Mid-market (cross-industry)
Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active)
An established DACH portfolio spanning cloud accounting tools to modular mid-market ERP
4,0avg. of 2 portals- Price
- from approx. EUR 25/month (Sage Active Starter) or from approx. EUR 56/user/month (Sage 100)
- Company size
- 1–500 employees: Sage Active for freelancers and micro/small businesses (approx. 1–20), Sage 100 for the established mid-market (approx. 20–500)
- Deployment
- Cloud (Sage Active, genuine SaaS) as well as on-premise and private-cloud hosting (Sage 100)
- Hosting
- Sage Active: Sage public cloud (SaaS). Sage 100: on-premise (MS SQL Server) or hosted in the Sage/partner cloud (Azure/AWS); not native multi-tenant SaaS
Sage GmbH / The Sage Group plc · founded The Sage Group plc founded in 1981 in Newcastle upon Tyne · Group: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. DACH: Sage GmbH, Frankfurt am Main · The Sage Group plc: approx. 11,000 employees worldwide (FY2025); group revenue FY2025 approx. GBP 2.51 billion employees
Last editorial review: July 2026How we rate
In short
With Sage Active, Sage offers a genuine cloud ERP for small businesses, and with Sage 100 a modular mid-market ERP with a cloud-hosting option. Both score points with strong German compliance (DATEV, GoBD, e-invoicing) and a broad partner ecosystem.
What is Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active)?
Sage is one of the oldest and largest providers of business software for small and medium-sized enterprises. Founded in 1981 in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 100 company, The Sage Group plc employs approximately 11,000 people and generated revenue of around GBP 2.5 billion in fiscal year 2025. In Germany, Sage has been active since 1997 through Frankfurt-based Sage GmbH — which emerged from the acquired KHK Software AG, whose Office Line forms the technical root of today's Sage 100.
Two products are relevant for the DACH cloud market. Sage Active is a new, genuine cloud system (SaaS) for freelancers, founders, and small businesses: accounting, quotes and invoicing, dunning, optional inventory management, and — in the Essentials plan — payroll and HR, complemented by the Sage Copilot AI assistant, automated VAT advance returns via ELSTER, and e-invoicing in XRechnung/ZUGFeRD format. Sage 100, on the other hand, is the modular, full-featured ERP for the mid-market (roughly 20–500 employees), with inventory management, accounting, production/PPS, CRM, and HR on a shared data foundation. It runs classically on-premise on Microsoft SQL Server or hosted in a partner/Sage cloud; it is not a native multi-tenant SaaS.
The clear strength of the Sage family lies in DACH compliance: DATEV integration, GoBD conformity, ZUGFeRD/XRechnung, ELSTER, and German payroll are anchored as standard, which is why Sage has a particularly strong presence in DATEV- and tax-advisor-driven setups. The offering is backed by one of the densest reseller and partner networks in the German-speaking region, which handles implementation, customization (including via the open .NET API and the AppDesigner), and support. Sage reaches its limits with highly complex variant/group manufacturing and strong international multi-company requirements — for these, the group positions its separate Sage X3 and Sage Intacct products.
Who is Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) for?
German SMEs and mid-market companies looking for DATEV-aligned accounting and a modular, DACH-compliant solution that grows with them, from an established vendor
- Accounting- and DATEV-focused SMEs in the DACH region
- Wholesale and specialist trade businesses needing integrated inventory management with tiered/condition logic
- Make-to-order and serial-/batch-number manufacturers in the traditional mid-market
- Freelancers and small businesses looking for simple, GoBD-compliant cloud accounting with e-invoicing (Sage Active)
- Companies that value an established vendor and a regional partner ecosystem
Less suited for: Corporate groups with complex consolidation and strong international multi-company needs · Highly complex variant/project manufacturing with deep plant-level logic · Retail/hospitality businesses with POS/TSE requirements as a core need · Pure online retailers pursuing a marketplace-first strategy who want native Amazon/eBay/Otto integration out of the box · Teams uncompromisingly seeking a lean, fully SaaS-native mid-market ERP
Suitability profile
How strongly Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) covers the typical areas of use – our editorial assessment at a glance.
