10 alternatives to Pennylane for accounting tailored to your business
Pennylane has established itself as a modern accounting software, appreciated for its automated management, intuitive interface and ability to connect accountants and managers on a single platform. But like any tool, it's not perfect.
Perhaps you're looking for a more complete software package, better CRM integration, more advanced treasury functionality, or simply a solution better suited to your budget. But don't panic, there are plenty of alternatives to Pennylane today that are well worth a look.
📌 We've reviewed dozens of solutions to bring you a clear and useful comparison, based on key features, online usability, pricing, and of course, real business needs.
What is Pennylane?
Pennylane is an accounting and financial management software designed to simplify the lives of entrepreneurs and chartered accountants. Launched in 2020, it has rapidly established itself on the French market as an all-in-one solution that centralizes a company's financial flows: invoicing, accounting, cash flow, automation of entries, bank synchronization, and more.
🚀 The platform's ambition is to streamline collaboration between manager and accounting firm, by bringing together all financial data in a single interface, accessible online. In concrete terms, the user can create an invoice, track payments in real time, send supporting documents, and let Pennylane automatically manage accounting entry.
In terms of integration, Pennylane connects to a wide range of third-party tools: banks, CRM, payroll software, cash register tools and more. This makes Pennylane a particularly popular solution for growing VSEs and SMEs who want to increase efficiency without having to multiply their software.
But despite its many advantages, not everyone is happy with it. That's why it's worth exploring alternatives better suited to certain contexts or specific needs...
Pennylane
Why consider an alternative to Pennylane?
A more specific business need
Every company has its own specific requirements. A fast-growing start-up does not have the same priorities as a consulting firm or a retailer with several outlets. Pennylane aims at a fairly broad target, but certain business needs remain poorly covered.
💡 For example, companies needing a detailed cash flow forecast, customized financial reports, project-based budgets, or advanced payroll management will have to turn to more specialized tools.
💡 The same goes for multi-establishment structures in which groups require fluid multi-company management, something that Pennylane does not yet provide natively.
Functionalities deemed too limited
Even though Pennylane covers the essentials of accounting management (automation of entries, bank synchronization, invoicing, etc.), some users point to functional limitations, particularly when compared with other, more robust accounting software.
Here's what's often mentioned in customer reviews:
- fairly basic financial reporting, with no customizable dashboards ;
- few options for monitoring profitability by project or team;
- functional but limited invoicing (no complex automatic reminders, no multi-tax quotes, etc.);
- no native modules for sales management or payroll.
Rapidly rising prices
One of the major obstacles cited by users concerns Pennylane's pricing. The package seems attractive at the outset, but can quickly become more expensive depending on :
- the number of users ;
- the volume of documents to be processed
- options activated (banking connectors, advanced OCR, etc.);
- collaboration with the accountant (some firms impose additional costs).
For a very small business or a self-employed person, the bill can be very high.
Dependence on the chartered accountant
One of Pennylane's distinctive features is its collaborative approach between entrepreneur and accounting firm. This is powerful when you want to delegate part of your accounting... but restrictive if you want to manage your finances independently.
Above all, the software is designed to work in tandem with a partner firm. Without this, certain functions (such as accounting validation or certain closing operations) become inaccessible or difficult to use.
For independent accountants, freelancers, or managers who want to keep a close eye on their figures, it may be more appropriate to choose a solo solution.
The need for more advanced integrations
A company's software ecosystem is rarely static: CRM, ERP, payroll tools, cash register, e-commerce, reporting... The ability of accounting software to integrate with the rest of the information system therefore becomes essential.
While Pennylane offers banking connectors and some popular integrations, some tools are simply not compatible. And it's not always possible to create gateways via API without additional cost or technical development.
For companies with high operational complexity, alternative solutions offer much more advanced native or modular integration. Some alternatives even combine CRM, sales management, invoicing and accounting in a single environment, making day-to-day operations considerably simpler.
