Accounting · head to head
Causal vs Qonto
Causal
Accounting
Formula-based financial planning and modelling, now sold as Lucanet xP&A
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Qonto
Accounting
French neobank and finance management platform for freelancers, SMEs and businesses
- From
- €9/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Causal causal was acquired by Lucanet on 31 October 2024 and the independent brand has been retired in favour of Lucanet xP&A, so the roadmap, support and pricing you buy are Lucanet’s and not the ones the product built its reputation on.; Qonto pricing in EUR only, not USD
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Causal and Qonto actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).
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 Causal
- Variable-based modelling
- Dimensional breakdowns
- Scenario and range inputs
- Actuals integration
- Interactive dashboards
- Version history
- Spreadsheet import
- Workforce and headcount planning
Only in Qonto
Nothing recorded that Causal does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Causal
- A finance team whose three-statement Excel model has become too fragile to change safely before every board meetingnot Qonto
- A company that needs to show a range of outcomes rather than a single forecast, with uncertainty modelled directly in the driversnot Qonto
- A budget owner outside finance who should adjust hiring or spend assumptions and see the effect without being given edit access to the master spreadsheetnot Qonto
- A group already running Lucanet for consolidation and reporting that wants planning on the same platform rather than a separate toolnot Qonto
Qonto
- Business bankingnot Causal
- Team paymentsnot Causal
- Cash flow managementnot Causal
- Multi-currency transfersnot Causal
- Freelancer paymentsnot Causal
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Causal
- Causal was acquired by Lucanet on 31 October 2024 and the independent brand has been retired in favour of Lucanet xP&A, so the roadmap, support and pricing you buy are Lucanet’s and not the ones the product built its reputation on.
- Self-serve pricing is gone: the old causal.app pricing page now redirects to a Lucanet solution page, so what was a transparent product you could sign up for is an enterprise sales conversation with no published rate.
- The variable-based model is a genuine departure from spreadsheet thinking, so an accountant fluent in Excel must relearn how to express a model, and the team members who could previously all edit the forecast often cannot at first.
- Deep Excel compatibility is limited by design; complex existing workbooks with macros, circular references or heavy lookups do not import cleanly and have to be rebuilt, which turns a tool evaluation into a modelling project.
- Consolidation, statutory reporting and multi-entity currency handling are weaker than in dedicated corporate performance management suites, so a group with several legal entities usually needs Lucanet’s other modules alongside it, raising the real cost well past the planning tool alone.
Qonto
- Pricing in EUR only, not USD
- Basic tier limited to 30 transfers per month
- Add-ons for invoice automation and project tracking cost EUR 12-39/month extra
- Business tier minimum commitment for small team accounts
- Business plan minimum pricing EUR 49/month vs self-employed EUR 9/month
Pricing, plan by plan
Causal
On request- Lucanet xP&A (formerly Causal)$undefined/year
- Variable-based planning models with dimensions and scenarios
- Actuals integration from accounting, CRM and warehouse sources
- Interactive dashboards for non-finance stakeholders
Qonto
€9/month- Basic (Self-Employed)$9/month
- 30 transfers
- 1 physical + 2 virtual cards
- Account remuneration 5% for 2 months
- Smart (Self-Employed)$19/month
- 100 transfers
- 2 physical + 50 virtual cards
- Account remuneration
- Premium (Self-Employed)$39/month
- 200 transfers
- 2 physical + 50 virtual + 50 Instant cards
- Essential (Business)$49/month
- 250 transfers
- 5 physical + 50 virtual cards
- Multiple sub-accounts
Which should you pick?
Choose Causal if
- You need variable-based modelling.
- You also want dimensional breakdowns.
Choose Qonto if
Nothing in the data separates Qonto from Causal on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Causal or Qonto better?
- Neither clearly leads. Causal starts at On request and Qonto at €9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Causal or Qonto?
- Causal starts at On request and Qonto at €9/month.
- Does Causal or Qonto run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Causal best used for?
- Causal is most often used for a finance team whose three-statement excel model has become too fragile to change safely before every board meeting, a company that needs to show a range of outcomes rather than a single forecast, with uncertainty modelled directly in the drivers, a budget owner outside finance who should adjust hiring or spend assumptions and see the effect without being given edit access to the master spreadsheet, a group already running lucanet for consolidation and reporting that wants planning on the same platform rather than a separate tool. Of those, a finance team whose three-statement excel model has become too fragile to change safely before every board meeting and a company that needs to show a range of outcomes rather than a single forecast, with uncertainty modelled directly in the drivers are not what Qonto is typically brought in for.
- What can Causal do that Qonto cannot?
- Causal covers Variable-based modelling, Dimensional breakdowns, Scenario and range inputs, Actuals integration.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Causal: Does Causal still exist?
The product does, as Lucanet xP&A. The independent Causal brand and self-serve offering have been retired following the October 2024 acquisition.
Qonto: How much does Qonto cost?
Qonto's self-employed plans range from EUR 9/month (Basic) to EUR 39/month (Premium). Business plans range from EUR 49/month (Essential) to EUR 199/month (Enterprise).
SourceCausal: What does it cost now?
Nothing is published. The former pricing page redirects to Lucanet, and the product is quoted as part of the Lucanet CFO Solution Platform.
Qonto: What is included in Qonto's Basic plan?
The Basic plan costs EUR 9/month and includes 30 monthly transfers, 1 physical card and 2 virtual cards, plus account remuneration at 5% for the first 2 months.
SourceCausal: Can I import my existing Excel model?
Simple workbooks import. Models with macros, circular references or heavy lookup chains have to be rebuilt around named variables, which is the real migration cost.
Qonto: What is the difference between self-employed and business plans?
Self-employed plans (Basic to Premium) are for individuals and cost EUR 9-39/month. Business plans (Essential to Enterprise) offer more transfers and cards for teams, ranging from EUR 49-199/month.
SourceCausal: Is it a replacement for a consolidation tool?
No. It plans and forecasts. Statutory consolidation and multi-entity reporting sit in Lucanet’s other modules.
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- Qonto vs Lemon Squeezy
- Qonto vs Lexware
- Qonto vs Paychex
- Qonto vs RazorpayX
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- Qonto vs Moss
- Qonto vs Medius
- Qonto vs Ramp
- Qonto vs Pleo
- Qonto vs Spendesk
- Qonto vs Brex
- Qonto vs SAP Concur
- Qonto vs Tipalti
- Qonto vs Orb
- Qonto vs Paddle
- Qonto vs Basware