Softwr

Accounting · head to head

sevdesk vs Workiva

sevdesk logo

sevdesk

Accounting

German accounting and invoicing software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Workiva logo

Workiva

Accounting

Connected reporting platform for SEC filings, iXBRL tagging, SOX and sustainability disclosure

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only sevdesk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; Workiva pricing is quoted per solution and per user and is not published, and because moving a filing cycle off the platform carries deadline risk, renewal negotiations favour the vendor heavily.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which sevdesk and Workiva actually diverge.

Attributes where sevdesk and Workiva differ
AttributesevdeskWorkiva
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: 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 sevdesk

Nothing recorded that Workiva does not also cover.

Only in Workiva

  • Linked data
  • Inline XBRL tagging
  • SEC filing
  • SOX and controls
  • Sustainability reporting
  • Audit trail
  • Collaboration
  • Data connectors

What people use each for

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

sevdesk

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

Workiva

  • A newly public company facing its first 10-K where the tie-out process in Word and Excel is not survivable at the deadlinenot sevdesk
  • A European group preparing CSRD sustainability disclosure that must be assurance-ready rather than a marketing documentnot sevdesk
  • A finance team whose auditors keep raising review points about version control and unsupported changes in the reporting packnot sevdesk
  • A group with several statutory filers that wants one set of numbers feeding many jurisdictional reportsnot sevdesk

Where each one falls short

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

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

Workiva

  • Pricing is quoted per solution and per user and is not published, and because moving a filing cycle off the platform carries deadline risk, renewal negotiations favour the vendor heavily.
  • Cost is difficult to justify for smaller filers whose reporting burden is a single 10-K a year, where an outsourced financial printer is cheaper.
  • Getting the initial linked-data structure right is a substantial project, and companies that rush the first cycle end up with links that break and a manual tie-out anyway.
  • The spreadsheet interface is deliberately not Excel and finance teams accustomed to Excel keyboard behaviour and modelling features find it slower for anything analytical.
  • ESG and sustainability modules were added later than the financial reporting core and buyers report them as less mature, so a company buying primarily for CSRD is buying the newer and weaker half of the product.

Pricing, plan by plan

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)

Workiva

On request
  • Workiva Platform$undefined/year
    • Linked data across documents and spreadsheets
    • SEC and ESEF filing with iXBRL tagging
    • SOX, internal audit and statutory reporting modules

Which should you pick?

Choose sevdesk if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Workiva if

  • You need linked data.
  • You also want inline xbrl tagging.

Questions people ask

Is sevdesk or Workiva better?
Neither clearly leads. sevdesk starts at Free and Workiva at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, sevdesk or Workiva?
sevdesk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for sevdesk and On request for Workiva.
Does sevdesk or Workiva 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. Workiva starts at On request.
What is sevdesk best used for?
sevdesk is most often used for scanning receipts via mobile app and matching to transactions, creating vat advance returns and filing with tax authorities, generating xrechnung format invoices mandatory for b2b by 2025, recording bank transactions automatically across 4000+ supported banks. Of those, scanning receipts via mobile app and matching to transactions and creating vat advance returns and filing with tax authorities are not what Workiva is typically brought in for.
What can sevdesk do that Workiva cannot?
Workiva covers Linked data, Inline XBRL tagging, SEC filing, SOX and controls.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Workiva: Does Workiva do the XBRL tagging for me?

The platform provides tagging tools and validation, and Workiva offers services, but the tagging judgement remains the filer's responsibility.

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
Workiva: Is it only for US SEC filers?

No. It supports European ESEF filings, statutory reporting in several jurisdictions and sustainability frameworks such as CSRD and ISSB.

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
Workiva: What does it cost?

Not published. Expect tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year depending on solutions and user count.

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
Workiva: Can it replace our consolidation system?

No. It reports on consolidated numbers and connects to ERP and consolidation tools, but it does not perform the consolidation.

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