Lexware Office vs Pilot Comparison
Compare Lexware Office vs Pilot features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Lexware Office
6.7/10
A German cloud tool for bookkeeping, invoicing, receipt capture, VAT filing and optional payroll, made for freelancers and small businesses.
Pilot
6.4/10
Pilot is a US bookkeeping, tax, and CFO service for startups and small businesses. It pairs software with human accountants and charges by monthly expense volume.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.7/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | €8/mo S | $99/mo Essentials |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €8/mo S | $99/mo Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
Lexware Office vs Pilot cost by team size
| Team size | Lexware Office | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €8/moS | $99/moEssentials |
| 5 users | €8/moS | $99/moEssentials |
| 10 users | €8/moS | $99/moEssentials |
| 25 users | €8/moS | $99/moEssentials |
| 50 users | €8/moS | $99/moEssentials |
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?
Why choose Lexware Office
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Pilot
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
Lexware Office
Pros
- Users on OMR Reviews and testers on Experte.de describe receipt scanning and bank matching as fast and easy to set up.
- Creates ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoices and files VAT returns directly to ELSTER.
- Every plan can be cancelled monthly, and users are unlimited according to Für-Gründer.
- Tax advisor access and DATEV export make it easy to hand the books to an accountant.
- An optional payroll add-on handles social security and tax filings for up to 50 employees.
Cons
- Invoices can only be issued in euros.
- Cannot manage several companies, and has no approval workflow and no cost-centre reporting.
- Bookkeeping and VAT returns need the L plan, and recurring features need higher tiers.
- Users report bank connections that drop and support that is hard to reach by phone.
- There is no postal invoice sending and no built-in time tracking.
Pilot
Pros
- Essentials starts at 99 dollars a month, which is low for managed bookkeeping.
- Bookkeeping, tax filing, fractional CFO, R&D credit, and stock administration are available from one provider.
- Long experience with venture-backed startups, with discounts for pre-revenue companies.
- Capterra users rate it 4.7 out of 5.
Cons
- Essentials is cash-basis only, with in-app support and no assigned human bookkeeper.
- Core reports arrive by the 10th business day, so last month's numbers land mid-month.
- Full AP, AR, and payroll administration require the sales-quoted Custom tier.
- Some reviewers report delayed reports, occasional service lapses, and high cost for very early-stage companies.
- Built around QuickBooks Online and US tax, so it suits non-US businesses less well.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexware Office scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.7/10 against 6.4/10 for Pilot. The largest gap is in Cost: 8/10 for Lexware Office and 5/10 for Pilot.
No, neither Lexware Office nor Pilot lists a free plan.
