Kontelio Free
Free invoicing software: invoices and e-invoices with Kontelio Free
Write unlimited invoices as PDF, ZUGFeRD or XRechnung, receive e-invoices (E-Rechnungen) and keep your customers and products in one place – free, with no trial period and no credit card.
What Kontelio Free includes
Unlimited invoices
As PDF, ZUGFeRD or XRechnung – every e-invoice is checked with the KoSIT validator when it is issued.
Customers, products, numbering
Set up customers and products once; Kontelio numbers your invoices automatically and consecutively.
Receive e-invoices
By e-mail to your Kontelio inbox or by upload: XRechnung and ZUGFeRD are displayed in readable form and checked.
Expenses and receipts
Record up to 5 expenses or receipts per month.
In your browser, in 9 languages
Kontelio runs in your browser – in German, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, Polish and French.
Free forever
No trial period and no credit card: sign up with e-mail and password or with your Google account.
Kontelio Free compared with the paid plans
Free covers writing and receiving invoices. For payments, bookkeeping and taxes there are the Start, Business and Pro plans.
| Feature | Kontelio Free | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices as PDF, ZUGFeRD and XRechnung (checked with KoSIT) | ||
| Customers, products and automatic numbering | ||
| Receive e-invoices (e-mail and upload), view and check them | ||
| Expenses and receipts | Up to 5 per month | Unlimited |
| Use it in your browser | ||
| 9 languages | ||
| Your own logo and footer on invoices | Discreet footer “Erstellt mit Kontelio” | from Start |
| Payments and open items (including marking invoices as paid) | Not included | from Start |
| Income without an invoice | Not included | from Start |
| Financial reports | Not included | from Start |
| EÜR, advance VAT return (Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung) and ELSTER | Not included | from Business |
| Import bank statements | Not included | from Business |
| Access for your tax advisor (Steuerberater) | Not included | from Business |
Who is Kontelio Free for?
Small businesses (Kleinunternehmer, § 19 UStG)
You are exempt from issuing e-invoices, but you must be able to receive them. With Kontelio Free you receive, read and check e-invoices and write your invoices – for free.
Freelancers and the self-employed
Write invoices in a few minutes, save customers and services and create the next invoice without retyping.
Small companies facing the e-invoicing obligation
From 2027 or 2028, businesses must issue e-invoices in B2B transactions. With Kontelio Free you issue ZUGFeRD and XRechnung today.
Who has to receive and issue e-invoices (E-Rechnungen)?
- Since 1 January 2025, all businesses in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices.
- From 1 January 2027, businesses with a turnover of more than €800,000 in 2026 must issue e-invoices.
- From 1 January 2028, the obligation to issue e-invoices applies to all other businesses in B2B transactions.
- Small businesses (Kleinunternehmer, § 19 UStG) are exempt from issuing e-invoices, but must be able to receive them.
Free e-invoicing tools
No sign-up and no storage – right in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kontelio Free really free?
Yes. Kontelio Free is free forever – with no trial period and no credit card. You sign up with e-mail and password or with your Google account.
How many invoices can I write?
As many as you like – as PDF, ZUGFeRD or XRechnung. Every e-invoice is checked with the official KoSIT validator when it is issued; an invalid file is not issued.
What is not included in the Free plan?
Payments and open items (including marking invoices as paid), income without an invoice, financial reports, your own logo and footer, EÜR, the advance VAT return (Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung), ELSTER, importing bank statements and access for your tax advisor. These features are part of the paid Start, Business and Pro plans – the comparison above shows from which plan.
Why does “Erstellt mit Kontelio” appear on my invoices?
In the Free plan your invoices carry a discreet footer “Erstellt mit Kontelio” (“Created with Kontelio”). From the Start plan you use your own logo and your own footer instead.
How many expenses and receipts can I record?
Up to 5 expenses or receipts per month in the Free plan. The paid plans have no limit.
Are my invoices deleted after a while?
No. In the Free plan, invoices and receipts are kept just like in the paid plans; they are not deleted after a set period.
Do I have to issue e-invoices as a Kleinunternehmer?
No. Small businesses (Kleinunternehmer, § 19 UStG) are exempt from issuing e-invoices, but must be able to receive them. With Kontelio Free you receive, read and check e-invoices for free.
When do I have to issue e-invoices?
From 1 January 2027 if your turnover in 2026 was more than €800,000; from 1 January 2028 the obligation applies to all other businesses in B2B transactions. All businesses have had to be able to receive e-invoices since 1 January 2025.
Which languages is Kontelio Free available in?
In 9 languages: German, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, Polish and French. The official German tax terms are kept everywhere.
Start for free with Kontelio Free
All you need is an e-mail and password or your Google account – no credit card.
The tools create and check files according to the EN 16931 standard. The content is general information and not tax advice; you are responsible for the details on your invoice.