The 7 best accounting software in comparison

Are you looking for the best accounting software for your business, but struggling to find the right accounting software for your needs and budget? Then you've come to the right place! We'll introduce you to the seven best accounting software and explain what you should look out for when choosing a tool.

What is accounting?

The department of a company that is responsible for bookkeeping in accordance with GoB is called accounting. The much broader term accounting is also often used to describe bookkeeping. In large companies, bookkeeping is often divided into the following sub-areas:

• Financial accounting
• Accounts receivable accounting
• accounts payable accounting
• Asset accounting
• payroll accounting
• Cost and activity accounting
• Inventory and quantity accounting
• Energy accounting
• Cameralistics (in state organizations)

For the self-employed in particular, bookkeeping is often a subject fraught with anxiety. For this reason, accounting software is particularly helpful for them, as they no longer have to learn accounting down to the last detail. Instead, it is sufficient to understand and be able to apply the basics.

Why is bookkeeping and accounting important for companies?

Accurate bookkeeping (and accounting) is essential for the self-employed, SMEs and large companies, as they are obliged to submit all receipts collected throughout the year to the tax office at the end of the year with their tax return.

In principle, all merchants are obliged to systematically record their business transactions. While sole traders are required to keep simple accounts, traders with a turnover of more than €600,000 in two consecutive years or a profit of more than €60,000 per year are required to keep double-entry accounts.

In addition to the bookkeeping obligation, bookkeeping offers several advantages. For example, entrepreneurs or the accounting department always have an overview of the current state of the business, which ensures that the company has sufficient financial resources. In addition, accounting supports the creation of documents for stakeholders such as employees, investors, customers and suppliers.

What does accounting software cost?

You will have to pay very different prices for accounting software, depending on which solution and which range of functions you choose. Inexpensive cloud-based accounting programs start at around €10 per user per month. Medium-priced accounting software costs €15-30 per month per user. Enterprise solutions for medium-sized and large companies can cost several hundred or several thousand euros per month, depending on the number of users.

These are the top 7 accounting software on OMR Reviews

These are the seven most popular accounting software solutions based on verified reviews and experiences from the OMR community:

sevDesk

orgaMAX Buchhaltung

Lexoffice

DATEV

Sage 50 Connected

Zervant

finway

We will now explain what distinguishes the individual accounting programs. You can find more helpful information and user reviews of the various accounting software on OMR Reviews in the category Accounting Programs & Accounting Software.

1. sevDesk

sevDesk on OMR Reviews

The cloud-based accounting software sevDesk is aimed in particular at freelancers, the self-employed and small businesses, but also offers solutions for medium-sized and large companies. Among other things, the software allows you to easily do your own bookkeeping, write professional invoices, digitize receipts and create evaluations. This makes the accounting program a real all-rounder when it comes to quotes, accounting and online bookkeeping. Thanks to a simple DATEV data export, you can provide tax advisors with all the information they need, and the ELSTER interface also allows you to export VAT directly from sevDesk.

sevDesk functions

These are the most important functions of the sevDesk accounting software:

• Writing quotes and invoices: With sevDesk, you can create invoices quickly and easily. As all mandatory information is automatically stored, your invoices are always legally compliant.
• Simply digitize receipts: Use the sevScan app to photograph invoices and forward them to sevDesk. sevDesk automatically recognizes the information and then suggests suitable booking categories.
• Advance VAT return directly to the tax office: Thanks to the direct integration of ELSTER, you can submit your VAT return to the tax office in just a few clicks without having to apply for an additional ELSTER certificate.

sevDesk costs

The sevDesk accounting software is available in three different versions: Invoice, Accounting and Merchandise Management. sevDesk Invoice does not include any accounting functions and is suitable for you if you want to create invoices quickly and easily. sevDesk Invoice costs €7.90 per month with annual payment. If you want to do your bookkeeping yourself, you should opt for sevDesk Accounting, which costs €13.90 per month with annual payment.

If you want to use the full range of sevDesk functions and also use the software for your merchandise management, you should opt for the merchandise management package from sevDesk. The price for this version is €39.50 per month with annual payment. Additional add-ons can be booked from €4.90 per month. For example, each additional user costs €4.90 per month.

All prices are subject to VAT at the statutory rate.

You can find more information on sevDesk prices and user reviews with price references on OMR Reviews.

sevDesk alternatives

If you're looking for a sevDesk alternative, take a look at OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting program with the help of relevant and verified reviews.

