Best Invoicing Software for Expats in Germany (2026)

Freelancing in Germany when you do not speak German is stressful enough without worrying whether your invoices are even legal. A German invoice has to carry specific legally required details, your VAT status changes what you write on it, and clients increasingly expect a structured e-invoice. This is an honest look at the invoicing software and tax apps that get all of that right while you work in English.

This roundup was written and verified on 2026-07-10. Pricing, features and product positioning change often. Please verify on each vendor's official site before deciding.

Best Invoicing Software for Expats in Germany (2026)

You have done the Anmeldung, registered with the Finanzamt, and you have your tax number. Now you have to actually send invoices, and this is where a lot of expats and English-speaking freelancers in Germany get stuck. A German invoice (a Rechnung) is not just a PDF with a total on it. It has to include a specific set of legally required details (the Pflichtangaben under section 14 of the German VAT Act), it has to reflect your VAT status correctly, and if you are a Kleinunternehmer it needs a specific note explaining why you are not charging VAT.

The problem is that most invoicing software that handles German rules well is built for German speakers, in German, with German-only support. The apps that are comfortable in English are often international invoicing tools that do not understand German requirements at all. As a self-employed foreigner, you are stuck in the middle: you need an invoice app that speaks your language and Germany's rules at the same time.

This roundup ranks the best invoicing software for expats in Germany for that exact situation: billing clients correctly while living and working in Germany, without having to run your business in German. We are honest about where a competitor is the better fit, because for some of you it will be.

The short answer: which is best for you

It depends on one question: do you also need your German taxes filed?

If you want your invoicing and your German tax filing (VAT returns, income-tax estimates, EÜR) handled in one English-language app, Accountable or Sorted are the natural home. They are built around the solo freelancer registered and taxed in Germany, and they talk to Elster for you.

If your Steuerberater or tax advisor already handles the books and what you actually need is clean, compliant, professional invoicing you can run entirely in English, Facturwise is our pick for the best invoicing software for expats in Germany. It produces a correct German Rechnung with the right Pflichtangaben, handles the Kleinunternehmer VAT note automatically, generates ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoices, sends the invoice itself in any of 22 languages, and gives your accountant a DATEV export. It is a focused invoicing tool, not a tax-filing app, and that focus is the point.

If your clients still accept plain PDF invoices and you never need German structured e-invoices, an international invoice app like FreshBooks works too. We explain each below.

Invoicing software for expats in Germany, compared at a glance

FacturwiseOur pick

English interface
Yes, full English interface and support (also DE, FR)
German e-invoicing
Automatic ZUGFeRD 2.4, XRechnung, Factur-X (EN 16931)
Invoice languages
22 invoice languages
Entry price
€13.90/mo, 5 invoices free

Accountable

English interface
Yes, strong English interface and support
German e-invoicing
Supports German e-invoice formats
Invoice languages
Limited invoice-language options
Entry price
Free tier, paid plans for tax features

Sorted

English interface
Yes, English-first product and support
German e-invoicing
Check current ZUGFeRD/XRechnung coverage
Invoice languages
Limited invoice-language options
Entry price
Free tier, paid plans for tax filing

sevDesk

English interface
English UI option; support and help largely German
German e-invoicing
ZUGFeRD and XRechnung supported
Invoice languages
Multilingual invoice output limited
Entry price
€8.90/mo net (+19% VAT)

Lexware Office (lexoffice)

English interface
German-focused, minimal English
German e-invoicing
ZUGFeRD and XRechnung supported
Invoice languages
German-first
Entry price
From around €7/mo net (+VAT)

FreshBooks

English interface
Yes, English-first
German e-invoicing
No native German ZUGFeRD/XRechnung
Invoice languages
Some invoice-language support
Entry price
International pricing, no German e-invoice focus

The best invoicing tools for freelancers in Germany, reviewed

#1

Facturwise

Our pick

English-native invoicing software that gets German invoice rules right.

Best for: Expats who invoice in English, want a correct German Rechnung, and have an accountant for the books.

Facturwise is built for the exact overlap this page is about: German invoicing rules on one side, a fully English and multilingual experience on the other. You set your VAT status once (standard or Kleinunternehmer under section 19) and the correct legal wording lands on every invoice automatically, so you are not translating German tax phrases yourself. For EU B2B sales you add the reverse-charge note yourself in the invoice notes. You pick the output format (standard PDF, ZUGFeRD, XRechnung or Factur-X) in one click, the EN 16931 compliance is automatic, and the invoice document can be rendered in the language your client reads while your own workflow stays in English. It deliberately stops at invoicing. If your accountant already handles the bookkeeping and filings, that is exactly what you want, and the DATEV export hands them your data on demand. If you want the taxes filed for you too, look at Accountable or Sorted below. You can also validate an existing e-invoice for free to see how your current file measures up.

