E-Invoicing Software for Germany: Create XRechnung and ZUGFeRD Invoices

Germany now requires structured e-invoices between businesses, and public authorities have expected XRechnung for years. XRechnungs.de is a web-based invoicing tool that lets you create, check and send compliant e-invoices in XRechnung and ZUGFeRD format – whether your business is based in Germany or you supply German customers from abroad. You work in your browser, without installing anything, and you can test it free for 14 days.

Who is XRechnungs.de for?

• Businesses established in Germany that must receive e-invoices since 2025 and send them from 2027 or 2028. Read the details in our guide to the German e-invoicing mandate.
• Foreign suppliers whose German customers or public-sector buyers ask for an XRechnung or a ZUGFeRD invoice.
• Freelancers and small businesses in Germany, including those using the small business exemption (Kleinunternehmer). See invoice requirements for freelancers in Germany.
• Construction and project businesses that bill in stages and need progress invoices, final invoices and retentions.

What you can do with XRechnungs.de

Create e-invoices in the formats Germany accepts

• XRechnung in both XML syntaxes, UBL and CII
• ZUGFeRD / Factur-X: a readable PDF with the structured XML data embedded
• Based on the European standard EN 16931
• Buyer reference and Leitweg-ID (the routing ID used by German public authorities) on the invoice

Check every invoice before it goes out

Invoices are validated against the format rules before you send them, so missing details or calculation errors are flagged early. If a customer or portal rejects an invoice, our guide to common XRechnung validation errors explains the typical causes.

Send or download

Send invoices to your customers by e-mail directly from XRechnungs.de, or download the XML or PDF file. For public authorities, you download the XRechnung and upload it to the authority's portal yourself – see how to send an XRechnung to German public authorities.

Turn existing PDF invoices into e-invoices

The PDF converter reads the data from a PDF invoice with text recognition (OCR), lets you check and complete it, and creates an XRechnung or ZUGFeRD file. More in how to convert a PDF invoice.

Manage customers, products and documents

• Save customers and products or services once and reuse them
• Create quotes and delivery notes alongside invoices
• Archive your documents (GoBD archive included, with limits per plan)
• Manage several companies in one account (each additional company has a surcharge)
• Invite users, for example your tax adviser

Advanced billing for growing businesses

• Pro: progress invoices, final invoices and recurring invoices, custom e-mail templates
• Business Plus: API access and webhooks, more users and documents
• Construction & Projects: billing by work progress, partial final invoices, retentions, change orders and a project overview

How it works

1. Create your account and enter your company details (name, address, tax number or VAT ID, bank details).
2. Add your customer – with the Leitweg-ID if it is a German public authority.
3. Enter the invoice lines and choose the format: XRechnung (UBL or CII) or ZUGFeRD.
4. Check the validation result, then send the invoice by e-mail or download it.

XRechnung or ZUGFeRD: which format do you need?

XRechnung is a pure XML file and the standard for German public authorities. ZUGFeRD (called Factur-X in France) combines a normal-looking PDF with embedded XML, which makes it practical for business customers – including customers outside Germany who want to read the invoice like a PDF. Both meet EN 16931. The full comparison is in XRechnung vs ZUGFeRD, and you can see a real structure in our German e-invoice example.

Free tools – no account needed

If you only need to read or check e-invoices you receive, you can use two tools free of charge without signing up:

• XRechnung viewer: shows an XRechnung or ZUGFeRD invoice in a readable layout (see how to open an XRechnung).
• XRechnung validator: checks whether an e-invoice meets the format rules.

Plans and free trial

You can try XRechnungs.de free for 14 days with up to 50 documents and no credit card. After the trial, you choose a paid plan – Starter, Pro, Business Plus or Construction & Projects – from €12 per month, and you can cancel any time. The plans differ in document limits, users and advanced features. All details are on the pricing page.

XRechnungs.de is hosted in the EU. The app is available in English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch.

Frequently asked questions

Is XRechnungs.de free?

The viewer and the validator are free and need no account. Creating invoices is free during the 14-day trial (up to 50 documents, no credit card). After that you need a paid plan, starting at €12 per month.

Can I use XRechnungs.de if my company is not based in Germany?

Yes. XRechnungs.de is a web application you can use from anywhere. Foreign suppliers often use it when a German customer or public authority asks for an XRechnung or ZUGFeRD invoice.

Does XRechnungs.de create XRechnung in UBL or CII?

Both. You can create XRechnung invoices in UBL and in CII syntax, as well as ZUGFeRD / Factur-X invoices.

Can I add a Leitweg-ID for public authorities?

Yes. You can enter the Leitweg-ID as the buyer reference. XRechnungs.de does not submit invoices to public portals directly: you download the XRechnung and upload it to the authority's portal.

Do I need to install anything?

No. XRechnungs.de runs in your web browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, tablets and smartphones.

Can I manage more than one company?

Yes. One company is included in each plan; additional companies can be added for a surcharge. During the trial you can set up two companies.

Start with your first e-invoice

Whether you need to meet the German mandate or a single customer has asked for an XRechnung, you can try the full workflow in a few minutes. Start your free 14-day trial – up to 50 documents, no credit card required. Questions? Contact us.