Comparison table of the 10 best Pennylane alternatives
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| Pennylane |  Agicap |  EBP Comptabilité |  Evoliz |  Fygr |  Jedox - Simplify Planning |  Odoo Accounting |  Oracle NetSuite |  Sage 50 Accounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For companies with 1 to 250 employees | For companies with 1 to 250 employees | For companies with 1 to 250 employees | For companies with 1 to 250 employees | For companies with 2 to 250 employees | For companies with more than 50 employees | For all companies | For all companies | For companies with more than 1 employees |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Pennylane | Learn more about Agicap | Learn more about EBP Comptabilité | Learn more about Evoliz | Learn more about Fygr | Learn more about Jedox - Simplify Planning | Learn more about Odoo Accounting | Learn more about Oracle NetSuite | Learn more about Sage 50 Accounting |
Our top 10 software alternatives to Pennylane
Agicap
Among the alternatives to Pennylane, Agicap positions itself on adjacent but crucial ground: real-time cash management.
🎯 This French software is aimed at executives, financial managers and CFOs who want to go beyond traditional accounting to proactively steer their cash. Unlike Pennylane, which centralizes accounting and operational flows, Agicap focuses on anticipation and financial modeling.
By connecting your bank accounts, invoicing and accounting tools, Agicap enables you not only to visualize your day-to-day cash flow, but also to simulate the future according to different scenarios. A formidable ally for making informed decisions, negotiating with partners or securing growth.
🛠️ Here's an overview of the features Agicap offers to help you stay on top of your cash flow:
- instant visualization of consolidated cash flow, across multiple accounts or entities;
- creation of dynamic budget scenarios, based on customized assumptions;
- automatic connection with over 300 banking and accounting software tools;
- tracking of cash receipts and disbursements by customer, item or project;
- customizable alerts on critical thresholds or deviations from forecasts;
- collaborative tools to involve finance teams in adjustments.
Its interface is both clear and powerful, designed for non-technical but demanding users. Where Pennylane stops at accounting management, Agicap takes over to orchestrate your cash flow with finesse, rigor and visibility.
Agicap
Cegid Accounting
When it comes to robust, proven accounting software, it's hard to miss Cegid.
🎯 With its Cegid Comptabilité solution, the French publisher offers a tool designed for structured companies, chartered accountants and financial managers who need rigorous, compliant and sustainable accounting management.
Unlike Pennylane, which relies on simplicity and automation, Cegid's approach is based on functional power and business compliance. The tool is particularly well-suited to companies operating in complex environments (multi-establishment, multi-company, specific tax obligations), or which have to meet stringent sector-specific requirements.
🛠️ Here's an overview of the features offered by Cegid Accounting to efficiently structure your financial management:
- highly customizable general and cost accounting, with fine-tuned management of charts of accounts ;
- customizable dashboards for monitoring key financial indicators;
- exports and tax statements compliant with French legislation (VAT, tax returns, FEC, etc.);
- multi-entity management, with consolidation and intercos possible;
- full traceability of entries to meet the requirements of statutory auditors;
- native integration with other Cegid modules: payroll, sales management, fixed assets, etc.
This is software designed for demanding accounting departments who want a high level of control, customization and compliance. The interface is more technical than Pennylane's, but offers far greater functional depth, ideal for CFOs looking for a future-proof solution connected to a complete ecosystem.
EBP Accounting
For several years now, EBP Comptabilité has been an established player on the French market for accounting software dedicated to small businesses.
Designed primarily for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees in all sectors, EBP is aimed at executives, in-house accountants and managers who want rigorous accounting without the complexity of an ERP.
One of its strengths is that it saves time on repetitive tasks, while ensuring full compliance with French regulations. The interface is classic, but the experience is effective: the software gets straight to the point by automating data entry, making accounting editions more reliable and facilitating collaboration with the chartered accountant.
🛠️ Where EBP excels is in its ability to offer practical, useful and well-established functions:
- assisted accounting entry, with journal management, automatic lettering and simplified coding ;
- bank integration to import flows and facilitate reconciliations;
- clear cash-flow monitoring, with schedules, balances and basic forecasting;
- automatic generation of accounting reports: VAT, tax returns, FEC ;
- accounting exports compatible with all accounting firms, or online collaborative access;
- summary dashboards to monitor business activity without getting lost in it.
