Top Lexware Office alternatives (2026): The best Lexoffice alternative for freelancers in Germany

Other cloud-based Lexoffice alternatives you can consider

LexOffice and Norman aren’t the only cloud tools in town. Several established players solve overlapping problems - some heavier, some lighter, some niche.

Automation-heavy cloud suites for growing SMBs

If you’re running something bigger than a solo freelancing operation — maybe a small team, inventory, or cost centres — tools like sevdesk or BuchhaltungsButler come into play. They sit closer to ERP-lite systems than freelancer apps.

These platforms shine when you need granular reporting, warehouse data, cost accounting, or deep integrations with tools like Shopify, Billbee, Amazon, or payment processors. The flip side: everything is German-only, the learning curve is noticeably steeper, and the monthly subscription creeps up once you unlock the “real” accounting features.

✅ Who they fit: SMBs and online shops.

❌ Who they don’t fit: freelancers who just want to send invoices and file their own taxes without memorizing Kontenrahmen.

Invoice-first tools with light bookkeeping

Some teams don’t want a full accounting suite — they need fast invoicing and decent automation. FastBill, Billomat, and easybill land here. They’re great at recurring invoices, dunning, subscription billing, and quick document creation.

Where they often fall short is in actual tax work. Many offer only partial EÜR/USt-VA support or rely on exports that you’ll pass to a Steuerberater. They’re perfect for businesses that prioritise invoicing speed but still outsource the real tax side.

✅ Good fit: subscription businesses, agencies with lots of recurring invoices, people who prefer a hybrid workflow with a tax adviser.

❌ Weak fit: freelancers doing everything themselves.

Project & time-tracking-focused tools

If your business revolves around tracking time — think design studios, consultants, software contractors — Papierkram, Clockodo + invoicing plug-ins, or TeamGuru-style SaaS systems tend to fit nicely. These tools treat projects, hours, and billable items as the centre of the product.

However, their tax workflows are usually thin. Many users still export everything at year-end or rely on a tax adviser for USt-VA and EÜR. They’re appealing if time tracking is more important than accounting itself.

Open-source & self-hosted options

There’s a small but passionate crowd running kivitendo, Invoice Ninja, GnuCash, ERPNext, or self-hosted stacks with custom modules. The appeal is obvious: full data control, no monthly fees, and infinite extensibility if you’re technical enough.

But none of these come with built-in support for German tax logic or ELSTER integration. You’re responsible for backups, audit-proof archiving, and updates — which is fine if you like tinkering, but a major liability if you don’t.

Free & low-cost options: free LexOffice alternative in practice

When people search for a free LexOffice alternative, they’re usually trying to solve two problems at once:
“I don’t want to overspend” and “I don’t want chaos at tax time.”

You can get close to free – but the details matter.

Truly free tools vs. “freemium” limitations

There are three main flavours of “free” in accounting software:

1. Free tiers in SaaS tools

• You sign up for a cloud tool and get a free plan with hard limits:

  • only X invoices per month,

  • one user,

  • no VAT return, no EÜR, no exports, etc.

• Good as a test drive, but you usually hit those limits exactly when your business starts to work.

2. One-time license for desktop software

• Old-school model: pay once, install on your PC, maybe pay for updates later.

• Upside: no monthly subscription.

• Downsides:

  • You’re responsible for backups, updates, and security.

  • Cloud banking connections and ELSTER integrations are often clunky or missing.

  • Sharing data with a Steuerberater usually means exporting and emailing files.

3. Fully free open-source tools

• No licence fee, you host or install it yourself.

• Great if you’re technical and like tinkering.

• But:

  • No guarantee about GoBD compliance or audit-proof storage.

  • No ELSTER integration – you will be doing manual exports and imports.

  • No support line when something breaks the night before your deadline.

Where Norman fits

Norman takes a different route:

• Invoicing is free – including e-invoicing.

• Free bookkeeping with AI (bank import, categorisation, receipt recognition).

• You only start paying when you actually file returns (e.g., USt-VA, income tax).

So for many small or new freelancers, Norman behaves like a free LexOffice alternative for day-to-day work – and becomes a paid tool only when it starts saving you from real tax work.

When a free Lexoffice alternative is enough

A genuinely free or almost-free setup can be okay if:

• You have a side-hustle with low volume (a few invoices per month).

• You’re a Kleinunternehmer with no VAT returns and some expenses.

• You’re still testing whether this business will survive the first year.

