Quick Summary
- Papierkram = bookkeeping-first for German freelancers. Excellent at invoicing, tax reports (EAR, BWA), Datev export, and banking integration. Time tracking exists but is basic. Pricing starts free and goes up to €18/mo.
- vlastERP = time tracking & project management first. Deep time tracking with project management, team roles, and profitability reports that show exactly how profitable each project is — at €35/month.
- Different strengths, different needs. If you primarily need accounting and tax compliance, Papierkram wins. If you need to manage projects, track team time, and understand profitability, vlastERP is the better fit.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | vlastERP | Papierkram |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Bookkeeping | ||
| Expense Tracking | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Profitability Reports | ||
| Tax Reports (EAR/BWA) | ||
| Banking Integration | ||
| Team Roles (6 levels) | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Datev Export | ||
| Audit Trail | ||
| GoBD Compliance | ||
| API & API Keys | ||
| Free Trial | ||
| Price (solo) | €9/mo | €0-18/mo |
| Price (5 users) | €29/mo | €18+/mo |
Papierkram offers a free tier with limited features. Team features require the paid plans.
When to choose Papierkram
- You need full bookkeeping with EAR and BWA tax reports for your German Finanzamt.
- You want direct banking integration and Datev export for your Steuerberater.
- You're a solo German freelancer who needs a free or low-cost accounting solution.
When to choose vlastERP
- You need deep time tracking with project-level profitability reports that combine hours, expenses, and revenue.
- You manage a small team and need granular role permissions (6 levels) with audit trails.
- You work with international clients and need full multi-currency support and an open API.
- You want project management and invoicing tightly integrated with your time tracking.
Migration Guide
- 1
Export your Papierkram data
In Papierkram, export your time entries and client/project list from the respective sections. Download invoices as PDF for your records.
- 2
Set up vlastERP
Create your vlastERP account (free for 2 months), add your clients and projects, and configure your hourly rates. Takes under 5 minutes.
- 3
Start tracking & invoicing
Begin logging hours in vlastERP, manage projects with your team, and see profitability insights from day one. Keep Papierkram for bookkeeping if needed — or handle invoicing entirely from vlastERP.