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Most buyers should pick Avalara.
Choose Avalara if you want published U.S. state-based pricing and documented returns, exemption management, and nexus monitoring. Its annual starting rate is $58.25 per state per month for qualified sellers using SST services; the standard Core plan is $66.58 annualized per state per month. Choose Vertex if your enterprise needs a global indirect-tax workflow spanning determination through audit readiness and can accept a custom quote. Vertex’s price, billing terms, and plan limits are not published, so we can’t compare total cost directly.
01Side by side
| Avalara | Vertex | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $58.25/state/month annual; qualified SST plan | Custom quote; price not published |
| Free plan | No free plan | No free plan |
| Best for | Businesses under $50M; qualified sellers | Enterprise buyers with custom needs |
| Core strength | U.S. tax calculation, returns, exemption management | Global indirect-tax lifecycle through audit readiness |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations and data | 1,400+ signed partner integrations on Custom | Integration count not published |
| Team and seat costs | Per-state pricing; seat fees not published | Custom quote; seat fees not published |
| Support | Custom plan: 1-hour response SLA | Support SLA not published |
Avalara Choose Avalara if
- Choose Avalara if you need published per-state pricing.
- Choose Avalara if you qualify for SST services and their listed rates.
- Choose Avalara if you want a stated response SLA on Custom.
Vertex Choose Vertex if
- Choose Vertex if your enterprise needs global indirect-tax coverage.
- Choose Vertex if you need workflows from determination through audit readiness.
- Choose Vertex if you can evaluate a custom quote.
02Pricing compared
Avalara publishes per-state pricing for its two Core plans. Core Compliance is listed at $79 per state per month, or an annualized $66.58 per state per month. For qualified sellers under $50 million in annual revenue, Core Compliance + SST Services is $69 monthly or $58.25 annualized per state per month. That plan includes no-cost services in up to 25 states. The standard Core plan is for businesses under $50 million in annual revenue.
Vertex pricing is custom-quoted. Its pricing page does not publish monthly or annual rates, billing terms, or plan limits, so we can’t compare total cost directly. Neither product lists a free plan. Avalara’s published rates make it easier to estimate a starting cost; Vertex requires a quote.
03Features and depth
Avalara’s listed coverage spans sales and use tax, VAT, property tax, and other tax types. Its Core Compliance plan includes AvaTax across 12,000+ U.S. tax jurisdictions, nexus monitoring across all 50 states, managed returns, filing and remittance, and exemption management. The SST plan adds SST registration with one identification number and audit liaison support. Avalara also lists e-invoicing, cross-border compliance, business licensing, and reporting tools.
Vertex describes a global indirect-tax workflow that connects tax determination, e-invoicing, reporting, regulatory filings, and audit readiness. Its listed AI features aim to help teams reduce manual work and spot transaction issues, risks, and regulatory changes earlier, with human oversight. The published Vertex pricing information does not name specific included features or plan limits. Avalara’s published plan details are more concrete for U.S. state compliance; Vertex’s description emphasizes the broader transaction lifecycle.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The available material doesn’t describe either product’s onboarding process, setup time, or learning curve, so we can’t say which is easier to implement. Our review scores give both products 5 out of 10 for ease of use. Avalara’s support score is 3, compared with Vertex’s 5, but those scores don’t explain response times or service levels across plans.
Avalara’s Core plans document specific U.S. tax coverage and services, which gives buyers more detail to assess before requesting a quote. Vertex’s pricing and plan limits are not published, so enterprise buyers will need to confirm scope and support terms directly.
Questions people ask
Who are Vertex’s main competitors?
The published product information does not name Vertex’s competitors, so we can’t give a sourced competitor list here. It describes Vertex as global indirect-tax and compliance software. Avalara is the alternative in this comparison, but the available information does not establish that it is Vertex’s only or main competitor.
How many employees are at Avalara?
The published Avalara information does not state an employee count, so we can’t give a figure without another source. Employee totals can also change over time. Check Avalara’s current company information or a dated filing if you need a number for vendor research.
How do you get an Avalara API key?
The published information does not include steps for creating or retrieving an Avalara API key. It describes Avalara’s tax and compliance products, but not API access or account setup. Check Avalara’s current developer documentation or ask its support team for the exact steps for your account.
What does Vertex tax do?
Vertex provides global indirect-tax and compliance software. Its described workflow covers tax determination, e-invoicing, reporting, regulatory filings, and audit readiness. The product information also says its AI features aim to help tax teams spot transaction issues, risks, and regulatory changes earlier, with human oversight.