Pennylane vs Dougs vs Indy: which online accountant in 2026?
Pennylane, Dougs and Indy are constantly compared, yet they are not in the same category. Platform via partner firm, fully online firm, or self-service software: how to choose in 2026.
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Direct answer. These three names appear in every search, but they do not do the same thing. Pennylane is an accounting production platform distributed by partner firms (the firm, like Hayot Expertise, produces your accounts). Dougs is a fully online chartered accountancy firm, registered with the Ordre. Indy is a self-service software for the self-employed, not registered with the Ordre. The right choice depends on your structure and your need for an accountable professional.
The "Pennylane vs Dougs vs Indy" comparison comes up endlessly, yet it mixes three different business models. Confusing them leads to poor decisions: self-service software for a company that needs certified accounts, or the reverse. Here is a chartered accountant's reading, without disguised sales bias.
Three models, not three direct competitors#
Pennylane: a platform run by a partner firm#
Pennylane is not a firm. It is an accounting production and financial management platform, distributed exclusively through partner chartered accountancy firms. The business owner accesses the tool, but the firm configures it, produces the bookkeeping, VAT, annual accounts and tax return, and carries the professional liability. Pennylane's value therefore depends directly on the quality of the firm that runs it. That is our model: Hayot Expertise is a certified Pennylane partner firm.
Dougs: a fully online chartered accountancy firm#
Dougs is a firm registered with the Ordre des experts-comptables that industrialised an online offer with its own software and chat support. The firm handles accounting production for both the self-employed and companies. It is a standardised "all-inclusive" model built for volume.
Indy: self-service software for the self-employed#
Indy (formerly Georges) is a software, not a firm. It automates expense categorisation, VAT and filings for the self-employed under the BNC regime and micro-entrepreneurs, often with a free entry plan. Indy is not registered with the Ordre: you remain responsible for your accounting and filings, the tool assists you but does not sign off your accounts.
Comparison table#
| Criterion | Pennylane (via partner firm) | Dougs | Indy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | Platform + partner firm | Online firm registered with the Ordre | Self-service software |
| Who produces the accounts | The partner firm | The Dougs firm | You |
| Accountable chartered accountant | Yes (the firm) | Yes (Dougs) | No |
| Main target | Small businesses, SMEs, startups, companies | Self-employed and companies | Self-employed, BNC, micro |
| Company accounts and tax return | Yes, by the firm | Yes | Limited to simple structures |
| Pricing position | Platform subscription + firm fees | Mid-market | Entry level |
Vendor pricing changes regularly: check the current grids on their websites. Comparing price alone is misleading if you ignore who carries responsibility for the accounts.
Who is each solution right for?#
- A micro-entrepreneur or freelancer comfortable running their own accounting: a tool like Indy is mature, economical and sufficient while the structure stays simple.
- A self-employed person or company wanting to fully delegate: an online firm like Dougs, or a Pennylane partner firm, handles production and carries the liability.
- A small business, SME or startup wanting a modern tool AND an accountable expert: Pennylane run by a partner firm combines the platform with human support. That is where we operate, from deployment to production.
The point that changes everything: who signs off your accounts?#
However good, software does not replace the liability of a chartered accountant registered with the Ordre for the annual accounts, tax return and filing of a company. That is the fundamental difference between Indy (a tool) and the Dougs or Pennylane models (production under professional liability). Before choosing on price, ask who will carry responsibility for your accounts in the event of an audit.
Our reading#
Pennylane and Dougs answer the same intent (delegate your accounting to a professional) with two philosophies: Dougs standardises, Pennylane via a partner firm personalises the support and the setup. Indy plays a different tune: self-employed autonomy. If you hesitate, the right reflex is not to compare prices, but to start from your structure and your need for advice. To go further, read our detailed Pennylane review and our method to switch to Pennylane.
Frequently asked questions
Quelle est la vraie différence entre Pennylane, Dougs et Indy ?
Ce sont trois modèles distincts. Pennylane est une plateforme de production comptable, distribuée exclusivement via des cabinets d'expertise comptable partenaires : c'est le cabinet, comme Hayot Expertise, qui produit la comptabilité, le bilan et la liasse. Dougs est un cabinet d'expertise comptable 100 % en ligne, inscrit à l'Ordre, qui prend en charge la production avec son propre logiciel. Indy est un logiciel self-service pour indépendants, non inscrit à l'Ordre : vous pilotez vous-même votre comptabilité et vos déclarations. Le choix dépend surtout de votre structure et de votre besoin d'un expert-comptable responsable.
Indy suffit-il pour une société (SASU, SARL, SAS) ?
Pour une société soumise à l'impôt sur les sociétés, un logiciel self-service atteint vite ses limites : le bilan, la liasse fiscale et le dépôt des comptes doivent être établis sous la responsabilité d'un expert-comptable inscrit à l'Ordre. Indy vise surtout les indépendants au BNC et les micro-entrepreneurs. Pour une société, l'option pertinente est un cabinet (Dougs, ou un cabinet partenaire Pennylane comme le nôtre) qui engage sa responsabilité professionnelle sur les comptes.
Peut-on garder son expert-comptable en utilisant Pennylane ?
Oui. Pennylane n'est pas un cabinet : c'est la plateforme sur laquelle votre cabinet partenaire produit vos comptes. Vous choisissez d'abord le cabinet, puis vous travaillez ensemble dans Pennylane. Hayot Expertise reprend un dossier Pennylane existant sans migration, ou déploie la plateforme si vous partez d'un autre outil.
Combien coûtent Pennylane, Dougs et Indy ?
Les grilles évoluent souvent ; vérifiez-les sur les sites des éditeurs. En ordre de grandeur, Indy se situe dans le bas du marché pour un indépendant autonome, Dougs à un niveau intermédiaire pour une société tenue en ligne, et Pennylane combine un abonnement à la plateforme (facturé par l'éditeur) et les honoraires du cabinet partenaire qui produit la comptabilité. Comparer le prix seul n'a pas de sens sans regarder qui porte la responsabilité des comptes et le niveau d'accompagnement.
Article written by Samuel HAYOT
Chartered Accountant, registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Certified Pennylane trainer.
Regulated French accounting and audit firm based in Paris 8, built to support companies across France with a digital and decision-oriented approach.
Sources
Official and operational sources cited for this page.
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