EBP is not, however, cut out for companies with more than 50 employees, nor for those looking for a highly customizable environment or one that can be connected to other business bricks. But for a very small business looking for a fast, clear and reliable accounting solution, EBP is a reliable alternative to Pennylane. It's easy to learn, durable and designed for day-to-day needs.
EBP Comptabilité
Evoliz
Evoliz is a software package that puts the user at the center, giving him the keys to managing his invoicing, cash flow and accounting obligations seamlessly, without unnecessary jargon.
🎯 This tool has been designed from the outset for very small businesses, auto-entrepreneurs, craftsmen and freelancers who want to manage their accounting without depending on a chartered accountant.
Evoliz's approach is deliberately simple, but not simplistic: its interface is clear, well thought-out, and enables you to monitor all the administrative activities of a small business, from creating quotations to issuing VAT declarations, including tracking payments and automatic lettering.
🛠️ Here are just a few of the functions offered by Evoliz to support managers in their day-to-day management:
- creation and dispatch of customized quotations and invoices, with customer reminder management;
- real-time monitoring of cash receipts, with simplified cash flow dashboards;
- automatic bank reconciliation and flow import via connectors;
- VAT preparation, FEC generation, compatible accounting exports;
- management of expense reports, supplier purchases and expenses;
- integration with payroll software, CRM or banking solutions.
The tool enables entrepreneurs and small businesses to save precious time on administrative management, without sacrificing accounting compliance. It doesn't have the ambition of an ERP or an ultra-pushed accounting platform, but it perfectly delivers on its promises: an efficient, accessible, online tool that covers all the essential management needs of a small structure.
Evoliz
Fygr
Fygr is not accounting software per se, but a SaaS solution for automated cash management.
🎯 Fygr targets VSEs, startups and the self-employed. Where Pennylane centralizes accounting and invoicing, Fygr goes straight to the point to help you track, anticipate and optimize your cash flow on a daily basis.
This positioning makes it a strategic alternative or complement to Pennylane, particularly for those who find the latter too focused on classic accounting logic, and not sufficiently geared towards operational financial management. Fygr offers a highly visual interface, allowing you to model your flows, simulate scenarios, and keep a precise eye on your cash inflows and outflows.
🛠️ Here's what Fygr has to offer to help companies regain control over their cash:
- automatic bank synchronization, multi-account and multi-bank ;
- simple yet powerful cash-flow forecasting dashboards;
- intelligent transaction categorization with machine learning;
- creation of financial scenarios to anticipate the impact of an investment, late payment or drop in activity;
- visualize net flows by period, customer, supplier or project;
- export data to your accounting firm or your main tool.
Fygr is an agile, affordable and highly intuitive ally for companies looking to anticipate cash flow needs, manage cash receipts with rigor, or prepare for a fund-raising campaign. It's a great alternative for those who want a cash vision, without the red tape of accounting.
Fygr
Jedox
Where Pennylane centralizes accounting data and automates operational flows, Jedox intervenes downstream to transform this data into decision-making performance indicators. Here, we're dealing with a strategic management approach that goes far beyond simple day-to-day management.
🎯 Jedox is not accounting software in the classical sense of the term, but an EPM (Enterprise Performance Management) platform designed for finance departments, management controllers and multi-site companies looking to structure their budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes.
The tool integrates easily with ERP, accounting or database software, to automate the collection, processing and analysis of financial data. It enables companies to create customized budget models, elaborate multi-hypothesis scenarios, or collaborate efficiently between departments via powerful workflows.
🛠️ Here are some of Jedox's key features for improving financial performance:
- customized budget and forecast modeling (sales, HR, CAPEX, etc.) ;
- dynamic dashboards with real-time visualization of indicators;
- creation of "what-if" scenarios to anticipate variations in revenues or expenses;
- automated consolidated or entity-based financial reporting;
- inter-departmental collaboration with budget validation workflow;
- integration with Excel, SAP, Oracle, Odoo, Sage, Power BI, etc.
