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Software · head to head

Avalara vs Vertex

Avalara logo

Avalara

Software

Tax compliance done right

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vertex logo

Vertex

Software

Enterprise tax determination, compliance, and e-invoicing software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Avalara plans start at $699 per state per year, so multi-state sellers multiply that figure rather than paying one subscription; Vertex pricing is entirely custom and not published, requiring a sales engagement to get a quote.
  • They diverge on capability: Avalara covers Tax calculation, Vertex covers Real-time tax determination.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Avalara and Vertex actually diverge.

Attributes where Avalara and Vertex differ
AttributeAvalaraVertex
Starting price$29/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Founded20041978

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Avalara

  • Tax calculation
  • Returns filing
  • Exemption management
  • Document management
  • Real-time rates
  • QuickBooks
  • NetSuite
  • Shopify

Only in Vertex

  • Real-time tax determination
  • Global e-invoicing compliance
  • Compliance reporting and filing
  • Exemption certificate management
  • AI-powered compliance workflows
  • ERP integrations

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Avalara

  • Real-time sales tax calculation at checkoutnot Vertex
  • Multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determinationnot Vertex
  • VAT, lodging, communications and excise tax calculationnot Vertex
  • Feeding tax results into an ERP or ecommerce platform through the APInot Vertex

Vertex

  • Automating indirect tax calculation for large multinational enterprisesnot Avalara
  • Managing global e-invoicing compliance mandatesnot Avalara
  • Handling exemption certificates for B2B salesnot Avalara
  • Embedding tax logic directly into ERP and e-commerce checkout flowsnot Avalara

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Avalara

  • Plans start at $699 per state per year, so multi-state sellers multiply that figure rather than paying one subscription
  • Billed by transaction, where one API call is one transaction, so cost tracks invoice volume
  • The free option is limited to the Streamlined Sales Tax programme, in up to 25 states and only for qualifying businesses

Vertex

  • Pricing is entirely custom and not published, requiring a sales engagement to get a quote.
  • The platform is built for enterprise-scale tax complexity, which can be more than small businesses need.
  • Implementation typically requires integration work with existing ERP systems, adding setup time and cost.
  • Documentation on self-serve plan tiers or limits is not publicly available, unlike simpler tax tools.

Pricing, plan by plan

Avalara

$29/month
  • AvaTax$50/month
    • Tax calculation
    • Exemption certificates
    • Returns filing

Vertex

On request
  • Vertex Cloud$undefined/mo
    • Custom pricing based on business needs
    • Tax determination, e-invoicing, and reporting
    • ERP and e-commerce integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Avalara if

  • You need tax calculation.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want returns filing.
Avalara review

Choose Vertex if

  • You need real-time tax determination.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want global e-invoicing compliance.
Vertex review

Questions people ask

Is Avalara or Vertex better?
Neither clearly leads. Avalara starts at $29/month and Vertex at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Avalara or Vertex?
Avalara starts at $29/month and Vertex at On request.
Does Avalara or Vertex run on more platforms?
Avalara runs on Web, Api. Vertex runs on web, api.
What is Avalara best used for?
Avalara is most often used for real-time sales tax calculation at checkout, multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determination, vat, lodging, communications and excise tax calculation, feeding tax results into an erp or ecommerce platform through the api. Of those, real-time sales tax calculation at checkout and multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determination are not what Vertex is typically brought in for.
What can Avalara do that Vertex cannot?
Avalara covers Tax calculation, Returns filing, Exemption management, Document management. Vertex covers Real-time tax determination, Global e-invoicing compliance, Compliance reporting and filing, Exemption certificate management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Vertex: Is Vertex's tax software pricing publicly available?

No. Vertex does not publish pricing for its Vertex Cloud or enterprise tax platform; costs are determined through a custom quote based on modules, transaction volume, and deployment scope.

Source
Vertex: Roughly what do businesses pay for Vertex?

As reported by third-party buyer guides, not Vertex itself, mid-market companies processing 10,000-50,000 monthly transactions often pay in the $40,000-$100,000 per year range including platform and transaction fees.

Source
Vertex: Who manages Vertex Cloud after it's set up?

With the Vertex Cloud deployment option, ongoing operations such as monitoring, configuration, and state tax correspondence remain the responsibility of the customer's internal team rather than Vertex.

Source
Vertex: What systems does Vertex integrate with?

Vertex integrates with major ERP and e-commerce platforms including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Shopify, Workday, and NetSuite to embed real-time indirect tax calculation into existing business systems.

Source
Vertex: How many jurisdictions does Vertex support for tax determination?

Vertex calculates real-time indirect tax rates across 195 countries and more than 20,000 tax jurisdictions worldwide.

Source
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