How to Choose E-Invoicing Software Before the 2026 Belgian Mandate

The 2026 Belgian e-invoicing mandate is not coming; it is here. Since January 1, 2026, every VAT-registered business in Belgium must send and receive B2B invoices through the PEPPOL network. If you are still using a PDF template, a basic accounting tool that cannot connect to Peppol, or nothing at all, you are now out of compliance.

This guide is not a product pitch. It is a decision framework for picking the right tool for your situation, whether you are a freelancer sending ten invoices a month or an SME processing hundreds.

For a full explanation of the mandate itself, read the Belgian e-invoicing mandate explained. To see Peppol software options, read our Peppol software overview.

Step 1: understand what the mandate actually requires

Before evaluating any software, be clear on what the law asks for:

You must be able to:

• Send B2B invoices in structured UBL/XML format (UBL 2.1, BIS 3.0 profile)
• Deliver those invoices through a certified Peppol access point
• Receive invoices from your suppliers the same way
• Have your enterprise number registered on the Peppol network

You do not need to:

• File your accounts differently
• Change how you declare VAT (for now)
• Use government-provided software

A PDF invoice, even if it looks professional, does not satisfy the mandate. An email with a PDF attachment is not a Peppol e-invoice.

Step 2: identify your profile

The right software depends on your situation, not on marketing claims. Work through these questions:

Are you a sole proprietor (eenmanszaak / personne physique) or a company (BV, NV, SPRL)?

Some tools (notably Dexxter) only serve sole proprietors by design. If you run a BV or NV and accidentally sign up for a sole-proprietor tool, you will hit a wall.

How many invoices do you send per month?

If the answer is under 25, most tools at any price point will handle your volume comfortably. If you send 100+ invoices per month, look for tools without per-document caps.

Does your accountant already use a specific platform?

If your accountant works in Octopus, Exact Online, Winbooks, or Yuki, ask them to set up your Peppol integration within their existing platform first. It may be included in what they already charge you, and it avoids double data entry.

Do you need to do your own bookkeeping, or just invoice?

There is a difference between:

• Peppol-only tools (like Horus): receive and send Peppol, nothing else
• Invoicing tools (like Feen, Billit): invoice creation + Peppol + document management + VAT overview
• Full accounting suites (like Exact Online, Winbooks): invoicing + Peppol + double-entry bookkeeping + VAT returns + payroll integrations

A freelancer who wants to see their unpaid invoices and VAT position in one place needs a tool in the second category. A sole trader who has an accountant handling everything else may be fine with a Peppol-only tool.

Step 3: the four things that separate Peppol tools

Once you have your profile, evaluate tools on these four points:

1. Both directions, bundled

Confirm the plan you are buying includes both Peppol send and Peppol receive, without needing to activate an add-on. Billit's free plan only includes send. Winbooks requires separate subscriptions for each direction.

A tool that only lets you send is half a solution. Your suppliers will be sending you Peppol invoices, and you need to receive them.

2. A certified Belgian access point

The software must connect through a certified Belgian Peppol access point, not just claim XML output. Ask specifically. Feen uses Recommand.eu, a certified Belgian AP. Billit operates its own. Some tools do not name their AP publicly, which should prompt a follow-up question.

You can verify whether a company is a registered Peppol participant using our free Peppol checker tool.

3. Registration handled automatically

When you sign up, your enterprise number must be registered on the Peppol network so others can send invoices to you. This should happen automatically during onboarding, not require a separate government form or manual steps. If a tool asks you to self-register, that is a red flag for ease of use.

4. Real pricing transparency

Look for:

• Price per month, clearly stated ex-VAT (HTVA)
• Whether billing is monthly or annual only
• Per-document caps and overage rates
• Extra-user costs if you have a team

Billit's premium tiers use a slider for volume-based pricing that makes it hard to know what you will pay at scale. Exact Online charges €49/month for the base accounting plan plus €49 per additional user per month plus implementation fees. Feen charges €15.70/month ex-VAT for the Pro plan with no per-document cap on outbound invoices.

Step 4: the questions to ask before you sign

Use these before clicking "subscribe":

1. Does this plan include both Peppol send and receive, right now, without an add-on?
2. Which certified Peppol access point do you use for Belgium?
3. Does onboarding register my enterprise number on Peppol automatically?
4. Is there a per-document limit, and what happens if I exceed it?
5. What is the billing period: monthly, quarterly, or annual only?
6. Can my accountant log in without paying for an extra user seat?
7. What happens to my data if I cancel?

If any vendor cannot answer questions 1, 2, and 3 clearly, move on.

Step 5: match the tool to your profile

Here are five concrete profiles and what we recommend for each:

Profile A: freelancer, under 25 invoices/month, wants to be compliant fast

Recommended: Feen Pro at €15.70/month ex-VAT (€19 incl. VAT). Covers both Peppol send and receive, OCR on incoming documents, VAT dashboard, and accountant access. Setup in minutes.

Alternative: Horus Starter at €4/month for Peppol-only with no bookkeeping features if you already have a full accounting solution.

