Lexware Office Review: The English Guide for Germany

Lexware Office for English speakers: what to expect

Let us deal with the language question first, because it is the one expats ask before anything else. Lexware Office has no full English interface. Menus, invoice templates and the help centre are German. You can run the app with your browser's built-in translation, and the numbers are universal once you learn a handful of terms, but you should not expect English-language phone support.

So why do international founders still pick it? Because it speaks the language the German tax office cares about. It exports cleanly to DATEV, files VAT through ELSTER and keeps records the way the GoBD rules demand. Xero and QuickBooks have polished English interfaces, yet neither handles ELSTER pre-registration or DATEV the way a German tool does, so you often end up paying a German tax advisor to bridge the gap anyway.

Our rule of thumb: if you work with a Steuerberater and want one tool that satisfies the Finanzamt, Lexware Office is a sensible default. If you run an international business and rarely touch German filings, an English-first tool may be less friction.

What is Lexware Office?

Lexware Office is cloud accounting software for freelancers, the self-employed and small companies. It launched in 2012 as "lexoffice" and was renamed "Lexware Office" in September 2024. The developer is Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co. KG, one of the larger German business-software houses.

The product covers three jobs: capturing and archiving documents, writing invoices, and doing the books. How much of that you can use depends on your plan. On top of that, it offers a DATEV interface for working with your tax advisor and an optional payroll module.

One thing to keep straight: Lexware Financial Office is the older desktop program from the same maker. Lexware Office runs entirely in the browser, with nothing to install locally.

Plans and prices in detail

There are four plans. Each one can be cancelled monthly and includes updates, hosting and support. New customers often get 50% off for the first three months.

Which plan should you actually pick?

The S plan (EUR 11.90) is a pure document and archive package. You can scan receipts, archive them and connect a bank account, but you cannot write invoices. For one euro more, the M plan (EUR 12.90) adds invoices, quotes and dunning. That single euro is why we rarely recommend S to anyone who bills clients.

If you do your own books, you need the L plan (EUR 21.90) at minimum. Only there do you get the income statement (EUeR), profit-and-loss, asset management and VAT pre-registration. The XL plan (EUR 32.90) is for people who need recurring invoices, EU invoices or the Public API for custom integrations.

Payroll as an add-on

Payroll is not part of the four standard plans. It is a separate module you can bolt onto any plan:

Features that matter in the German system

Document capture and GoBD archive

You can photograph receipts in the app, forward them by email or upload PDFs. Lexware Office reads the invoice data automatically (OCR) and matches documents to bank transactions. Everything is archived in a GoBD-compliant way, meaning tamper-proof and timestamped, which is what the Finanzamt expects in a tax audit.

Invoices and e-invoicing (from the M plan)

From the M plan you can issue quotes, order confirmations, delivery notes, invoices and dunning letters. The tool reads and writes e-invoices in XRechnung and ZUGFeRD format. Receiving has been mandatory since 2025, so this is not a nice-to-have any more. Recurring and installment invoices stay on the XL plan.

Accounting and tax (from the L plan)

The L plan turns Lexware Office into a full accounting solution. It adds the income statement (EUeR) for freelancers and sole proprietors, the profit-and-loss statement, an electronic cash book, asset management and direct VAT pre-registration through ELSTER.

Banking and mobile app

Lexware Office links to your business account and matches incoming payments to open invoices. It learns from your past assignments and suggests categories for recurring payments. The iOS and Android app handles receipt scanning, invoicing and a finance overview, and is rated 4.7 out of 5 in the App Store (10,781 reviews, March 2026).

Working with a German tax advisor (DATEV)

This is the section most international tools cannot match. Lexware Office gives your Steuerberater DATEV access in every plan. Your advisor logs in directly to your documents and bookings. Two routes move the data:

• Manual DATEV export: download documents, booking batches and bank transactions as DATEV-compatible CSV files.
• DATEV Datenservices (formerly DATEVconnect online): automatic transfer of booking and document data into the advisor's accounting software.

Whether the automatic route works depends on your advisor's own software. If in doubt, the manual export always works. For the full picture of what software plus advisor fees actually cost, see our accounting software cost breakdown.

The German e-invoice obligation, in plain English

Since 1 January 2025, every company in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices. Sending becomes mandatory in stages:

Source: BMF FAQ on the e-invoicing obligation, accessed 31.05.2026.

Lexware Office reads and processes XRechnung and ZUGFeRD e-invoices since 2025, and you can send them from the M plan. For an expat running a small GmbH, this removes one of the trickier compliance worries.

Strengths and weaknesses

Who is Lexware Office for?

Lexware Office vs. alternatives

Here is how Lexware Office lines up against the German competitors most founders also look at:

If you want more automation or a richer API on the cheaper tiers, sevDesk is worth a look. For users who already know accounting and want AI-assisted document matching, BuchhaltungsButler is the more specialised option. And if your priority is an English interface over German tax integration, compare Lexware Office with Xero or QuickBooks before you commit.

Data security and business risk

Lexware Office keeps all data in German data centres. Transfers are SSL-encrypted and regular backups guard against data loss. For most small and medium businesses, that level of protection covers the everyday case.

Storing client and financial data in the cloud does carry a separate risk, though: a cyberattack on your own devices or accounts. A cyber insurance for SMEs can cover the costs of a data breach, ransomware (extortion software that encrypts your files and demands payment) or business interruption. Freelancers who advise clients should also weigh up professional indemnity insurance, which pays for financial losses caused by faulty advice. For company directors, a D&O insurance covers personal liability for management mistakes.

Our verdict