This is not a direct alternative to Pennylane, but a natural extension for companies that already have a solid accounting base, and wish to professionalize their financial management. If you're a CFO or controller, juggling unreliable Excel files and endless budget meetings, Jedox can literally transform your daily life.
Jedox - Simplify Planning
macompta.fr
Unlike Pennylane, which is based on a collaborative ecosystem with the chartered accountant, macompta.fr is aimed at those who want to manage their accounting independently, without sacrificing rigor.
🎯 macompta.fr is online accounting software designed for small businesses, craftsmen, self-employed professionals and associations who want to keep their accounts themselves, simply, clearly and 100% compliant with French tax obligations.
The interface isn't the sexiest on the market, but it more than makes up for it in accessibility, functional completeness and attractive pricing. The tool guides its users step by step, whether for accounting entry, tax return generation or exports to the authorities (or an external firm, if required).
🛠️ Here's an overview of the features macompta.fr offers for stress-free online bookkeeping:
- guided accounting entry with pre-configured plans for each activity ;
- automatic generation of tax returns, FEC, VAT and other obligations;
- integrated invoicing module, with quotations, purchase orders, reminders, etc. ;
- bank monitoring, import of flows and semi-automatic reconciliation;
- simplified cash management, with visualization of balances and due dates;
- ability to collaborate with a chartered accountant for reading or editing.
What we really like about macompta.fr is its philosophy, which is centered on pedagogy and mastery. Users are guided every step of the way, without unnecessary jargon, but with features that are sufficiently comprehensive to ensure tax compliance and proper bookkeeping.
Odoo
Odoo isn't just accounting software, it's a modular, open-source ERP that can do almost anything. From accounting management to invoicing, CRM, sales, cash management, inventory, HR, even website creation... Odoo offers an all-in-one platform that adapts to your business needs, function by function.
🎯 The tool is just as suitable for a traditional SME as it is for a manufacturing company or e-tailer.
Where Pennylane focuses on collaborative accounting, Odoo offers a much broader vision, ideal for companies that want to centralize all their management in a single tool. You can start small (with invoicing, for example) and gradually activate the other modules as your business grows.
🛠️ Here's an overview of the functionalities available with Odoo's accounting module, and beyond:
- complete general and cost accounting, with automated entries ;
- recurring invoicing, management of subscriptions, quotes, purchase orders ;
- automatic bank reconciliation, cash receipt/invoice management;
- native integration with CRM, sales management, inventory and cash management;
- customizable reports to monitor margins, profitability and performance;
- an app marketplace for adding specific modules (payroll, tax, etc.).
The interface is modern, workflows are customizable, and integration possibilities between modules save considerable time on all management processes. For companies who find Pennylane too limited or compartmentalized, Odoo represents a powerful, scalable and resolutely business-oriented alternative.
Odoo Accounting
Oracle NetSuite
When financial management becomes strategic, Oracle NetSuite sets the global standard.
🎯 This cloud ERP software is tailor-made for fast-growing companies, international groups and demanding finance departments that need a global accounting and analytical vision, far beyond the basic functionality offered by Pennylane.
NetSuite integrates all key processes: accounting, budget management, invoicing, financial reporting, multi-company management and much more. Where Pennylane aims for simplicity for French SMBs, NetSuite is in the league of international solutions, with a modular, highly customizable architecture.
🛠️ Here's an overview of how NetSuite can help you manage your business with finesse and precision:
- multi-currency, multi-entity and multi-standard accounting (IFRS, GAAP, etc.) ;
- budget management , forecasting and closing with advanced automation;
- complex invoicing, subscriptions, contracts and deferred income management;
- customizable financial dashboards for CFOs, GMs and management controllers;
- native integration with CRM, logistics, HR and e-commerce modules ;
- real-time reporting tools for detailed performance analysis.
