Comparisons
On this page
sevDesk is a bookkeeping suite; Backbone is a back office. sevDesk writes invoices and, in its accounting plans, also does cash-basis accounts (EÜR), profit and loss and the German VAT return via ELSTER. Backbone does no bookkeeping. It ties together time tracking, invoices and quotes, dunning, receipts and bank statements, and hands everything to your accountant in one package. On top sits an AI assistant you talk to, inside Backbone or from Claude and ChatGPT.
The short decision: if you want to do your own bookkeeping in the tool, sevDesk fits. If you bill hours and your accountant does the books, Backbone fits.
In short: the difference
sevDesk starts from bookkeeping, with invoicing as one part of it. Time tracking is an add-on.
Backbone starts from the work: you track hours per client and project, turn them into an invoice, Backbone chases it if it stays unpaid, and matches your receipts to bank transactions. At month end you download a ZIP for your accountant.
At a glance
| sevDesk | Backbone | |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices and quotes | Yes | Yes |
| E-invoices (ZUGFeRD) | Yeseven on the free plan | Yes |
| XRechnung for public clients | Yes | Coming soon |
| Time tracking | Add-on€4.90 a month | Yesevery plan |
| Dunning levels | Yesfrom "Buchhaltung" | Yeswith statutory interest |
| Recurring invoices | Yesfrom "Buchhaltung" | Yes |
| Receipts matched to transactions | Yesfrom "Buchhaltung" | Yesevery plan |
| Automatic bank connection | Yesfrom "Buchhaltung" | Coming soonstatements by upload today |
| Bookkeeping in the tool (EÜR, P&L, VAT return) | Yesfrom "Buchhaltung" | Noexport for your accountant |
| DATEV export | Yes | NoZIP with a CSV report |
| Germany and Austria | Yesown site sevdesk.at | Yesone interface |
| An assistant that does the work for you | help agent Sevi answers questions | Yesin plain words |
| Works inside Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok | not listed | Yes |
| Public API | Yesplan "Buchhaltung Pro" | Coming soon |
"Not listed" means sevDesk's own pages name no such feature; we do not guess. Prices and plan details are in the table below.
In detail
As of 8 October 2026. sevDesk facts from sevdesk.de/preise and sevdesk.at/preise, read on 8 October 2026. Promotional discounts are left out.
| sevDesk | Backbone | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan with 3 invoices a month. "Rechnung" €11.90, "Buchhaltung" €25.90, "Buchhaltung Pro" €34.90 a month, each excl. VAT when billed monthly; cheaper with a 12 or 24-month term | Solo €19, Studio €29, Agency €49 a month incl. VAT, cancel monthly; plans differ in users and monthly allowances |
| Time tracking | Add-on, €4.90 a month | Included in every plan (timer, manual entries) |
| Dunning | Payment reminders from "Rechnung", dunning levels from "Buchhaltung" | Reminder and two notices with statutory late interest; sent on a schedule from Studio |
| Recurring invoices | From "Buchhaltung" | Yes |
| E-invoicing | ZUGFeRD and XRechnung, even on the free plan | ZUGFeRD; XRechnung coming soon |
| Receipts | AI receipt capture from "Buchhaltung" | Upload; AI reads the receipt and suggests the matching transaction |
| Bank accounts | Online banking connection from "Buchhaltung" | Statements by upload (PDF or CSV); bank connection coming soon |
| Bookkeeping | EÜR, P&L and VAT return via ELSTER from "Buchhaltung" | None; export for your accountant |
| Export | DATEV/ADDISON interface | ZIP with receipts, invoices and a CSV report, folder structure configurable |
| Austria | Separate site sevdesk.at, same plans | Built for Austria and Germany, one interface |
| AI | Help agent "Sevi" answers questions about the program | Backbone AI works in plain words, in the app; connector for Claude and ChatGPT (MCP) |
| API | REST API in "Buchhaltung Pro" | No public API yet, coming soon |
Worked example for a freelancer who tracks and bills hours, billed monthly: with sevDesk that is "Rechnung" plus time tracking, €11.90 + €4.90 = €16.80 excl. VAT. With dunning levels and recurring invoices you need "Buchhaltung": €25.90 + €4.90 = €30.80 excl. VAT. Backbone Solo is €19 incl. VAT, about €15.97 net at Germany's 19 % or €15.83 at Austria's 20 %, for 1 user; dunning on a schedule starts with Studio (€29).
