sevDesk vs DATEV: German Accounting Software Comparison 2026
Compare sevDesk and DATEV for German businesses. sevDesk is modern cloud accounting for SMBs, while DATEV is the professional-grade system used by Steuerberater.
Comparison Table
| Price | €8.90-47.90/mo | via Steuerberater |
| Countries | DE, AT | DE, AT |
| Best For | Ecommerce, Small Businesses | All German Businesses |
| Features | GoBD-compliantInvoicingReceipt scanBanking sync | Full accountingTax filingPayrollDocument management |
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| Website | Visit | Visit |
Our Verdict
Choose sevDesk if you want to handle bookkeeping yourself with modern cloud software and export to your Steuerberater. Choose DATEV (via Unternehmen Online) if you want direct collaboration with your tax advisor in the system they already use.
As of: February 2026
Information in this comparison is sourced from publicly available data (official websites, pricing pages). Prices and features may change. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information.
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Overview
sevDesk and DATEV represent fundamentally different approaches to German accounting. sevDesk is a modern cloud platform designed for business owners to manage their own bookkeeping. DATEV is the professional infrastructure used by over 90% of German Steuerberater, with DATEV Unternehmen Online providing a business-facing interface.
Key Differences
- Target User: sevDesk is for business owners doing their own books; DATEV is accessed primarily through Steuerberater.
- Modern UX: sevDesk has a contemporary interface; DATEV reflects decades of evolution with a steeper learning curve.
- Pricing: sevDesk costs €8.90-47.90/mo directly; DATEV Unternehmen Online is typically billed through your Steuerberater.
- Self-Service: sevDesk is fully self-service; DATEV is designed for professional collaboration.
- E-commerce: sevDesk has strong marketplace integrations; DATEV relies on imports from other systems.
Our Recommendation
Most German small businesses use sevDesk (or similar tools like lexoffice) for day-to-day bookkeeping and export to DATEV format for their Steuerberater. This is the recommended approach for SMBs. DATEV Unternehmen Online makes sense for larger businesses wanting tighter integration with their tax advisor, or for companies where the Steuerberater manages more of the bookkeeping process directly.