Invoicing Software for Freelancers in Germany 2026: 7 Tools Tested

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.

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 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 €11/month net, M from around €19/month, L from around €28/month. Prices have risen 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: Entry from around €9/month net, full package considerably higher. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.