sevdesk vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of sevdesk and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
sevdesk
6.4/10
Cloud invoicing and bookkeeping software for German freelancers and small businesses, with e-invoicing, bank sync, ELSTER VAT filing and DATEV export.
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 | 6.4/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €12/mo Rechnung | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €12/mo Rechnung | 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 | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
sevdesk vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | sevdesk | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeKostenlos | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €12/moRechnung | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | €12/moRechnung | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | €12/moRechnung | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | €12/moRechnung | 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 sevdesk
- Higher Customization score (5/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Analytics score (5/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Starling
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
sevdesk
Pros
- The free plan stays free with no time limit and includes up to 3 e-invoices a month in the ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats
- VAT pre-returns go straight to the tax office through ELSTER, and EÜR reports are generated automatically
- Reviewers on OMR rate it highly for ease of use and setup, at 90% each, and say beginners can learn it quickly
- Bank connections to more than 4,000 banks match incoming payments to invoices automatically
- Data exports to DATEV and ADDISON, and tax advisors get their own login
Cons
- There is no payroll, so a separate tool is needed for wages
- Some users report unstable bank connections and inaccurate automatic receipt recognition
- Reports are less detailed than in Lexware, and the BWA is only in the most expensive plan
- Some reviewers complain about automatic contract renewal and say early cancellation is hard
- Only one user is included, and each extra user costs 5.90 EUR a month
- It is built around German tax rules, so it fits poorly outside Germany and Austria
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 6.4/10 for sevdesk. The largest gap is in Cost: 7/10 for sevdesk and 9/10 for Starling.
Yes, both sevdesk and Starling have a free plan.
