In Extenso and Pennylane do not do the same job. In Extenso is a chartered accountancy firm that keeps the books, prepares the annual accounts and advises the owner. Pennylane is financial management and accounting software that automates invoicing, expenses and bank synchronisation, and refers users to a chartered accountant for advice. The real question is therefore not “which is best”, but “what does my business need”.
This comparison presents both based on information published on their official websites, taken in September 2026.
In short:
- In Extenso is a chartered accountancy firm with 280 offices and 7,300 employees, and its own client portal, Inexweb. Price on quotation.
- Pennylane is software, not a firm. Plans at €0 excl. VAT for micro-enterprises, then €7, €14 and €24 excl. VAT per month for one user.
- Pennylane also has an offer for chartered accountancy firms.
- For a company, annual accounts and advice are a matter for a chartered accountant, with or without software.
Comparison table In Extenso or Pennylane
Both columns describe the published offers. It is not a scored ranking.
| Criterion | In Extenso | Pennylane |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Chartered accountancy firm | Financial management and accounting software |
| Presence | 280 offices | Online |
| Clients or users | 170,000 clients | More than 1.5 million users reported |
| Price | On quotation | €0 excl. VAT (micro-enterprises), €7, €14 or €24 excl. VAT per month for one user |
| Tools | Inexweb portal, purchases, sales, bank, e-invoicing included | Invoicing, expenses, bank synchronisation, reconciliation |
| Advice | Office-based advisor and specialists | Refers users to a chartered accountant |
Data taken from the official websites of both players in September 2026.
In Extenso, a firm with its own tools
In Extenso was founded in 1991 and is owned by its partners. The group has 7,300 employees, 280 offices and 170,000 clients, and ranks first in chartered accountancy in France in 2026 according to La Profession Comptable. It handles the accounting engagement, bookkeeping, annual accounts, returns, as well as tax, employment and legal advice and reporting.
On the tools side, clients have the Inexweb portal, which gives real-time access to accounts and bank accounts. Its Purchases and Sales Essential modules are included in the subscription, and meet e-invoicing requirements for both receiving and issuing, at no extra cost.
Pennylane, financial management software
Pennylane is financial management and accounting software that reports more than 1.5 million users, business owners, freelancers, finance teams and accountants. It automates invoicing, expense management, account synchronisation and transaction matching.
Its plans range from a free offer reserved for micro-enterprises to plans at €7, €14 and €24 excl. VAT per month for one user. Pennylane also has a dedicated offer for chartered accountancy firms, and refers its users to a chartered accountant for advice and support.
Which profile for which solution
You are a micro-entrepreneur managing alone. Software such as Pennylane may be enough to invoice and track your expenses.
You run a company. Annual accounts and returns fall within a chartered accountancy engagement. A firm such as In Extenso handles it, with its own tracking tools.
You want a tool and advice. Both approaches can be combined. Check which tool your firm uses, and who actually keeps the books.
To compare In Extenso with other firms, see our ranking of the best chartered accountancy firms, our In Extenso or Cerfrance comparison and our guide to SME digital transformation.
Points to check before choosing
- Pennylane is a tool. It does not replace a chartered accountancy engagement or tax and employment advice.
- In Extenso prices on quotation. Ask for a proposal suited to the size of your business.
- The total cost should be compared on the same scope, software, accounting engagement and advice included.
In summary
Pennylane and In Extenso do not play the same role. Pennylane is effective software to manage invoicing and expenses, at a published price. In Extenso is a firm that handles the accounting engagement and advises the owner, with its own Inexweb portal. For a company, the key question is who will keep your books and advise you. You can find an In Extenso office near you to discuss it. To compare with another firm, read our In Extenso or Dougs comparison too.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pennylane a chartered accountant?
No. Pennylane is financial management and accounting software. It automates invoicing, expenses and bank reconciliation, and refers users to a chartered accountant for advice, annual accounts and returns.
What is the difference between In Extenso and Pennylane?
In Extenso is a chartered accountancy firm with 280 offices that keeps the books, prepares the annual accounts and advises the owner. Pennylane is a management tool used by business owners, finance teams and accounting firms.
How much do In Extenso and Pennylane cost?
Pennylane publishes its plans, from €0 excl. VAT for micro-enterprises to €7, €14 and €24 excl. VAT per month for one user. In Extenso sets its fees on quotation. The two costs cannot be compared directly, since one is software and the other an accounting engagement.
Does In Extenso offer a tool like Pennylane?
In Extenso provides its clients with the Inexweb portal, which gives real-time access to accounts and bank accounts, with purchase and sales modules included in the subscription and compatible with e-invoicing.
Sources
- In Extenso, key figures, Inexweb and its features (inextenso.fr), accessed September 2026
- Pennylane pricing page (pennylane.com), accessed September 2026
- La Profession Comptable, 2026 ranking of accounting groups