Holded vs Pennylane
Holded is a Barcelona-built business suite that adds inventory, CRM, projects and team tools to invoicing and accounting. Pennylane is a Paris-based finance platform built around accounting, e-invoicing and a business account. Holded fits Spanish companies that want one ERP-style tool; Pennylane fits French businesses that work with an accountant.
Choose Holded if
you run a small company in Spain and want invoicing, accounting, stock, CRM and projects in one subscription, with Verifactu included and add-ons you switch on only when needed.
Read the Holded reviewChoose Pennylane if
you are a French independent or company that wants accounting, supplier payments, a business account and e-invoicing through an approved platform in the same tool, at a low monthly price.
Read the Pennylane reviewHolded and Pennylane side by side
| Holded | Pennylane | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Holded Technologies, S.L. (Visma group) | Pennylane SAS |
| Headquarters | Barcelona, Spain | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2016 | 2020 |
| Jurisdiction | EU (Spain) | EU (France) |
| Where the data sits | EU ("in general" per the privacy policy; transfers outside the EEA under SCCs or BCRs possible) | EU: AWS in Ireland; the Plateforme Agréée runs on S3NS in France (SecNumCloud) |
| Pricing | Plus €15 / Básico €29 / Estándar €59 / Avanzado €99 / Premium €199 per month excl. VAT | Free for micro-enterprises without VAT; Starter €7 / Basique €14 / Essentiel €24 per month excl. VAT for independents; company plans priced separately |
| Entry-level list price (vendor site, checked 20 October 2026) | Plus 15 euro, Basic 29, Standard 59, Advanced 99, Premium 199 per month excl. VAT (list price; 50% off the first 3 months on the pricing page); 14-day free trial without a card | Starter 7 euro, Basique 14, Essentiel 24, Premium with accounting module 79 per month excl. VAT, 1 user (French independents page); 15-day free trial |
| Free tier or trial | 14-day free trial, no card | 15-day free trial |
| Certifications and checks | Verifactu | ISO 27001 |
| Source code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Usually replaces | QuickBooks, Sage, A3 | QuickBooks, Sage, Cegid |
| Position in our Accounting Software guide | #6 of 8 | #1 of 8 |
Both are listed in our European Accounting Software guide. The table is built from the same directory data as those entries, except the list price, which is quoted from each vendor's own pricing page (see Sources below); how we check it is described in the editorial process.
Where Holded and Pennylane differ
Across the five points below, Holded has the edge on 1 point, Pennylane on 2 points and 2 are a tie. A count like that is a summary, not a verdict: the point that matters to you may be the one the other product wins.
What the list price looks like
Holded's pricing page lists Plus at 15 euro, Basic 29, Standard 59, Advanced 99 and Premium 199 per month excluding VAT, with a 50% discount for the first three months. Pennylane's French page starts at 7 euro for Starter, then 14 and 24, with Premium plus the accounting module at 79 euro per month for one user. Pennylane is cheaper at the bottom.
Edge: Pennylane
Scope beyond accounting
Holded sells itself as an ERP: its menu covers invoicing, accounting, treasury, team and HR, inventory and manufacturing, CRM, projects and payroll. Some are paid add-ons, such as inventory from 25 euro a month and HR from 1.50 euro per employee. Pennylane's homepage lists e-invoicing, purchase management, cash-flow planning, the Compte Pro and built-in AI accounting, with no stock or CRM module.
Edge: Holded
Trial and free access
Neither vendor offers a permanent free plan on the pages we read. Holded gives 14 days free without a card, and its FAQ says there is no permanent free plan. Pennylane gives 15 days free without commitment on every plan it lists. Both say you can cancel at any time: Holded lets you change or cancel whenever you want, Pennylane's subscription is stated to be cancellable without fees or penalty.
No clear winner on this point.
Local tax compliance
Each tool is built around its home country's rules. Holded states that all plans include Verifactu, the Spanish invoice verification system, and sells SII as an add-on from 30 euro. Pennylane says it is a registered Plateforme Agréée, with e-invoicing and e-reporting included in all plans. A Spanish company needs Holded's rules, a French one needs Pennylane's.
No clear winner on this point.
Accountant and hosting
Pennylane's legal notice says the software and customer data are hosted in the European Union, and its site cites ISO 27001. It also has a separate firm offer and an accounting production tool. Holded gives your accountant a free seat outside the user count and says data is stored in the EU in general, with transfers outside the EEA possible under safeguards. Pennylane's wording on hosting is the firmer one.
Edge: Pennylane
When neither Holded nor Pennylane fits
If you need a tool for another country, look at Moneybird for the Netherlands, sevDesk or Lexware Office for Germany, or Fortnox for Sweden, all of which are on the site.
Holded vs Pennylane: questions
On the list prices shown, Pennylane starts lower: 7 euro a month against Holded's 15 euro for Plus, both excluding VAT. The plans differ in scope, though, and Holded charges extra for inventory, HR and POS. Compare the plan that has the features you need rather than the entry price.
Both are built for their home tax rules. Holded advertises Verifactu and Spanish AEAT compliance, and Pennylane's e-invoicing and Plateforme Agréée status is French. Pennylane also names a German company that sells its software. Check whether your country's filings are supported before you commit.
Yes. Holded is run by Holded Technologies, S.L. of Barcelona, registered in the Barcelona Mercantile Register, and its site names the Visma Group. Pennylane is Pennylane SAS, registered in Paris, with a German sister company in Munich.
Yes. Holded offers 14 days free with no credit card, then half price for three months. Pennylane offers a 15-day free trial on its plans.
Sources
Facts, prices and plan details on this page were checked on the vendors' own websites on . Prices and plans change; the vendor's current page is authoritative.
- Holded pricing page: Plan prices, 14-day trial, Verifactu, add-on prices, FAQ (checked 20 October 2026)
- Holded terms and conditions: Contracting entity Holded Technologies, S.L., Barcelona, Spanish law (checked 20 October 2026)
- Holded homepage: ERP scope, Visma Group in footer, EU servers claim (checked 20 October 2026)
- Pennylane pricing page: Plan prices, 15-day trial, included features, invoice limit (checked 20 October 2026)
- Pennylane legal notice: Pennylane SAS, Paris RCS, EU hosting statement, German GmbH (checked 20 October 2026)
- Pennylane homepage: Plateforme Agréée, ISO 27001, product scope (checked 20 October 2026)