Bench vs Lexware Office Comparison
Compare Bench vs Lexware Office features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Bench
5/10
Online bookkeeping and tax service for US small businesses: a dedicated bookkeeper keeps the books in Bench's own software, with optional tax filing.
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 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5/10 | 6.7/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | €8/mo S |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | €8/mo S |
| Features | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Bench vs Lexware Office cost by team size
| Team size | Bench | Lexware Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $199/moBookkeeping Light | €8/moS |
| 5 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | €8/moS |
| 10 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | €8/moS |
| 25 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | €8/moS |
| 50 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | €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?
Why choose Bench
Our data shows no clear advantage over Lexware Office.
Why choose Lexware Office
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for freelancers (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Includes Invoicing, which Bench lacks
- Includes Payroll, which Bench lacks
Pros & Cons
Bench
Pros
- A dedicated human bookkeeper does the monthly categorizing and reconciliation, so owners don't need to learn accounting software.
- Flat monthly pricing, with about 20 percent off for annual billing, makes costs predictable.
- The bundled plan adds business tax filing and up to four advisory calls a year from licensed professionals.
- Bench is SOC 2 compliant, and Plaid bank connections are read-only.
- Owners and reviewers describe the dashboard as simpler than QuickBooks for non-accountants.
Cons
- Bench shut down abruptly in December 2024 before Employer.com bought it, and some customers still question its continuity.
- Reviews since the acquisition report slower responses, bookkeeper turnover and late monthly closes.
- It does not handle payroll, invoicing or bill pay.
- Books are kept on a modified cash basis in proprietary software, which makes moving to QuickBooks or Xero harder.
- It is expensive compared with DIY accounting software, and there is no free trial.
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 5/10 for Bench. The largest gap is in Cost: 3/10 for Bench and 8/10 for Lexware Office.
No, neither Bench nor Lexware Office lists a free plan.
Lexware Office is the better fit for freelancers: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 6/10 for Bench.
Lexware Office has Invoicing and Payroll, which Bench lacks.