- E-commerce & retail
- strong
- Manufacturing & production
- strong
- Services & projects
- strong
- International reach
- basic
- DACH compliance
- specialist
Scale 0–3, a curated editorial assessment for selection advice. The ERP finder uses the same axes for your personal match.
Industries & use cases
Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) is typically used in these industries and areas of application:
Features & modules
Integrations & interfaces
Sage relies on standard interfaces for tax/accounting, e-commerce, and office productivity, and — for Sage 100 — on an open .NET API with web services plus an app/partner marketplace for extensions.
Accounting & tax
E-invoicing
E-commerce & trade
Logistics & shipping
Office & productivity
AI & automation
Interfaces & API: Sage 100 offers an open .NET-based API with a web service layer as well as the AppDesigner for low-code customization and a certified ISV/partner extension ecosystem. Sage Active, as a cloud product, offers banking/ELSTER integration; a comprehensive open public API is primarily found in the Sage 100/group environment.
Strengths & weaknesses
Strengths
- Very deep DACH compliance: DATEV interface, GoBD, ZUGFeRD/XRechnung, ELSTER, and German payroll built in as standard
- Modular structure — start with individual building blocks (e.g. accounting only) and expand step by step
- Established, financially strong vendor (FTSE 100 group) with long-term product continuity
- Very large DACH partner/reseller network for implementation, customization, and support
- Sage Active: a genuine, AI-powered cloud system (Sage Copilot) with a fast start and automated bookkeeping
- Sage 100 is strong in wholesale/technical trade with inventory management, production planning, and an open .NET API/AppDesigner
Weaknesses
- Two separate product worlds (Active vs. 100) — switching during strong growth means a product and data migration
- Sage 100 is not native multi-tenant SaaS but a hosted client-server architecture
- Limited international depth (multi-company/multi-currency/multi-language) — Sage X3/Intacct are needed instead
- No pronounced native POS/till (TSE) solution in the ERP core
- Total cost of ownership for Sage 100 (licenses + implementation + partner) can quickly become significant for smaller budgets
- Sage 100's interface/modernity is sometimes seen as more traditional than newer cloud ERPs
User ratings for Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active)
Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) in comparison
Pick a system to compare it directly with Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) – from price and company size through the suitability profile to the average rating.
| Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) | weclapp | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | from approx. EUR 25/month (Sage Active Starter) or from approx. EUR 56/user/month (Sage 100) | from €39/user/month |
| Company size | 1–500 employees: Sage Active for freelancers and micro/small businesses (approx. 1–20), Sage 100 for the established mid-market (approx. 20–500) | SMEs, startups and small businesses (roughly 1 to ~1,000 employees) |
| Deployment | Cloud (Sage Active, genuine SaaS) as well as on-premise and private-cloud hosting (Sage 100) | Cloud (SaaS) |
| Hosting | Sage Active: Sage public cloud (SaaS). Sage 100: on-premise (MS SQL Server) or hosted in the Sage/partner cloud (Azure/AWS); not native multi-tenant SaaS | DE (ISO 27001) |
| Origin | United Kingdom (group) / Germany (Sage GmbH, Frankfurt) | Germany |
| E-commerce | ||
| Manufacturing | ||
| Services | ||
| International | ||
| DACH compliance | ||
| Avg. rating | 4,0 | 4,0 |
Suitability values 0–3 (curated editorial assessment); rating as the average across linked third-party portals.
What does Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) cost?
What Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) ultimately costs depends on edition, billing model, add-on modules and implementation effort – the entry price alone says little about the total cost. The overview below makes both transparent.
Entry price
from approx. EUR 25/month (Sage Active Starter) or from approx. EUR 56/user/month (Sage 100)
Subscription (SaaS) per user or per module, billed monthly or annually; Sage 100's classic perpetual licenses are being phased out in favor of the subscription model. Sage Active is a pure cloud subscription with tiered user counts.
Billing & pricing model
Subscription per user and/or module, billed monthly or annually; Sage Active with tiered user counts and a document allowance, Sage 100 per named user/module (Basic/Professional/Enterprise editions).