2. orgaMAX

orgaMAX on OMR Reviews

orgaMAX Buchhaltung is a practical all-in-one office software for small to medium-sized companies, the self-employed, freelancers, tradespeople and service providers. With its modular structure, the software supports users not only in writing quotes and invoices, but also in many other areas of business management. Whether accounting, financial management, inventory management including warehouse management, cash register system, tax evaluations or e-commerce connection: orgaMAX can be tailored to your individual needs. Depending on your requirements, you can use orgaMAX on Windows computers locally or in the cloud.

orgaMAX functions

These are the most important functions of orgaMAX:

• Quotations & orders: You can create legally binding quotes & orders individually using orgaMAX. Individual quotation templates and column settings are available to you. It is also possible to automatically transfer customer and order data via orgaMAX.
• Invoices & reminders: orgaMAX has an automatic reminder dispatch function that can be used to send payment reminders. You can create individual invoice templates via orgaMAX or obtain a detailed invoice overview with the smart search function.
• Accounting: orgaMAX provides you with all the important functions you need for your accounting. Whether simple invoice management including dunning, postings in the DATEV chart of accounts, automatic assignment of tax categories, a digital filing location for receipts or a digital cash book.
• Warehouse & inventory management: with these functions, you can track and organize your stock levels and stock movements. Whether you are preparing quotations, purchasing goods, production, delivery or invoicing. This allows you to control your company's entire process chain.
• Products & services: orgaMAX offers you a complete e-commerce solution. You can use it to manage and execute your webshop orders and your entire order processing.

orgaMAX costs

orgaMAX offers you a free trial period. This includes all functions. The test phase ends automatically and does not need to be canceled. The basic orgaMAX package starts at €8 per month and includes modules for quotes & invoices, a DATEV export and free email support. With the smart package, which costs €16 per month, you also have access to modules for orders & delivery bills, intelligent document recognition, dunning and document management.

You can find more information on orgaMAX prices and user reviews with price references on OMR Reviews.

orgaMAX alternative

If you are looking for an orgaMAX alternative, take a look at OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting software with the help of relevant and verified customer reviews.

3. lexoffice

Lexoffice on OMR Reviews

Lexoffice is a cloud-based accounting software from Lexware. In contrast to the classic Lexware accounting systems, lexoffice is no longer a desktop application, but allows you to access your accounting as a cloud solution from all devices. The accounting program combines accounting, bookkeeping and banking in one tool, making it an all-round tool for your bookkeeping. In addition, lexoffice has an app that you can use to access all of the software's functions. All data stored in lexoffice is stored in German data centers in accordance with DIN ISO 9001 and 27001 and is therefore secure. Conveniently, lexoffice is equipped with an interface to your tax advisors and an Elster interface.

lexoffice functions

These are the most important functions of the lexoffice accounting software:

• Extensive dashboards: The extensive lexoffice dashboard is updated live so that you always have an overview of all your finances, accounts and tasks. There are also specific dashboards: The financial overview compares your income and tasks and the detailed view allows you to make a year-on-year comparison and financial planning. In the account overview, you can see your account balance, which is automatically synchronized with your bank. In the expenses overview, you can see payments due, create payment reminders and process open expenses and open offers.
• Write invoices: According to lexoffice, you can write an invoice in just two minutes. You can simply create invoices in your design, print them out or send them to your customers by email.
• Writing quotes: Writing quotes is also quick and individual with the Lexoffice accounting software: you can also use your own design and add all the necessary notes to be legally compliant.
• Document entry: With the accounting program from lexoffice, you can enter your invoices and receipts as quickly as vacation pictures. According to the provider lexoffice, this is possible thanks to the app. Once entered, your receipts are all in one place, regardless of whether they are PDFs, scans or app photos.
• Online banking: With online banking from lexoffice, you can fulfill your record-keeping obligations with little effort. You can make transfers in just a few seconds and pay invoices directly in lexoffice's integrated online banking.
• Payroll accounting: With lexoffice, you can also create legally compliant payroll accounting without any prior knowledge - including automatic mandatory reporting.

lexoffice costs

lexoffice offers four different versions of its software. While lexoffice Payroll & Salary helps you to process your payroll digitally for €9.90 per month, the lexoffice versions Invoice & Finance, Accounting & Reports and Accounting & Payroll include accounting functions.

lexoffice Invoice & Finance is an invoicing program that is suitable for creating incoming and outgoing documents, has integration with online banking and for tax consultants, offers dashboards for various use cases and is suitable for mobile working. lexoffice Invoice & Finance costs €8.90 per month.

lexoffice Accounting & Reports offers you the full range of lexoffice functions for your accounting and costs €18.90 per month. If you would like to run payroll accounting with lexoffice in addition to the accounting functions, the lexoffice accounting & payroll package offers you all the functions you need. For this, lexoffice charges a price of €28.80 per month. User administration is included in the functional scope of Accounting & Reports and Accounting & Payroll.

All prices are subject to VAT.

