E-invoicing software for Germany compared: XRechnung and ZUGFeRD

Germany's e-invoicing rules leave you free to pick your own software, format and channel. That makes the choice simpler than in France or Belgium, but the market is crowded, and vendor pages often blur what a tool can actually do. This page compares the main options on one question: does the tool create and read the e-invoices German law accepts?

We list what each vendor documents, with "not documented" where we could not find it. We do not rank by commission. Some links on this page are affiliate links, explained on our affiliate disclosure.

What your software has to do in Germany

The deadlines decide what you need and when:

Accepted formats are XRechnung, ZUGFeRD from version 2.0.1 in the EN 16931, EXTENDED or XRECHNUNG profiles, and other EN 16931 formats such as Peppol BIS UBL. ZUGFeRD MINIMUM and BASIC WL do not count. There is no prescribed channel and no e-reporting. Small businesses under § 19 UStG never have to issue e-invoices, only receive them. Our Germany guide has the details and edge cases.

German e-invoicing software at a glance

Formats are as documented by each vendor and checked on 14 November 2026. Prices are only given where the vendor publishes them.

Only Accountable and Zervant document Peppol sending, and DATEV's is discussed only in its community forum. That matters little in Germany, but it matters if you also invoice Belgian customers.

Short reviews

Tools for freelancers and small businesses

Accountable creates XRechnung (as an XML export or sent directly) and attaches ZUGFeRD to sent invoices automatically. It also documents sending XRechnung or ZUGFeRD via Peppol, which is rare among German tools. There is a free start, but we could not confirm its limits. Receiving over Peppol is not documented.

easybill has a free plan with 50 documents a month, invoices "including e-invoice", 3 contacts and 1 user. Its price list puts "create and receive e-invoices" under the paid plans, starting at €9 to €12 a month (as of Nov 2026), so check what the free plan covers before relying on it. Peppol is not mentioned.

FastBill creates XRechnung 3.0 and ZUGFeRD 2.3. Incoming ZUGFeRD files are read automatically, but incoming XRechnung data has to be entered by hand, according to its help pages. There is a 14-day trial and no permanent free plan.

Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice) receives XRechnung and ZUGFeRD from its S plan and creates them from its M plan. Peppol is not mentioned on its pages. There is a 30-day trial, no free plan.

Papierkram creates ZUGFeRD in its free plan and XRechnung in the paid S plan, and receives both in all plans. It also offers a free XML viewer without sign-up.

sevDesk creates, sends and reads XRechnung and ZUGFeRD. A free plan exists, but sevDesk's own FAQ says the e-invoice function is included in all paid plans, so plan on paying if you need to issue. Peppol is not documented.

SumUp Invoices creates XRechnung and ZUGFeRD. Its free plan allows up to 4 invoices or e-invoices a month with unlimited receiving. The Plus plan costs €8 a month billed annually or €10 monthly (as of Nov 2026).

Zervant includes XRechnung in its free plan, up to 5 invoices a month, and you send the file yourself. Peppol sending is a premium feature through its partner Basware. ZUGFeRD is not listed on its pricing page.

orgaMAX and WISO MeinBüro both create and receive XRechnung and support ZUGFeRD. Neither has a free plan. WISO's pricing page and help pages disagree on whether e-invoice import costs extra, so ask before you buy.

BuchhaltungsButler creates, sends and receives XRechnung in all plans and supports ZUGFeRD. Peppol is listed as planned. Prices start at €24.95 a month on annual billing (as of Nov 2026), with a 14-day trial.

Billomat creates ZUGFeRD, but XRechnung only in CII syntax through ZUGFeRD, not as UBL. We found no evidence of Peppol. That is enough for most German customers, but the feature set is narrower than the others.

Tools for incoming invoices and larger teams

Candis is an accounts-payable tool, not an invoicing program. It reads XRechnung from version 3.0.1 and ZUGFeRD in the BASIC, EN 16931, EXTENDED and XRECHNUNG profiles. It does not send invoices, and Peppol receiving is in beta only.

DATEV is usually chosen through a tax adviser. It handles XRechnung and ZUGFeRD, and its community forum discusses Peppol sending, but we could not confirm the details in official documentation.

Not covered in detail

We could not confirm e-invoice formats for Sage or Finom from their documentation. If you consider them, ask the vendor which formats and profiles they create and receive, then test a file.

Three typical set-ups

A freelancer or small firm under €800,000 turnover. You receive by e-mail and open files with a viewer today. You must issue e-invoices for supplies from 1 January 2028. For 2027 supplies you may still send paper, or PDF with consent, if the invoice is issued by 31 December 2027. A free plan may cover low volumes.

A business above €800,000 turnover in 2026. E-invoices are due for supplies from 1 January 2027. Paper, or PDF with consent, for 2025 and 2026 supplies is only allowed if the invoice is issued by 31 December 2026. Non-compliant EDI may continue until 31 December 2027 with the customer's consent. Pick a tool that books incoming e-invoices automatically.

A Kleinunternehmer. You only need to receive. An e-mail inbox and a free viewer are enough.

How to choose

1. Start with your date. If you only need to receive for now, an e-mail inbox plus a viewer is legally enough. You can wait with paid software until your issuing date approaches.
2. Check the profile, not only the format name. "ZUGFeRD support" means little if the tool outputs BASIC WL. You want EN 16931 (COMFORT), EXTENDED or XRECHNUNG.
3. Check reading, not only sending. A good tool turns incoming XRechnung into a booking without retyping. Some only store the file.
4. Consider your customers. Public sector customers follow their own rules and identify themselves with a Leitweg-ID. Belgian customers are usually reached over Peppol.
5. Consider language. Most of these tools are built for the German market. If you need an English interface, check with the vendor.
6. Small business scheme. Under § 19 UStG you never have to issue e-invoices. Our Kleinunternehmer page explains what you still need.

If you only need occasional e-invoices, our free e-invoicing options may be enough.

Test any tool before you commit

Most tools have a trial. Create a realistic test invoice with several lines, a discount and your real VAT details, export the XRechnung or ZUGFeRD file and run it through our validator. It applies the official EN 16931 and KoSIT XRechnung rules in your browser, without uploading the file.

Look for errors, not only warnings. A file that fails rules such as BR-DE-15 (buyer reference) or the BR-CO total checks will be rejected by careful customers. Our XRechnung page explains the common ones.

For foreign suppliers

The German B2B obligation applies only when both parties are established in Germany. A supplier with no German seat, management or involved fixed establishment is outside it, even if VAT-registered in Germany. If a German customer asks you for an e-invoice anyway, any EN 16931 format works, including Peppol BIS UBL or Factur-X from a non-German tool. If you are unsure whether you have a fixed establishment, ask a tax adviser.