Backbone vs. sevdesk
The sevdesk alternative for freelancers and agencies in Germany and Austria
sevdesk is accounting software with an invoicing module, including cash-basis accounts (EÜR) and VAT returns. Backbone is a back office that ties together time, invoices, dunning and receipts and hands your books to your accountant.
How much work is a month of invoicing with Backbone and with sevdesk?
A month as a freelancer: bill your hours, keep an eye on payments, hand everything to your accountant at month end. Here's how that runs in Backbone and in sevdesk, with the sevdesk facts from the vendor's own pages:
Track time
Timer on every page, or one sentence in the chat
Add-on for €4.90 a month
Details
Backbone: A timer at the top of every page, entries by hand or with one sentence in the chat. In a team you see who logged what. In every plan.
sevdesk: Time tracking is an add-on for €4.90 a month, in every paid plan.
Hours become the invoice
Open hours onto the invoice in one click
Pick the times in the invoice form
Details
Backbone: Open hours go onto the invoice in one click, at the client's rate, mandatory details and e-invoice included.
sevdesk: In the “Neue Rechnung” form you add the times via “+ Zeiterfassung auswählen”.
Someone doesn't pay
Reminder + 2 levels on a schedule, with interest
4 steps per invoice and level, by click
Details
Backbone: A reminder, the 1st and the 2nd notice go out on your schedule, say after 7, 14 and 28 days. Backbone works out statutory late interest and the €40 flat fee itself. In every plan.
sevdesk: Per invoice and level: open Rechnungen › Fällig, “Nächste Mahnung erstellen”, check the text, send. According to the help center from plan Buchhaltung (€25.90); it names no automatic sending.
Who hasn't paid yet?
Ask, in Backbone or in ChatGPT and Claude
Filter the “Fällig” list, no connector stated
Details
Backbone: Ask Billy, our AI assistant: “Who hasn't paid yet?”, in Backbone or right in ChatGPT, Claude and many more. Nothing goes out without your OK.
sevdesk: Rechnungen › tab “Fällig”. sevdesk names no connector for ChatGPT or Claude. Sevi, sevdesk's AI agent, answers questions about the program.
Find company knowledge
Prices and processes in the wiki, the AI reads along
No company wiki stated
Details
Backbone: Prices, payment terms and processes live in the company wiki. The AI in Backbone and connected tools such as ChatGPT or Claude read it before they work and name the page. In every plan. See the wiki
sevdesk: sevdesk names no wiki for your own company knowledge. Its knowledge base explains the program.
The same invoice every month
Recurring invoices in every plan, sent automatically
Automatic at intervals, from Buchhaltung (€25.90)
Details
Backbone: Recurring invoices in every plan, sent automatically if you like. Retainers sit on the client, hours above them are flagged and billable on top.
sevdesk: sevdesk creates recurring invoices automatically at intervals, from plan Buchhaltung (€25.90).
Receipts to payments
Upload receipts, Backbone matches the certain ones
AI receipt capture and online banking from Buchhaltung
Details
Backbone: Receipts as PDF or photo, statements as PDF or CSV. Backbone matches certain hits to the payment itself, the rest waits with a suggestion. In every plan.
sevdesk: AI receipt capture matches receipts to transactions, with online banking, from plan Buchhaltung (€25.90).
Bring in the team
Growth: 3 people, your accountant's login is free
1 user, each extra one €5.90 a month
Details
Backbone: Growth: 3 people for €29, Agency: 10 for €49, incl. VAT. Rights per role; your accountant's login is free.
sevdesk: Every plan has 1 user, each extra one costs €5.90 a month. An accountant login comes from plan Rechnung.
Month end: everything to your accountant
One click: a link with receipts, invoices and CSV
DATEV export from plan Rechnung, with invoice data service
Details
Backbone: “Send to bookkeeper” sends your accountant a download link with receipts, invoices and a CSV report. Their login is free in every plan.
sevdesk: DATEV export from plan Rechnung, with the DATEV invoice data service. If your accountant works with DATEV, that's an advantage.
sevdesk facts: sevdesk help center, sevdesk.de/preise and sevdesk.de/funktionen, as of 23.10.2026.
What the workflow looks like
Invoice from hours
Dunning
What can Backbone and sevdesk do?