Strengths
  • Full English interface, support and documentation, with German and French options too
  • Correct German Pflichtangaben and the Kleinunternehmer VAT note built in
  • Automatic ZUGFeRD 2.4, XRechnung and Factur-X at EN 16931 on every plan
  • Send the invoice itself in German (or 21 other languages) while you work in English
  • Sequential invoice numbering and DATEV-compatible export for your Steuerberater
Trade-offs
  • Invoicing-focused: no bookkeeping, VAT returns or tax filing to the Finanzamt
  • Not a replacement for an accountant if you want your German taxes handled for you
#2

Accountable

English tax and invoicing app for freelancers in Germany.

Best for: Solo expats who want invoicing and German tax filing in one app.

Accountable is the strongest all-in-one option if you are a solo freelancer registered in Germany and you want your German taxes handled in the same app as your invoices. For an expat doing their own Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung and income tax, having the invoice data flow straight into the tax filing is a genuine time-saver, and the English support is good. It is less of a fit if your main need is invoicing clients across several countries in several languages, if you invoice at volume from a desktop, or if you already have a Steuerberater and just want a focused invoicing tool. For many expats, though, this is the pragmatic choice, and we recommend it honestly.

Strengths
  • Very popular with expats and English-speaking freelancers in Germany
  • Handles VAT returns, income-tax estimates and EÜR, and submits to Elster
  • Clean mobile-first experience with English support
Trade-offs
  • Built specifically around freelancers registered and taxed in Germany
  • Mobile-first, less suited to high-volume desktop invoicing
  • Fewer multilingual invoice-output options for cross-border clients
#3

Sorted

English-first accounting and tax automation, Berlin-based.

Best for: Expat freelancers and founders who want automated German tax in English.

Sorted is another English-first answer to the same problem, aimed at internationals running a business in Germany, from solo freelancers up to UG and GmbH founders. Its strength is tax and bookkeeping automation in English, so it competes with Accountable more than with a pure invoicing tool. If you want the accounting and filings handled and you are comfortable that invoicing is one feature inside a broader suite, it is worth a look. If your priority is the invoice itself, especially compliant e-invoices in multiple languages, a focused invoicing tool will serve that job more directly.

Strengths
  • Built in English for internationals doing business in Germany
  • Automates bookkeeping and tax filings, including VAT
  • Handles freelancers as well as UG/GmbH company structures
Trade-offs
  • Tax and bookkeeping focus, invoicing is one part of a larger suite
  • Multilingual invoice output is limited compared with cross-border tools
  • Verify current German e-invoice format coverage for your needs
#4

sevDesk

Full German cloud accounting suite.

Best for: Freelancers who need complete German accounting and read some German.

sevDesk is a capable German accounting product with solid ZUGFeRD and XRechnung support. If you want the whole financial workflow in one place and you can cope with German once you leave the main screens, it is a strong option. The honest caveats for an expat are the English experience, which several verified reviews describe as partial in the deeper menus and the help content, and multilingual invoice output, which reviewers repeatedly flag as missing. If invoicing is the only part you need and English matters, the surrounding suite adds weight and a language burden you may not want.

Strengths
  • Complete accounting: bank reconciliation, receipt scanning, VAT returns
  • ZUGFeRD and XRechnung compliance is well established
  • Mature product with a large user base in Germany
Trade-offs
  • Knowledge base and support are largely German in practice
  • Full suite can be more than an invoicing-only freelancer needs
  • Bilingual invoice output is a common gap in user reviews
#5

Lexware Office (lexoffice)

Leading German invoicing and accounting tool.

Best for: German-reading freelancers who want native DATEV and broad accounting.

Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice) is one of the most widely used invoicing tools in Germany, and its compliance is not in question. It is simply built for German speakers serving the German market. If you read German comfortably and want native DATEV plus a broad accounting feature set, it is excellent. For an expat whose core problem is the language barrier, it works against you rather than for you, which is why it sits here rather than higher for this specific audience.

