The best carbon footprint software in 2026: how to choose the ideal solution for your company

Faced with the climate emergency and new environmental regulations, conducting a carbon footprint has become essential for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are a micro-enterprise, an SME or a large group, measuring your carbon footprint is the first step towards an effective decarbonization strategy. To support you in this process, many carbon footprint software solutions have emerged on the market.

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In this article, we will present the best solutions available in 2025. We will help you understand what criteria to consider when choosing the tool best suited to your needs, whether it is free software or paid platforms, in order to effectively measure your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and develop a concrete action plan to reduce them.

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What is a carbon footprint software?

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A carbon footprint software is a digital tool that allows you to calculate, analyze and track the carbon footprint of an organization. It relies on emission factors and standardized calculation methods to convert a company's activity data (energy consumption, travel, purchases, etc.) into CO2 equivalent.

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These tools generally offer several features:

• Data collection: forms, questionnaires, automated imports
• Emission calculation by scope (1, 2 and 3) according to international standards
• Visualization and analysis of results
• Development of action plans to reduce carbon impact
• Progress tracking over time
• Reporting in compliance with regulatory requirements

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Discover our complete article to understand everything about the carbon footprint. 

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Why use a carbon footprint software?

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Using a carbon accounting software has many advantages:

1. Time saving and accuracy: automation of complex calculations and reduction of errors
2. Regulatory compliance: compliance with standards such as the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, or the Bilan Carbone® method
3. Identification of priorities: clear visualization of the main emission items
4. Environmental strategy management: definition of objectives and progress tracking
5. Transparent communication: sharing of results with stakeholders (customers, investors, employees)

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With the evolution of regulations such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) in Europe, having a reliable tool to measure your environmental impact has become a strategic necessity.

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Sami: the complete and intuitive solution for your carbon footprint

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Among the many solutions available on the market, Sami stands out as a particularly powerful and accessible platform for conducting a carbon footprint in line with recognized methods.

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An intuitive interface to facilitate the process

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Sami's first strength lies in its intuitive user interface, designed to simplify the carbon footprint process. Even without prior technical expertise, teams can easily collect data, understand results and identify priority actions.

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A complete solution tailored to all organizations

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Whether you are an SME conducting your first carbon footprint or a large group with a need for multi-entity consolidation, Sami adapts to your specific needs:

• Multi-entity management and consolidated group footprint: ideal for complex organizations
• Richness of the emission factors database: more than 110,000 factors for precise analysis
• Analytical visualization of emissions: by scope, by activity, by entity, etc.
• Customizable catalog of reduction actions: to quickly take action
• ISO 27001 certification: guaranteeing the security of your data

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Custom support

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Beyond the software, Sami offers support tailored to each user:

• Personalized onboarding for quick adoption
• Responsive support to answer all your questions
• Educational resources to build skills on carbon issues
• Regular updates integrating methodological and regulatory developments
• Network of over 100 RSE partner firms that can help clients get started with the software and implement concrete actions

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Sami Pro program for consulting firms

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Sami has developed a specific offer for environmental consulting firms, creating the largest network of partner firms in France with over 100 RSE firms:

• No license fees: an economic model based on business referrals (20%)
• Partner price for your clients: 20% discount on subscriptions
• Access to the white-label platform: to strengthen your expertise
• Regular animations: quarterly breakfast meetings, monthly office hours
• Business referrals from Sami to partners

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This extensive network of partner firms is a major advantage for Sami's clients, who can thus benefit from:

• Experts with specific sector expertise tailored to their industry
• Consultants matching their budget, from independent firms to large structures
• In-person support if necessary, thanks to the diverse geographical presence of partners

Sami thus positions itself as the ideal partner for consultants wishing to offer a performing carbon footprint tool to their clients, without significant initial investment.

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Client testimonials

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Many companies have already trusted Sami for their carbon footprint and decarbonization approach:

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"Thanks to Sami, we were able to carry out our first carbon footprint in just a few weeks. The interface is extremely intuitive and the support provided helped us quickly identify our action priorities." - CSR Manager, SME in the services sector

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"The Sami platform allowed us to consolidate the carbon footprints of our 12 subsidiaries and have a clear group vision of our impact. The action plan module helps us effectively manage our decarbonization trajectory." - Director of Sustainable Development, Industrial ETI

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Overview of other carbon footprint solutions

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If Sami stands out for its simplicity and completeness, other solutions are also available on the French market. Here is a quick overview of the main competitors:

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Sweep

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With a fundraising of 100M€, Sweep positions itself on the segment of ETIs and large accounts.

