Ella vs Dcycle: Comparison and Dcycle Alternatives (2026)
Ella and Dcycle are both AI-led ESG software. Dcycle focuses on companies that make, transform and move product, with strong EU framework and product LCA coverage. Ella is AI-native ESG software built as an agent that chases colleagues for data and drafts SECR, CDP, VSME and EcoVadis outputs for teams in any sector.
Last updated 30 October 2026 · By Tom Wilford, Founder, Ella
Get startedElla vs Dcycle at a glance
| Ella | Dcycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Sustainability teams at large and fast-growing companies | Companies that make, transform and move product, from SME to enterprise |
| Getting started | Ella sets your boundaries from how you operate and builds your Scope 1 to 3 data checklist instantly, then walks you through each step | Free sign-up or demo, with a dedicated advisor |
| How data gets in | Ella sends collect links to data owners, tracks who has not replied and chases them, reads dragged-in bills, receipts and spend exports, and pulls from integrations | Invoice uploads read by AI, a per-facility inbound email, API, webhooks, CLI and an MCP server |
| Who does the monthly work | Ella's AI agent: it collects, cleans, calculates and drafts. Your team reviews and approves | Your team, supported by its Leia AI and a dedicated advisor |
| Frameworks | GHG Protocol Scopes 1 to 3, SECR, CDP, carbon reduction and net zero plans, product carbon data, CSRD, VSME, EcoVadis, B Corp | CSRD/ESRS, VS (formerly VSME), CDP, EcoVadis, SBTi, GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, GRI, EU Taxonomy, EUDR, PPWR and more |
| Expert support | Included: Ella's sustainability team backs every customer | A dedicated advisor, plus professional services |
| Pricing and trial | Modular plans by module and company size, with a 14-day trial per module on your own data | No published prices; free sign-up available |
Why teams choose Ella over Dcycle
Key differences to weigh
| What to check | With Dcycle | With Ella |
|---|---|---|
| SECR for UK annual reports | Not mentioned on its website | Built in, with the SECR summary drafted |
| B Corp and PPN 006 | Not mentioned on its website | B Corp support and PPN 006 carbon reduction plans |
| Chasing colleagues for data | Inbound email and supplier portal | Ella sends collect links, tracks who has not replied and chases |
| Sector focus | Product-based industries | Any sector, including services |
What Dcycle does well
Should you choose Ella or Dcycle?
| If you need | Choose |
|---|---|
| Product LCA and EU packaging or deforestation rules | Dcycle |
| SECR, PPN 006 and B Corp for a UK business | Ella |
| Colleagues chased for missing data automatically | Ella |
| A services or office-based business | Ella |
Dcycle alternatives worth a look
| Platform | Best for |
|---|---|
| Ella | Sustainability teams that want guidance and the data collection done for them |
| Coolset | EU companies with supply chain compliance (EUDR) |
| Greenly | Companies wanting a carbon footprint with a guided self-serve start |
| Sweep | Enterprise multi-framework disclosure |
How we wrote this comparison
How Ella helps
ESG reporting software
CSRD, VSME and customer ESG requests, with the data collected and cleaned for you.
Carbon accounting software
Scope 1, 2 and 3, SECR, CDP and reduction plans, built from your real bills and invoices.
ESG strategy software
Materiality, targets and a reduction roadmap built from the data you already hold.
Related resources
Best ESG Software in 2026: 11 Platforms Compared
The best ESG software depends on who is asking you for data. Workiva and Sweep suit enterprises filing CSRD or ISSB reports. Watershed and Persefoni suit carbon-heavy enterprises. Ella suits sustainability teams handling EcoVadis, CDP, SECR and customer requests: AI-native ESG software that collects, cleans and reports your data for you.
Ella vs Coolset: Comparison and Coolset Alternatives (2026)
Ella and Coolset both handle ESG reporting and carbon, but Ella covers more of what UK and international teams are asked for and does more of the work. Ella is AI-native ESG software built as an agent: it chases colleagues for data, reads bills and drafts SECR, CDP, VSME, CSRD and EcoVadis outputs. Coolset focuses on EU supply chain compliance.
SECR Reporting Explained: Who Must Report and What to Include
SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting) requires UK quoted companies, and large unquoted companies and LLPs, to report their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in their annual report. A company is large if it meets two of three tests: turnover of £36m or more, balance sheet of £18m or more, or 250 or more employees. Scope 3 is optional.
ESG data collection software: how to collect ESG data without chasing spreadsheets
ESG data collection software gathers the energy, emissions, workforce and governance data a sustainability report needs from the people and systems that hold it. Good tools request data from named owners, chase them, read invoices and bills, pull from integrations, and keep a source on every number so the final report is audit-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Ella and Dcycle?
Dcycle is AI-led sustainability software for companies that make, transform and move product, with broad EU framework and product LCA coverage. Ella is ESG software built as an AI agent that chases colleagues for data and drafts carbon, SECR, CDP, VSME and EcoVadis outputs for teams in any sector.
Is Ella a good Dcycle alternative?
Yes, for UK businesses that need SECR, PPN 006 or B Corp, for services companies, and for teams that want the software to chase colleagues for missing data. For product LCA in manufacturing or food, Dcycle goes deep.
How much does Dcycle cost?
Dcycle does not publish prices. It offers a free sign-up and a demo.
How much does Ella cost?
Ella is priced by module (Carbon, ESG reporting, EcoVadis, B Corp) and by company size, and every module has a 14-day trial so you can test it on your own data before procurement.
Do Ella and Dcycle both work with AI assistants like Claude?
Yes. Dcycle offers an MCP server, and Ella has an MCP connector so you can query your Ella carbon inventory from Claude.
Does Dcycle support SECR?
SECR is not mentioned on Dcycle's website. Ella drafts the SECR summary for your annual report from your carbon data, with the source behind every number.
Can Ella collect ESG data from colleagues and suppliers?
Yes. Ella sends collect links and data requests, tracks missing responses and chases until people reply, accepts bills, receipts and spreadsheets in any format, and runs surveys for suppliers and colleagues. Every figure keeps a link to the document or reply it came from.
Can I switch from Dcycle to Ella?
Yes. Export your existing activity data and reports, drop them into Ella and it maps them to your reporting periods. Most teams run both side by side for one reporting cycle to check the numbers match.