ADDISON vs Clear Books Comparison
Compare ADDISON vs Clear Books features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
ADDISON
6.1/10
German accounting, payroll, controlling and tax software from Wolters Kluwer, sold to mid-sized companies, tax advisors and bookkeeping offices in the DACH region.
Clear Books
5.9/10
UK cloud accounting software for sole traders, landlords, small companies and accountants, with HMRC Making Tax Digital filing, bank feeds, invoicing and payroll.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | A ADDISON | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.1/10 | 5.9/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | £5/mo Property |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Free Property Free |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Accounts Payable | ||
| Audit Trail | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Budgeting and Forecasting | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
ADDISON vs Clear Books cost by team size
| Team size | ADDISON | Clear Books |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | FreeProperty Free |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | FreeProperty Free |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | FreeProperty Free |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | FreeProperty Free |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | FreeProperty Free |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
AWhy choose ADDISON
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for accountants and bookkeepers (9/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Clear Books
- Has a free plan (ADDISON does not)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (7/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
AADDISON
Pros
- Covers German compliance in depth, including GoBD-oriented immutable records, ELSTER E-Bilanz filing, and ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoice processing.
- Combines financial accounting, cost accounting, fixed assets, payroll and controlling in one suite, so data is entered once.
- Converts DATEV batch and journal data in both directions, which helps firms that work with DATEV-using partners.
- You can install it on your own servers or run it in the ADDISON Business Cloud on German data centers.
- A large installed base of about 14,000 installations, plus a hotline included in the price.
Cons
- No public pricing, so buyers must request a quote.
- No publicly documented REST API. Integration relies mostly on file exchange, partner connectors or middleware.
- Some connectors and export tools need separate licenses, which can add unplanned costs.
- It is built around German tax law, which limits its use outside the DACH region.
- Very few public user reviews; OMR lists only one.
Clear Books
Pros
- Free MTD Income Tax plans for sole traders and landlords have no transaction limits.
- It is on HMRC's list of MTD-compatible software for both VAT and Income Tax Self Assessment.
- CIS reporting is built in, which suits UK construction contractors and subcontractors.
- Company plans cost £16 to £44 a month, with up to 20% off for two-year billing and no setup or per-invoice fees.
- Trustpilot reviewers rate it 4.3 out of 5 from 477 reviews and often praise quick, friendly support.
Cons
- It follows UK tax rules only, so it does not suit businesses outside the UK.
- Multi-currency, expense claims and project accounting require the top £44 Large plan.
- Users report that editing or deleting entries is awkward and that voiding is the workaround.
- Its integration ecosystem is small compared with Xero or QuickBooks.
- Some reviewers say email support replies can be slow.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
ADDISON scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.1/10 against 5.9/10 for Clear Books. The largest gap is in Cost: 4/10 for ADDISON and 8/10 for Clear Books.
Clear Books has a free plan; ADDISON does not list one.
ADDISON is the better fit for accountants and bookkeepers: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 6/10 for Clear Books.
