Key Takeaways:
- Choosing the right carbon accounting methods is crucial to ensuring that emission reporting is effective and that carbon management strategies are tailored to company structures.
- Whether you’re a first-time learner or an esteemed sustainability leader, there are real-world tools available for effective environmental management and long-term carbon reduction.
- While Greenly offers an affordable and accessible solution for many businesses, it’s not ideal for all companies.
In today’s climate, businesses measure their carbon footprint using carbon accounting software.
They allow companies to track, analyse, and reduce their carbon footprint using insights pinpointing high-emission areas, then set reduction targets and monitor progress over time.
Greenly, founded in 2019, is one of the most popular carbon accounting platforms out there. We’ve compiled this list because popularity doesn’t always equate to the right fit.
Before beginning your carbon accounting journey, it’s important to find the platform fit for your businesses’ scale, geography, industry, budget, and goals.
And with a sea of options out there, this can be confusing. See our best Greenly alternatives below, for a clear, no-nonsense breakdown of best options in 2026.
What Is Greenly?
Greenly is a French carbon accounting startup, founded in 2019.
Measuring emissions across all scopes, software is aimed at mid-market and SMEs, starting from around £3,000/year, and up to £9,000 for the upper tier.
Most popular in France and Europe, Greenly is user-friendly and covers CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), SBTi (Science-Based Targets Initiative), and CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project).
Pros and Cons of Greenly
Greenly is a well-rounded software with a slick interface capable of over 100 integrations from Xero to Workiva.
Designed for non-experts, it features a fast onboarding process to gauge carbon footprints with speed.
With ADEME and CSRD at its core, Greenly is a European-first platform, with UK compliance as secondary.
The Scope 3 automation can be limited at entry-level price tiers, meaning users may have to expand their budget for a full understanding of their carbon footprint.
Some users also report needing significant internal checks in order to validate data outputs.
Why Companies Might Want a Greenly Alternative
Greenly can be a great choice for some companies, but not all!
For instance, those primarily concerned with UK compliance. SECR and DEFRA aren’t default factors in Greenly, so users might look elsewhere if they want UK-native compliance from the start.
Moreover, companies wanting audit-ready data out of the box may look for an alternative.
With Scope 3 reporting shifting more into the focus of carbon policies, companies might seek software where supply chain emissions are a priority even within the lower priced tiers.
What to Look for in a Greenly Alternative
The right alternative depends on your company’s budget, size, and reporting requirements. UK businesses can look for native SECR support and DEFRA emission factors as a priority.
How We Chose the Best Greenly Alternatives
To formulate our list, we conducted a thorough analysis of a broad range of key carbon accounting platforms.
Varying largely in terms of quality, interface, pricing, scope, and more, we’ve selected the best options on the market in 2026.
The Top 7 Greenly Alternatives Compared
1. Gaia
Gaia is a UK-built, London-based AI carbon accounting software covering Scope 1, 2 and 3.
Built around the UK frameworks, with SECR and DEFRA/DESNZ as standard, they cover CSRD, Ghg Protocol and B Corp to accommodate a wide variety of businesses wanting to lower emissions and achieve net zero targets.
Key Features
- G.AI document extraction, drag and drop CSVs, PDFs, Excel, auto-extracts data
- Automated SECR report generation at click of a button
- Anomaly detection across millions of data points
- Carbon Reduction Plan included in Pro tier
- Natural Capital Marketplace, with over £1.4bn in verified carbon credits
- Scope 3 data completion tool, filling gaps using AI to up to 80% accuracy
- Integrations with ERPs and accounting software
Pros
- No setup costs, no hidden fees, one annual licence
- Easy to use, built by UX/UI experts
- DEFRA/DESNZ factors built in as standard
- Free trial available
Cons
- Gaia doesn’t offer a free plan, with prices competitively starting at £300/month.
- As a newer platform geared for the latest carbon policies, their smaller customer base is less established than global competitors.
Gaia vs Greenly
Directly comparing Gaia and Greenly, Gaia is a UK-built platform while Greenly is French.