Strengths
  • Very popular in Germany with strong DATEV integration
  • ZUGFeRD and XRechnung compliance built in
  • Broad feature set beyond invoicing
Trade-offs
  • Built for the German domestic market, interface is German-first
  • Not designed for non-German speakers or multilingual output
#6

FreshBooks

Polished international invoicing in English.

Best for: Expats whose clients accept plain PDFs and who file taxes separately.

FreshBooks is a polished, English-first invoicing product and pleasant to use. It is on this list to mark its limit clearly: it is not built around German invoice rules, it does not produce ZUGFeRD or XRechnung, and it will not fill in your Kleinunternehmer note for you. If your clients are happy with plain PDF invoices, you handle the German legal details yourself, and you file your taxes elsewhere, it is fine. The moment a German client asks for XRechnung, it is the wrong tool.

Strengths
  • Excellent English interface and user experience
  • Strong general invoicing, time tracking and expenses
Trade-offs
  • No native German structured e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung at EN 16931)
  • Does not enforce German Pflichtangaben or Kleinunternehmer wording for you

How to write an invoice in Germany: the legal requirements

Whatever invoicing software you pick, a proper German invoice (Rechnung) has to include a fixed set of details, the Pflichtangaben under section 14 of the German VAT Act (UStG). Missing one can cause a client to reject the invoice, or cause you a problem later with the Finanzamt. Here is what every German invoice must include:

  • Your full name and address, and the same for your client
  • Your tax number (Steuernummer) or VAT ID (USt-IdNr)
  • The invoice date and the delivery or service date (Leistungsdatum)
  • A unique, sequential invoice number
  • The quantity and a clear description of what you provided
  • The net amount, the VAT rate and VAT amount, and the gross total
  • Any required note, such as the Kleinunternehmer note or a reverse-charge note

Records also have to be kept in line with the GoBD rules on digital bookkeeping. Invoicing software built for Germany fills most of this in for you, keeps your invoice numbers sequential, and stores the records properly. A generic international invoice tool leaves the legal correctness to you, which is exactly where an expat is most exposed.

Kleinunternehmer invoices: what changes when you do not charge VAT

Many expats start out under the Kleinunternehmerregelung (the small-business rule, section 19 UStG). Broadly, if your turnover stayed under €25,000 in the previous year and stays under €100,000 in the current year, you can opt not to charge VAT. Check the current thresholds, because they were raised recently and can change.

If you are a Kleinunternehmer, two things follow for your invoices. You do not add VAT, and you must include a short note stating that no VAT is charged under section 19 UStG. Getting this wrong in either direction, charging VAT you should not, or leaving off the required note, is a common early mistake for new freelancers in Germany. Invoicing software that knows your status writes the correct line for you automatically, in the language your client reads.

Freiberufler or Gewerbe? What it means for your invoices

Before your first invoice, it helps to know which category you fall into, because it affects your registration and taxes even though the invoice format is largely the same. A Freiberufler is a liberal professional (for example a developer, designer, writer, consultant or translator) who registers directly with the Finanzamt. A Gewerbe is a trade or commercial business, which also registers with the Gewerbeamt and may owe trade tax (Gewerbesteuer).

For invoicing, both still need the same Pflichtangaben and the same VAT handling. The practical point for choosing software is simply that a good invoicing tool works for either status, handles your VAT rules, and keeps clean records your Steuerberater can use at tax time.

Do freelancers in Germany need to use e-invoicing?

Germany is moving to mandatory business-to-business e-invoicing. Since January 2025 every German business, including freelancers and small businesses, must be able to receive structured e-invoices. The obligation to issue them phases in across 2027 and 2028, with more time granted to the smallest businesses, and public-sector clients already require XRechnung.

The practical takeaway for an expat freelancer: plain PDF invoices are on their way out for German clients, and more of your clients will ask for a ZUGFeRD or XRechnung file. Invoicing software that generates these formats automatically removes a compliance risk before it becomes your problem. You can read more on Germany's e-invoicing rules, and our companion guide on the best invoicing software for German clients goes deeper on the ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats themselves.

How to choose invoicing software as an English-speaking freelancer

Weigh these together, because most invoicing tools are strong on some and weak on others:

  • English all the way through. Not just a toggle on the home screen, but English support and help when something goes wrong.
  • German rules built in. Correct Pflichtangaben and the Kleinunternehmer VAT note handled for you, not left to you to research.
  • Do you need tax filing too? If yes, an app like Accountable or Sorted that talks to Elster earns its place. If your accountant files for you, focused invoicing software plus a DATEV export is cleaner.
  • E-invoicing and multilingual output. Automatic ZUGFeRD and XRechnung, and the ability to send the invoice in the language your client reads.

