Lexware Office vs Tide Comparison
Compare Lexware Office vs Tide 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.
Tide
6.4/10
Tide is a UK app-based business current account for sole traders and small firms, with optional built-in invoicing, accounting, VAT filing and payroll.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.7/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €8/mo S | £12/mo Smart |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €8/mo S | Free Lite |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
Lexware Office vs Tide cost by team size
| Team size | Lexware Office | Tide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €8/moS | FreeLite |
| 5 users | €8/moS | FreeLite |
| 10 users | €8/moS | FreeLite |
| 25 users | €8/moS | FreeLite |
| 50 users | €8/moS | FreeLite |
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 Support score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Tide
- Has a free plan (Lexware Office does not)
- Higher Analytics score (5/10 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.
Tide
Pros
- A free Lite plan includes a sort code account, card, payment links and Tap to Pay with no monthly fee.
- MTD VAT returns can be filed to HMRC directly from the app.
- Every plan syncs with major UK accounting packages, including Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent.
- Deposits are FSCS-protected through ClearBank, up to £120,000.
- Limited companies can be registered cheaply during sign-up.
Cons
- Reviewers frequently report accounts frozen or paused without explanation.
- Support responses can take days, according to user reviews.
- There are no overdrafts or business credit cards.
- Plans cap the number of team cards and users, at most 5 users on Max.
- The accounting tools lack a full general ledger and multi-entity features.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexware Office scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.7/10 against 6.4/10 for Tide. The largest gap is in Support: 6/10 for Lexware Office and 4/10 for Tide.
Tide has a free plan; Lexware Office does not list one.
