Avalara vs Taxually
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Tax Software fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
58/100
Free tier
Mid-market and enterprise companies with multi-state or multi-country tax obligations that need a scalable, audit-proof
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Free trial available for 30 days, limited to 1,000 transactions
Fee notes:
- Pricing is custom and based on transaction volume; typical entry-level plans start around $1,000/year.
- Per-return filing fees can range from $0.50 to $5 per return.
- Implementation and onboarding fees may apply for enterprise plans.
⚠ Watch for:
- Excess usage fees: overages above contracted transaction volumes incur additional costs.
- Integration fees for custom connectors or API implementations.
- Annual minimum commitments may be required for enterprise contracts.
- Setup fees for additional jurisdictions.
🔧 Features
✓ Enterprise✓ Global Tax✓ 120 Countries✓ Public Company✓ Vat Gst✓ Free Tier
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Avalara's global coverage is its killer feature. Unlike many competitors that focus only on US sales tax or EU VAT, Avalara supports sales tax, VAT, GST, and excise duties in over 120 countries. For a business selling across borders, this eliminates the need to juggle multiple tax software solutions, reducing integration headaches and potential compliance gaps. The platform's tax content database is updated automatically, so you don't have to track ever-changing rates and rules yourself.
- The certified integrations with enterprise systems like SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics are a major advantage. These aren't simple API calls but technically validated connectors that are deeply embedded in the ERP's tax determination point. For example, with NetSuite, Avalara works as a SuiteApp, seamlessly handling tax calculation at the moment a transaction is recorded. This means accounting teams don't have to switch between systems—a significant workflow benefit.
- Avalara's exemption certificate management is robust. It can store, validate, and retrieve certificates electronically, and it even sends email requests to your customers to obtain missing certificates. This is a huge time-saver for B2B businesses that frequently deal with tax-exempt customers. The system automatically flags expired certificates and integrates the exemption status with AvaTax, ensuring that exempt transactions are taxed correctly.
- The Returns Filing service is a standout for businesses that want to offload the entire compliance burden. Avalara not only calculates taxes but also files returns across all the jurisdictions you do business in. It consolidates data from your financial systems, validates it, and submits it to the tax agencies. It also handles the payments, showing you exactly what is due before the filing deadline. This reduces the risk of missing filings and the associated penalties.
- Avalara's financial stability is a point of assurance. Being a publicly traded company with over $1 billion in revenue means it's not going to vanish overnight. For an enterprise making a multi-year commitment, this matters. Additionally, their extensive documentation and developer support make it possible to extend the platform when you have unique needs—though you'll likely need a developer to do it.
⚠ Watch out for
- The most significant drawback is the cost. Avalara's pricing is enterprise-level, and they don't disclose rates on their website—you have to contact sales for a quote. Even for medium-sized businesses, recurring fees for many modules can add up. You'll also encounter per-transaction costs for tax calculation, which can be surprising if you have high transaction volumes. Annual contracts are standard, which makes it risky if you need to scale down.
- Implementation is not trivial. To configure Avalara properly, you'll need to map your product catalog to tax codes, set up nexus rules, and ensure your platform integration is correctly configured. This process is often complex, especially for businesses with unique product exemptions or operations in many jurisdictions. In many cases, companies hire independent consultants to handle the setup, adding to the total cost.
- The pricing model can be opaque. In addition to transaction fees, there are separate charges for return filing, exemption certificate management, and international tax compliance. This can result in surprises when your bill arrives. Moreover, bundling these modules often requires negotiations, and the final pricing can depend on your sales volume and the complexity of your tax situation.
- While the platform is powerful, it may be overkill for small businesses that only need simple tax calculation. The learning curve is steep if you don't have a dedicated tax or accounting team. For a small e-commerce store with basic needs, using a cost-effective alternative like TaxJar (now Avalara Taxes for Small Business) might be a better fit.
- Customer support is generally responsive, but some users have reported that the quality varies depending on the channel and time of day. Since many issues require specialized knowledge, don't expect immediate expert advice on complex scenarios without escalating to higher-tier support.
🎯 Best for
Mid-market and enterprise companies with multi-state or multi-country tax obligations that need a scalable, audit-proof tax compliance platform integrated into their ERP or e-commerce stack.