Be honest with yourself about the tax-filing question first. It is the fork that decides which half of this list is the best invoicing software for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best invoicing software for expats in Germany?

It depends on whether you also want your German taxes filed. If you do, Accountable or Sorted handle invoicing and tax filing in English in one app. If your accountant handles the books and you want focused, compliant invoicing you can run entirely in English, with correct German Pflichtangaben, automatic ZUGFeRD and XRechnung, and invoices in 22 languages, Facturwise is our pick.

Is there invoicing software for Germany in English?

Yes. Facturwise, Accountable and Sorted are all built in English for people doing business in Germany. Facturwise keeps your whole invoicing workflow in English while still producing a legally correct German Rechnung, and it can render the invoice document itself in German or 21 other languages, so your client reads it in their language while you never leave English.

How do I write an invoice in Germany as a freelancer?

A German invoice must include the Pflichtangaben under section 14 UStG: both parties' full name and address, your tax number or VAT ID, the invoice date and the delivery or service date, a unique sequential invoice number, a clear description and quantity, the net amount, VAT rate and amount, the gross total, and any required note such as the Kleinunternehmer or reverse-charge note. Invoicing software built for Germany fills most of this in and keeps your numbering sequential.

I am a Kleinunternehmer. What do I put on my invoices?

As a Kleinunternehmer under section 19 UStG you do not charge VAT, and you must add a short note stating that no VAT is charged for that reason. You still need all the other legally required details. Invoicing software that knows your status writes the correct note automatically and leaves VAT off, which avoids the two most common early mistakes.

Do I need a VAT ID (USt-IdNr) to invoice in Germany?

Your invoice must show either your tax number (Steuernummer) or your VAT ID (USt-IdNr). A VAT ID is required for cross-border B2B sales inside the EU, where the reverse-charge mechanism applies, so if you invoice EU clients you will want one. For purely domestic invoices, your Steuernummer is enough.

Can I invoice clients outside Germany as a freelancer in Germany?

Yes. For B2B clients in other EU countries you usually issue the invoice without German VAT under the reverse-charge mechanism, adding a note that the customer accounts for VAT, and showing both VAT IDs. You add that reverse-charge note yourself, for example in the invoice notes, and your invoicing software still produces the invoice in your client's language.

Do freelancers in Germany have to use e-invoicing?

Since January 2025 all German businesses, including freelancers, must be able to receive structured e-invoices. Issuing them becomes mandatory in phases through 2027 and 2028, with more time for the smallest businesses, and public-sector clients already require XRechnung. Many private clients now prefer ZUGFeRD or XRechnung over plain PDFs, so software that generates these formats automatically is worth choosing now.

What is the difference between Freiberufler and Gewerbe?

A Freiberufler is a liberal professional such as a developer, designer, writer or consultant, who registers directly with the Finanzamt. A Gewerbe is a trade or commercial business, which also registers with the Gewerbeamt and may owe trade tax (Gewerbesteuer). Both need the same invoice Pflichtangaben, so most invoicing software works for either status.

Is there free invoicing software for freelancers in Germany?

Several tools have free tiers. Facturwise lets you create and send five invoices free, with automatic ZUGFeRD and XRechnung and full English support. Accountable and Sorted also offer free tiers, with paid plans once you add tax filing. The right choice depends on whether you need tax filing bundled in or just clean, compliant invoicing.

Do I need separate software for invoicing and for taxes?

Not necessarily. Accountable and Sorted combine invoicing with German tax filing in English. Facturwise focuses on invoicing only and pairs with a Steuerberater or accountant through its DATEV export. If you want everything in one app, choose the former; if you already have an accountant and want the best focused invoicing, choose the latter.

Invoice your German clients without switching to German

Five invoices free. Correct German Pflichtangaben and the Kleinunternehmer VAT note built in. Automatic ZUGFeRD 2.4, XRechnung and Factur-X, invoices in 22 languages, and DATEV export on every plan. English interface and support throughout.

Create free accountValidate an existing invoice free

Facturwise handles your invoicing. It does not file your German taxes. If you want VAT returns and tax filing handled for you, pair it with an accountant, or use an all-in-one app like Accountable or Sorted.