Best L by LCL Pro alternatives

#1 alternative

Qonto

active

The French (and European) business account founders actually open.

4.6

Paris · 500k businesses · ~€600M raised

7.7Solid

If the company is French, start here. If the company invoices the US and Asia, add Wise or Airwallex.

Best for: French and EEA SAS/GmbH companies that want a current-account-shaped finance stack.

Licence

Payment institution / EMI-class

Protection

Safeguarded client funds — not FGDR bank deposits

Monthly

Paid plans from a small monthly

#2 alternative

BforBank

active

Crédit Agricole’s online bank. ACPR credit institution. FGDR. French IBAN, bank code 16218.

Paris · ~500,000 · Crédit Agricole group / 2025 recapitalisation

7.1Solid

BforBank is a French credit institution in the Crédit Agricole group. ACPR plus AMF. FGDR. Bank code 16218, BIC BFOBFRP1. Founded 2009, about 500,000 customers. Recapitalised in 2025. This is a bank. Qonto is an EMI-class business account. Different objects. N26 is a German IBAN.

Best for: France residents who want a CA-group online bank IBAN without living in a branch, and do not already sit at CA for the cap.

Licence

Credit institution

Protection

FGDR up to €100,000 per depositor per credit institution — Crédit Agricole group, so do not blindly double-count next to a CA / LCL salary account

Monthly

BforBASIC often €0 — confirm live; paid SKUs exist

#3 alternative

Wise

active

The mid-market FX rail everyone else is measured against.

4.7

London · 16M+ · Public (WISE)

8.6Strong

The control for cross-border. Pair with a licensed local bank for salary protection. Never describe Wise personal as a UK bank account.

Best for: Anyone who receives or sends money across borders for a living.

Licence

EMI (personal)

Protection

Safeguarded EMI funds in the UK — not FSCS. Local bank details may sit at partner banks.

Monthly

Free personal · Wise Business subscription optional

#4 alternative

Brex

active

US start-up cards and spend. Not a bank, on purpose.

3.9

San Francisco · Tens of thousands of firms · $1B+ raised historically

7.3Solid

Brex is a card and spend platform. Ramp is the rival. Mercury is the checking account you put underneath.

Best for: US start-ups that want Ramp-class cards with a slightly different religion.

Licence

Commercial card + treasury partners

Protection

Treasury/cash sits at partner banks or money-market — cards are credit/charge

Monthly

Card program; rewards-funded for eligible start-ups

#5 alternative

Found

active

US banking for the self-employed: taxes, invoices, and a debit card.

4.8

San Francisco · Self-employed base · Series-era (Allianz x others)

7.3Solid

Found is the freelancer current account. Novo is generic SMB. Relay is multi-entity ops.

Best for: US freelancers who hate QuickBooks more than they hate banks.

Licence

Fintech with partner banks

Protection

FDIC via Piermont Bank and partners

Monthly

Free core

#6 alternative

Novo

active

Simple US business checking for freelancers and small LLCs.

4.5

New York · 200k+ businesses · ~$140M raised

6.9Mixed

Novo is the on-ramp. Relay or Mercury is the upgrade.

Best for: US sole-props who found Mercury too start-up and Chase too 1998.

Licence

Fintech with partner banks

Protection

FDIC via Middlesex Federal and partners

Monthly

Free checking