🚫 Who should skip
Small online sellers, startups, and anyone with only simple, single-state sales tax needs — for them, Avalara is overkill and overpriced.
📚 Learning curve
Steep — setup, configuration, and ongoing administration require significant tax expertise and IT involvement, especially when integrating with ERPs.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
If your business operates in multiple states or countries and needs airtight tax compliance across major ERP systems, Avalara is a powerful choice—its global coverage and deep integrations are second to none. However, the high cost and complexity mean it's overkill for small businesses that only nee
32/100
782 Kč starting
E-commerce sellers, marketplaces, and logistics businesses that operate in multiple EU and UK jurisdictions and need a c
💰 Pricing
Starting at 782 Kč (hybrid)
Fee notes:
- Prices in EUR; starting price €29/month (~$34 USD/month)
- Per-filing fee: €15 per VAT filing (included in tiers for up to certain volumes; extra filings beyond limits cost €15 each)
- EPR (packaging) registration: from €350 per country per year
- Customs services: quoted individually based on volume
- One-time setup fee for new clients: €500 (waived for annual plans)
⚠ Watch for:
- Additional per-filing fee: €15 per return beyond tier limits
- EPR country registrations: may require separate fees to local authorities
- Bank transfer fees not included in subscription fees
- Late filing penalties passed on to client
🔧 Features
✓ Eu Uk Vat✓ Epr✓ Customs✓ Hungarian Origin✓ Multi Country
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Multi-country compliance from a single dashboard: Taxually centralizes VAT registration, filing, and EPR obligations across EU countries and the UK. Instead of logging into multiple national portals or emailing several advisors, you get one interface with a clear overview of your obligations. For a business expanding into several markets, this dramatically reduces the risk of missing a deadline or filing incorrectly—two costly mistakes in the EU.
- Integrated EPR and customs handling: Most VAT software ignores the adjacent challenges of packaging compliance (EPR) and customs. Taxually incorporates both, so you can manage all your cross-border compliance needs in one place. The EPR module is particularly valuable for online sellers now grappling with the EU's shifting packaging regulations, and the customs segment simplifies import/export procedures, saving you from needing separate logistics consultants.
- Strong European client base and regional expertise: Being founded in Hungary, the team has a palpable grasp of the nuances in EU and UK tax law. The platform's features reflect a deep understanding of how compliance actually works on the ground—from the quirks of each country's VAT thresholds to the paperwork nuances of distance selling. This is not a generic solution bolted onto European specifics; it is built from the ground up for the region.
- Clear deadline tracking and notifications: Taxually automatically tracks filing deadlines and sends alerts, so you are never caught off guard. This feature is understated but hugely practical. For a growing business, keeping up with VAT return dates across multiple jurisdictions is a painful memory game; the automated reminders remove that cognitive load and help you avoid late-filing penalties.
- Scalability for EU expansion: The platform is designed to grow with you. If you start selling in three EU countries and later expand to ten, Taxually scales without requiring you to switch vendors. Its multi-country support means you can add new jurisdictions to your dashboard quickly, making it a long-term partner for an EU-centric growth strategy.
⚠ Watch out for
- Limited to EU and UK compliance: Taxually's European focus is its identity, but it is a hard boundary. It does not handle US sales tax, Canadian GST, or any other non-European tax regime. If your business sells globally, you will need to piece together additional solutions, which could undermine the simplicity that Taxually promises. This is a significant constraint for any company with non-European customers.
- Pricing is not transparent: The website does not list pricing, and you must contact sales for a quote. Starting at $34 per month is vague, and actual costs can be higher depending on the number of countries and volume of filings. This lack of upfront pricing complicates budget comparisons with competitors that are more open about their tiers. You may need to schedule a sales call just to get a basic price range.
- Potentially overkill for small, single-country businesses: If you only sell in one EU country and have simple VAT obligations, Taxually is likely over-engineered. A local accountant would be far more cost-effective and less complex. The platform's strengths in multi-country handling are wasted on a micro-business with a handful of transactions, and the monthly fee could eat into thin margins.
