Lexware Office vs Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform Comparison
Compare Lexware Office vs Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
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.
Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
5.3/10
Cloud ERP and MES platform from Rockwell Automation that gives manufacturers accounting, consolidation, inventory costing and shop-floor control in one system.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.7/10 | 5.3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 2/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | €8/mo S | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €8/mo S | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Inventory Accounting | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Multi-entity Consolidation | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accountant Access | Not listed | |
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Audit Trail | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Lexware Office vs Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform cost by team size
| Team size | Lexware Office | Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €8/moS | Contact for pricing |
| 5 users | €8/moS | Contact for pricing |
| 10 users | €8/moS | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | €8/moS | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | €8/moS | 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 Lexware Office
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 2/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 2/10)
Why choose Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Includes Inventory Accounting, which Lexware Office lacks
- Includes Multi-currency, which Lexware Office lacks
- Includes Multi-entity Consolidation, which Lexware Office lacks
Pros & Cons
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.
Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
Pros
- Accounting, inventory and production share one cloud database, so cost of goods and inventory values update straight from shop-floor activity.
- Consolidates statements across business units and translates currencies automatically using monthly average and spot rates.
- Strong lot traceability and quality records support audits and recalls in regulated manufacturing.
- Backed by Rockwell Automation, which brings machine connectivity and industrial automation integration.
Cons
- Analysts and reviewers describe the financial management as functional but not deep compared with finance-first ERPs.
- No public pricing, and implementation commonly costs more than $100,000.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve that needs significant training, plus rigid workflows.
- Some reviews mention outages that stopped production labeling, and support responsiveness that varies.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexware Office scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.7/10 against 5.3/10 for Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. The largest gap is in Cost: 8/10 for Lexware Office and 2/10 for Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform.
No, neither Lexware Office nor Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform lists a free plan.
Lexware Office is the better fit for small business: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 2/10 for Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform.
Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform has Inventory Accounting, Multi-currency and Multi-entity Consolidation, which Lexware Office lacks.
