Lexware Office vs Starling Comparison
Compare Lexware Office vs Starling 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.
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 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.7/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €8/mo S | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €8/mo S | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
Lexware Office vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Lexware Office | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €8/moS | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €8/moS | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | €8/moS | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | €8/moS | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | €8/moS | 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?
Why choose Lexware Office
- Higher Scalability score (4/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (Lexware Office does not)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 6/10)
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.
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
Lexware Office scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.7/10 against 6.6/10 for Starling. The largest gap is in Compliance: 8/10 for Lexware Office and 7/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; Lexware Office does not list one.