This is clearly not a "light" alternative to Pennylane, but a transformative solution for ambitious companies ready to seriously structure their financial management. Its functional richness, scalability and automation capabilities make it a tool particularly appreciated by multi-activity groups, hyper-growth startups and international ETIs.
Oracle NetSuite
Sage 50
Sage 50 (formerly Sage 50cloud Ciel) is a classic among accounting software.
🎯 It's a mature solution, with years of field feedback behind it, ideal for structured SMEs that want a serious, customizable and compliant tool. Unlike Pennylane, which aims for simplicity and automation, Sage 50 is aimed at more seasoned users, in particular those who want total control over their accounting entries, while retaining a strong link with operational management: invoicing, purchasing, sales, cash flow.
It's a particularly popular tool for companies that want to keep their accounting in-house, or work closely with their accounting firm, without having to rely on a 100% automated cloud platform. Sage 50 can be installed locally or used in connected mode, offering a flexibility of use rare in this segment.
🛠️ Here are the main functionalities offered by Sage 50 to cover all your accounting and financial needs:
- comprehensive general, auxiliary and cost accounting, in compliance with French legislation ;
- tracking of customers, suppliers, payments and bank reconciliations;
- management of invoicing, quotations, reminders and payment schedules;
- customized financial reporting, with dashboards by activity or cost center;
- management of fixed assets, depreciation and automatic entries;
- integration with Sage payroll, HR, sales and inventory management tools.
Less cloud-native than Pennylane, but much more configurable, Sage 50 is a solid alternative for companies that want to keep control of their accounting without sacrificing sales management.
Sage 50 Accounting
How to choose the right Pennylane alternative for you?
Summary table of the best Pennylane alternatives
| Software | Primary target | Key features | Entry price |
| Agicap | SMEs, CFOs, scale-ups | Cash flow forecasts, scenarios, alerts | On quotation |
| Cegid Accounting | Structured SMEs, chartered accountants | General, tax and multi-company accounting | Free offer |
| EBP Accounting | VSEs (-50 employees), all sectors | Data entry, cash management, tax reports | From €31.50 / month |
| Evoliz | Self-employed, craftsmen, VSEs | Invoicing, cash flow, VAT | From €16 / month |
| Fygr | Freelancers, startups, VSEs | Automatic cash flow, scenarios, synchronization | From 99 € / month |
| Jedox | CFOs, controllers | Budgets, forecasts, automated reporting | On quotation |
| macompta.fr | VSEs, craftsmen, associations | Accounting, billing, cash management | From €6.67 / month |
| Odoo | SMEs, scale-ups, industries | Modular ERP (accounting, CRM, management, e-com...) | Free offer |
| Oracle NetSuite | SMBs, groups, international companies | Complete ERP, multi-standard, financial analysis | By quotation |
| Sage 50 | SMEs with in-house accounting department | Accounting, billing, sales management | From €18 / month |
Criteria for selecting an alternative to Pennylane
Before choosing software to replace Pennylane, here are the essential criteria to consider:
- the size of your company :
Very small or self-employed : macompta.fr, Evoliz Structured SME : Cegid Comptabilité, Sage 50, Odoo ETI or a group : Oracle NetSuite, Jedox - Autonomy required:
Do-it-yourself : EBP Comptabilité, macompta.fr To work with a chartered accountant : Cegid Accounting - Priority functionalities :
Pure accounting : EBP Comptabilité, Sage 50, Cegid Treasury and cash management : Agicap, Fygr Global enterprise management : Odoo Budgeting and advanced reporting : Jedox - Compatibility with your tools :
Need native integrations (CRM, payroll, ERP): Odoo, NetSuite Isolated management or simple export : Evoliz, EBP Comptabilité
Which Pennylane alternative will you choose?
Pennylane has established itself as an innovative solution in the accounting software landscape.
But as we've seen, there's not one but several excellent alternatives, often better suited to specific needs: more cash flow, more control, more flexibility, or simply better value for money.
👉 A tool for every need. All you have to do is define your priorities: simplicity? power? budget? And test the demos to make an informed choice. ..
Article translated from French