- Learning curve for non-compliance experts: Although the dashboard is clean, understanding the nuances of VAT registration, EPR, and customs can be overwhelming for entrepreneurs who are not tax-savvy. Taxually provides tools, but it does not eliminate the need for a basic understanding of compliance rules. Some in-app guidance would help, but as it stands, you may need to research terminology on your own before using the platform effectively.
- No self-service onboarding for immediate use: Based on the sales-quote model, you cannot simply sign up and start using Taxually instantly. The onboarding process likely involves a sales or onboarding call to configure your accounts. This adds time and friction, especially for a busy founder who wants to set things up quickly.
🎯 Best for
E-commerce sellers, marketplaces, and logistics businesses that operate in multiple EU and UK jurisdictions and need a combined VAT, EPR, and customs compliance tool.
🚫 Who should skip
Businesses primarily selling in the US, Asia, or other non-European markets, or solo sellers with one EU country filing who need a simpler and cheaper local solution.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — the dashboard is user-friendly, but understanding the underlying VAT registration thresholds and EPR obligations across different countries requires some tax knowledge.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Taxually is a powerful tool for EU and UK-focused businesses that need streamlined multi-country VAT, EPR, and customs compliance. It is not the right choice for solely non-European operations or for one-country micro-businesses, where a local accountant is simpler and cheaper. If you are expanding
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseAvalaraTaxually
Sales Tax Automation for E-commerce90—
Avalara automatically calculates and remits sales tax across all U.S. jurisdicti
Cross-Border VAT/GST Compliance85—
With support for VAT in 120+ countries, Avalara handles international tax determ
Enterprise ERP Tax Integration95—
Deep pre-built connectors for SAP, Oracle, and NetSuite make Avalara a top choic
Exemption Certificate Management80—
Avalara's certificate management system centralizes exemption and resale certifi
Excise Tax Reporting for Manufacturers75—
It supports excise tax calculation and filing for industries like fuel, alcohol,
Multi-country EU & UK VAT registration and filing—95
Taxually's core strength is automating VAT compliance across multiple European j
EPR (Extender Producer Responsibility) packaging compliance—90
It addresses EU EPR reporting requirements, which are becoming critical for onli
Customs and import validation for international sellers—85
Taxually provides customs-related support that helps ensure goods entering the E
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Avalara if...
- You are: Mid-market and enterprise companies with multi-state or multi-country tax obligations that need a scalable, audit-proof
- 👍 Global tax coverage across 120+ countries for sales tax, VAT, GST, and excise duties, which is rare
- 👍 Certified integrations with major ERPs and e-commerce platforms, including SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, an
- 👍 Publicly traded company with $1B+ annual revenue, providing financial stability and confidence for l
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: Not affordable for small businesses — pricing is enterprise-level and often requ
Choose Taxually if...
- You are: E-commerce sellers, marketplaces, and logistics businesses that operate in multiple EU and UK jurisdictions and need a c
- 👍 Combines VAT, EPR, and customs compliance in a single centralized dashboard, which reduces the need
- 👍 Strong European client base and Hungarian development origins provide deep understanding of EU/UK co
- 👍 Multi-country support allows businesses to expand across the EU without juggling separate tax adviso
- 💰 From $34/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Limited to EU/UK compliance; does not handle US sales tax, Canadian GST, or othe
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avalara really free?
No, Avalara is not free. It is a paid enterprise tax compliance platform with subscription pricing typically based on transaction volume and number of tax returns. The 'Free' label here is inaccurate.
How does Avalara pricing work?
Avalara charges a subscription fee plus per-transaction costs, with custom quotes for enterprise plans. Implementation services and additional modules like exemption certificate management or cross-border VAT are usually billed separately.
What ERP and e-commerce platforms does Avalara integrate with?
Avalara integrates with over 500 systems, including NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Shopify, Magento, and Dynamics 365. Integration is a key strength but often requires consulting or technical setup.
How long does it take to implement Avalara?
Implementation can take from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of your product catalog, tax jurisdictions, and custom business rules. Mid-size companies often report 6-12 week rollout timelines.
🔗 More Tax Software Comparisons
🔀 Explore Alternatives
📧 Save this comparison
We'll email you a link to this comparison. No spam.