In that situation:

• A free plan with limited invoices can work.

• Or Norman’s free invoicing + bookkeeping (and pay only when you file something) is often more than enough.

But even then, two things don’t change:

• You still need to be GoBD-compliant – invoices and receipts must be traceable and unchangeable.

• You still need to be audit-ready – if the Finanzamt asks, you must be able to show clean records.

Free doesn’t mean “sloppy” is allowed. It just means you’re not paying much to stay organised.

When paying for a tool is smarter than staying on free

If you read through Reddit threads on accounting tools, a pattern appears quickly:

• People try to save 15–30 € per month on software.

• They then lose dozens of hours wrestling with exports, Excel chaos, and cryptic Elster errors.

• Worst case, they make mistakes that cost them real money in back taxes or penalties.

At that point, “free” is the most expensive option in the room.

For a first-time freelancer or self-employed person in Germany, the rational move is usually:

• Use a tool where core workflows are free (invoicing, bank import, AI receipt capture).

• Pay only when you actually file VAT or income tax - the moment the tool saves you the most pain.

That’s exactly how Norman works:

• As long as you’re setting up, sending invoices, and getting your processes under control, it's a no-brainer, low-risk Lexoffice alternative.

• Once real tax deadlines arrive, you pay to press the “file” button instead of spending entire weekends inside ELSTER.

So yes, you can chase “completely free” forever – but for most real businesses, a setup where your day-to-day work is free and the serious tax work is paid is the sweet spot between cost and sanity.

How to switch from Lexware Office to another tool

If you already run your business on LexOffice, the main fear is: “Will I break my accounting if I move?”
Short answer: no – if you switch in a structured way.

Here’s a simple step-by-step process that answers the classic question:
How can I switch from Lexoffice to another accounting software?

Pick the right switching date

Best option: year-end

• The ideal moment is 01.01. of a new year.

• You close the old year fully in Lexoffice (all invoices, payments, USt-VA, EÜR).

• From the new year onwards, everything happens in the new tool.

• No mixed years, no half-booked periods. Your accountant (or future self) will thank you.

When a mid-year switch is fine

You can switch mid-year if:

• You have relatively few transactions so far, or

• You are early in the year (e.g., Q1), or

• Your current setup is such a mess that waiting would create more damage than moving.

In that case:

• Choose a cut-off date (e.g. 31.03.).

• Make sure all invoices and payments up to that date are correct in Lexoffice.

• From 01.04. onwards, everything goes into the new system.

Export everything from Lexware Office

Before touching anything, download your data. Minimum checklist:

• Customer, supplier & product master data

  • Export as CSV/Excel.

  • This saves you from retyping names, addresses, VAT IDs, etc.

• Invoices and receipts as PDFs

  • Export (or download) all outgoing invoices.

  • Export or download incoming invoices/receipts (if stored there).

  • Keep them as part of your GoBD-compliant archive.

• Bank transaction exports

  • Export bank statements or booking lists for your active fiscal year.

  • Your new system or Steuerberater may need them to reconcile balances.

• VAT / EÜR reports

  • Download USt-VA summaries, annual VAT overview, and EÜR reports for completed periods.

  • These are useful as a reference when you compare numbers in the new tool.

Think of this as creating a “data backup box” of your entire Lexoffice history.

Import and set up your new system

Now you move into your new software (ideally Norman).

1. Import master data

   • Import customers, suppliers, and products from the CSV/Excel exports.

   • Check a few entries manually to ensure VAT IDs, addresses, and payment terms are correct.

2. Connect bank accounts and tax settings

   • Link your business bank accounts so transactions start flowing automatically.

   • Set your tax profile:

     • Kleinunternehmer vs. regular VAT

     • monthly vs. quarterly USt-VA

     • any special VAT rules you’re subject to.

3. Upload key receipts

   • Start feeding the system with important recurring receipts (rent, software subscriptions, phone, etc.).

   • In Norman, the AI receipt recognition will quickly learn your patterns and booking categories.

   • The earlier you upload, the more automation you get for the rest of the year.

4. Test with a few live bookings

   • Create your next invoice in the new tool.

   • Let the bank import bring in the payment and confirm the matching.

   • Run a quick check: income overview, open invoices, basic reports – do they reflect reality?

Once you’re comfortable that everything works, the new tool becomes your single source of truth from the cut-off date onward.

