 3% on Start, 2.5% on Plus and 2% on Business. Banking €1,000 on Free costs you €50. A cheque costs €5 excl. VAT on Free, then €2 excl. VAT beyond the plan's quota. Free also includes only 3 transfers a month, then €0.50 excl. VAT each.
If you take cash, the better move is often a higher Shine plan, not a new provider: see the FAQ.
Three owners in six years
Société Générale bought Shine in 2020, Ageras at the end of 2024, then Cegid in 2026. The brand now reads "Shine | Cegid". We found no price increase tied to these deals: the official 2026 list is still Free €0, Start €9, Plus €20 and Business €45 excl. VAT a month.
Some customers leave out of caution. That's a fair call, not an emergency: nothing points to the service closing.
You're leaving because… go to…
Usually only one line applies to you. Each card jumps to the full profile below.
Cards per employee, accountant access, lots of integrations.
You want no fee and bookkeeping in one placeIndyFree account and card, unlimited SEPA transfers.
You're a sole owner who wants a real bankBourso Business€0 account fee, cheques accepted by post.
You pay too much for a small businessTide€0 with a physical card, or €8 excl. VAT for 50 transfers.
You want a named person to callManager.oneA dedicated adviser for €29.99 incl. VAT a month.
Your company needs an overdraftMemo BankA licensed bank that can lend.
Shine alternatives, account by account
For each account: why move there, who it suits, its limit, how to switch from Shine, and what it costs. Prices come from official 2026 price lists, in euros and excluding VAT unless stated, since all six are French or European accounts. Ratings out of 5 are those of our Labs pages and are the same across the site.
Qonto: when your micro-entreprise becomes a company
Rated 4.5/5Why move to Qonto. Shine is designed around the solo freelancer. Once you have a co-founder, an employee or an accountant who wants access to your statements, Qonto plays in another league: several cards, sub-accounts and far more accounting integrations.
Who it suits. A newly formed SASU, SARL or SAS, and the freelancer who wants a tool that can grow with the business.
Who it doesn't suit. The micro-entrepreneur making three transfers a month, who would pay €9 for what Shine Free or Indy gives away. And anyone who takes cash: Qonto doesn't accept it.
Its limit. No overdraft, same as Shine. And the price depends on billing: Basic is €9 excl. VAT a month billed yearly, but €11 billed monthly. Smart goes from €19 to €23, Premium from €39 to €45.
How to switch. Open Qonto before you touch Shine: the first month is free, which covers the period when both accounts run. Smart adds accountant access and an interest-bearing account. Beyond the quota (30, 100 or 200 transfers depending on plan), each transfer costs €0.20, or €0.10 on Premium.
Tip. Only switch to yearly billing after the free month. You save €24 a year on Basic, but you commit. Use the trial to check your accountant and your tools connect properly.
- Price
- Basic €9 excl. VAT/month yearly (€11 monthly)
- Trial
- 1 month free
- Best for
- companies, teams
- Limit
- no cash, no overdraft
Indy: a free account tied to your bookkeeping
Rated 4.3/5Why move to Indy. Indy is first an accounting app for French freelancers. Its business account is free: physical and virtual Mastercard, unlimited SEPA transfers, instant transfers up to €100,000, and two cash withdrawals a month. Where Shine Free stops at 3 transfers, Indy doesn't count. Every transaction lands categorised in your books.
Who it suits. The micro-entrepreneur or freelancer who wants zero banking fees and their bookkeeping in one place.
Who it doesn't suit. Read this one carefully if you're an expat: Indy only opens accounts for residents of the European Economic Area, and not for US citizens. If you hold a US passport, skip to the next card. It also takes neither cheques nor cash.
Its limit. Caps of €10,000 in card payments and €3,000 in withdrawals per 30 days. Funds are held by Swan, an e-money institution, not a bank.
How to switch. Open the Indy account, link it to your accounting file, then move clients to the new IBAN. If you are setting up a SASU or EURL, Indy also handles the capital deposit for free, so you can leave Shine at the same moment you change status.
Tip. A micro-entrepreneur under €10,000 of turnover two years running doesn't legally need a "business" account, only a separate one. Indy points this out on its own page. Keeping business money separate still matters.
- Price
- €0, unlimited SEPA transfers
- Card cap
- €10,000 per 30 days
- Best for
- freelancers, built-in bookkeeping
- Limit
- EEA residents only, not US citizens
Bourso Business: a real bank with no monthly fee
Rated 4.0/5Why move to Bourso Business. Shine is a payment institution; BoursoBank, a Société Générale subsidiary, is a bank. Its business account has no subscription: the account is free, and so is the Visa Business card as long as you make at least one payment a month.
Who it suits. A sole owner: micro-entrepreneur, EI, EURL or single-shareholder SASU.
Who it doesn't suit. International businesses: on a French banking forum, one applicant reports being turned down for international activity. That matters if most of your clients are abroad. Companies with several partners also fall outside its scope.
Its limit. No cash. Cheques are accepted, but by post. The card costs €9 in any month you don't use it, so make one small payment each month.
