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Accounting · head to head

freee vs Lexware

freee logo

freee

Accounting

Japanese integrated cloud accounting software for sole proprietors and corporations

From
980/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lexware logo

Lexware

Accounting

Accounting and invoicing software for German small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lexware has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: freee pricing varies significantly across multiple product categories and tiers; Lexware 50% discount only applies for first 3 months
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which freee and Lexware actually diverge.

Attributes where freee and Lexware differ
AttributefreeeLexware
Starting price980/monthFree
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What people use each for

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

freee

  • Filing Japanese tax documents electronically each yearnot Lexware
  • Calculating payroll and year-end adjustments automaticallynot Lexware
  • Creating opening documents without visiting tax officenot Lexware
  • Tracking company expenses across departments centrallynot Lexware

Lexware

  • German business accountingnot freee
  • Invoicing and bookkeepingnot freee

Where each one falls short

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

freee

  • Pricing varies significantly across multiple product categories and tiers
  • Some corporate tiers (Advance) reach ¥39,780+/month

Lexware

  • 50% discount only applies for first 3 months
  • Regular prices are double the discounted prices after promotion
  • Pricing is in EUR only

Pricing, plan by plan

freee

980/month
  • freee會計 Starter$980/month
    • Individual business owner accounting tier
  • freee會計 Corporate Solo$2980/month
    • Corporate accounting tier
  • freee人事労務$400/month per employee
    • HR and payroll module per-employee pricing
  • freee勤怠管理$300/month per employee
    • Attendance tracking per-employee

Lexware

Free
  • S$3.95/month
    • Belegerfassung und -archiv (Document capture and archive)
  • M$6.45/month
    • Angebote, (E-) Rechnungen und Mahnungen (Offers, invoices, reminders)
  • L$10.95/month
    • Buchhaltung, EÜR und Umsatzsteuer (Accounting, EÜR, sales tax)
  • XL$16.45/month
    • EU- und Abschlagsrechnungen, API (EU invoices, installment invoices, API)

Which should you pick?

Choose freee if

Nothing in the data separates freee from Lexware on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

freee review

Choose Lexware if

  • You want to start without paying.
Lexware review

Questions people ask

Is freee or Lexware better?
Neither clearly leads. freee starts at 980/month and Lexware at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, freee or Lexware?
Lexware has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 980/month for freee and Free for Lexware.
Does freee or Lexware run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Lexware for free?
Yes. Lexware has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. freee starts at 980/month.
What is freee best used for?
freee is most often used for filing japanese tax documents electronically each year, calculating payroll and year-end adjustments automatically, creating opening documents without visiting tax office, tracking company expenses across departments centrally. Of those, filing japanese tax documents electronically each year and calculating payroll and year-end adjustments automatically are not what Lexware is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

freee: What is freee's accounting software pricing?

Individual business owners start at ¥980/month for Starter, while corporate accounting begins at ¥2,980/month for Solo Corp, with prices extending to ¥39,780+/month for Advance plans.

Source
Lexware: How much does Lexware cost?

Lexware pricing ranges from €3.95/month (plan S) to €16.45/month (plan XL) at discounted rates. Regular pricing is €7.90 to €32.90/month. All prices include hosting, backups, updates, and support.

Source
freee: Does freee charge per employee for HR and payroll?

Yes, freee人事労務 (HR/Payroll) costs ¥400-¥1,100 per employee per month, and freee勤怠管理 (Attendance) costs ¥300 per employee per month.

Source
Lexware: Is there a current promotional offer?

Yes, Lexware offers 50% discount for the first 3 months on all plans, then regular pricing applies. The billing period is monthly and cancellable anytime.

Source
freee: Are there free freee products?

Several freee products are completely free, including freee開業 (Business Opening), freee請求書 (Invoicing), freeeカード (Card), and certain features like payroll rules creation.

Source
Lexware: Does Lexware offer a free trial?

Yes, Lexware offers a 30-day free trial with full XL features plus Lohn & Gehalt (payroll) access included.

Source
freee: Does freee offer a free trial?

Freee offers a 30-day free trial for its accounting software and provides annual payment discounts on most plans.

Source
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