“not stated” means the vendor's website doesn't say so. We don't guess.
| Feature | Backbone | sevdesk |
|---|---|---|
| What takes work off your plate | ||
| Automatic dunning | every plan, with late interest | by click |
| Hours → invoice | every plan | add-on €4.90 |
| AI connector for ChatGPT, Claude and many more | every plan | not stated |
| Company wiki your AI can read | every plan | not stated |
| E-invoices: ZUGFeRD + XRechnung | every plan | yes, free plan too |
| Receipts matched automatically | certain matches, automatically | from Buchhaltung (€25.90) |
| Free login for your accountant | every plan | from plan Rechnung |
| Germany and Austria in one product | yes, both countries | yes, own Austrian site |
| Your obligations in Germany | ||
| VAT return (UStVA) via ELSTER | your accountant files it | from Buchhaltung (€25.90) |
| DATEV export | ZIP with PDFs + CSV for your accountant | from Rechnung |
| Price | ||
| Hours + dunning levels, net | €19about €15.97 net | €36.65€30.80 net, Buchhaltung + time tracking |
| Invoices from, per month | €19about €15.97 net | €03 invoices |
| Included at that price | everything above marked “every plan”, plus the company wiki for the AI | 3 invoices and e-invoices a month, no quotes |
| Free plan or trial | 7-day trial, then from €19 | free plan, 3 invoices a month |
Monthly prices incl. VAT (Germany 19 %, Austria 20 %), net in brackets. Plan prices in the other rows are net, as the vendor states them. If a vendor doesn't state VAT, we show its list price. Time-limited offers excluded.
When is sevdesk the better fit?
- You want classic accounting software, everything in-house.EÜR, P&L and the VAT return via ELSTER in the tool. Backbone leaves the books to your accountant.
- Your accountant uses DATEV.sevdesk has a DATEV/ADDISON interface. Backbone delivers a ZIP plus a CSV report.
- Your bank transactions should arrive by themselves.Online banking from plan Buchhaltung. Backbone reads uploaded statements today (PDF, CSV).
- You want to start for free.A free plan with 3 invoices a month, no quotes.
If your accountant does the books, you don't need bookkeeping in the tool. Then the workflow above is what matters most.
Will my accountant accept this?
One click on “Send to bookkeeper” sends them a download link: a ZIP with your receipts (named by date, supplier and amount), your sent invoices as PDF, all bank statements and a CSV report any accountant can open. They don't need an account to open it. If they want to look for themselves, they get a free login with the Bookkeeper role, one seat per workspace. Backbone has no DATEV or BMD export today.
What do Backbone and sevdesk cost for the same jobs?
| Job | Backbone Solo | sevdesk |
|---|---|---|
| Quotes, invoices, e-invoices | included | from plan Rechnung |
| Time tracking | included | add-on €4.90 |
| Dunning levels | included, scheduled, with interest | from Buchhaltung (€25.90), by click |
| AI connector for ChatGPT, Claude and many more | included | not stated |
| Per month | €19 (about €15.97 net) | €36.65 (€30.80 net), Buchhaltung + time tracking |
| Difference per month | Backbone: €17.65 less (€14.83 net) | for the same jobs |
Example: a freelancer billing hours, paying monthly. With dunning levels and recurring invoices you need Buchhaltung: €25.90 + €4.90 = €30.80 plus VAT. Backbone Solo costs €19 incl. VAT, about €15.97 net in Germany and €15.83 in Austria, for 1 person, scheduled dunning included. In return sevdesk includes EÜR, VAT return and bank connection.
How do you switch from sevdesk to Backbone?
Switch without starting over: your invoice numbers simply continue in Backbone.
- Switching from sevdesk: sevdesk's DATEV export gives you clients, open invoices and receipts in one file.
- Before you cancel: sevdesk deletes your data about 3 months after the contract ends, so export before you cancel.
- Keep the archive. Keep old invoices as PDF in your archive: 8 years in Germany, 7 in Austria.
- Continue your numbers. Under Settings › Numbering, enter the number after your last one from sevdesk.
- Add clients, set up dunning. Add clients yourself or with one sentence in the chat. Set up the reminder and two dunning levels once, then they go out by themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Backbone an alternative to sevdesk?
For invoicing, dunning and collecting receipts, yes. For the bookkeeping itself, no: Backbone does no EÜR and no VAT return. Your accountant does that with the export.
How much is sevdesk?
Per its pricing page: Buchhaltung €25.90 and Buchhaltung Pro €34.90 a month plus VAT when billed monthly, Rechnung below that, cheaper with a 12 or 24-month term. Time tracking costs €4.90 a month extra, each additional user €5.90. There's 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 built for Austria and Germany too.
Can I bring my data over from sevdesk?
By file today. Old invoices stay as PDF in your archive, you continue your number range, and you add clients yourself or with one sentence in the chat.
How much is Backbone, and can I try it?
Solo €19, Growth €29 and Agency €49 a month incl. VAT, or €190, €290 or €490 a year. Net, Solo is about €15.97 in Germany and €15.83 in Austria. You try it for 7 days with a card, today you pay €0.00. There is no free plan.