How to switch. Wait for the file to be approved and the IBAN to arrive before telling anyone. Keep Shine running until then.
Tip. Open Bourso Business as a free second account even if you stay with Shine: it's the cheapest insurance against a frozen account.
- Price
- free account
- Card
- free if used, otherwise €9/month
- Best for
- sole owners, zero budget
- Limit
- no cash, may refuse international activity
Tide: small budget, physical card included
Low costWhy move to Tide. Shine Free gives you a virtual card and charges €7 excl. VAT for a physical one. Tide, a British business account now available in France, includes a physical Mastercard in its free plan, with 5 transfers a month instead of 3. Its Smart plan, at €8 excl. VAT a month, offers 50 transfers and no foreign exchange fee on card payments.
Who it suits. The freelancer with few transactions who travels or buys in other currencies now and then.
Who it doesn't suit. A business that wants rich management tools or deep accounting integrations.
Its limit. Beyond the 5 free transfers, each costs €0.20. A withdrawal costs €2, and a card payment in another currency 1% on the free plan. The offer is still young in France.
How to switch. Account opening happens in the app. Run your real monthly numbers through both price lists: above 45 transfers a month, Smart costs less than paying per transfer.
Tip. Shine Start at €9 and Tide Smart at €8 look alike on paper. The gap is foreign exchange: 0% on Tide Smart, 1.75% on Shine Start. If you pay suppliers or travel outside the euro zone, that adds up.
- Price
- €0, or Smart €8 excl. VAT/month
- Transfers
- 5 free, then €0.20
- Best for
- low volume, some travel
- Limit
- basic management tools
Manager.one: a named adviser instead of a chat window
AdviserWhy move to Manager.one. If you're leaving because nobody answered during a freeze, this is the most direct fix: Manager.one sells access to a named adviser you can call. The plan costs €29.99 incl. VAT a month, with no commitment and 100 SEPA transfers included.
Who it suits. The small-company director who wants a person on the line, and the freelancer whose revenue justifies paying for peace of mind.
Who it doesn't suit. The micro-entrepreneur trying to cut costs: it's close to three times Shine Start.
Its limit. No overdraft either. Each transfer beyond 100 costs €0.40, and an extra account with its card €9.99 a month.
How to switch. Ask your adviser on day one for the exact document list and timing. Ask too which language they can support you in: that's exactly what you're paying for.
Tip. Transfers between two Manager.one customers don't count toward the 100.
- Price
- €29.99 incl. VAT/month
- Transfers
- 100 included, then €0.40
- Best for
- small companies wanting a person
- Limit
- no overdraft
Memo Bank: the bank for a company that needs credit
Rated 3.8/5Why move to Memo Bank. Memo Bank is a licensed credit institution, a bank in the full sense. It is the destination on this page built to lend you money and grant an overdraft, which Shine never will.
Who it suits. A company handling large payment volumes that wants a dedicated contact.
Who it doesn't suit. Freelancers and very small businesses: the entry price is in another world.
Its limit. Price. Its payment plans start at €449 excl. VAT a month.
How to switch. A company moves more flows (payroll, suppliers, direct debits), so build the inventory in step 2 with your accountant. Keep your current account throughout.
Tip. If all you need is a few thousand euros of overdraft, a high-street bank as a second account costs far less. Memo Bank makes sense once volumes are there.
- Price
- from €449 excl. VAT/month
- Status
- licensed credit institution
- Best for
- companies needing credit
- Limit
- out of reach for small budgets
Shine and its 6 alternatives side by side
For scale, take a freelancer making 20 transfers a month. On Shine Free, 17 of them cost €0.50 excl. VAT each, so €8.50: at that point Start at €9 is almost free by comparison. On Tide's free plan, 15 extra transfers at €0.20 cost €3. On Indy and Bourso Business, €0. One row per account: entry price on the left, what changes compared with Shine on the right.
| Entry price | What changes vs Shine | |
|---|---|---|
| ShineStarting point, 4.2/5 | Free €0, Start €9, Plus €20, Business €45 excl. VAT/month | Cash at tobacconists, 3 transfers on Free, no overdraft |
| QontoCompanies, 4.5/5 | Basic €9 excl. VAT/month yearly, €11 monthly | Teams and integrations, no cash, no overdraft |
| IndyFreelancers, 4.3/5 | €0 | Unlimited transfers, bookkeeping, EEA residents only |
| Bourso BusinessReal bank, 4.0/5 | €0, card €9/month if unused | Bank status, cheques by post, no cash |
| TideLow cost | €0, or Smart €8 excl. VAT/month | Physical card included, 0% FX on Smart |
| Manager.oneAdviser | €29.99 incl. VAT/month | Named adviser, 100 transfers included |
| Memo BankCompanies, 3.8/5 | from €449 excl. VAT/month | Licensed bank, overdraft and credit possible |
Entry prices excluding VAT unless stated, subject to change. Always check against your own typical month.
Leaving Shine in seven steps
France's automatic bank-switching service only covers personal accounts. For a business account, nobody moves your direct debits for you. This order protects your tax deadlines, your incoming payments and your balance.
