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Accounting · head to head

Lexware vs Spendbase

Lexware logo

Lexware

Accounting

Accounting and invoicing software for German small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spendbase logo

Spendbase

Accounting

SaaS and cloud spend management that charges a share of the savings it finds rather than a licence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lexware 50% discount only applies for first 3 months; Spendbase charging a share of savings gives the vendor an interest in defining savings generously, and the customer cannot verify a counterfactual price it never saw.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lexware and Spendbase actually diverge.

Attributes where Lexware and Spendbase differ
AttributeLexwareSpendbase
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree card tier, plus a share of savings on the managed plan

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Lexware

Nothing recorded that Spendbase does not also cover.

Only in Spendbase

  • Subscription visibility
  • Discount marketplace
  • Virtual cards
  • Cashback
  • Renewal management
  • Savings-share billing

What people use each for

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

Lexware

  • German business accountingnot Spendbase
  • Invoicing and bookkeepingnot Spendbase

Spendbase

  • A startup with no procurement function that wants renewal dates and subscription owners in one placenot Lexware
  • A company with heavy Azure or cloud spend that can use pre-negotiated credit allocationsnot Lexware
  • Issuing virtual cards per subscription so a forgotten trial cannot renew silentlynot Lexware
  • A finance lead who wants software cost reduction without hiring anyone to do itnot Lexware

Where each one falls short

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

Lexware

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

Spendbase

  • Charging a share of savings gives the vendor an interest in defining savings generously, and the customer cannot verify a counterfactual price it never saw.
  • The savings share is reported at around 25 percent but is not published on the pricing page, so the actual commercial terms only appear in a contract.
  • Spendbase is both a banking provider and your software negotiator, so a company using both concentrates operating cash and vendor relationships in one small, young company.
  • Banking is delivered through partners rather than held directly, meaning deposit protection and service continuity depend on those partners rather than on Spendbase.
  • It is scoped for startups and small companies, so organisations needing approval workflows, purchase orders or ERP integration will find it thin against a real procurement platform.

Pricing, plan by plan

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)

Spendbase

Free
  • Digital bankingFree
    • No monthly fee per user
    • Up to 100 virtual cards
    • EUR and GBP account details
  • Spend management$undefined/year
    • Everything in the free tier
    • Reported share of roughly 25 percent of savings achieved
    • 200 percent return guarantee against a deposit

Which should you pick?

Choose Lexware if

  • You want to start without paying.
Lexware review

Choose Spendbase if

  • You need subscription visibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want discount marketplace.
Spendbase review

Questions people ask

Is Lexware or Spendbase better?
Neither clearly leads. Lexware starts at Free and Spendbase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lexware or Spendbase?
Lexware starts at Free and Spendbase at Free.
Does Lexware or Spendbase run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Lexware for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lexware best used for?
Lexware is most often used for german business accounting, invoicing and bookkeeping. Of those, german business accounting and invoicing and bookkeeping are not what Spendbase is typically brought in for.
What can Lexware do that Spendbase cannot?
Spendbase covers Subscription visibility, Discount marketplace, Virtual cards, Cashback.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Spendbase: Is Spendbase free?

The card and banking tier is genuinely free with no per-user fee. The spend management service is paid from a share of the savings it finds, reported at around 25 percent.

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
Spendbase: How is a saving calculated?

The methodology is not published. Agree the baseline, the measurement period and what counts as a saving in writing before signing.

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
Spendbase: Does Spendbase hold my money?

Banking is provided through regulated partners including Moorwand in the UK and EEA and Sutton Bank in the US, with Mastercard issuing the cards.

Spendbase: Is it suitable for an enterprise?

No. There are no purchase orders, approval hierarchies or ERP integration; it is built for startups.

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