Related: Send your first Peppol invoice | Peppol software overview

Profile B: sole proprietor (eenmanszaak), Belgium only, wants VAT-ready bookkeeping

Recommended: Dexxter at €20/month (monthly) or €15/month (annual) ex-VAT. Built specifically for Belgian sole proprietors. 30-day trial, 60-day money-back on annual.

Note: Dexxter does not support BV/NV structures. If you run one, look at Feen or Billit instead.

Related: Compare Feen vs Dexxter

Profile C: small business, 2–5 users, needs a document management layer

Recommended: Feen Pro with multi-user access included in the plan. OCR reads incoming documents automatically. Accountant gets free read-only access.

Alternative: Billit Starter at €7.50/month ex-VAT (limited to 25 documents) scaling up to Premium tiers. Budget for extra-user costs at €5/month per person.

Related: Compare Feen vs Billit | Best invoicing software for self-employed

Profile D: growing SME, accountant-managed, already inside an ecosystem

Recommended: Ask your accountant. If they use Octopus (500+ accounting firms), Yuki, Exact Online, or Winbooks, the Peppol integration may already be available to activate through their plan. The integration cost and setup process depend on the accounting firm.

If you need to run everything independently of the accountant: Billit or Feen both work as standalone tools with optional accountant access.

Related: Compare Feen vs Exact Online | Compare Feen vs Octopus | Compare Feen vs Yuki

Profile E: you only need to receive Peppol invoices for now

Recommended: Feen Inbox at €7/month ex-VAT. Covers Peppol receive and document storage. No outbound invoicing on this plan; upgrade to Pro when you need it.

Note: You still need to be Peppol-registered even if you only receive. The Inbox plan handles registration automatically.

What to avoid

Avoid tools without a live Belgian Peppol access point

At least one well-known French invoicing tool (Pennylane) has explicitly stated it will not transmit to the Belgian Peppol network. If a tool does not name its Belgian Peppol access point, or if the Peppol features are described as "coming soon for Belgium," it is not a safe choice for compliance today.

Avoid over-buying

A freelancer does not need a €99/month ERP suite with 12 modules. Exact Online is priced from €49/month with implementation fees of €500 to €2,500. That is appropriate for an accountant-managed SME with complex reporting needs, not for someone sending 15 invoices a month.

Avoid tools with annual-only billing if you are testing

Some tools (Billit, Octopus) require annual or quarterly commitments, not month-to-month billing. If you are not sure about a tool yet, look for a monthly option or a strong trial period. Dexxter offers 30 days free and a 60-day money-back on annual. Feen offers a 14-day free trial.

Avoid manual Peppol registration

If a tool asks you to register your enterprise number on the Peppol network yourself through a government portal or a separate form, that is extra friction that properly-built tools eliminate. Feen, Billit, and Dexxter all handle registration automatically.

The features that seem important but often are not

"AI-powered insights": most tools use AI for OCR (reading documents) or basic categorization. That is useful. Dashboards projecting your future cash flow from invoice data are not Peppol compliance, so do not pay a premium for them if compliance is your primary goal.

Multi-currency: if you only invoice Belgian clients, you invoice in EUR. Multi-currency matters for international businesses. Several tools list it as "coming soon," including Feen. If you need it now, verify it is live before subscribing.

API integrations: a live REST API connecting your invoicing tool to your CRM, webshop, or ERP adds real value at scale. At under 100 invoices/month, you probably do not need it. Check which integrations are live vs. announced.

A note on pricing and VAT

All prices in this guide and on tool websites are stated HTVA / ex-VAT unless explicitly stated otherwise. Belgian VAT on software is 21%. A plan at €15.70/month ex-VAT costs €19/month incl. VAT.

Also worth knowing: invoicing software is a professional expense in Belgium. It is fully tax-deductible for sole traders and companies. At a tax rate of 25% (companies) or the effective rate for sole traders, the net cost after deduction is lower than the sticker price.

FAQ

Is the Peppol mandate the same as an obligation to use specific government software? No. The Belgian government does not impose a specific software. You choose any certified tool. The mandate is about the format (UBL/BIS 3.0) and the delivery channel (certified Peppol access point), not the software brand.

What is the fine for non-compliance? The Belgian government has set fines of up to €5,000 per offense for non-compliance with the e-invoicing mandate. Beyond fines, trading partners may reject non-compliant invoices, delaying payment.

Can I use my existing accounting software if it adds a Peppol module? Yes, provided the module uses a certified Belgian Peppol access point and covers both send and receive. Verify both before relying on it. Some tools advertise Peppol as an add-on but the access point is not Belgian-certified or the receive direction is not yet live.

What if I invoice international clients outside Belgium? The mandate applies to B2B invoicing between VAT-registered Belgian entities. Invoices to clients outside Belgium are not subject to the Belgian Peppol mandate, though other countries have their own e-invoicing rules. Invoices to consumers (B2C) are also outside scope.

I already have software but am not sure if it covers Peppol. What should I do? Log in and look for a Peppol or e-invoicing section. If it is not visible or is marked "coming soon," contact support with three direct questions: (1) is Peppol send and receive live in my current plan, (2) which certified Belgian Peppol access point do you use, and (3) is my enterprise number already registered on the Peppol network?

Ready to get compliant today? Start with Feen's Peppol-ready platform or check your current software against Peppol requirements.