Accounting software 2026: the big picture
Digitising your bookkeeping has long been essential for freelancers, the self-employed and small businesses (Kleinunternehmer). With the e-invoicing obligation in the B2B sector, modern software is no longer a luxury: since 1 January 2025, every business has had to be able to receive and read e-invoices – not only from 2027. From 2027/2028, the obligation to issue them is simply added.
The good news: cloud-based tools such as Sevdesk, Lexware Office or Papierkram make bookkeeping easier than ever. They recognise receipts automatically using AI, connect to your bank account and produce the simplified profit calculation (EÜR, Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung) at the push of a button.
Important: the e-invoicing obligation
Receiving is already mandatory: since 1 January 2025, every domestic business must be able to receive, read and archive e-invoices (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD) – including small businesses under section 19 of the VAT Act (UStG) and freelancers. An email inbox is enough for receipt; however, the XML file must be made readable and kept unchanged for 8 years. As a transitional measure, business partners may still send paper invoices or – with your consent – PDF invoices: until the end of 2026, and for businesses with up to €800,000 in prior-year turnover until the end of 2027.
Issuing comes later: from 1 January 2027 for businesses with more than €800,000 in prior-year turnover, from 1 January 2028 for all others. Small businesses are permanently exempt from issuing.
Watch out with cheap plans: not every plan can read incoming e-invoices. With Sevdesk, for example, the "Free" and "Invoicing" plans can only write e-invoices; capturing incoming e-invoices starts with the "Bookkeeping" plan. Check before signing up that your plan can do both.
The e-invoicing obligation explained simply
An e-invoice is a machine-readable invoice in the XRechnung or ZUGFeRD format. Unlike a classic PDF invoice, the recipient can process it automatically. However, the raw XML file is not readable for humans – which is exactly why you need a program that displays it, checks it and stores it in an audit-proof way. All the accounting tools presented here support at least one of these formats (depending on the plan).
For small businesses under section 19 UStG: they, too, have had to be able to receive and read e-invoices since 2025, but are permanently exempt from issuing them. Switching voluntarily is still worthwhile – the software creates them automatically.
The top providers in detail
Sevdesk: from EÜR to P&L
Sevdesk is the most comprehensive solution and offers everything the self-employed need, from EÜR to the profit and loss account (GuV). Automatic AI receipt capture saves time every day. Particularly worth highlighting: the ELSTER interface for the VAT return and the DATEV export for your tax adviser. There is a free plan with 3 e-invoices a month; unlimited invoices cost €11.90 and full bookkeeping €25.90 a month (from €8.90 and €19.90 respectively with a 24-month term).
Lexware Office (Lexoffice): clearly tiered plans
Lexware Office (formerly Lexoffice) comes from the long-established Haufe-Lexware and stands out with clearly tiered plans: S (€7.90) covers only receipt capture and archiving, while invoices and e-invoices start with M (€12.90). Bookkeeping, EÜR and the VAT return follow in L (€21.90), EU and advance-payment invoices plus the API in XL (€32.90). You can test the full scope free for 30 days.
Papierkram: free Free plan
Papierkram is ideal for beginners: the completely free Free plan offers invoices, time tracking and project management. XRechnung/ZUGFeRD, EÜR and banking come with plan S (€15.90 a month, €12.90 with annual payment). Special feature: built-in time tracking, which Lexware only offers through extensions.
The right choice for your situation
Which software suits whom?
- For freelancers & sole traders: Papierkram S (€15.90) or Sevdesk Invoicing (€11.90)
- For small businesses using EÜR: Sevdesk Bookkeeping (€25.90) or Lexware Office L (€21.90)
- For a GmbH with a balance sheet: BuchhaltungsButler Smart (€46.90) – prepares balance sheets directly in the software
- For the price-conscious: Papierkram S with annual payment (€12.90), time tracking included
Last updated: October 2026