Keep old data safely accessible

One big mistake people make: they cancel the old tool aggressively to “save money,” only to realize they can’t access historical data during an audit.

Better approach:

• Keep your LexOffice account at the cheapest possible level for a while (if the provider allows read-only access after cancellation, even better).

• Make sure you can still log in and view historic invoices, receipts, and reports.

Reason: under GoBD rules, you must be able to show complete, unchanged records for several years. Even if you never open Lexoffice again, the Finanzamt might want to.

So:

• The new tool handles everything from the switch date onward.

• Old tool remains your archive for past years.

• You stay compliant, avoid gaps, and make the switch without drama.

Conclusion

If you’re a one-person business, freelancer, or just getting started in Germany, Norman is by far the most efficient LexOffice alternative:

• It combines invoicing, bookkeeping, and tax filing in English.

• Core workflows are free.

• You only pay once you actually need to submit returns.

All other tools only make sense in specific edge cases — growing teams, heavy project needs, subscription-heavy billing, or extreme technical self-hosting. For 90% of freelancers, Norman is the simplest, safest, and most powerful choice.

FAQ: LexOffice alternatives in Germany

What is better than LexOffice for freelancers in Germany?

For most freelancers and self-employed people, the biggest pain points with Lexoffice are its complexity, the German-only UI, and the need to pay for features they don’t use. If you want something simpler, English-friendly, and built around DIY tax filing, Norman is usually the better choice.

You get free invoicing, free AI bookkeeping, and full tax filing directly via ELSTER — something most tools either don’t offer or make complicated.

If you’re a larger SMB with employees, Lexoffice might still be fine, but for solo businesses, Norman is the more efficient fit.

Which accounting software can I use as a LexOffice alternative in Germany?

It depends on your business type:

• Norman – best for freelancers/self-employed who want one tool for invoices, bookkeeping, and taxes in English.

• Automation-heavy cloud suites – for growing SMBs with inventory, payroll, or cost centres.

• Invoice-first tools – for subscription-heavy businesses or agencies with lots of recurring billing.

• Project-focused tools – for time-tracked client work.

• Open-source – for engineers who want full control and don’t mind maintaining everything themselves.

For most one-person businesses, Norman is the only option that keeps everything simple and fully compliant without needing a Steuerberater.

Are there cheaper online accounting tools than LexOffice?

Yes — but “cheaper” has two meanings:

1. Lower monthly price (often with limits or missing features).

2. Less work because you save time and avoid mistakes.

Norman sits in the second category:

• Core features (invoices, bank import, receipt scanning) are free,

• and you only pay when you file your tax returns.

For most freelancers, that ends up far cheaper than tools that charge from day one.

Is there a free LexOffice alternative?

You have a few “free” paths:

• Free tiers from various invoicing tools (usually with strict limits).

• Open-source software (but no ELSTER, no GoBD guarantees).

• Norman, where invoicing and AI bookkeeping are free, and you pay only when actual filing starts.

If you’re a side-hustler or Kleinunternehmer with minimal volume, Norman often works as a practical “free alternative” for most of your day-to-day work.

Is LexOffice (and its alternatives) recognized by the tax office?

The Finanzamt doesn’t “approve” or “certify” tools. It's the developers behind the tools who can integrate with the Finanzamt via the Elster API.

Lexoffice, Norman, and other reputable cloud tools are integrated to a varying degree.

If you want a tax solution without hiring a Steuerberater, Norman has built the deepest ELSTER integration.

How do I move away from LexOffice without losing data?

In short:

1. Pick a cut-off date (preferably year-end).

2. Export everything from Lexoffice: customers, invoices, receipts, bank statements, VAT/EÜR reports.

3. Import your data into your new tool (e.g., Norman).

4. Connect your bank accounts and set tax preferences.

5. Keep Lexoffice accessible in read-only mode for audit purposes.

This ensures a clean break without gaps or inconsistencies.

Cloud vs. desktop: which type of LexOffice alternative should I choose?

Cloud (SaaS) tools
Pros: automatic backups, ELSTER integration, mobile access, and GoBD compliance handled for you.
Cons: subscription-based, internet required.

Desktop tools
Pros: one-time purchase, full local control.
Cons: no remote access, no updates, manual backups, often no direct ELSTER or bank integrations.

Suppose you’re a freelancer starting in Germany. In that case, cloud tools are more practical — and if you want an English interface, automated bookkeeping, and full DIY tax filing, Norman is the safest choice in that category.