Exact Online
Established Dutch cloud ERP and accounting platform with the largest accountant network in the Netherlands
Quick Overview
| Company | Exact Group BV |
|---|---|
| Category | Accounting Software |
| Headquarters | Delft, Netherlands |
| Founded | 1984 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | EU, not the Netherlands: AWS in Dublin for Dutch, Belgian and US customers and AWS in Frankfurt for German, French and UK customers; Premium on Microsoft Azure in Ireland and Frankfurt |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Accounting, invoicing, inventory, manufacturing, projects, HR and payroll, multi-country, accountant portal, extensive API and app store |
| Pricing | Boekhouden from EUR 49/month (Essentials), then EUR 99, EUR 159 and EUR 299; scales substantially by module and users; 30-day free trial |
| Best For | Growing Dutch and Belgian companies that have outgrown simple bookkeeping |
| Replaces | QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP Business One |
Detailed Review
Exact has been building Dutch business software since 1984 and Exact Online is where most Dutch companies end up when invoicing software is no longer enough — when there is stock to track, projects to cost, production to plan or a payroll to run.
Its other asset is the accountant network: a very large share of Dutch accounting practices work in Exact, which makes the handover between company and accountant straightforward.
ERP Rather Than Bookkeeping
Inventory with multiple warehouses, manufacturing with bills of material, project accounting with time and cost, and payroll are all available. That range is what separates it from Moneybird, which handles administration beautifully but stops well short of operations.
Multi-country and multi-currency support handles companies operating across the Benelux and beyond.
The Accountant Network
Because so many Dutch practices use Exact, the accountant works directly in your administration and the annual accounts process is materially smoother. For a company growing past the point where one bookkeeper handles everything, that matters more than feature comparisons suggest.
Ecosystem and API
An app store and a well-documented API connect Exact to e-commerce platforms, CRM systems, logistics providers and industry-specific software. For a Dutch business, most of the systems it needs to connect already have a supported integration.
Limitations to Consider
Exact Online is considerably more expensive than the small business tools, and cost scales quickly with modules and users. It is more complex, with a real implementation effort and often a partner. The interface shows its age next to newer competitors. For a freelancer or a five-person company it is substantial overkill.
Who Should Use Exact Online
Growing Dutch and Belgian companies with inventory, projects, production or payroll that have outgrown simple invoicing software, and that want their accountant working in the same system.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Full ERP scope beyond bookkeeping
- Largest Dutch accountant network
- Multi-country and multi-currency
- Large app store and solid API
- Four decades of continuity
Cons
- Expensive and scales steeply
- Implementation effort, often a partner
- Dated interface
Alternatives to Exact Online
Other European accounting software worth comparing before you decide:
Pennylane
France · Accounting platform shared between founders and their accountant
Lexware Office
Germany · German bookkeeping with DATEV export built in
Moneybird
Netherlands · Dutch invoicing and administration for small business
sevDesk
Germany · Invoicing and bookkeeping with automatic bank matching
See all European accounting software or compare them directly against QuickBooks on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When administration is no longer the constraint — when you need inventory across warehouses, project costing, manufacturing or payroll. Below that, Moneybird is cheaper and considerably more pleasant.
Very likely, if you are in the Netherlands. Exact has the largest accountant network there, which makes the handover and annual accounts process much smoother.
Compared with small business bookkeeping tools, yes, and it scales with modules and users. The comparison to make is against a full ERP, where it is competitively priced.
Yes, it supports multiple countries and currencies and is used across the Benelux and beyond, though its accountant network advantage is specifically Dutch.
Exact Online is built as a European alternative to QuickBooks: Established Dutch cloud ERP and accounting platform with the largest accountant network in the Netherlands. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
Exact Online is one of several European Accounting Software covered on this site. See the full Accounting Software category page for how it ranks against its closest European competitors.