Open the new account before touching Shine
Week 1Open the destination and wait until you have the IBAN, the card and online access. An online provider issues an IBAN within days; a high-street bank can take up to 14 working days.
Start nothing else until the new account is fully live. If opening fails, you've lost nothing.
- Time
- a few days to 2 weeks
- If rushed
- left without an account
List everything that uses your Shine IBAN
Week 1Go through three months of statements and note every recurring item: Urssaf contributions, CFE, VAT, insurance, software subscriptions, rent, and every client who pays by transfer.
A simple sheet with one row per creditor or client, a "notified" column and a "checked" column. That's your checklist until closure.
- Time
- one hour
- If rushed
- rejected direct debit
Update your IBAN with Urssaf and the tax office
Before the due dateFor CFE and VAT, change the account in your professional space on impots.gouv.fr. The change usually applies from the following month, so do it right after a payment date, not the day before.
Do the same in your Urssaf account. Leave money on Shine to cover any debit that still hits the old account.
- Time
- 30 minutes
- If rushed
- late-payment surcharge
Tell your clients, don't just change the invoice
Weeks 2 to 4Changing the bank details on your invoice isn't enough: a client who pays monthly has your old IBAN saved in their bank. Email them the new details and ask them to confirm.
If a platform pays out to you (Stripe, a marketplace, a foreign payroll provider), change the payout account there too.
- Time
- half a day
- If rushed
- payment lands in the old account
Run both accounts for one or two months
Months 1 and 2Keep Shine open for a month or two with a small balance. You'll catch late client payments and forgotten debits. Yes, you pay two subscriptions meanwhile: that's the price of a calm switch.
If you were on a paid plan, drop back to Shine Free for this period.
- Time
- 1 to 2 months
- Cost
- one extra subscription
Download every statement and receipt
Before closingDownload monthly statements and the receipts attached to transactions. After closing, you lose access through the app, and your accountant will need them.
File them by year: a tax audit in France can cover several years.
- Time
- one hour
- If rushed
- lost records
Empty, then close the Shine account
End of month 2The balance must be zero or positive, with no transfer pending. Shine doesn't send your balance anywhere at closure: transfer it yourself.
On the web, click your first name, then "Mon entreprise", then "clôturer mon compte bancaire". In the app: "Plus", your profile, then "informations de l'entreprise". You can also send a registered letter with the receiving account's details; a plain email isn't accepted. Then destroy your card.
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Condition
- zero balance, no activity
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a move away from Shine go wrong
The same mistakes come up in freelancer stories. None is technical: they're calendar slips.
Closing before the last tax debit
An Urssaf or VAT debit that hits a closed account is rejected, with a surcharge. Update the IBAN with the authorities right after a due date, let the next one go through on the new account, then close Shine.
Assuming the law moves everything
Automatic bank switching in France only covers personal accounts. For a business account, each creditor and client must be told by hand.
Forgetting recurring clients
The client who pays you on the 5th of each month has your old IBAN saved. Without a message from you, they'll keep paying into Shine.
Leaving money in a closed account
Shine doesn't move your balance at closure. Make the last transfer yourself, check it arrived, then close.
Leaving to escape freezes, with no backup account
Every provider runs checks and can freeze an account. The only real protection is a second active account with some cash in it, a free one will do.
Picking an account that won't take your cash
If you take cash, none of the six destinations here offers day-to-day deposits. Check that first, or keep Shine for deposits.
Shine alternatives: frequently asked questions
Which French business bank works for expats?
Check residency rules before the features. Indy, for example, only opens accounts for residents of the European Economic Area and not for US citizens. Qonto is the usual pick once you incorporate. Our ranking of French business accounts compares them in more detail.
What is the best free alternative to Shine?
Indy if you are a freelancer: free account and card, unlimited SEPA transfers, where Shine Free stops at 3. Bourso Business if you want a real bank at €0, as long as you use your card every month. Tide if you want a physical card included.
Do I need a separate business account as an auto-entrepreneur in France?
You need an account dedicated to the business. Under €10,000 of turnover two years running, a separate personal account is enough; above that, a business account becomes compulsory.
Which Shine alternative accepts cash?
None offers simple day-to-day deposits. Qonto, Indy, Bourso Business and Memo Bank don't take cash. If you bank cash often, moving to a higher Shine plan is usually the better option: the deposit fee drops from 5% on Free to 2% on Business.
Which alternative offers an overdraft?
Memo Bank, a licensed bank, and high-street banks. Qonto, Indy, Tide and Manager.one don't lend, just like Shine.
Qonto or Shine for a company?
Qonto, in most cases, once you have a partner, an employee or an accountant who needs access. Shine stays a good choice for a solo freelancer. Our Qonto vs Shine comparison goes criterion by criterion.
How do I close my Shine account?
Empty it yourself first, then go to your first name, "Mon entreprise" and "clôturer mon compte bancaire" on the web. Shine has no commitment, so you can leave at any time, as long as the balance is zero and nothing is pending.
Does the Cegid takeover change anything?
Nothing visible on pricing so far: we found no increase tied to the deal. The takeover closed in 2026 and the brand now reads "Shine | Cegid".
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