Accounting Software

QuickBooks Online vs DATEV

Both are accounting software. The short answer: choose QuickBooks Online if you are small businesses in the US, UK, Canada and Australia; choose DATEV if you are german businesses working with a tax adviser.

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QuickBooks Online logo QuickBooks OnlineDATEV logo DATEV
Best forSmall businesses in the US, UK, Canada and AustraliaGerman businesses working with a tax adviser
Free planNo (trial may exist)No (trial may exist)
PricingSee providerSee provider
Built for IndiaGlobalGlobal
CategoriesBilling & Invoicing Software, Accounting SoftwareAccounting Software
Strengths
  • Large accountant and app ecosystem
  • Strong reporting
  • Good bank integrations
  • The standard for German tax advisers
  • Deep compliance with German law
  • Secure data exchange
Watch out for
  • Availability and features vary by country
  • Costs rise with add-ons
  • Complex and German-language
  • Usually used through a tax adviser
Visit QuickBooks OnlineVisit DATEV

Which should you choose?

QuickBooks Online: Widely used cloud accounting software with invoicing, expenses, bank feeds and an accountant ecosystem.

DATEV: German cooperative whose accounting, payroll and tax software is used by most tax advisers in Germany.

The best way to decide is to run the same week of real work through both — most offer a free plan or trial — and compare how long tasks take, what your team prefers, and the total cost for your number of users including renewal pricing.

Not sure either fits? See all accounting software compared.