Lexware Office (lexoffice) vs. sevDesk vs. BuchhaltungsButler – The Big Comparison

🔄 Zuletzt aktualisiert am 3. July 2026

Modern accounting software takes a huge amount of work off your plate: writing invoices, capturing receipts, filing VAT returns, preparing documents for your tax advisor – much of it now runs almost automatically. Especially if you run an online store (or are about to launch one), you want to spend your time on the business, not on paperwork.
The choice is big, though. So we compare three of the most popular solutions in Germany in detail: Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice), sevDesk and BuchhaltungsButler.

What matters in accounting software?

Cloud accounting needs neither installation nor big investments – even solo founders benefit from day one. When comparing, pay attention to:

• Feature set: invoicing, receipt capture, EÜR/VAT returns, tax-advisor access (DATEV)
• E-invoicing mandate: since Jan 1, 2025 German businesses must be able to receive e-invoices; mandatory sending is phased in until 2028 – your software should handle both
• E-commerce integrations: Shopify, Amazon, PayPal & co. if you run a store
• Ease of use without a long learning curve, ideally with a mobile app
• Transparent costs and fair cancellation terms
• German-language support and GoBD compliance

Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice)

Behind Lexware Office stands Freiburg-based software maker Lexware – one of the most established names in German business software. Good to know: lexoffice was renamed “Lexware Office” in autumn 2024 – same product, new name. More than 400,000 businesses use it.

Features

Lexware Office covers far more than bookkeeping: quotes, (e-)invoices and dunning, automatic receipt capture via photo, EÜR and VAT returns, plus dedicated tax-advisor access with DATEV integration. The built-in customer and supplier management even replaces a separate CRM for many freelancers.
Important for online sellers: there are integrations for all common shop systems such as Shopify, WooCommerce and Shopware. You’ll find more details in our full Lexware Office review (German).

Usability

The interface is modern and tidy; the dashboard shows account balances, open invoices, income and expenses at a glance. With the app you simply photograph receipts – they are recognised and archived automatically. On a tablet you can even create and sign quotes.

Pricing

Lexware Office offers four packages, all cancellable monthly (prices net/month):

There is usually a 50% discount for the first 3 months. The payroll add-on (legally compliant payroll for up to 50 employees) starts at €12.90/month. You can test everything free for 30 days.

sevDesk

sevDesk (founded 2013 as SEVENIT GmbH, renamed in 2019) is one of the more modern providers and has made a name for itself with a particularly pleasant interface.

Features

The focus is on invoicing, bookkeeping and receipt management – including cost centres, cash book and tax-advisor access (DATEV). In terms of breadth sevDesk sits slightly behind the other two, but everything it does is very well integrated. E-commerce connections to Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix are available (partly via partner integrations).

Usability

Visually, sevDesk is the slickest candidate in this comparison: a clean dashboard, logical navigation, plus full-featured iOS and Android apps – you can handle quotes, invoices and contacts on the go.

Pricing

sevDesk staggers its prices by contract term (net/month; monthly / 12 months / 24 months):

There are frequent discount campaigns (often 50% for the first months), a permanently free entry tier with a heavily reduced feature set, and numerous add-ons (e.g. time tracking or inventory at €4.90/month each). Committing long-term saves real money – at the cost of monthly flexibility.

BuchhaltungsButler

BuchhaltungsButler (Berlin, since 2015, now part of the Visma group) is the automation specialist in this comparison – and our favourite for online sellers. Full single review: all details, integrations and experiences in our BuchhaltungsButler review 2026.

Features

Automated bookkeeping with AI-powered receipt recognition and automatic matching, invoices, quotes & credit notes, role management and deep DATEV integration. The highlight for our audience: dedicated e-commerce plans with native integrations for Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Stripe and PayPal – including correct fee splitting, which otherwise costs hours of manual work with marketplace statements.

Usability

The layout is clear and completely built for efficiency: upload receipts, the AI pre-books them, you just confirm. There is no native mobile app though – you work in the browser.

Pricing

The plans (net/month, billed annually | monthly):

All plans come with a 14-day free trial plus a 30-day money-back guarantee. BuchhaltungsButler is clearly pricier than the other two – but the automation and e-commerce integrations save you real working hours every month.

💡 All prices last verified directly with the vendors on July 3, 2026 (net, plus VAT). Check the vendors’ websites for current prices and promotions.

Comparison table: Lexware Office vs. sevDesk vs. BuchhaltungsButler

Who should pick what?

• Just starting out as a freelancer or small business? Then Lexware Office is the safest bet: cheap entry, all essentials on board, cancellable monthly and the largest ecosystem on the German market.
• Running an online store or selling on Amazon? Then BuchhaltungsButler pays for itself quickly: the e-commerce plans pull your sales, fees and payouts automatically from Shopify, Amazon, Stripe & co. – exactly where sellers otherwise drown in reconciliation chaos.
• Want maximum plan flexibility and a beautiful interface? Take a look at sevDesk – on the 24-month plan it is also the cheapest full accounting suite in this comparison.

Conclusion – how to choose the right accounting software

All three programs are GoBD-compliant, e-invoicing-ready and safe recommendations – the differences lie in their profile: Lexware Office is the all-rounder with the best entry price, sevDesk the flexible design favourite, BuchhaltungsButler the automation machine for e-commerce.
Since you’re reading ecom-tools.de, chances are you run (or plan) a store – so our plain recommendation: test BuchhaltungsButler with your real Amazon/Shopify data first, and if you’re not selling online (yet), start with Lexware Office.

You’ll find more vetted finance tools in our accounting category – for example the invoice collector GetMyInvoices.

Frequently asked questions