Payroll software · ranked #9 of 12
DATEV: review, pricing and alternatives
Germany's tax-adviser cooperative runs payroll at very large scale, with a payroll ecosystem for firms and their clients, though prices are not published.
DATEV at a glance
- Rank
- #9 of 12 in Payroll software
- Best for
- German firms working with a tax adviser
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Key features
- Payroll and salary accounting, Employee self-service portal, Accounting integration, Tax adviser workflows, Cloud services
- Last checked
- 2026-11-11
Where DATEV wins
- DATEV ranks ninth because it is excellent for one narrow situation and awkward outside it.
- The cooperative says it processes roughly 15 million payslips a month and has about 40,000 members.
- For a German company whose adviser already works in DATEV, payroll can sit beside the accounting the adviser already keeps.
- The product is tied closely to that adviser relationship.
Where it falls short
- We found no published prices for payroll on the pages we reviewed.
- The product is built around advisers and their clients, so a company buying directly gets less of the benefit.
- It is aimed at the German market, with little pull for multi-country payroll.
- A company without a DATEV-using tax adviser should look at PayFit or Personio.
Our verdict on DATEV
DATEV ranks ninth because it is excellent for one narrow situation and awkward outside it. The cooperative says it processes roughly 15 million payslips a month and has about 40,000 members. For a German company whose adviser already works in DATEV, payroll can sit beside the accounting the adviser already keeps.
The product is tied closely to that adviser relationship.
Where DATEV falls short
We found no published prices for payroll on the pages we reviewed. The product is built around advisers and their clients, so a company buying directly gets less of the benefit. It is aimed at the German market, with little pull for multi-country payroll.
Who should look elsewhere
A company without a DATEV-using tax adviser should look at PayFit or Personio. A company with employees abroad should look at Deel or Remote.
DATEV pricing
Not published on the pages we reviewed; obtained through DATEV or a tax adviser.
Pricing as published by the vendor on the date above; check the vendor's pricing page before you buy.
DATEV fact sheet
| Rank | #9 of 12 in Payroll software |
|---|---|
| Category | Payroll software |
| Best for | German firms working with a tax adviser |
| Pricing model | Quote only |
| Free option | None |
| Headquarters | Nuremberg, Germany |
| Company | DATEV eG |
| Address | Paumgartnerstr. 6-14, 90429, Nuremberg, Germany |
| Vendor size | Independent or mid-sized vendor |
| Website | www.datev.de |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 |
Key features
- Payroll and salary accounting
- Employee self-service portal
- Accounting integration
- Tax adviser workflows
- Cloud services
- 200+ software products
Alternatives to DATEV
PersonioHR software with native payroll in Germany. Quote only.
PaycomUS payroll and HR in one database. Quote only.
MoorepayUK payroll software and outsourcing. Quote only.Also ranked in
- #9 of 12 in Payroll software
Sources checked
- Imprint: DATEV eG, seat 90429 Nuremberg, Paumgartnerstr. 6-14, register court Nuremberg, GenReg 70 Source
- Homepage: over 200 software products and IT services, about 15 million payroll runs per month, about 40,000 members; cooperative serving tax advisers and their clients Source
- Head office listed at Paumgartnerstrasse 6-14 (central office) Source
DATEV: common questions
What is DATEV?
DATEV is payroll built around German tax advisers. Germany's tax-adviser cooperative runs payroll at very large scale, with a payroll ecosystem for firms and their clients, though prices are not published.
How much does DATEV cost?
Not published on the pages we reviewed; obtained through DATEV or a tax adviser.
Does DATEV have a free plan?
None. Not published on the pages we reviewed; obtained through DATEV or a tax adviser.
What is DATEV best for?
DATEV is best for german firms working with a tax adviser. Germany's tax-adviser cooperative runs payroll at very large scale, with a payroll ecosystem for firms and their clients, though prices are not published.
Where is DATEV based?
DATEV is published by DATEV eG, headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany.
Who should not use DATEV?
A company without a DATEV-using tax adviser should look at PayFit or Personio. A company with employees abroad should look at Deel or Remote.
What are the best alternatives to DATEV?
In our Payroll software ranking the closest alternatives are Personio, Paycom, Moorepay. See the full ranking for the other options.