When sevDesk is the better fit
- You want classic bookkeeping software that does it all in-house. EÜR, P&L and the VAT return via ELSTER, right from the program. Backbone leaves the books to your accountant.
- Your accountant works with DATEV. sevDesk offers a DATEV/ADDISON interface. Backbone delivers a ZIP of files plus a CSV report.
- You prefer menus and forms to asking an assistant. sevDesk's help agent Sevi answers questions about the program; the work itself you do in the program.
- You don't mind assembling your setup from modules. Time tracking (€4.90) and each extra user (€5.90) are add-ons; dunning levels and recurring invoices start with "Buchhaltung".
- You invoice public authorities today. sevDesk already writes XRechnung; in Backbone it is coming soon.
When Backbone is the better fit
- You'd rather ask than click. Say "Invoice Kinetik for September's hours" and Backbone does it, in the app or right inside Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok. It asks you before anything is sent.
- You want it to feel light. Hours, invoices, reminders and receipts live in one calm place. Nothing to assemble, no add-ons: time tracking, invoices, dunning and receipts are in every plan.
- The admin should run in the background. From Studio, reminders go out on schedule, with statutory interest for Germany and Austria worked out for you. Receipts find their transactions on their own.
- Your accountant does the books. Then you don't need a bookkeeping suite. You need complete receipts, one clean export, and your evenings back.
- You work as a team. Everyone tracks time in the same place, and your bookkeeper gets their own login.
Switching from sevDesk
There is no direct import from sevDesk. This is how you move over cleanly:
- Old invoices stay in your archive. Download your issued invoices from sevDesk as PDFs and keep them. Germany requires 8 years for invoices (§ 14b(1) UStG, § 147(3) AO), Austria 7 years (§ 132(1) BAO).
- Continue your numbering. In Backbone, set the next invoice number under Settings › Numbering, e.g. RE-2026-0148 if your last one in sevDesk was RE-2026-0147.
- Add your clients. Create clients with billing address, VAT ID and payment terms. You can also ask Backbone AI to do it in the chat.
- Upload receipts and statements. Receipts as PDF or image, statements as PDF or CSV. Backbone reads and matches them.
- Start at the turn of a month. That way each month's paperwork sits in one place.
More: pricing, time tracking, invoices. Still comparing bookkeeping suites? Read sevDesk vs. Lexware Office.
Frequently asked questions
Is Backbone a sevDesk alternative?
For invoicing, dunning and collecting receipts, yes. For the bookkeeping itself, no: Backbone does not produce the EÜR or VAT return. Your accountant does that with Backbone's export.
How much does sevDesk cost?
According to its pricing page on 8 October 2026: "Rechnung" €11.90, "Buchhaltung" €25.90 and "Buchhaltung Pro" €34.90 a month excl. VAT when billed monthly, cheaper on a 12 or 24-month term. Time tracking costs €4.90 a month extra, each additional user €5.90. Time-limited discount campaigns are not counted. There is a free plan with 3 invoices a month.
Does sevDesk work in Austria?
Yes, with its own site sevdesk.at and the same plans. Backbone is also built for Austria and Germany.
Can I import my sevDesk data into Backbone?
Not directly. You upload receipts and statements as files, add your clients, and continue your number sequence. Old invoices stay in your archive as PDFs.
Can I use Backbone with Claude or ChatGPT?
Yes. Backbone has a connector built on MCP. Connect your account and you can log hours, create invoices or ask who hasn't paid yet, right in the chat.
Hours in, paid invoices out
Try Backbone free for 7 days. Start free trial
Legal notice: general information, not legal or tax advice within the meaning of the German StBerG or RDG; no client relationship arises. No warranty as to accuracy, completeness or currency. Liability is excluded to the extent permitted by law; intent, gross negligence and injury to life, body or health remain unaffected. For your own case, your tax adviser or lawyer governs.
