Bench vs Pennylane Comparison
Compare Bench vs Pennylane 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.
Pennylane
6.4/10
French accounting, invoicing, cash management and business account platform for freelancers, small businesses, SMEs and the accounting firms that serve them.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 5/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | €7/mo Starter (freelancer) |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Accounts Payable | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Bench vs Pennylane cost by team size
| Team size | Bench | Pennylane |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $199/moBookkeeping Light | €7/moStarter (freelancer) |
| 5 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | Contact for pricing |
| 10 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | Contact for pricing |
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 Pennylane.
Why choose Pennylane
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (3/10 vs 1/10)
- Better fit for freelancers (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Includes Accounts Payable, 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.
Pennylane
Pros
- Accountants and clients work in the same shared space, which reviewers call its main strength.
- Bank transactions are categorised and reconciled automatically, based on past categorisations.
- A business account with an IBAN and employee cards is included even on the entry plan.
- It is approved for French e-invoicing, and Premium adds electronic filing of VAT and tax returns.
- A 15-day free trial and cancel-anytime billing mean there is no long-term commitment.
Cons
- Reviewers consider it fairly expensive, and there is no free plan.
- Full accounting reports and tax filing are limited to Premium.
- No payroll or CRM of its own; it relies on Payfit, Silae and CRM integrations.
- Users report slow support on complex issues, occasional bugs, and a multi-currency feature that still needs work.
- Pricing for companies with employees is quote-based on the vendor site.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Pennylane scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.4/10 against 5/10 for Bench. The largest gap is in Scalability: 3/10 for Bench and 6/10 for Pennylane.
No, neither Bench nor Pennylane lists a free plan.
Pennylane is the better fit for enterprise: we rate it 3/10 for them, against 1/10 for Bench.
Pennylane has Accounts Payable and Invoicing, which Bench lacks.
