BillingEngine vs Payhawk (2026): Pricing, Features & Verdict
Payhawk is our pick, scoring 7.1/10 against 5.7/10 for BillingEngine on our Finance Software criteria. Its biggest advantage: higher Scalability score (8/10 vs 2/10). Only BillingEngine has a free plan.
Last updated: November 2026
BillingEngine
5.7/10
BillingEngine is a browser-based invoicing tool from Hamburg for freelancers and small German businesses. It creates quotes, invoices and XRechnung or ZUGFeRD e-invoices.
Payhawk
7.1/10
Payhawk is a modular spend management platform combining Visa corporate cards, expense claims, accounts payable, procurement and travel booking for mid-sized and multi-entity companies.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.7/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Scalability | 2/10 | 8/10 |
| Analytics | 3/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 9/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 4/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | €7.50/mo Basic | £149/mo Growth programme (UK/EEA) |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free | £149/mo Growth programme (UK/EEA) |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Bank Reconciliation | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Invoicing | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
BillingEngine vs Payhawk cost by team size
| Team size | BillingEngine | Payhawk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree | £149/moGrowth programme (UK/EEA) |
| 5 users | €15/moPremium | £149/moGrowth programme (UK/EEA) |
| 10 users | FreeFree | £149/moGrowth programme (UK/EEA) |
| 25 users | FreeFree | $299/moTravel |
| 50 users | FreeFree | $299/moTravel |
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.
Who BillingEngine and Payhawk suit
BillingEngine fits small business better; Payhawk fits enterprise better.
| Audience | BillingEngine | Payhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | 1/10There is a five-user maximum and no bank connection or consolidation. | 7/10It offers SAP, Oracle and Workday connectors, SSO, and PO matching, but very large enterprises may still need deeper procurement suites. |
| Small Business | 7/10Premium supports up to five users with unlimited invoices, but reviewers say it is less suited to larger firms. | 4/10There is a discounted Growth programme for UK and EEA firms under 10 staff, but it is capped and reviewers say the cost is high for small companies. |
| Consultancies | 6/10Built-in time tracking with hourly rates per task suits consultants who bill by the hour. | Not rated |
| Finance Teams | Not rated | 9/10It is built for controllers and CFO teams that need card controls, AP approvals and ERP sync in one place. |
| Freelancers | 9/10The vendor's own description targets freelancers and the self-employed, and nearly all reviewers are businesses with 0 to 10 employees. | Not rated |
| Mid-Market | Not rated | 9/10Module pricing from several hundred dollars a month, plus multi-entity add-ons, targets companies that have outgrown simple expense apps. |
| Startups | Not rated | 5/10The Growth plan and unlimited employee seats help, but annual contracts and the price floor are less startup-friendly than freemium rivals. |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose BillingEngine
- Has a free plan (Payhawk does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Support score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for small business (7/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Payhawk
- Higher Scalability score (8/10 vs 2/10)
- Higher Integration score (9/10 vs 3/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (7/10 vs 1/10)
Pros & Cons
BillingEngine
Pros
- Creates ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoices on every plan, including the free one, and reviewers say public authorities accept them.
- Every account gets an inbox for incoming supplier e-invoices, with no limit.
- Paid plans start at 7.50 euros a month with a flat fee rather than per-user pricing, and annual billing saves 20 percent.
- Stopwatch time tracking turns timed tasks into invoice items in one click.
- Reviewers on OMR and Trustpilot praise fast, personal support and the simple interface.
Cons
- There is no bank connection, so bank reconciliation is not available.
- There is only one invoice design, with limited layout and branding options.
- There is no mobile app; it runs in the browser only.
- The maximum is five users, and reviewers say it is unsuitable for larger companies.
- Users have asked for automatic sending of payment reminders and delivery notes.
Payhawk
Pros
- Unlimited employee seats, card transactions and document processing in every module, so costs do not scale per employee.
- Very broad native integration list, covering NetSuite, Sage Intacct, SAP, Dynamics, Xero, QuickBooks, DATEV and 30+ HR systems, plus a partner API and MCP connector.
- Strong for multi-entity European groups, with regulated card issuing entities in the EEA, UK and US and balances in six currencies.
- AP module includes 2- and 3-way PO matching, segregation-of-duties controls, and e-invoicing support for Peppol, KSeF, SDI and Finvoice.
- Reviewers often say employees find receipt capture and expense submission in the mobile app quick and easy.
Cons
- Trustpilot (2.8/5) and some G2 reviews describe mid-contract price increases, automatic renewals and difficult cancellations.
- Several reviewers report slow or AI-first support, with replies taking days or weeks.
- Annual pricing, unit fees for admin seats and cards, and add-on prices are not published, so you have to get a quote.
- Initial setup of workflows, custom fields and integrations is described as complex, and some reviewers note sync errors with Xero and with foreign currency refunds.
- It is not a general ledger or payroll system, so it needs a separate ERP or accounting package.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Payhawk scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 7.1/10 against 5.7/10 for BillingEngine. The largest gap is in Integration: 3/10 for BillingEngine and 9/10 for Payhawk.
BillingEngine has a free plan; Payhawk does not list one.
Payhawk is the better fit for enterprise: we rate it 7/10 for them, against 1/10 for BillingEngine.