Key points:

• Solution oriented towards large international groups
• B Corp™ Certification
• Significant international presence
• Price: €€€

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Greenly

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Greenly offers a carbon accounting solution particularly suitable for SMEs.

Key points:

• Semi-automated data analysis
• Emissions factor database
• ESRS E1 module for CSRD
• Price: €€

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Traace / Tennaxia

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Following the acquisition of Traace by Tennaxia, this solution is primarily aimed at large accounts.

Key points:

• Integration with other ESG modules
• Robust and comprehensive solution
• Price: €€€

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Toovalu / Lefebvre

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Toovalu, acquired by Lefebvre Sarrut, stands out for its regulatory expertise.

Key points:

• In-depth knowledge of legal requirements
• Integration with the Lefebvre legal ecosystem
• Rates: €€

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Aktio

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Aktio positions itself as a solution for SMEs and mid-sized companies with an action-centered approach.

Key points:

• Focus on action plan and management
• Structured methodological approach
• Rates: €€

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Carbo

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Carbo offers an accessible solution with a refined user experience.

Key points:

• Worked graphical interface
• Ease of use
• Personalized support
• Rates: €€

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Plan A

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With a fundraising of €27M, Plan A stands out for its international dimension.

Key points:

• Multilingual solution
• B Corp™ Certified
• Significant international presence
• Rates: €€

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We Count

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We Count positions itself in the segment of solutions accessible to the smallest structures.

Key points:

• Very competitive rate
• Simplified and accessible approach
• Rates: €

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Free solutions

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For organizations with very simple needs, free tools exist:

• ADEME Carbon Footprint Calculator®: official tool in France
• GHG Protocol tools: sector-specific spreadsheets
• Limited trial versions offered by some publishers

These free tools allow you to perform a first GHG emissions inventory and can serve as a first step before adopting more comprehensive solutions like Sami or other professional platforms.

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How to choose your carbon footprint software?

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The choice of a carbon footprint software should be made according to several criteria:

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1. Size and sector of your organization

• VSE/SME: favor simple and affordable solutions like Sami or We Count
• Mid-sized/large groups: opt for comprehensive platforms like Sami, which allows multi-entity management
• Specific sector: check that the solution has emission factors adapted to your activity

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2. Desired calculation scope

• Simplified calculation: free tools or basic versions
• Complete analysis including scope 3: advanced solutions like Sami with a rich database of emission factors
• Product analysis (PCF): platforms offering a view by product and by step of the life cycle

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3. Priority features

• Data collection: importance of questionnaires, automated imports
• Regulatory reporting: compliance with BEGES, CSRD, DPEF
• Action Plan: action catalog, reduction potential, SBTi trajectories
• Multi-entity: management of subsidiaries, group consolidation

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4. Available budget

• Free solution: for a simplified initial assessment
• € (affordable): approximately 1000-3000€/year
• €€ (intermediate): approximately 3000-10000€/year
• €€€ (premium): more than 10000€/year

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5. Certifications and compliance

• Carbon Footprint Compatibility: recognition by the ABC (Association Bilan Carbone)
• Methodological alignment: GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, ACT
• CSRD/ESRS/VSME Support: for organizations affected by the European directive

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The essential features of good carbon footprint software

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To help you evaluate the different solutions, here are the key features to look for in a performing carbon footprint software:

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Data collection and management

• Customizable forms for the different sources of emissions
• Automated import of data (Excel files, connection to information systems)
• Questionnaires for employees and suppliers
• Management of rights and access to involve different teams

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Calculation and analysis of emissions

• Complete database of emission factors regularly updated
• Visualization by scope (1, 2 and 3) and by emission post
• Sectoral benchmark to situate its performance
• Uncertainty calculation to ensure the reliability of the results

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Steering and action plan

• Catalog of actions for reduction with impact potential
• Definition of objectives aligned with science-based targets
• Simulation of reduction trajectories in the short and long term
• Calculation of the return on investment of decarbonation actions

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Reporting and communication

• Automated exports in regulatory formats (BEGES, GHG Protocol)
• Customizable dashboards and graphics
• Communication kit to share the results internally and externally
• Public page to communicate about its approach

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Comparison of the main market solutions

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To help you make your choice, here is a comparative table of the main carbon footprint software, with particular attention paid to Sami which stands out on several key aspects:

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How to set up a carbon assessment with Sami?

