Softwr

Accounting · head to head

Karbon vs sevdesk

Karbon logo

Karbon

Accounting

Practice management for accounting firms

From
$59/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
sevdesk logo

sevdesk

Accounting

German accounting and invoicing software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only sevdesk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Karbon monthly billing option only available for teams of 4 or more users; sevdesk the free Kostenlos plan caps invoices and e-invoices at just 3 per month, forcing an upgrade to the Rechnung plan for unlimited invoicing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Karbon and sevdesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Karbon and sevdesk differ
AttributeKarbonsevdesk
Starting price$59/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: 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.

Karbon

  • Automating client document collection for tax practice intakenot sevdesk
  • Tracking all client requests in workflows tied to jobsnot sevdesk
  • Aligning hours worked with billable time per engagementnot sevdesk
  • Automating period close by connecting practice management to accountingnot sevdesk
  • Streamlining client document submission and approval workflowsnot sevdesk

sevdesk

  • Scanning receipts via mobile app and matching to transactionsnot Karbon
  • Creating VAT advance returns and filing with tax authoritiesnot Karbon
  • Generating XRechnung format invoices mandatory for B2B by 2025not Karbon
  • Recording bank transactions automatically across 4000+ supported banksnot Karbon
  • Managing unlimited invoices with automatic sales tax calculationsnot Karbon

Where each one falls short

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

Karbon

  • Monthly billing option only available for teams of 4 or more users
  • Team plan at $59/month per user minimum cost may be expensive for smaller practices
  • No seat license discounts published; scaling costs linearly with user count

sevdesk

  • The free Kostenlos plan caps invoices and e-invoices at just 3 per month, forcing an upgrade to the Rechnung plan for unlimited invoicing
  • API access and cost center tracking are reserved for the top Buchhaltung Pro tier at EUR 13.95 to EUR 34.90/month depending on commitment length, not included in the mid-tier Buchhaltung plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Karbon

$59/month
  • Team$59/month
    • Per-user pricing
    • Designed for small accounting firms
    • Minimum team size of 4 for monthly billing
  • Business$89/month
    • Per-user pricing
    • Workflow automation
    • Integrations for growing practices
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • Custom pricing
    • Tailored for large accounting firms
    • Dedicated support

sevdesk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Permanently free with no credit card required
    • Up to 3 invoices/e-invoices monthly
    • Unlimited contact creation
  • Rechnung (Invoice Plan)$11.9/month
    • Regular: €11.90/month, discounted to €4.45/month on 24-month term
    • Unlimited invoices, offers, e-invoices, and payment reminders
  • Buchhaltung (Accounting Plan)$25.9/month
    • Recommended plan
    • Regular: €25.90/month, discounted to €9.95/month on 24-month term
    • Bookkeeping features, AI-powered receipt capture, tax filing
  • Buchhaltung Pro (Accounting Pro)$34.9/month
    • Regular: €34.90/month, discounted to €13.95/month on 24-month term
    • Cost center analysis, REST-API access, business financial analysis (BWA)

Which should you pick?

Choose Karbon if

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

Karbon review

Choose sevdesk if

  • You want to start without paying.
sevdesk review

Questions people ask

Is Karbon or sevdesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Karbon starts at $59/month and sevdesk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Karbon or sevdesk?
sevdesk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $59/month for Karbon and Free for sevdesk.
Does Karbon or sevdesk run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use sevdesk for free?
Yes. sevdesk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Karbon starts at $59/month.
What is Karbon best used for?
Karbon is most often used for automating client document collection for tax practice intake, tracking all client requests in workflows tied to jobs, aligning hours worked with billable time per engagement, automating period close by connecting practice management to accounting. Of those, automating client document collection for tax practice intake and tracking all client requests in workflows tied to jobs are not what sevdesk is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Karbon: How much does Karbon cost?

Karbon pricing starts at $59 per user per month (Team plan, billed annually) or $79 per user per month (monthly billing for 4+ users). Business plan is $89/month annual or $99/month monthly. Enterprise pricing is custom.

Source
sevdesk: How much does sevdesk cost?

sevdesk offers a free plan and three paid tiers. Invoice Plan starts at €11.90/month (€4.45/month on 24-month), Accounting Plan at €25.90/month (€9.95/month on 24-month), and Accounting Pro at €34.90/month (€13.95/month on 24-month).

Source
Karbon: Is there a discount for annual billing on Karbon?

Yes, Karbon offers annual billing at a discount compared to monthly. Team plan is $59/month annually versus $79/month monthly. Business plan is $89/month annually versus $99/month monthly.

Source
sevdesk: What is included in sevdesk's free plan?

The free plan allows creation of up to 3 invoices/e-invoices monthly, unlimited contact creation, and access to support materials. No credit card is required.

Source
Karbon: What is the minimum user requirement for monthly billing on Karbon?

Karbon requires a minimum team size of 4 users to access monthly billing. Teams smaller than 4 must choose annual billing.

Source
sevdesk: What add-ons are available for sevdesk?

sevdesk offers optional add-ons priced €3.90-€19.90/month including premium layouts, additional users, inventory management, and time tracking. Premium services such as setup consultations start at €24.90.

Source
sevdesk: Does sevdesk offer a promotional discount?

Yes, sevdesk advertises up to 50% discount through a time-limited Black Cyber Deal offering 60% off all plans. Additionally, all paid plans include 24-month term options with significant savings (up to 62% discount).

Source
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