You can find more information on lexoffice prices and user reviews with price references on OMR Reviews.

lexoffice alternative

If you're looking for an alternative to lexoffice, take a look at OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting software with the help of relevant and verified reviews.

4. DATEV

DATEV on OMR Reviews

DATEV with Accounting is an accounting software for small and medium-sized companies. You can install the accounting software from DATEV on your own computer, but DATEV also offers a cloud-based solution for your software. DATEV Mittelstand Faktura has everything you need to handle your accounting process effectively and digitally: From writing sales receipts to operating online banking and filing documents, the accounting program includes all the functions you need. In conjunction with the cloud solution DATEV Unternehmen online, you can also completely digitalize and optimize your commercial tasks and processes. Storing your data in the DATEV cloud in the ISO 27001-certified DATEV data center guarantees the highest security standards. In addition to the accounting software described above, DATEV also offers other software and IT solutions in the areas of payroll and HR as well as IT outsourcing, which are tailored to different company sizes and types.

DATEV functions

• Fully comprehensive order management from quotation to invoice: With DATEV Mittelstand Faktura, you can customize your document layouts for all document types for a professional appearance. The accounting software also supports you in generating postings for outgoing invoices and transferring them to financial accounting. DATEV Mittelstand Faktura automatically stores your sales documents in the corresponding customer file in the digital document repository, saving you time and effort. You can also use the accounting program to create electronic invoices in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2014/55.
• Easy-to-understand accounting: DATEV makes correct bookkeeping easier for you by automatically creating posting suggestions for digital receipts (OCR recognition), electronic tape and PayPal account transactions and for batches of receipts from cashbooks/invoice books online. In addition, it automatically links the respective posting record with the respective invoice document and with open item accounting and liquidity management with dunning and payment proposal, you always have an overview of all outstanding payments. With DATEV's accounting program, you can also carry out quality evaluations, whether on your desktop PC or in the DATEV app. With the standard company accounting sheet, you can conveniently split business transactions into cost centers and cost objects.
• Digital document storage: With the document storage function of the DATEV accounting software, you always have access to your receipts and documents - wherever and whenever you want. It supports the digitization of receipts, has a quick search function and allows you to create an individual filing structure.
• Electronic payment transactions: DATEV Faktura Mittelstand has an independent electronic banking solution that supports transfers and direct debits using various procedures, scheduled collection of bank account transactions and automatic transfer of payment data from accounting.
• DATEV cloud services: If you add the IT service and security flat rate, your receipts and accounting data are archived in the DATEV data center in an audit-proof manner. In addition, your data exchange with institutions such as tax authorities and health insurance companies is protected and you can exchange your digital documents even faster between different company locations or with your tax advisor.

DATEV costs

The accounting software DATEV Mittelstand Faktura is available in the Accounting, Accounting compact (ITU) and Accounting compact versions. DATEV Mittelstand Faktura is a complete solution for beginners in digital accounting and costs €204 per year for one user, the compact version (ITU) starts at €17 per month and the full version with financial accounting including automated booking process, dunning and payment proposals costs €49.50 per month.

The cloud-based network license starts from €67 per month. In the DATEV online store, you can also book many practical add-ons such as business industry packages, classic cost accounting and many more.

All prices are subject to statutory VAT.

You can find more information on DATEV prices and user reviews with price references on OMR Reviews.

DATEV alternative

If you're looking for a DATEV alternative, take a look at OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting software with the help of relevant and verified reviews.

5. sage 50 Connected

Sage 50 Connected on OMR Reviews

Sage 50 Connected is an industry-independent, complete commercial solution for small businesses, freelancers and the self-employed who want to take over merchandise management, order processing and financial accounting themselves. From preparing quotations to order confirmations and delivery bills to invoices and credit notes, you can map and carry out all your correspondence. Thanks to the integrated online banking and extensive reports, you and your company always have an overview of your payments and finances.

Sage 50 Connected functions

These are the most important functions of Sage ERP:

• Order processing: here you can create a central archive for quotations, invoices and delivery bills. It is also possible to automatically create ZUGFeRD-compliant outgoing invoices in PDF/A format. With the free mobile app from Sage, you can archive receipts immediately and pay supplier invoices on time using the integrated online banking.
• Financial accounting: with Sage's financial accounting function, you can use predefined business transactions to record your receipts, reconcile your bank accounts automatically, manage your expenses and income and create an income statement. Sage 50 Connected is GoBD-compliant and provides you with extended GoBD functions.
• Inventory management: whether planning and managing your warehouse stocks and movements, including stocktaking, item lists and catalogs, managing material stocks across multiple warehouses or batch management. With Sage's inventory management function, you can get your stock levels under control.
• Online banking: with Sage's online banking function, you can send your transfers and direct debits directly to your bank. You can also manage open items, dunning and your bookkeeping with Sage. SEPA mandate management is also available to you.
• Intelligent full-text search: You can use the intelligent SmartFinder to quickly find the results you need. You can obtain cross-divisional data and information about your customers, products and program functions directly from the search results.
• PayPal & Stripe integration: Payment via PayPal & Stripe can be integrated directly into the invoice email. A QR code is available on a printed paper invoice and payment can be made conveniently via smartphone using PayPal or Stripe.