Subsequently, Gaia defaults to DEFRA/DESNZ emission factors while Greenly’s standards are ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition.
Gaia produces SECR-compliant reports instantly, and Greenly is CSRD-first.
With Gaia, you can sign up and get started immediately with a free trial. Greenly does not do this, requiring booking a demo first.
Best For
Gaia is for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises, wanting accurate, efficient, and audit-ready carbon accounting.
2. Normative
Normative is a Stockholm-based company founded in 2014, one of the original platforms for carbon accounting and early to the market.
Key Features
- Their science-based carbon calculation engine draws on 330,000+ emission factors from over 20 scientific databases.
- An AI assistant provides automatic customer service without waiting for human service.
- Users can invest in carbon credit projects directly from the platform.
Pros
- Boasting a 100% SBTi approval rate and a 100% audit success rate, their platform links to climate strategy experts.
- They are independently verified by TÜV SÜD, a German independent testing and certification body.
Cons
- With a narrow focus on carbon, Normative falls short if you were looking to gauge a wider ESG focus of your company.
- Setup can include significant amounts of manual data entry.
Normative vs Greenly
While both cover Scopes 1-3, Normative adopts a more scientifically-rigorous approach with Greenly a broader ESG focus and Normative zooming into carbon.
Without SECR or DEFRA data as default, users should look elsewhere for those defaulted for UK compliance.
Best For
Best for larger enterprises with large supply chains across the globe, where expert guidance and science-backed frameworks make comprehensive emissions measurable.
3. Sphera
This Chicago-based company is one of the oldest names in environmental, health and safety software, with over 30 years experience in the area.
They started by keeping industrial areas safe, and have now evolved into carbon and ESG.
Key Features
- GHG Protocol-Aligned Scope 1-3 tracking.
- Automated data collection
- 20,000+ annually updated datasets
- Scenario modelling
Pros
- With decades of experience, their data capabilities are extensive and granular.
- Having won awards such as IDC Marketscape Leader in 2024, it earns its place for enterprise companies operating in heavy industry.
Cons
- While the platform is technical, it can feel old-fashioned compared to the sleek modern platforms.
- Companies not within the heavy industry may struggle with suitability.
- Due to the comprehensive nature, implementation can take months, while more modern programs like Gaia’s can be up and running in under a week.
Sphera vs Greenly
Greenly is quicker, cheaper, and more accessible, however built with a different purpose.
Sphera is niche, built for a singular industry, while Greenly is built more generally.
If you want something quick and simpler, Greenly could be a better option. If you want something robust and meticulous, Sphera is a reliable investment.
Best For
Massive industrial companies, so those involved in heavy manufacturing, chemicals, oils and gas.
With its implementation alone taking months, this software could require a full team of consultants in order to configure everything from sensors to regulatory frameworks.
4. Sweep
Sweep stands out for larger organisations, with a particularly strong capability in managing Scope 3 emissions.
Key Features
- Collaboration tools
- AI scenario modelling visualises different reduction pathways
- Ranked number 1 IDC Vendor Marketscape 2025
- Broad framework coverage covering CSRD, SFDR, PCAF, GRI, and GHG Protocol
Pros
- Sweep facilitates collaboration between businesses and their suppliers, streamlining the process to meet shared sustainability objectives.
Cons
- There are limited free options and it sits at a higher price point as it positions itself as an enterprise-grade solution.
Sweep vs Greenly
Both French-founded and European-first, neither software is natively built for UK compliance.
With stronger collaboration and modelling tools, Sweep aims at large enterprises, whereas Greenly is more user-friendly for smaller teams.
Best For
Financial institutions or larger enterprises, with varied and complex sustainability data across a broad team.
For those not needing that level of complexity, more simple and affordable alternatives exist.
5. Plan A
Based in Berlin and founded in 2017, Plan A prioritises reducing emissions instead of just measuring, making them an efficient and proactive platform for forward-thinking companies.
Key Features
- Aligned with GHG Protocol, Plan A covers Scope 1, 2 and 3 for full emission management.
