Peppol validation tools compared (2026)
There are several good ways to validate a Peppol BIS 3.0 or EN 16931 invoice before sending it — hosted validators, open-source engines you run yourself, and validation APIs. This is an honest comparison of the tools developers actually use in 2026, including ours. Every claim was checked against each tool's own site or repository; where something could not be verified there, the cell says so rather than guessing.
Reviewed 2026-07-18. Spotted an error or a stale claim? Email support@einvoicecheck.eu and we'll fix it.
| Tool | Free tier | API | Formats | Per-rule explanations | Ruleset currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| einvoicecheck (this site) | Yes — browser validator, no signup; API free tier 100/mo | Yes — REST, OpenAPI | Peppol BIS 3.0 / EN 16931 (UBL), e-SLOG 2.0 | Yes — a page per rule with plain-English guidance | Version-pinned; May/Nov official releases |
| ecosio validator | Yes — no signup | On request (not publicly documented) | Peppol BIS, EN 16931 (UBL + CII), XRechnung, more | Detailed error output; no per-rule docs pages | n/a (rule set picked per validation) |
| phive / Peppol Practical (P. Helger) | Yes — web upload + free SOAP WS | Yes — SOAP WS; self-host REST via phorm | Very broad: Peppol BIS, EN 16931, XRechnung, PINT, Factur-X, many national CIUS | No — rule results without documentation pages | Excellent — tracks official releases within days (open source) |
| easybill e-invoice-validator | Yes — open source, self-hosted (Docker) | Yes — self-hosted HTTP API | Peppol BIS 3.0, XRechnung, EN 16931 (UBL + CII), Factur-X | Rule IDs + messages in JSON; no docs site | Bundled ruleset versions per release |
| Ademico Peppol tools | Free tier (validator + Peppol searches); paid plans beyond | Yes — REST (access on contact) | Peppol schematron rules (versions not published) | n/a | n/a |
| peppolvalidator.com | Yes — no signup | Yes — REST | Peppol BIS 3.0 (UBL), EN 16931 CII / Factur-X / ZUGFeRD | Yes — rule reference with explanations | n/a (version not published) |
Which tool should I pick?
- Quick one-off check in the browser: our free validator, ecosio's, or peppolvalidator.com — all work without signup.
- Widest format coverage / Java shops: phive is open source, extremely current, and covers dozens of national CIUS — but returns raw rule results with no explanations.
- Self-hosted in Docker: easybill's e-invoice-validator (MIT) if you want validation inside your own infrastructure.
- Understanding why a rule fired: our rule catalogue documents every rule with plain-English guidance — that, plus e-SLOG 2.0 support (which none of the tools above verified as having), is our niche.
To automate any of this in CI, see the API quickstart — 100 validations per month free.