Hardly any other software company has established itself in the German finance and tax sector as firmly as DATEV. The company offers an extensive repertoire of software products and IT services for accounting, auditing, legal advice, and tax consulting. Especially in the tax sector, DATEV is considered the industry standard and the most important resource for tax advisors and tax firms.

In recent years, powerful alternatives have emerged in the market, whose solutions are increasingly gaining significance. Below, both DATEV and its current largest competitors are presented.

What is DATEV?

The DATEV eG is a cooperative whose software solutions and IT services specialize in the areas of tax consulting, accounting, personnel management, and auditing. The company, based in Nuremberg, is one of the leading providers of business software in Germany and is regarded as a renowned authority in its industry throughout Europe.

With more than 200 software products, cloud services, and online applications for data processing and archiving in the data center, DATEV covers a wide range of services. High security requirements and various interfaces also enable seamless integration of external applications.

What is DATEV Unternehmen Online and who is it suitable for?

DATEV Unternehmen Online (DUO) is an online Portal and enables digital collaboration between companies and tax advisors for financial accounting and payroll processing. Relevant documents are uploaded to the DATEV Cloud via document transfer and stored in the DATEV data center. In addition to document capture, payments can be prepared and evaluations accessed via the online tool.

DATEV Unternehmen Online is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and for tax consulting practices that prefer a cloud-based software solution.

Is DATEV free of charge?

No, DATEV is not free. The software products of DATEV are chargeable and vary depending on the package and the scope of the required services. The prices depend on various factors such as the type of product, company size, and desired features.

A detailed DATEV price list is available online.

Advantages and disadvantages of DATEV

In the realm of accounting software, there’s hardly a way around DATEV. The success of the cooperative is based on various factors. For years, DATEV solutions have been deeply rooted in the operational processes of companies and tax firms and have proven themselves in practice. With its diverse portfolio, the company covers a wide range of services that go far beyond pure accounting.

Advantages
A key advantage lies in legal certainty and conformity. DATEV Software was specially developed to meet the requirements and guidelines of German tax legislation. Regular updates and adjustments accommodate current legal changes quickly. DATEV also places great emphasis on data protection and security. All data is securely encrypted and stored in German data centers.

Disadvantages
Even though DATEV is considered a key figure in its industry, the program has some weaknesses. Due to its functionality, the software is complexly structured, requiring in-depth accounting knowledge and a certain amount of familiarization time.

DATEV can also only be partially integrated into other business processes. Companies and tax firms that focus on individualization or have specific requirements are limited in their flexibility. The relatively high DATEV costs for individual features are also a significant disadvantage.

What alternatives are there to DATEV?

Datev is considered a standard, but it is not mandatory. Therefore, companies and tax firms should opt for software that meets their individual requirements and needs. In principle, it is recommended to consider criteria such as functionality, flexibility and scalability, automation, data protection and security, and cost efficiency when searching for a DATEV alternative.

Specifically for tax professions, programs that fulfill core competencies with their solutions such as accounting, client management, payroll processing, interface integration, tax calculation and declaration, cloud capability, and data security are suitable.

ADDISON

The ADDISON software from the Dutch information service provider Wolters Kluwer is a complete solution developed specifically for tax advisors to optimize work processes and decisively advance digitalization in tax firms.

The program supports administration, tax calculation, financial accounting, salary matters, controlling, and consulting processes. Due to its diverse functionality and high customizability, ADDISON is currently considered the strongest DATEV competitor.

What can ADDISON do?

ADDISON is suitable for any company size and grows with the requirements of the tax firm. The software offers a comprehensive selection of functions and modules for efficient processing of tasks in tax, accounting, and personnel administration. The fully integrated ADDISON solution enables seamless data and information exchange between clients, tax firms, and institutions.

Agenda

Agenda Informationssysteme GmbH & Co. KG is a German provider of business software solutions. The company from Rosenheim provides software and IT services for tax advisors, accountants, and companies to automate standard processes and make everyday work more efficient.

What can Agenda Plus do?

With Agenda Plus, a complete system is provided that integrates all accounting and organizational tasks of a tax firm. Tax returns, payroll processing, and tax calculations are automated. The Cloud Portal enables digital collaboration between clients, banks, and authorities.

hmd-Software

The hmd-Software AG offers modular software complete solutions for tax advisors and their clients as well as for financial and accounting departments.

Under the slogan Wir machen Bürokratie einfach'(We make bureaucracy easy), the company develops user-friendly software solutions to digitize and automate business processes. The high-tech company based in Andechs was founded in 1985 and today serves more than 5,000 clients nationwide.

What can hmd-software do?

Hmd provides tax firms and auditors with a comprehensive, integrated software solution to optimize workflows. The complete solution hmd.steuern supports the digitization and automation of processes in the areas of accounting, payroll processing, and tax declaration. Additionally, common Portal makes it easier to collaborate with clients.

Hmd relies on full integration, so all programs seamlessly interconnect. Modules can be flexibly combined, so the software can be tailored individually.

Simba Software

Since 1990, the Simba Computer Systeme GmbH has been developing financial and business software for tax firms, social economy, and companies.

Through automated work processes and the use of artificial intelligence, Simba decisively advances digitalization. The software products are based on individual modules that can be customized or purchased as a complete solution.

What can Simba Kanzlei do?

Simba tax firm management is an industry-specific cloud solution for tax advisors and tax firms to optimize and digitize workflows. Due to its modular architecture, the software can be adapted to individual requirements.

Simba tax firm management supports efficiency enhancement of the entire tax firm work through features such as DMS, fee billing, central client management, order and service recording, and automated workflows.

Lexware

Lexware, belonging to the Haufe Group since 1993, offers commercial software for small and medium-sized enterprises, freelancers and self-employed persons.

The German company develops solutions in the areas of accounting, payroll processing, order management, inventory management, and tax declaration. The software is available both as a desktop version and cloud-based.

What can Lexware neue steueranzlei do?

With Lexware new tax firm, a comprehensive accounting software for tax advisors, auditors, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises is offered.

The program provides tools for accounting, payroll accounting, tax declarations, and client management. An integrated specialist database provides all legal information and updates.

Conclusion

For companies and tax firms, DATEV remains a central authority. The software impresses with integration options and data security, can be used versatilely, and has been a proven standard for years.

Other providers like Addison, Agenda, hmd, Simba, and Lexware, however, prove to be powerful alternatives. They convince with innovative features, individualized customization options, and a more flexible pricing structure.

A comparison between the various providers is therefore worthwhile to find a suitable solution for one’s specific needs.