DATEV Review 2026: Pricing, Payroll Features, Pros, and Cons

DATEV eG provides a robust, widely adopted suite of on-premise and cloud-based payroll and HR software solutions. The vendor serves approximately 620,000 customers and is considered a standard infrastructure provider for statutory payroll and accounting in Germany. [01] [08] The platform is segmented into specific products, including DATEV Lohn und Gehalt for smaller, ad hoc mandates, and DATEV LODAS for high-volume, centralized cloud processing. [02] [03] [06] [07]

The evidence confirms that DATEV is best suited for German businesses that process payroll in tandem with a tax advisor (Steuerberater). [17] Its strongest capabilities lie in deep regulatory compliance and direct data pipelines within the German tax ecosystem. [15]

However, buyers should carefully evaluate the total cost of ownership before purchasing. Third-party sources indicate that DATEV’s pricing models are complex, often combining base license fees, per-employee cloud processing fees, and potential postal fees. [16] Additionally, the vendor lists formal training and implementation services that require significant upfront investment. [14] [31] Buyers should verify all hardware requirements, module combinations, and consulting fees to ensure the final quote aligns with their budget.

DATEV is a German cooperative vendor offering enterprise-scale software for payroll, human resources, accounting, and tax advisory collaboration. [01] [15] The vendor provides native local payroll and HR management tools specifically designed for the German market, calculating pay for millions of employees monthly. [05] [08]

The software ecosystem is highly modular, featuring on-premise solutions like DATEV Lohn und Gehalt and DATEV Personal-Managementsystem classic alongside cloud-based applications like DATEV LODAS and DATEV Arbeitnehmer online. [02] [03] [04] [22] It is widely used by companies that require strict statutory compliance and seamless data exchange with external tax advisors. [17]

Best for

• German companies collaborating with a tax advisor: The vendor heavily highlights its synergistic relationship with the German tax advisor network, and independent analyses concur that DATEV is the practical standard when external accountants are involved. [15] [17]
• SMBs needing localized payroll: DATEV Lohn und Gehalt is a strong fit for smaller mandates requiring on-site payroll software with rapid processing capabilities. [06]
• Enterprise mandates: DATEV LODAS is positioned as a strong fit for larger companies needing high-volume, centralized batch processing via the DATEV data center. [07]

Not ideal for

• Buyers seeking simple pricing: Third-party data indicates that DATEV’s pricing structure is complex and involves multiple add-on fees, which may not suit micro or small businesses looking for straightforward, all-inclusive subscriptions. [16]

Buyers should verify first

• Total cost of ownership: Buyers should request a comprehensive quote that includes base licenses, per-employee processing fees, data center costs, and module fees. [16]
• Implementation and training costs: The vendor lists multi-day onboarding and training programs that can add thousands of euros to the initial setup cost. [14] [31]

According to the provided evidence, DATEV offers several distinct products:

• DATEV Lohn und Gehalt: An on-premise payroll software product primarily targeted at micro, small, and midmarket businesses. It is designed for local processing and statutory reporting. [02] [06]
• DATEV LODAS: A cloud-based payroll software product targeting SMBs to large enterprises. It handles high-volume payroll calculations centrally via the DATEV data center. [03] [07]
• DATEV Personal-Managementsystem classic: An on-premise HRIS solution for small to midmarket companies, focusing on employee records, document management, and absence tracking. [04]
• DATEV Personal: A cloud service module used for managing digital personnel files, absence management, and master data collection. [21] [28]
• DATEV Arbeitnehmer online: A cloud-based self-service portal that provides employees with digital access to their payslips and annual tax certificates. [22] [29]
• DATEV Unternehmen online: A cloud platform for digital document exchange and corporate bookkeeping. [23] [30]

DATEV’s pricing visibility is public, but the overall structure is complex. The model generally combines a flat monthly base fee for software licenses with variable per-employee fees for cloud processing and portals. [16] [24] [28] Buyers should note that base fees for LODAS and Lohn und Gehalt scale based on the number of concurrent users, and per-employee cloud processing fees are charged separately. Third-party sources note that initial postal registration letters for employee portals may incur additional one-time fees. [16] [24] [29]

• DATEV LODAS classic: Starts at a €15.86 monthly base fee for a 1-user license. [24]
• DATEV LODAS comfort: Starts at a €26.68 monthly base fee for a 1-user license. [25]
• DATEV Lohn und Gehalt classic: Starts at a €15.86 monthly base fee for a 1-user license. [26]
• DATEV Lohn und Gehalt comfort: Starts at a €26.68 monthly base fee for a 1-user license. [27]
• DATEV Unternehmen online: A flat €11.56 monthly base fee for an unlimited user license. [30]
• DATEV Personal: Costs €0.40 per employee per month. [28]
• DATEV Arbeitnehmer online: Costs €0.15 per employee per month for digital payslip access. [29]

The vendor provides comprehensive local payroll support for Germany through its Lohn und Gehalt and LODAS platforms. [08] This includes automated payroll processing, payslip generation, and statutory reporting to health insurance institutions and tax authorities. [33]

DATEV supports core HRIS functions through its Personal-Managementsystem classic and cloud modules. Capabilities include capturing and managing employee master data in digital personnel files and tracking absences via a graphical calendar interface. [09] [32] Employees can access their digital payslips and annual tax documents via the Arbeitnehmer online portal. [22]

DATEV maintains strong, audited security and compliance frameworks suitable for enterprise data handling in the European Union.

• GDPR: The vendor ensures data protection compliance through technical and organizational measures verified by an ISO/IEC 27701 management system. [10]
• ISO 27001: An Information Security Management System compliant with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 has been implemented across DATEV locations. [11]

DATEV lists formal implementation and training services for its software.

• Training: The vendor offers an 8-day introductory program (consisting of a 4-day basic payroll course and a 4-day software course) that costs approximately €1,880 per person. [14]
• Implementation: One-time setup costs for the software are listed at a minimum of €1,450 per day. [31]

Before purchasing DATEV, buyers should verify:

• Confirm the exact combination of software modules required for your payroll processing method (on-premise vs. cloud).
• Calculate the total monthly cost by combining the base user licenses and the per-employee cloud fees.
• Ask your tax advisor which specific DATEV modules they require you to run natively.
• Validate the total cost of implementation and training days required to successfully onboard your payroll staff.
• Confirm integration depth if you are connecting DATEV to a third-party HRIS like Personio.