ADDISON vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of ADDISON and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
ADDISON
6.1/10
German accounting, payroll, controlling and tax software from Wolters Kluwer, sold to mid-sized companies, tax advisors and bookkeeping offices in the DACH region.
Starling
6.6/10
A UK digital bank business account with built-in invoicing, bookkeeping, and Making Tax Digital tax tools for sole traders and small limited companies.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | A ADDISON | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.1/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 4/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Audit Trail | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
ADDISON vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | ADDISON | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
AWhy choose ADDISON
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (ADDISON does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for startups (6/10 vs 3/10)
Pros & Cons
AADDISON
Pros
- Covers German compliance in depth, including GoBD-oriented immutable records, ELSTER E-Bilanz filing, and ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoice processing.
- Combines financial accounting, cost accounting, fixed assets, payroll and controlling in one suite, so data is entered once.
- Converts DATEV batch and journal data in both directions, which helps firms that work with DATEV-using partners.
- You can install it on your own servers or run it in the ADDISON Business Cloud on German data centers.
- A large installed base of about 14,000 installations, plus a hotline included in the price.
Cons
- No public pricing, so buyers must request a quote.
- No publicly documented REST API. Integration relies mostly on file exchange, partner connectors or middleware.
- Some connectors and export tools need separate licenses, which can add unplanned costs.
- It is built around German tax law, which limits its use outside the DACH region.
- Very few public user reviews; OMR lists only one.
Starling
Pros
- The business account has no monthly fee, and UK transfers, invoicing, and up to five expense cards are free.
- The free Essentials tier includes MTD for Income Tax submissions, which helps sole traders and landlords facing the April 2026 rules.
- VAT returns can be filed to HMRC from inside the banking app for £7 a month until April 2027.
- Bank feeds connect to Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent.
- UK-based support is available 24/7 in the app, and Finder ranked it highly for customer satisfaction in 2026.
Cons
- It is not a full accounting system: there is no general ledger, payroll, or multi-entity support.
- Accountants only get view-only access.
- Only GBP and EUR accounts are available, and new USD account applications are paused.
- Eligibility is strict: directors and people with significant control must be UK residents.
- Overdrafts and loans are not available to new business customers, and there are no branches.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 6.1/10 for ADDISON. The largest gap is in Cost: 4/10 for ADDISON and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; ADDISON does not list one.
Starling is the better fit for startups: we rate it 6/10 for them, against 3/10 for ADDISON.
