BuchhaltungsButler vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of BuchhaltungsButler and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
BuchhaltungsButler
6.3/10
Cloud accounting software from Berlin for German freelancers, small firms, online retailers and associations, with AI receipt capture, bank matching and DATEV export.
Starling
6.6/10
A UK digital bank business account with built-in invoicing, bookkeeping, and Making Tax Digital tax tools for sole traders and small limited companies.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.3/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €40/mo Light | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €40/mo Light | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Audit Trail | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
BuchhaltungsButler vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | BuchhaltungsButler | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €90/moPremium | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €90/moPremium | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | €40/moLight | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | €40/moLight | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | €40/moLight | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
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 BuchhaltungsButler
- Higher Scalability score (5/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (BuchhaltungsButler does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
BuchhaltungsButler
Pros
- AI receipt recognition and automatic bank matching cut down manual entry.
- E-commerce connectors for Amazon, eBay, Shopify and Billbee split marketplace fees into separate bookings.
- Handles both EÜR and double-entry bookkeeping, with Elster VAT returns, Peppol e-invoices and a DATEV export.
- Hosted in German data centres certified to ISO 27001 and 27018, with GoBD compliance.
- Every plan includes a tax advisor login.
Cons
- Invoices can only be issued in euros, and there is no dunning or time tracking.
- Reviewers report slow support, with one tester waiting five days, and there is no phone hotline.
- There is no full native mobile app.
- It costs more than entry tools such as Lexware Office, and many extras cost more.
Starling
Pros
- The business account has no monthly fee, and UK transfers, invoicing, and up to five expense cards are free.
- The free Essentials tier includes MTD for Income Tax submissions, which helps sole traders and landlords facing the April 2026 rules.
- VAT returns can be filed to HMRC from inside the banking app for £7 a month until April 2027.
- Bank feeds connect to Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent.
- UK-based support is available 24/7 in the app, and Finder ranked it highly for customer satisfaction in 2026.
Cons
- It is not a full accounting system: there is no general ledger, payroll, or multi-entity support.
- Accountants only get view-only access.
- Only GBP and EUR accounts are available, and new USD account applications are paused.
- Eligibility is strict: directors and people with significant control must be UK residents.
- Overdrafts and loans are not available to new business customers, and there are no branches.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 6.3/10 for BuchhaltungsButler. The largest gap is in Cost: 5/10 for BuchhaltungsButler and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; BuchhaltungsButler does not list one.
