Bookkeeping software or bookkeeping service
With bookkeeping software, you post everything yourself: you record receipts, assign accounts, and submit the advance VAT return, while the program gives you the tools. A bookkeeping service like Buchführungsheld takes the opposite approach: you upload your receipts, certified bookkeepers post everything, prepare the advance VAT return, and deliver finished reports. Here you'll see neutrally where the difference lies and which path fits you.
Updated: July 2026. Prices of other providers are non-binding and subject to change.
Doing it yourself with software versus full-service bookkeeping. The Buchführungsheld column is highlighted, and the values are deliberately kept honest.
| Criterion | Bookkeeping software | Buchführungsheld |
|---|---|---|
| Core principle | Software, you post yourself | Full service, bookkeepers post for you |
| Time spent per month | several hours for capturing and coding | about 15 to 30 minutes, uploading receipts |
| Receipt capture | you enter and code the accounts yourself, often with receipt scanning | you upload, the team posts |
| Invoice creation (invoicing) | usually included: quotes, invoices, dunning | in preparation, available soon |
| Preliminary VAT return | you create and submit it yourself via ELSTER | prepared and filed for you |
| Ongoing posting | manually by you | by certified bookkeepers |
| Error risk and liability | up to you, since you do the posting yourself | Bookings by professionals, a verified process |
| Expertise required | Basic bookkeeping knowledge is helpful | no prior knowledge required, the team takes over |
| DATEV compatibility | DATEV export usually available | DATEV-compatible collaboration and export |
| Price per month | approx. 10 to 30 euros, depending on the tool and plan | from €49 (full service including booking) |
| Support | Software support, help center, community | personal bookkeepers, support based in Germany |
| Contract commitment | depending on provider, often monthly or yearly | cancelable monthly |
As of July 2026. Prices for bookkeeping software are approximate ranges and vary widely depending on the provider, plan and promotion: common tools land roughly at 10 to 30 euros per month, invoicing-only plans sometimes below that, bookkeeping plans sometimes above (as of July 2026, please check with the respective provider). Buchführungsheld starts at 49 euros per month for full service. All Buchführungsheld prices are plus 19 percent VAT and are intended exclusively for businesses.
Example: a solo self-employed person with around 25 receipts per month and an assumed entrepreneur's hourly rate of €80.
Calculated savings: around €210 per month, mainly from the time you save.
Sample calculation with assumed time values. The software price is an approximate value; common bookkeeping software costs roughly €10 to €30 per month (as of July 2026, please check with the provider). The actual time required depends on the number of receipts and your routine.
Honestly, there are cases where you're better off with self-service bookkeeping software.
Many bookkeeping programs already offer quotes, invoices and dunning within the same tool today. At Buchführungsheld, invoicing is in the works and coming soon. If you need billing right away, software currently has the edge here.
With very few receipts and a tight budget, the pure monthly software fee can be cheaper, as long as you can spare the time for self-posting and take responsibility for the entries yourself.
If you have basic bookkeeping knowledge and want to check every entry yourself, software gives you the right tools and full control over your data.
The switch is straightforward and your data won't be lost.
In a short, free call, we take a look at your current bookkeeping and clarify which plan fits you.
You export your entries and receipts from your previous software, for example as a DATEV or CSV file. We take over the ongoing bookkeeping seamlessly.
From now on, you upload receipts via app or browser. Your accountants book everything, prepare the VAT return, and deliver monthly reports.
See how Buchführungsheld stacks up against other providers and approaches.
Answers about the difference, data migration, costs, and cancellation.
With bookkeeping software, you post everything yourself: you record receipts, assign accounts, and submit the advance VAT return. A bookkeeping service like Buchführungsheld takes this work off your hands. You just upload the receipts and certified bookkeepers post everything.
Yes. You export your entries and receipts from your current accounting software, for example as a DATEV or CSV file. Buchführungsheld takes over the ongoing bookkeeping and continues to work in a DATEV-compatible way.
Per month, bookkeeping software is usually cheaper; common tools sit roughly between €10 and €30 (approx., as of July 2026, please verify with the provider). But then you do the work yourself. Buchführungsheld starts at €49 per month, with certified bookkeepers handling the bookkeeping. What pays off depends mainly on how much time you spend.
Invoicing is in preparation at Buchführungsheld and coming soon. Today the focus is on complete bookkeeping: you upload receipts and outgoing invoices, and the team posts everything. If you want to write invoices in the same tool right away, invoicing software is currently the faster choice.
Yes. Buchführungsheld can be cancelled monthly. You cancel any ongoing software subscription directly with the respective provider according to the terms that apply there.
For the annual financial statements and tax return, you continue working with your tax advisor. Buchführungsheld delivers the continuously categorized data in DATEV-compatible form, so your tax advisor can jump right in. The service doesn't replace the tax advisor, it prepares the data for them.
Yes. Buchführungsheld processes all data in a GDPR- and GoBD-compliant way in data centers in Germany.
Hand off your bookkeeping
Upload your receipts, and certified bookkeepers take care of the rest. At a flat rate from 49 euros per month, cancelable monthly. Try it free for 7 days.
