vs.
The mika alternative with free bookkeeping
Price, features, and automation in direct comparison, so you can make the right decision.
In short
mika combines AI bookkeeping with employed bookkeepers who check your postings, and charges by bank transactions. You still submit the tax returns yourself and stay responsible for them: bookkeepers are not tax advisors.
Norman is your AI bookkeeper. It handles receipts, invoices and ongoing bookkeeping, and prepares the annual accounts, the E-Bilanz and every tax return of your UG or GmbH automatically. You file them on the Max plan at a flat price. Invoicing and bookkeeping are free.
Features at a glance
Price, features, and automation in direct comparison. Prices exclude VAT, as of 27 September 2026. Norman billed yearly.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free | From €49/mo |
| Annual accounts and taxes | €39/mo on Max | From €99/mo, rising with transactions |
| Free bookkeeping and invoicing | ||
| Flat price, however many transactions | ||
| Cancel monthly | ||
| AI receipt capture | ||
| E-invoicing (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD) | ||
| VAT returns (UStVA) | ||
| Annual accounts with E-Bilanz | ||
| Corporate and trade tax returns | ||
| DATEV export | ||
| MCP for Claude and ChatGPT | ||
| Also for the self-employed and freelancers | ||
| Personal income tax return | ||
| iOS and Android app | ||
| Bookkeepers check your postings | ||
| Responsibility for your tax returns | Yours | Yours, despite the bookkeeper review |
What are you actually paying?
The initial price only tells half the story. Compare the plan that covers the work you need. Prices exclude VAT, as of 27 September 2026. Norman billed yearly.
| What you need | | |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing bookkeeping Receipts, bank and postings | €0 Free plan; you file VAT returns on Max | €49/mo Bookkeeping with VAT returns up to 25 transactions; your advisor does the annual accounts |
Small GmbH or UG Up to 25 transactions a month, with annual accounts and taxes | €39/mo Max billed yearly; €52/mo on monthly billing | €99/mo Bookkeeping and annual accounts, checked by bookkeepers |
Growing GmbH Up to 50 transactions a month, with annual accounts and taxes | €39/mo The same Max plan, with no transaction tiers | €199/mo €549/mo up to 150 transactions; a custom quote above that |
What are the differences?
Price and pricing model
Both cover bookkeeping, VAT returns and annual accounts for a GmbH or UG. The billing differs.
Invoicing and bookkeeping are free. The Max plan includes the annual accounts with E-Bilanz, corporate, trade and annual VAT returns, VAT returns and the EC Sales List: €39 a month billed yearly or €52 billed monthly, excluding VAT. The price does not depend on how many transactions you have.
mika charges by bank transactions per month. Bookkeeping starts at €49. Bookkeeping with annual accounts costs €99 up to 25 transactions, €199 up to 50 and €549 up to 150, with a custom quote above that. If the three-month average rises, the next tier applies automatically.
AI and human review
Both rely on AI. mika adds its own team of bookkeepers.
As your AI bookkeeper, Norman captures receipts, categorizes transactions and matches documents to payments. It prepares the VAT returns, annual accounts and tax returns automatically from your books. You review and file as soon as you are ready, without waiting for a reviewer.
mika's AI books receipts and payments. Anything it cannot match with confidence goes to a trained bookkeeper. But bookkeepers are not tax advisors: you submit the tax returns yourself, and the responsibility stays with you.
Tax advice
Software does not replace tax advice. The routes to a tax advisor differ.
You can invite your tax advisor into Norman from the Pro plan. Or you choose Norman's tax advice: one named tax advisor reviews and signs every filing, for a fixed monthly price from €82 billed yearly. For UGs and GmbHs, the offer covers new companies from their first filing.
mika does not provide tax advice itself. For tax questions, mika refers you to advisors from its network. In the All-Inclusive package, a partner tax advisor handles the annual accounts; mika quotes the price on request.
Getting started and contract
How you start and how long you are committed.
You sign up yourself and start on the Free plan without payment details. Paid plans run monthly or yearly and can be cancelled for the end of the term. Besides UGs and GmbHs, Norman covers the self-employed and personal income tax, in German and English.
mika recommends a call with its sales team before you start and prepares a custom quote; a trial is available on request. Billing is monthly in advance, with three months' notice to the end of a month. mika is built for incorporated companies such as a GmbH, UG or AG; it does not support the self-employed or freelancers.
Norman or mika: which fits you?
Choose Norman if you …
Want to start for free right away, without payment details
Want a flat price, however many transactions you have
Want your tax returns prepared automatically, without waiting for a reviewer
Want to invite your advisor or get a dedicated Norman tax advisor
Want to work in German or English, on desktop and mobile
Choose mika if you …
Want bookkeepers to check your postings
Want your holding and operating GmbH handled together
Need expense claims, payment runs and cost centres in one tool
Prefer a personal onboarding with a sales team
What your AI bookkeeper takes care of
Invoicing and bookkeeping are free. The Max plan includes the annual accounts, the E-Bilanz and every tax return for a UG or GmbH.
Automated bank categorization (SKR03/04)
Norman continuously assigns bank movements to the right accounts and suggests matching SKR03/04 postings.
Smart receipt matching
Forward receipts via app or email. Norman extracts the data and matches them with transactions.
Real-time expense tracking
All expenses broken down by category, automatically updated, and available at any time.
Financial overview at a glance
Revenue, expenses, and open items in one dashboard that updates with every booking.
AI-powered insights
Norman identifies savings opportunities, flags unusual bookings, and gives you actionable recommendations.
Hear from entrepreneurs
Businesses that run on Norman
FAQ
Which mika alternative fits me?
Norman fits if you want free bookkeeping and to file the annual accounts, E-Bilanz and every tax return of your UG or GmbH yourself, at a flat price. If ongoing checks by bookkeepers matter to you, compare that service with mika.
How much does Norman cost compared with mika?
Norman's bookkeeping is free. The Max plan with annual accounts and every tax return costs €39 a month billed yearly or €52 billed monthly, excluding VAT. mika with annual accounts costs €99 a month up to 25 bank transactions, €199 up to 50 and €549 up to 150, also excluding VAT. Reviewed 27 September 2026.
Is Norman a free mika alternative?
Norman's Free plan includes invoicing, double-entry bookkeeping and MCP access. Annual accounts and tax filing for a UG or GmbH are included in the Max plan. mika offers a trial on request, followed by a paid plan.
Does a person check my bookkeeping in Norman?
Norman is an AI bookkeeper: you review its suggestions and approve every filing yourself. You can invite your tax advisor from the Pro plan. With Norman's tax advice, one dedicated tax advisor reviews and signs every filing; for UGs and GmbHs this covers new companies from their first filing. At mika, employed bookkeepers check the postings. You still submit the tax returns yourself and carry the responsibility; a tax advisor comes only through partners in its All-Inclusive package.
Can I switch from mika to Norman?
Yes. mika offers a DATEV export. Upload it to Norman, which uses it as your opening balances and as the template for your chart of accounts. You can switch in the middle of a financial year too. Mind mika's three-month notice period, and reconcile balances and open items after the switch.
Does Norman support e-invoicing?
Yes. Norman creates and receives e-invoices in XRechnung and ZUGFeRD format. You can write invoices on the Free plan with no time limit. mika also offers e-invoicing in its plans.
Can I use Norman in English?
Yes. Norman is available in German and English. You can manage your German bookkeeping in the language that suits you.