sevdesk
6.4/10Cloud invoicing and bookkeeping software for German freelancers and small businesses, with e-invoicing, bank sync, ELSTER VAT filing and DATEV export.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
sevdesk is a browser-based accounting tool from Offenburg, Germany, built for freelancers, self-employed people and small companies that file taxes in Germany. It covers quotes, invoices and e-invoices in the ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats, payment reminders, receipt capture with AI recognition, and connections to more than 4,000 banks through finAPI. Incoming payments are matched to open items automatically. On the accounting plans it supports single-entry and double-entry bookkeeping, income surplus statements (EUR) and profit and loss reports, depreciation, a cash book, and VAT pre-returns sent directly to the tax office through ELSTER. Tax advisors get their own access, and data exports to DATEV and ADDISON. Pricing has four tiers: a free plan with three invoices a month, Rechnung for invoicing, Buchhaltung for full bookkeeping, and Buchhaltung Pro, which adds cost centres, real-time business evaluations (BWA) and the REST API. Each plan includes one user. Extra users, time tracking and inventory are billed as monthly add-ons, and longer contract terms lower the monthly rate. The marketplace lists more than 60 integrations, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe and PayPal. sevdesk has been part of the French software group Cegid since 2025. Its main limits are that it is built around German tax rules, has no payroll, and offers lighter reporting than tools such as Lexware or DATEV. Some reviewers also report unstable bank connections and frustration over automatic contract renewals.
Our Rating
Who sevdesk is best for
Good fit
There is a free tier and a cheap invoicing plan, and EÜR and ELSTER filing are built for German self-employed people.
Bookkeeping, bank sync and tax advisor access suit German SMEs, but there is no payroll.
Less suited
The DATEV export and a separate tax advisor login help, but some reviewers say tax advisors do not accept it as professional accounting software.
It offers Shopify, WooCommerce and Stripe integrations, plus an inventory add-on.
- Enterprise2/10
It has no multi-entity consolidation or payroll and is aimed at small firms.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The free plan stays free with no time limit and includes up to 3 e-invoices a month in the ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats
- VAT pre-returns go straight to the tax office through ELSTER, and EÜR reports are generated automatically
- Reviewers on OMR rate it highly for ease of use and setup, at 90% each, and say beginners can learn it quickly
- Bank connections to more than 4,000 banks match incoming payments to invoices automatically
- Data exports to DATEV and ADDISON, and tax advisors get their own login
Cons
- There is no payroll, so a separate tool is needed for wages
- Some users report unstable bank connections and inaccurate automatic receipt recognition
- Reports are less detailed than in Lexware, and the BWA is only in the most expensive plan
- Some reviewers complain about automatic contract renewal and say early cancellation is hard
- Only one user is included, and each extra user costs 5.90 EUR a month
- It is built around German tax rules, so it fits poorly outside Germany and Austria
Key Features
Not included
- Payroll
sevdesk Pricing
Kostenlos
- No personal support
- ZUGFeRD and XRechnung
- Unlimited contacts and products
- Up to 3 invoices or e-invoices per month
Rechnung
or €119/year (save 17%)
- Personal support
- Payment reminders
- Tax advisor access
- 1 admin user included
- DATEV and ADDISON export
- Down-payment and final invoices
- Unlimited invoices, e-invoices and quotes
Buchhaltung
or €275/year (save 12%)
- EÜR and P&L
- Dunning levels
- AI receipt capture
- Everything in Rechnung
- Depreciation and cash book
- VAT pre-returns via ELSTER
- Bank connection to 4,000+ banks
- Single-entry and double-entry bookkeeping
Buchhaltung Pro
or €371/year (save 11%)
- REST API
- Cost centres
- Real-time BWA
- Advanced analytics
- Everything in Buchhaltung
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there is a 14-day trial, and a free plan with up to 3 invoices a month stays free with no time limit.
No. sevdesk itself lists wage and salary processing as something the software cannot do.
Yes. Paid plans include access for tax advisors and data export to DATEV and ADDISON.
On servers in Germany. sevdesk says the software complies with GDPR and helps meet the German GoBD bookkeeping rules.
Yes. A REST API is included in the Buchhaltung Pro plan.
Plans can be billed every month, every 12 months or every 24 months. Longer terms have a lower monthly rate, and the pricing page often shows promotional discounts as well.
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