What FastBill Is and What It Is Not
Simply put: FastBill writes invoices, manages documents, and tracks working hours. It is not a full accounting software in the traditional sense. The difference matters because those who need income statements, balance sheet preparation, or VAT pre-notifications via ELSTER must book the Premium+ add-on with FastBill or switch to another solution.
What FastBill does well: creating invoices, writing quotes, automating dunning, OCR-scanning documents, and tracking project time. The time tracking with live timer and browser extension is a feature most competitors do not offer.
Core Features at a Glance
- Invoice creation: Quotes, invoices, subscription invoices, credit memos, and reminders. Customizable layout possible.
- Document management: Upload documents or photograph them via app. OCR recognition automatically extracts invoice data.
- Time tracking (from Plus): Live timer, browser extension, transfer hours directly into invoices. Particularly useful for agencies and freelancers billing by the hour.
- Banking: Connect bank accounts, match payments, automatically mark open invoices as paid.
- E-invoicing: Create and receive XRechnung 3.0 and ZUGFeRD 2.3. Leitweg-ID supported for public sector clients.
- DATEV export: Export booking data in CSV format. Your tax advisor receives their own access.
- Mobile apps: iOS and Android. Photograph documents, send invoices, track time.
What FastBill Cannot Do
Without the Premium+ add-on, the following are missing: income statement preparation, BWA, trial balance, balance sheet preparation, and VAT pre-notification via ELSTER. There is no DATEV booking data service (direct transfer), no asset management, and no cost centers. Those seeking a complete cloud accounting solution are better served by sevDesk, Lexware Office, or BuchhaltungsButler.
FastBill Prices 2026
All prices are net prices (plus VAT). Annual billing saves money compared to monthly payment. All plans include a free trial period.
Plans Compared
| Merkmal | Plan | Monthly (net) | Annual (net) | Documents/month | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | EUR 10 | EUR 9/month | 20 | 1 | |
| Plus | EUR 15 | EUR 14/month | 50 | 1 | |
| Pro | EUR 30 | EUR 27/month | 200 | 3 | |
| Premium | EUR 59 | EUR 53/month | 500 | unlimited |
Source: fastbill.com/preise, as of March 2026. All prices net plus VAT.
What Is Included in Which Plan?
| Merkmal | Feature | Solo | Plus | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoices & quotes | |||||
| Document management (OCR) | |||||
| Banking integration | |||||
| E-invoicing (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD) | |||||
| Mobile app | |||||
| Time tracking & timer | |||||
| Browser extension | |||||
| Multiple users | 1 | 1 | 3 | unlimited | |
| Premium support |
Premium+ Add-on
For extended accounting functions, FastBill offers the Premium+ add-on. This provides income statement reports, BWA, trial balance, and extended DATEV export. Pricing is available upon request. Without this add-on, FastBill remains a pure invoicing software.
Time Tracking: The Unique Selling Point
Most invoicing programs can write invoices. What FastBill offers additionally from the Plus plan is integrated time tracking.
- Live timer: Start time tracking directly in FastBill while working on a project.
- Browser extension: The timer runs in the background, regardless of which website you are currently using.
- Project-to-invoice: Recorded hours can be converted into an invoice with one click. FastBill calculates the amount based on your hourly rate.
For freelancers billing by the hour, this can significantly simplify the process from time tracking to invoice delivery. sevDesk and Lexware Office do not offer this feature natively.
E-Invoicing with FastBill
FastBill supports the e-invoice formats XRechnung 3.0 and ZUGFeRD 2.3. This prepares you for the gradual introduction of e-invoicing in Germany.
E-Invoicing Deadline: Key Dates
| Merkmal | From when | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | All companies must be able to receive e-invoices | |
| January 2027 | Companies with > EUR 800,000 revenue must send e-invoices | |
| January 2028 | E-invoicing obligation for all companies in B2B sector |
Source: BMF FAQ on e-invoicing, as of March 2026.
Working with Tax Advisors
FastBill exports booking data in CSV format for DATEV. Your tax advisor receives their own login and can directly download documents and reports.
The DATEV booking data service (direct transfer) is not available with FastBill. If your tax advisor prefers this service, BuchhaltungsButler or sevDesk is the better choice. FastBill also supports GDPdU exports for tax audits.
The Story Behind FastBill
FastBill was founded in 2007 in Frankfurt am Main by Christian Haefner and Rene Maudrich. The software started as a simple invoice tool and grew over the years into a platform with document management, banking, and time tracking.
In October 2021, FreshBooks, a Canadian competitor, acquired FastBill GmbH. However, the integration did not go as planned. In spring 2024, the founders bought FastBill back. Since then, the company has been independent and self-financed, with approximately 70,000 customers.
