sevdesk
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Key facts at a glance
- What it is
- sevdesk is a cloud-based accounting and invoicing software built specifically for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small businesses in the DACH region (Germany, Austr…
- Pricing
- from $12.97/month
- Best for
- German freelancer filing quarterly VAT returns who wants to replace manual Excel bookkeeping before the next Finanzamt deadline
Last updated:
Why this tool?
- Submits VAT advance returns (Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung) directly to ELSTER without leaving the app
- OCR-powered receipt capture turns paper receipts into booked transactions in seconds
- DATEV export lets tax advisors pull data into their own systems without manual handoff
- GoBD-compliant audit trail protects freelancers and small businesses during tax audits
When NOT to use?
- Your business operates outside Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. sevDesk is built exclusively around German tax law, ELSTER submissions, and DATEV exports — none of which apply outside the DACH region, making the product largely useless for international setups.
- You need multi-currency or multilingual accounting. sevDesk is a German-language product designed for Euro-denominated transactions; businesses dealing in multiple currencies or requiring an English-language interface will hit hard limits quickly.
- Your company has outgrown the small-business stage. Once you need consolidated reporting across multiple entities, complex cost-center accounting, or a full ERP integration, sevDesk's feature set becomes too thin — it is aimed squarely at freelancers and micro-businesses.
- You run a product-heavy business with serious inventory demands. Warehouse management, batch tracking, and multi-location stock control are only superficially covered in the top-tier plan; dedicated WMS or ERP solutions handle these scenarios far better.
- You want deep direct integration with non-German payroll or HR systems. sevDesk focuses on invoicing and bookkeeping and does not offer native payroll processing, so teams needing an all-in-one HR-to-accounting workflow will need additional tooling regardless.
sevdesk is a cloud-based accounting and invoicing software built specifically for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small businesses in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). It handles invoicing, receipt capture with OCR, bank reconciliation, VAT returns via ELSTER, and GoBD-compliant bookkeeping — making it one of the most comprehensive German-language accounting platforms available. If you need a Buchhaltungssoftware that replaces your tax advisor's busy work without requiring accounting expertise, sevdesk is a strong contender.
Core Features and What sevdesk Does Well
- Invoicing and quotes: Create professional invoices, quotes, and recurring billing with customizable templates. Invoices can be sent directly from the platform, and payment tracking is automated.
- Receipt capture (Belegerfassung): Snap photos of receipts or forward them via email. sevdesk's OCR engine extracts key data automatically and matches receipts to transactions.
- Online banking integration: Connect your bank account for automatic transaction imports. sevdesk suggests category assignments and matches transactions to open invoices.
- Tax compliance: Generate EÜR (Einnahmenüberschussrechnung) or profit-and-loss overviews, file VAT advance returns (Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung) directly via ELSTER, and export data in DATEV format for your tax advisor.
- GoBD compliance: All bookkeeping entries are stored in a legally compliant, audit-proof manner — a hard requirement for German businesses.
- Inventory management: Available in the higher-tier Warenwirtschaft plan for businesses that need stock tracking alongside their accounting.
Pricing and Plans
sevdesk uses a tiered subscription model with three main plans: Rechnung (invoicing-focused), Buchhaltung (full accounting features including EÜR and ELSTER), and Warenwirtschaft (adds inventory management). Pricing starts at roughly €8–9/month for the basic tier when billed annually, with the full accounting plan typically in the €17–20/month range. sevdesk regularly offers promotional discounts — currently advertising 50% off all plans — and provides a free trial period so you can test the software before committing. All plans include the mobile app for iOS and Android.
Who Should Consider sevdesk — and Who Shouldn't
sevdesk is ideal for German freelancers (Freiberufler), Einzelunternehmer, and small GmbHs or UGs who want to handle routine bookkeeping themselves while keeping their tax advisor in the loop via DATEV export. The interface is designed for non-accountants and lowers the barrier to proper financial record-keeping significantly.
