Free Bookkeeping Software for Small Businesses in Germany: What Exists?

As a Kleinunternehmer (small-business exemption under § 19 UStG) you usually need only a profit statement (EÜR), not double-entry bookkeeping. There is software with a permanently free plan, trial months, and VAT GPT Free. Check what the free plan leaves out. As of 29 October 2026.

Last updated: 29 October 2026. Statements about other software come from their own sites, retrieved on 29 October 2026; this is not a rating.

In short

Obligation: an EÜR is enough as long as you are not required to keep books (§ 4 para. 3 EStG).
Permanently free: sevDesk lists a plan "Kostenlos" (EUR 0.00); which functions it has, check on the price page.
Trials: Lexware Office 30 days, sevDesk 14 days, VAT GPT Go 30 days.

What must bookkeeping software do for a Kleinunternehmer?

Record income and expenses: the EÜR is business income minus business expenses (§ 4 para. 3 EStG).
Keep receipts: invoices for eight years (§ 14b para. 1 UStG).
Write invoices with a note that the small-business VAT exemption applies (§ 34a UStDV, § 19 UStG).
Send the EÜR electronically (§ 60 para. 4 EStDV).

The limits of the exemption: turnover of at most EUR 25,000 in the previous year and EUR 100,000 in the current year (§ 19 para. 1 UStG).

What this means for you: Choose by these four points, not by price alone.

Which software is free or can be tried for free?

Statements per each provider, retrieved on 29 October 2026:

Software	Free per provider	Paid plans
sevDesk	plan "Kostenlos" (EUR 0.00), "Dauerhaft kostenlos"; 14 days all functions	from EUR 8.90 per month on a 24-month term, plus VAT
Lexware Office	30 days free trial without obligation	from EUR 7.90 per month, plus VAT
VAT GPT	Free (basic functions); Go 30 days with all Pro functions	Pro EUR 49 per month or EUR 444 per year, incl. VAT

Sources: sevDesk prices, Lexware prices. Per the sevDesk price page the EÜR ("EÜR und GuV für deine Steuererklärung") is in the Buchhaltung plan; the page retrieved does not say whether the free plan includes it.

What this means for you: A free plan often covers invoices; for the EÜR and sending you usually need a paid plan.

Is Excel enough instead of software?

Yes, if you keep receipts in order and send the EÜR electronically at year end. Details are in Bookkeeping for small businesses: basics.

What this means for you: Software pays off when it saves you time on receipts.

How does VAT GPT help?

VAT GPT is built for online sellers. The method: Upload – check – send.

Upload: receipts as PDF, photo or XML, and Amazon and eBay reports as CSV; the AI reads amounts and tax rates.
Check: you review and confirm the result.
Send: the EÜR is built from income and expenses; with Pro you send it through ELSTER.

VAT GPT is not tax advice. Try for free

What this means for you: With Go you can test for 30 days whether it fits your receipts.

Frequently asked questions

Which bookkeeping software is free for small businesses? sevDesk lists a permanently free plan, and VAT GPT has Free with basic functions. Which functions are included is on the price pages.

What is the best bookkeeping software for a Kleinunternehmer? It depends on whether you want to write invoices, record receipts or send the EÜR. Compare the options against the requirements listed above.

Do I have to do double-entry bookkeeping as a Kleinunternehmer? No, as long as you are not required to keep books; the EÜR is enough (§ 4 para. 3 EStG).

Does sending cost extra? With VAT GPT yes: sending is part of Pro.