Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP vs Lexware Office Comparison
Compare Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP vs Lexware Office features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP
5.4/10
Cloud ERP from Aptean for discrete, make-to-order and mixed-mode manufacturers, combining job costing, shop floor, inventory and core financials such as GL, AP and AR.
Lexware Office
6.7/10
A German cloud tool for bookkeeping, invoicing, receipt capture, VAT filing and optional payroll, made for freelancers and small businesses.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | A Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.4/10 | 6.7/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | €8/mo S |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | €8/mo S |
| Features | ||
| Inventory Accounting | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accountant Access | Not listed | |
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Bank Reconciliation | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP vs Lexware Office cost by team size
| Team size | Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP | Lexware Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | €8/moS |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | €8/moS |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | €8/moS |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | €8/moS |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | €8/moS |
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 Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Customization score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Includes Inventory Accounting, which Lexware Office lacks
Why choose Lexware Office
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
AAptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP
Pros
- It covers discrete manufacturing in depth, including multi-level BOMs, routings, job costing and an advanced configurator.
- Reviewers praise how much custom report building is possible, which makes up for weak standard reports.
- Azure hosting includes a Government Cloud option for ITAR-regulated manufacturers.
- The finance modules link directly to production costs, giving margin and cost visibility per order.
Cons
- Many reviewers call the interface dated and say routine tasks take too many steps.
- Reviewers report high support fees, including a 30% increase in 2025.
- Reviews often describe support as slow and implementation as difficult.
- There is no public pricing, and optional modules add significant cost.
Lexware Office
Pros
- Users on OMR Reviews and testers on Experte.de describe receipt scanning and bank matching as fast and easy to set up.
- Creates ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoices and files VAT returns directly to ELSTER.
- Every plan can be cancelled monthly, and users are unlimited according to Für-Gründer.
- Tax advisor access and DATEV export make it easy to hand the books to an accountant.
- An optional payroll add-on handles social security and tax filings for up to 50 employees.
Cons
- Invoices can only be issued in euros.
- Cannot manage several companies, and has no approval workflow and no cost-centre reporting.
- Bookkeeping and VAT returns need the L plan, and recurring features need higher tiers.
- Users report bank connections that drop and support that is hard to reach by phone.
- There is no postal invoice sending and no built-in time tracking.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexware Office scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.7/10 against 5.4/10 for Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP. The largest gap is in Cost: 3/10 for Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP and 8/10 for Lexware Office.
No, neither Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP nor Lexware Office lists a free plan.
Lexware Office is the better fit for small business: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 4/10 for Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP.
Aptean Discrete Manufacturing ERP has Inventory Accounting, which Lexware Office lacks.