Pros and Cons
| Merkmal | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Advantage: Time tracking | Live timer and browser extension, convert hours directly into invoices | |
| Advantage: Entry price | From EUR 9/month net (annual), one of the cheapest entry points | |
| Advantage: E-invoicing | XRechnung 3.0 + ZUGFeRD 2.3 in all plans | |
| Advantage: Mobile app | iOS + Android, photograph documents and send invoices | |
| Disadvantage: No full accounting | Income statement, balance sheet, VAT pre-notification only with add-on, no ELSTER | |
| Disadvantage: No DATEV booking data service | CSV export only, no direct transfer to DATEV | |
| Disadvantage: Trustpilot rating | 3.5/5 based on 62 reviews, some criticism of support | |
| Disadvantage: Document limits | Solo only 20 documents/month, Plus only 50, can become tight quickly |
FastBill Compared to Alternatives
FastBill positions itself as invoicing software with time tracking. Compared to full accounting solutions, some features are missing.
| Merkmal | Feature | FastBill | sevDesk | Lexware Office | BuchhaltungsButler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Invoicing software | Accounting | Accounting | Accounting | |
| Starting price (net/month) | EUR 9 | from EUR 0 | from EUR 6.90 | EUR 39.90 | |
| Income statement (EÃœR) | Only with add-on | ||||
| Balance sheet preparation | From Smart | ||||
| VAT pre-notification via ELSTER | From Smart | ||||
| Time tracking | |||||
| E-invoicing | |||||
| DATEV booking data service | |||||
| Mobile app | Scan app |
User Reviews
FastBill receives varying ratings across different review platforms. The OMR Reviews rating of 4.7/5 is above average. The Trustpilot rating of 3.5/5 is notably lower, with particular criticism of the support service.
| Merkmal | Platform | Rating | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMR Reviews | 4.7/5 | 176 reviews | |
| Trustpilot | 3.5/5 | 62 reviews | |
| Apple App Store | 3.8/5 | 68 reviews | |
| EXPERTE.de | Grade 2.2 | Editorial test | |
| rechnungssoftware.org | 4.5/5 | Editorial test |
Who Is FastBill Suitable For?
Für wen ist FastBill geeignet?
Geeignet für
- Freelancers and solo self-employed who want to write invoices and manage documents
- Agencies and service providers who track project hours and convert them directly into invoices
- Small business owners who need simple invoicing software with a mobile app
- Users who must create e-invoices (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD)
- Teams that need simple DATEV export for their tax advisor
Weniger geeignet für
- Businesses that want to prepare income statements or balance sheets themselves (only with expensive add-on)
- Those who need VAT pre-notification via ELSTER (not included)
- Online retailers with complex requirements (no e-commerce integrations)
- Companies requiring balance sheet preparation (not possible)
- Those who need the DATEV booking data service (direct transfer)
Data Security
FastBill stores data on servers in Germany and is GoBD-compliant. Documents are archived securely. As a small or medium-sized enterprise working with sensitive financial data, you should also consider cyber insurance. A professional liability insurance can also be useful if you provide freelance services and are liable for errors.
Conclusion
FastBill is a good choice for those who primarily want to write invoices and manage documents without needing full accounting. The time tracking with live timer is a genuine unique selling point.
- Freelancers and agencies billing by the hour: Plus plan (EUR 14/month net, annual)
- Small teams with multiple users: Pro plan (EUR 27/month net, annual)
- Those additionally needing income statements and BWA: Premium + add-on or switch to sevDesk or Lexware Office
All prices net plus VAT. Status: March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
FastBill offers four plans (net): Solo EUR 10/month (EUR 9 annually), Plus EUR 15/month (EUR 14), Pro EUR 30/month (EUR 27), and Premium EUR 59/month (EUR 53). Prices exclude VAT. There is a free trial period.
FastBill is primarily invoicing and document management software. Without the Premium+ add-on, it lacks income statement (Einnahmen-Ãœberschuss-Rechnung), balance sheet preparation, and VAT pre-notification via ELSTER. Those needing full accounting should consider sevDesk, Lexware Office, or BuchhaltungsButler.
Yes, from the Plus plan onward. Time tracking includes a live timer, a browser extension, and the ability to transfer recorded hours directly into invoices. This is particularly useful for freelancers and agencies billing by the hour.
FastBill offers DATEV export in CSV format. The DATEV booking data service for direct transfer is not available. The tax advisor receives their own access and can download documents and booking data.
Yes. FastBill supports XRechnung 3.0 and ZUGFeRD 2.3, both for creating and receiving. For public sector clients, the Leitweg-ID is supported.
FastBill was founded in 2007 in Frankfurt am Main by Christian Haefner and Rene Maudrich. In 2021, the company was acquired by FreshBooks (Canada). In spring 2024, the founders bought FastBill back. The company has been independent and self-financed since.
FastBill focuses on invoicing and time tracking. sevDesk offers complete accounting with income statements, VAT pre-notifications, and online banking. Those who primarily want to write invoices and need time tracking will find FastBill well-suited. Those who want to handle all their accounting themselves should look at sevDesk.
Yes. FastBill offers GoBD-compliant document archiving. All uploaded documents are stored securely and can be exported for audit purposes.