- Their AI-enhanced data collection speeds up processes for efficiency.
- With scenario modelling, companies can visualise various routes towards decarbonisation and undertake optimal routes.
Pros
- Trusted by significant brands like Visa, Alphabet and BMW
- Personalised expert guidance
- Calculations are certified independently by TÜV Rheinland
Cons
- Without an API, technical integrations are limited.
- SECR isn’t supported, making it a weaker fit for companies needing UK compliance.
Plan A vs Greenly
Plan A goes beyond Greenly by encouraging proactive decarbonisation strategies and equipping expert guidance from dedicated carbon accountants and policy experts assigned to your account.
Greenly, on the other hand, is hailed most for its measuring and reporting capabilities, though its reduction planning tools fall short compared to Plan A’s.
Best For
This software is best for European mid to large businesses, such as existing customers BMW or Alphabet.
If you just want a quick carbon report to check the box and stay minimally compliant, other options may be simpler and quicker. If you want a dedicated accountant actively curating your roadmap for reduction, Plan A is an option for you.
6. Watershed
Watershed is a comprehensive carbon management platform with a focus on real-time data processing, user-friendly tools, and industry-specific emissions factors.
Key Features
- They offer 60 pre-built integrations, supporting ingestion from diverse systems of business.
- With water and land use tracking, users can ascertain a wider picture of their environmental impacts
- A full data lineage makes it easy for auditors to track where every number was sourced.
- With AI drafting for regulatory reports, heaps of internal time is saved.
Pros
- They have extensive support for enterprise compliance with frameworks like SEC disclosures and the Science-Based Targets initiative
- The platform offers high data accuracy with a broad library of over 500,000 emission factors
- With Life Cycle Assessment capabilities at product level, users can zoom into specific emissions based on goods for sale.
Cons
- They don’t offer a free demo, meaning users must commit upfront
- Their enterprise-grade pricing may be prohibitive for smaller businesses
Watershed vs Greenly
While Greenly is more accommodating towards SME and mid-market businesses, Watershed is purely for enterprise companies.
Watershed is priced significantly higher for its enterprise demographic.
You might find Greenly too lightweight and Watershed too heavy, in which case Gaia could be the perfect middleground for you.
Best For
Watershed is for massive enterprises from Walmart to Airbnb, equipped with full sustainability departments ready to delve into the software’s capabilities.
7. Persefoni
Persefoni is a carbon accounting platform that automates GHG calculations and disclosures.
Key Features
Robust analytics and reporting capabilities allow users to make data-driven decisions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Pros
- A rare perk of Persefoni, it offers a free tier for basic carbon accounting.
Cons
- The extensive initial setup and data preparation process can be challenging, consuming significant time and resources.
- Requires a steep learning curve, meaning it’s not that intuitive for beginners.
Persefoni vs Greenly
Persefoni is a great choice for investment firms, banks, or businesses tracking financed emissions. While Greenly can’t do this, it does cater to a broader range of businesses.
As a result, Persefoni’s more granular approach can require weeks of setup whereas Greenly is a much easier onboarding from start to finish.
Which Greenly Alternative Is Right for Your Business?
Our range of alternatives are each designed for a broader market, whether that’s a niche industry requiring meticulous datasets, or a French market tailored towards a specific regulatory framework.
For heavy industry with complex industrial compliance needs, Sphera is purpose-built. For most other businesses, Gaia covers carbon accounting just as comprehensively without the complexity.
For enterprise scale, Persefoni and Watershed lead the way on this list, with Sweep a sturdy backup if collaboration tools are a priority.
For proactive, tangible results, Plan A is a powerful software, however lacks an API or any UK compliance.
If you’re after scientific rigour, Normative is the platform for you, with independently verified calculations at its core.
Overall, Greenly is a solid platform for European businesses, offering accessibility, affordability, and simplicity, however falls short for UK companies.
For affordable, accurate, UK-native carbon accounting, Gaia is worth exploring first.
More Information
https://www.wri.org/insights/ghg-accounting-corporate-climate-disclosures-explained