Azets vs DATEV (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, DATEV grades higher than Azets: 1.8 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
DATEV grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Azets if
- Fits if you want someone else to run payroll for you
- Works for firms already using Azets for accounts
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want self-serve payroll software
- Watch out: no prices are published and you go through a contact form
- Not for you if you are outside the UK, Ireland, the Nordics and the other offices: coverage is eight countries
- Watch out: no mobile app and no free plan are named
Pick DATEV if
- Fits if your tax advisor already works in DATEV
- Works for German employers paying staff under German rules
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you do not read German, as the site is German
- Not for you if you pay staff outside Germany
- Watch out: sign-in now requires a SmartCard, mIDentity or SmartLogin
- Watch out: no prices were found, and it is aimed first at tax, audit and legal professions
How we grade them
| 1.6GPAAzetsWeak | 1.8GPADATEVWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published; payroll is quoted through a contact form, so it sits in the middle of payroll tools. | CNo price was found; it is sold through a shop and tax advisors, so it sits in the middle of payroll tools. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan or trial on the pages read. | FNo free plan or trial on the pages read. |
| Features | CManaged payroll, pensions and compliance, payslips, reports and a dedicated account manager. It is a service rather than software you run yourself, so it is a narrower job than the category. | BPayroll, cloud or on-premises, shared work with the tax firm, HR modules and an employee portal. The listing names no gap in the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You hand work over rather than learn a product, but onboarding is needed. | CNo store rating on record. Sign-in needs a SmartCard, mIDentity or SmartLogin, which is extra setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb portal only on the listing, with no app named and no integrations list. | CWeb on the listing, with no mobile app or integrations list. |
| Best for | managed payroll through an accounting firm | German payroll through your tax advisor |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Azets and DATEV. How we grade
Where they differ
- DATEV also covers expense tracking, time clock and employee records.
In commonWebReportsPayroll
At a glance
| Azets | DATEV | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Azets | DATEV eG |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Azets
- No prices are published, so pricing is unverified; payroll is quoted through a contact form.
- It is a service delivered by Azets staff, not a self-serve app.
- Offices are in eight countries including the UK, Ireland and the Nordics; check coverage for yours.
- The pages read name no mobile app and no free plan.
DATEV
- No prices were found on the pages read, so pricing is unverified; it is sold through a shop and through tax advisors.
- Built for German payroll rules, and the site is in German.
- The company describes itself as serving tax, audit and legal professions first, with companies as a second audience.
- Sign-in now requires a DATEV SmartCard, mIDentity or SmartLogin, per a notice on the home page.
Key features
Azets
- Managed payroll bureau
- A payroll team runs salary calculations and tax deductions for the client, using what the page calls a BACS approved bureau service.
- Pensions and compliance
- Auto-enrolment pension set-up and support, pension contributions, statutory deductions and legislative updates are part of the service.
- Payslips and reports
- Digital payslips and custom payroll reports, with an employee self-service portal for payslips and tax documents.
- Multi-country payroll
- Payroll across several jurisdictions with local expertise, and a separate Nordic payroll services offer.
- Dedicated account manager
- Each payroll client gets a named specialist contact.
DATEV
- Payroll software
- Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung programs, with versions for social institutions and the public sector. The site says about 14.5 million employees are paid with them each month.
- Cloud or on-premises
- Companies can choose a cloud solution or an on-premises one, and combine modules as needed.
- Shared work with the tax firm
- The payroll pages describe exchanging data with the company's tax firm, for example when it prepares the payroll.
- HR modules
- Related solutions cover recruiting, personnel management, time recording, HR controlling, staff development and travel expenses.
- Employee portal
- DATEV Arbeitnehmer online is listed as a way for employees to get their payroll documents.
Plans
Azets
Pricing could not be confirmed. See azets.com.
DATEV
Pricing could not be confirmed. See datev.de.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Azets or DATEV?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Azets has no price we could confirm, and DATEV has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Azets or DATEV?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Azets nor DATEV has a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.