Invoicing Software for Freelancers in Germany 2026: 7 Tools Tested
Which invoicing software fits freelancers in Germany in 2026? We test 7 tools on price, mandatory fields, recurring invoices, dunning and e-invoicing.
- Category
- Tools & comparisons
- Updated
- Author
- Diana
As a freelancer you write invoices constantly, and this is exactly where it gets decided whether you lose hours every month on formatting, numbering and chasing payments, or whether the software handles it for you. A good invoicing program is not "just a template": it numbers sequentially, checks the mandatory fields under §14 UStG, archives in a GoBD-compliant way, and since 2025 it can also create e-invoices.
The market is large and confusing. Some tools are pure invoicing apps, others are full accounting suites, and prices range from €0 to over €30 a month. Which program actually fits you depends on how many invoices you write, whether you bill recurring subscriptions, and whether you want to handle bookkeeping and tax in the same place.
In this test we compare 7 invoicing programs for freelancers on price, feature set, e-invoicing and accounting integration, so you can find the right tool for 2026 without clicking through dozens of pricing pages.
Quick answer: the right invoicing tool in 30 seconds
For most solo freelancers the most economical tool is one that combines invoicing, e-invoicing and bookkeeping, especially when the invoicing itself is free. Norman writes and books invoices permanently for free and creates e-invoices in the ZUGFeRD format; you only pay for the tax filing from €12/month. If you only write a handful of invoices a year and handle bookkeeping elsewhere, a lean tool like Zervant or Papierkram (both with a free tier) is enough. Established all-in-one packages like Lexware Office (from around €6.90/month) and sevDesk (from €12.90/month) pay off if you work closely with a tax advisor and DATEV. In every case, watch for three things: automatic mandatory fields under §14 UStG, e-invoicing under EN 16931, and GoBD-compliant archiving.
What invoicing software for freelancers must do
Before you compare prices, you should know what matters. A full invoicing program covers these points:
- Mandatory fields automatically: All details required under §14 UStG, from the sequential invoice number to the tax number. You can read which ones in our overview of required invoice fields.
- Recurring invoices: If you bill retainers, subscriptions or monthly flat rates, you want to set them up once and have them sent automatically.
- Dunning / reminders: Automatic payment reminders and dunning levels so you don't have to chase open invoices.
- Quotes and order confirmations: From quote to invoice in one click, without typing data twice.
- E-invoicing under EN 16931: Since 2025 every company in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices, with the sending obligation phasing in from 2027/2028. A PDF by email is no longer enough in B2B.
- GoBD-compliant archiving: Stored in an audit-proof way so you're covered in a tax audit.
The 7 invoicing programs at a glance
The table below summarises what the tested tools deliver for freelancers. Prices are entry-tier plans, net (as of 2026), and may vary by promotion.
| Tool | Entry price (net) | Free tier | Send e-invoice | Bookkeeping | Recurring invoices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman | €0 (tax from €12) | Yes, no limit | Yes (ZUGFeRD) | Yes, included | Yes |
| Lexware Office | from ~€6.90 | No | only from XL (~€32.90) | Yes | Yes |
| sevDesk | from ~€12.90 | up to 3 invoices/month | from "Rechnung" (~€12.90) | from ~€25.90 | Yes |
| FastBill | from ~€9 | No | Yes | partial | Yes (focus) |
| Billomat | from ~€10 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Papierkram | from ~€8 | Yes (free tier) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zervant | from ~€9 | Yes (basic) | Yes | No | limited |
The 7 best invoicing programs of 2026 tested
1. Norman: free, AI-powered, with bookkeeping
Norman writes invoices in seconds, numbers them sequentially, and creates e-invoices in the ZUGFeRD format under EN 16931. Recurring invoices, quotes and payment reminders are built in.
Price: Invoicing and bookkeeping are permanently free: no limit, no watermark. You only pay for the tax filing; the Klein plan starts at €12/month. Details on the pricing page.
Strengths: Write and book invoices in one tool, AI receipt recognition, AI bookkeeping included. More at e-invoicing with Norman.
2. Lexware Office (formerly Lexoffice)
The market leader covers invoicing, bookkeeping and banking solidly and is well established.
Price: S from around €6.90/month net (temporarily cheaper with a new-customer discount), L from around €21.90/month, XL from around €32.90/month. Note: e-invoice sending is only included in the most expensive plan. Prices have been restructured several times since the Lexware takeover.
3. sevDesk
Popular all-in-one solution with invoicing, bookkeeping and DATEV export, better suited to freelancers who work with a tax advisor.
Price: Free tier for up to 3 invoices a month, "Rechnung" from around €12.90/month net (incl. e-invoicing), "Buchhaltung" from around €25.90/month. A free trial is available.
4. FastBill
Lean tool focused on invoicing, recurring billing and receipt management.
Price: Entry tier from around €9/month net, "Pro" from around €21/month. Its recurring-invoice module is considered one of the strongest on the market.
5. Billomat
API-flexible and aimed at growing businesses with many invoices.
Price: Paid plans from around €10/month net, higher depending on feature scope (as of 2026).
6. Papierkram
Freelancer-friendly with built-in time tracking and project billing.
