Free & freemium
Free German e-invoice: what is actually free
Short answer: at fakturai the technical validation of your e-invoice is free — upload a ZUGFeRD, Factur-X or XRechnung file and see, without an account, whether it structurally meets EN 16931. Generating is also free to start; for ongoing or higher volume, generation becomes paid. Important: a plain PDF is not an e-invoice.
What is free at fakturai?
- Validate an e-invoice — free and no account. The validator checks structure, mandatory fields, totals, VAT, PDF/A and KoSIT alignment per EN 16931.
- Create an e-invoice — free to start. Add a seller profile, get an API key and test the available free usage. Recurring or higher-volume generation is paid.
This separates what many “free” tools blur: validation is the permanently open entry point (the lead-magnet tool); generation is a freemium service with a free start.
Validate an e-invoice for free
If you already have an XRechnung XML or a ZUGFeRD/Factur-X PDF, check it for free in the validator. Every file is validated in four layers: PDF/A structure (for hybrid PDFs), XSD schema, EN 16931 Schematron validation and the KoSIT-aligned accept gate per EN 16931 — so you see whether the invoice is technically ready before it fails at the recipient or in bookkeeping.
Create an e-invoice for free: what works, what costs
To generate structured e-invoices, add a seller profile and get a scoped API key. With it you can produce EN 16931-compliant ZUGFeRD/Factur-X invoices via the REST API or the MCP server and test the available free usage. For ongoing or higher volume, generation becomes paid — you see the current scope when you create the API key. Every generated invoice passes the same KoSIT accept gate as the free validator: “free to start” does not mean less checking.
Be careful with “100% free” promises
Many free generators only produce a PDF — and a PDF-only document does not count as an e-invoice under the mandate. A compliant e-invoice needs a structured XML part per EN 16931 (XRechnung or ZUGFeRD/Factur-X in the right profile). Always check a “free” result technically: does it contain structured XML, a compliant profile, correct VAT in the structured part, and does it pass the KoSIT accept gate? See also why a PDF is not an e-invoice.
What fakturai does not replace
fakturai checks technical format and structural compliance per EN 16931 with a KoSIT-aligned accept gate. The substantive and tax correctness of the invoice, retention duties and delivery remain your responsibility (or your tax advisor’s). fakturai is not tax advice and makes no legal, tax or delivery guarantees.
Next step
Validate an e-invoice for free · Create an API key and start free
Related: Validation checklist · Create e-invoices · PDF is not an e-invoice · Small business guide