Sage 50 Connected costs

Sage offers you three different price levels. The costs for the standard package start from €30 per month per employee. This includes functions for quotes & invoices, integrated online banking, merchandise management, digital document archiving, EÜR & balance sheet and a DATEV interface. Prices for more comprehensive packages start from €35 per month per user. Sage also offers you a free trial version for 30 days.

You can find more information about the prices of Sage 50 Connected and user reviews with price reference on OMR Reviews.

Sage 50 Connected alternative

If you're looking for a Sage 50 Connected alternative, take a look at OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting software with the help of relevant and verified reviews.

6. Zervant

Zervant on OMR Reviews

Zervant is a free invoicing program for start-ups, SMEs and freelancers. You can create unlimited invoices and receipts as well as write and send offers for up to five customers. Invoices that have not yet been paid can be marked in Zervant. The program also offers you an integrated customer and product database. The invoicing software supports you with your effective invoicing. You can easily write, edit and send your invoices, quotes and delivery bills with Zervant.

Zervant functions

These are the most important functions of Zervant:

• Invoicing & writing quotes: In Zervant's invoicing software, you'll find all the functions you need for invoicing. It is also possible for you to create partial invoices as well as recurring invoices. Your quotations can be viewed, accepted or rejected by your customers directly in the online portal.
• XRechnung & e-invoicing: Zervant allows you to create free invoices in XRechnung format. It is also possible to send electronic invoices to your customers via the Peppol network.
• Time recording: with Zervant you can record your working hours and easily create invoices from them. With the integrated product and customer lists, you have all your important data and recorded times collected and can upload them at will.
• Mobile app & online payment: with the mobile app, you can create invoices and quotes on the go. It is available for iOS and Android. With the online payment function, your customers can pay invoices immediately online via online banking or credit card. Credit card payments are possible via Stripe and Tink.

Zervant costs

In addition to a free version, Zervant offers three other packages. The free version can be used by up to five users and includes basic functions such as the ability to create invoices and quotes, time tracking, a mobile app and customer service in six languages. More comprehensive packages are the Starter package from €9 per month, the Pro package from €17 per month or the Growth package from €40 per month.

You can find more information about Zervant's prices and user reviews with price references on OMR Reviews.

Zervant alternative

If you're looking for a Zervant alternative, head over to OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting software with the help of relevant and verified reviews.

7. finway

finway on OMR Reviews

The Munich-based fintech finway simplifies and automates the recording, processing and analysis of all your company expenses. The software covers all areas of expense management, from invoice processing and expense reimbursement to preparatory accounting. You can flexibly map your payments with a bank connection as well as physical and virtual debit cards. In addition, finway provides you with comprehensive reports and analyses for expenditure and budget control. Since March 2022, a comprehensive supplement for liquidity planning and management has also been included.

finway functions

These are the most important functions of finway

• Invoice Processing & Payments: With this feature of finway, you can easily automate and process your invoice processing. E-mail forwarding, OCR invoice recognition or individual dashboards are further features of finway.
• Company cards: With finway company cards, you can provide all your employees with virtual and physical cards. The physical and virtual debit cards can be used to make work-related purchases. Also included are business cards from Mastercard & Google Pay.
• Expense management & budget control: finway allows you to automate your expense management. This includes the calculation of mileage allowances and additional meal expenses through to reimbursement and transfer to accounting.
• Preparatory accounting: finway includes functions that can be used to automatically collect receipts and assign transactions. You can then transfer your data directly to DATEV with just one click.
• Liquidity planning: With finway's liquidity planning tool, you can plan your cash flow, consolidate your accounts and automate manual processes.

finway costs

finway prices start from €169. The essential package includes all basic functions such as digital invoice processing, bank connections, DATEV export & interface or mobile apps. The professional package includes all finway features and starts from €239. A free trial version of finway is also available.

You can find more information about finway's prices and user reviews with price references on OMR Reviews.

finway alternative

If you're looking for a finway alternative, take a look at OMR Reviews. There you can make your decision for an accounting software with the help of relevant and verified customer reviews.

More accounting software on OMR Reviews

You can find and compare other accounting software and invoicing programs on OMR Reviews. Take a look and compare the software with the help of authentic and verified user reviews:

poool

Papierkram

easybill

Candis

FastBill

SumUp

WISO MeinBüro Desktop

Pathway Solutions