Price: Free tier available; paid plans from around €8/month net.
7. Zervant
Simple invoicing tool aimed mainly at small businesses and solo freelancers.
Price: Free basic tier for a few invoices, paid packages tiered by volume. It has no bookkeeping of its own.
Which invoicing program fits whom?
Not every tool fits every freelancer. The choice comes down to two questions: how many invoices do you write, and do you want bookkeeping running alongside?
- Few invoices, bookkeeping handled elsewhere: A lean tool or a free tier is enough: Zervant or Papierkram Free.
- Billing regularly, tax from one place: An integrated solution saves the most time: Norman handles invoicing, e-invoicing and bookkeeping for free.
- Very high volume or API automation: Billomat or FastBill are built for scale and interfaces.
Free tool or paid software?
Pure free generators and Word templates look tempting but fail on numbering, archiving and the e-invoicing obligation. What actually works for free and stays legally compliant in 2026 we broke down in creating an invoice for free. The short answer: a template is free, but it doesn't number automatically and can't produce an e-invoice.
The difference between "cheap" and "right" lies in the feature set: if you only write an invoice now and then, a lean tool is enough. As soon as you bill regularly, have subscriptions, or want bookkeeping and VAT to run alongside, an integrated solution saves you more time than the plan costs.
Free invoice template (PDF, Word & Excel)
Legally compliant with all mandatory fields under §14 UStG, three formats, ready to use.
Invoicing only, or with bookkeeping?
Many freelancers start with a pure invoicing tool and notice after a few months: the invoices sit in one program, the receipts in another, and the tax advisor does the VAT return from a third source. Every switch costs time and produces transfer errors.
If you run invoicing and bookkeeping in one tool, you save exports, double entry and reconciliation effort. Which all-in-one solutions are worth it is shown in our comparison of the best accounting software for freelancers. And if your focus is on e-invoicing, the separate e-invoicing software comparison helps you choose.
E-invoicing: the deadlines that affect freelancers
E-invoicing is no longer a future topic: it is already phasing in. Anyone choosing an invoicing program today should make sure it can create e-invoices under EN 16931 (ZUGFeRD or XRechnung).
| Date | Who is affected | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| since 01.01.2025 | all companies in B2B | must be able to receive e-invoices (mandatory) |
| from 01.01.2027 | companies over €800,000 prior-year revenue | must send e-invoices (mandatory) |
| from 01.01.2028 | all companies in B2B | must send e-invoices (mandatory) |
For most solo freelancers this means: until the end of 2027 you may still send classic PDF or paper invoices in B2B, but you already have to be able to receive e-invoices. A tool that handles e-invoices from the start saves you a later switch.
Frequently asked questions about invoicing software for freelancers
Which invoicing software is free for freelancers?
You can write and book permanently for free with Norman: no invoice limit and no watermark. sevDesk, Papierkram and Zervant also offer free tiers, but with restrictions (sevDesk, for example, only 3 invoices per month).
Do I even need invoicing software as a small business owner?
It's not mandatory; you may also write invoices in Word or Excel. It still makes sense, because a program handles sequential numbering, the mandatory fields under §14 UStG and GoBD-compliant archiving automatically. As a small business under §19 UStG you don't charge VAT, but everything else applies just the same.
Do I have to issue e-invoices as a freelancer?
You've had to be able to receive e-invoices in B2B since 01.01.2025. The obligation to send them only kicks in from 2027 (for over €800,000 prior-year revenue) or from 2028 for all companies. For invoices to private customers (B2C) the e-invoicing obligation does not apply.
How much does good invoicing software cost per month?
The range runs from €0 (Norman, plus limited free tiers) through around €7–13 for entry packages to over €30 for all-in-one solutions with bookkeeping and e-invoice sending. For solo freelancers with modest volume, the most expensive plan rarely pays off.
Can I write invoices in Word or Excel?
Yes, legally that's allowed as long as all mandatory fields are present. The catch: Word and Excel don't number automatically, don't archive in a GoBD-compliant way, and can't create an e-invoice in the EN 16931 format. For the occasional invoice a free template is fine; for regular billing it isn't.
Which program suits invoicing and bookkeeping together?
Norman, Lexware Office, sevDesk, Billomat and Papierkram combine invoicing and bookkeeping in one tool. Norman is the only one where invoicing and bookkeeping are permanently free and you only pay for the tax filing.
Conclusion: the right invoicing program for you
For most solo freelancers, a tool that combines invoicing, e-invoicing and bookkeeping is the most economical choice, especially when invoicing itself is free. Lean invoicing apps mainly pay off if you write few invoices and handle bookkeeping elsewhere.
Norman covers invoicing and bookkeeping permanently for free, creates e-invoices under EN 16931, and uses AI to assign receipts; you only pay for the tax filing. If you want to write invoices, book them, and handle your tax from a single place, try Norman for free.
Write and book invoices in one free tool
Norman creates sequentially numbered invoices and e-invoices in the ZUGFeRD format, sends recurring invoices automatically, and books every receipt with AI. Invoicing and bookkeeping are permanently free; you only pay for the tax filing.