However, sevdesk is primarily a German-language product targeting German tax law. Businesses outside the DACH region or those needing multi-currency support for international operations may find tools like Xero, FreshBooks, or QuickBooks more suitable. Within the German market, alternatives include lexoffice (by Haufe), FastBill, and Debitoor/SumUp Invoices — each with slightly different strengths in pricing, UX, or feature depth.
For DACH-based small businesses and freelancers who want GoBD-compliant, ELSTER-integrated cloud accounting without a steep learning curve, sevdesk delivers a mature, well-rounded solution that covers the full workflow from invoice to tax return.
Pricing
Show price history table
| Date | Kostenlos | Rechnung | Buchhaltung |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | $0 | $13 | $28 |
We check this pricing page every month and verify every apparent change against the Internet Archive. See how 159 tools moved in the SaaS Pricing Index →
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sevdesk vs. Alternatives
| Feature | sevdesk | lexoffice | FastBill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated Invoice Creation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Receipt Capture with OCR | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VAT Return via ELSTER | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| DATEV Export for Tax Advisors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GoBD-Compliant Bookkeeping | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inventory Management | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Online Banking Reconciliation | ✓ | ✓ | ○ |
| EÜR / Profit-and-Loss Reports | ✓ | ✓ | ○ |
✓ Supported ○ Limited ✗ Not supported
vs. Alternatives
- vs. Lexoffice: sevdesk includes inventory management (Warenwirtschaft) in higher tiers, Lexoffice does not
- vs. FastBill: sevdesk offers native ELSTER VAT submission; FastBill requires third-party ELSTER tools
- vs. QuickBooks: sevdesk is built specifically for German tax law (UStVA, EÜR, DATEV) where QuickBooks has no ELSTER integration
- vs. Excel/manual bookkeeping: sevdesk auto-reconciles bank feeds and flags missing receipts, cutting monthly close from days to hours
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does sevdesk cost per month?
- sevdesk starts at approximately €9.90/month for the entry-level Rechnung (invoicing) plan, with the full-featured Buchhaltung plan at around €16.90/month and the Warenwirtschaft plan (including inventory management) priced higher. Annual billing typically saves around 20%, and promotional discounts of up to 50% are frequently offered.
- Does sevdesk offer a free trial or a free plan?
- sevdesk offers a 14-day free trial on all paid plans with no credit card required, but there is no permanent free plan. After the trial period ends, a paid subscription is needed to continue accessing your data and features.
- What are the best sevdesk alternatives for freelancers in Germany?
- The closest sevdesk alternative for German freelancers is Lexoffice, which offers a nearly identical feature set including ELSTER VAT returns and DATEV export. FastBill is a lighter invoicing-focused option, while larger businesses sometimes opt for DATEV Unternehmen Online, though that requires a tax advisor to manage.
- Is sevdesk suitable for self-employed professionals and small businesses in Germany?
- Yes, sevdesk is purpose-built for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small businesses operating in Germany and the DACH region. It handles GoBD-compliant bookkeeping, VAT advance returns (Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung) via ELSTER, and receipt capture with OCR — covering the core compliance requirements for German sole traders and SMBs.
- Does sevdesk integrate with DATEV and online banking?
- Yes, sevdesk supports DATEV export for seamless collaboration with tax advisors and submits VAT advance returns directly via ELSTER. It also connects to German bank accounts for automated transaction import and reconciliation, reducing manual data entry significantly.
- What features are missing from the sevdesk Rechnung plan?
- The Rechnung (invoicing) plan is limited to creating invoices and quotes — it does not include full double-entry bookkeeping, EÜR profit-and-loss overviews, VAT return submission via ELSTER, or DATEV export. Those features require upgrading to the Buchhaltung plan, and inventory management is only available on the top-tier Warenwirtschaft plan.
- Is sevdesk worth it for small business accounting in Germany?
- sevdesk is widely considered one of the top cloud accounting tools for the German market, earning a Testsieger rating of 1.2 in 2026 software comparisons. For freelancers and small businesses that need ELSTER-compliant VAT filing, automated bank reconciliation, and DATEV collaboration in one affordable tool, it delivers strong value relative to its subscription cost.