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Once you have chosen Sami as carbon accounting software, here's how to successfully implement your approach in a few simple steps:

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1. Define the scope

• Organizational scope: Sami helps you determine which entities to include
• Operational scope: the intuitive interface guides you in choosing the scopes and categories
• Reference year: simple parameterization in the tool

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2. Collect the data

• Intelligent collection manager to track your progress
• Customizable questionnaires to mobilize the right teams
• Automated imports to save time

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3. Analyze the results

• Clear visualizations of the main emission items
• Sector benchmark to assess your performance
• Uncertainty analysis to identify areas for improvement

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4. Define an action plan

• Catalog of predefined actions to inspire you
• Automatic estimation of reduction potential
• Decarbonization trajectories aligned with science-based targets

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5. Monitor and communicate

• Monitoring dashboards accessible to all employees
• Regulatory exports with one click
• Communication kit to highlight your approach

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Trends and evolution of carbon accounting software

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The market for carbon accounting software is constantly evolving, with several trends to follow:

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Artificial intelligence and automation

AI helps improve data collection and analysis by automating information extraction from invoices or documents, and by providing personalized recommendations to reduce emissions. Sami is heavily investing in these technologies to further simplify the approach.

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Complete ESG integration

Solutions are evolving towards complete ESG platforms, integrating not only the calculation of the carbon footprint but also other environmental, social and governance indicators.

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Discover our new guide dedicated to structuring your CSR strategy.

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CSRD compliance

With the implementation of the CSRD directive, software solutions are developing specific modules to meet ESRS reporting requirements, including ESRS E1 on climate but also VSME. Sami already offers a solution to support affected companies.

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Product life cycle analysis

More and more solutions offer product carbon footprint (PCF) analysis features to meet consumer expectations and anticipate future regulations.

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FAQ: Carbon Footprint Software

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What is the Bilan Carbone®?

The Bilan Carbone® is a method developed by the ADEME and then taken over by the Bilan Carbone Association (ABC). It is the reference method in France for calculating the greenhouse gas emissions of an organization. Sami is officially recognized as compliant with this methodology.

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What is the difference between scope 1, 2, and 3?

• Scope 1: direct emissions (combustion on site, vehicle fleet)
• Scope 2: indirect emissions related to energy (electricity, heat)
• Scope 3: other indirect emissions (purchases, travel, product use, etc.)

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Is a free software sufficient for my company?

It depends on your size and needs. For a very small business or a very simplified first approach, a free tool may be sufficient. But for a complete analysis, effective management, and long-term monitoring, a professional solution like Sami will be much more suitable and offer a much better return on investment.

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What is the difference between GHG Protocol and Bilan Carbone®?

The GHG Protocol is an international standard, while the Bilan Carbone® is a more detailed French method, particularly on scope 3. Sami is compatible with these two frameworks to meet all your reporting needs.

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How to calculate the return on investment of a carbon footprint software?

The ROI should take into account:

• Time saved compared to manual calculation
• Increased accuracy to identify cost-saving levers
• Support in defining reduction actions that generate savings
• Regulatory compliance avoiding potential penalties

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Can Sami help me with the CSRD?

Yes, Sami is actively developing features to meet the requirements of the CSRD and the ESRS E1 on climate. The platform already allows to produce the required data points and will continue to evolve to support companies in this new obligation. For companies not directly concerned by the CSRD, Sami also offers support on the VSME (Social Valorization and Impact Measurement) framework, more suitable for medium-sized structures while preparing for more comprehensive requirements in the future.

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Conclusion

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Choosing the right carbon footprint software is a crucial step to effectively engage in your sustainable development approach. Among the different solutions on the market, Sami stands out for its ease of use, functional richness, and user-centered approach.

Whether you are an SME carrying out your first carbon footprint or a large group with complex consolidation needs, Sami offers a solution tailored to your specific needs. Its intuitive interface, comprehensive database of emission factors, and customizable catalog of actions make it a valuable ally to measure, understand, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Remember that the best software is the one that will actually be used over time and that will mobilize all your teams around your low-carbon strategy. With Sami, you benefit not only from a high-performance carbon footprint tool, but also from a real partner to support you at every step of your decarbonization approach.

To learn more about Sami and discover how this solution can help you meet your carbon challenges, do not hesitate to request a personalized demo or consult the testimonials of companies that have already adopted the platform.

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This article was updated in March 2025. The information regarding the different software mentioned is likely to evolve.

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