Plans & editions
| Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Sage Active Starter (cloud, small business) | approx. EUR 25/month plus VAT (2 users, ~300 documents/month) | Cloud accounting, quotes/invoices, dunning, banking integration, e-invoicing (XRechnung/ZUGFeRD), ELSTER VAT advance return, Sage Copilot; extra user ~EUR 5 |
| Sage Active Essentials (cloud, growing SME) | approx. EUR 49/month plus VAT (4 users, ~500 documents/month) | Everything in Starter plus payroll/HR, expanded financial reports, optional inventory management; extra user ~EUR 10 |
| Sage 100 Accounting (mid-market ERP module) | approx. EUR 58–81/user/month (Basic/Professional/Enterprise) | Financial accounting, payments, DATEV integration, fixed assets/cost accounting, controlling; unlimited tenants |
| Sage 100 Inventory Management | approx. EUR 56–79/user/month | Purchasing, sales, warehouse, disposition, batch/serial numbers; combinable with Accounting/Production/CRM |
| Sage 100 Production (PPS) | from approx. EUR 90/user/month | Bills of materials, routings, production orders, shop floor data collection, CAD interface, project manufacturing; publicly listed entry, higher editions on request |
Further cost factors (TCO)
Beyond the subscription, these items determine the total cost – we have compiled them for Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active):
- Setup
- Sage Active: little to no setup effort (self-service cloud). Sage 100: setup handled via a partner, effort depending on module scope.
- Implementation
- Sage 100: implementation is individual and project-dependent (configuration, data migration, training via a partner); costs on request and highly dependent on scope. Sage Active: largely self-implementable.
- Add-on modules
- Sage 100 add-on modules (approximate, per month): DMS ~EUR 25–275, AppDesigner ~EUR 120, graphical resource planning ~EUR 95, product configurator ~EUR 190, invoice verification from ~EUR 16, web shop ~EUR 79–249. Sage Active: extra users ~EUR 5–10/month, extra documents ~EUR 0.05/document above the allowance, inventory management as an add-on.
- Note
- All prices are approximate figures (as of 2025/2026), some plus VAT. Binding terms are available only from the Sage reseller partner or on request; Sage 100 implementation and migration costs must be calculated individually.
Support, contract & operations of Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active)
Whether Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) proves itself in day-to-day use depends – alongside features and price – heavily on operations, support and the contract model. We have compiled how Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) is provided, which service levels and support channels apply, under which contract and trial terms you get started, and how far the system scales with your company.
Contract & trial
Before you commit, trial period, term and exit matter: this is how you get started with Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) – and get out again if in doubt.
- Free trial
- Sage Active: 30 days free with full functionality. Sage 100: demo/trial via a partner on request.
- Operating model
- Sage Active: pure cloud (SaaS). Sage 100: on-premise or hosted (private cloud) — choice made at implementation.
- Minimum term
- Not uniformly disclosed publicly; subscriptions typically run with an annual commitment (Sage 100 depending on the partner), Sage Active as a monthly/annual subscription. Details on request.
- Cancellation
- Per the subscription/contract terms; specific notice periods depend on the product and partner and are not disclosed as a general public figure.
Support & service levels
In day-to-day operation, how well you get help matters. Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) supports its customers through these channels, languages and response times.
- Channels
- Phone, chat, email, knowledge base/help center, webinars/community, plus support via the certified Sage partner network.
- Languages
- German (DACH); French/Italian also available in the Swiss context.
- Response time / SLA
- Not disclosed as a general public figure; depends on the product, service contract, and partner (SLA on request).
- Training
- Webinars, online help, Sage University/knowledge base, plus individual training and onboarding through implementation partners.
Scalability & limits
An ERP should grow with the company. This is how Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) behaves with a rising number of users, multiple tenants and at its technical limits.
- Users
- Sage Active: tiered starting at 2/4 users, expandable additively (for micro/small businesses). Sage 100: typically scales in the mid-market up to roughly 200–500 users.
- Tenants
- Sage 100: an unlimited number of tenants is included in the module plans — multi-company/multi-tenant capability is provided.
- Limits
- Sage 100 reaches its limits above roughly 250 employees, with complex variant/group manufacturing, or with international consolidation; Sage positions its X3 (ERP) and Intacct (finance) products for these needs.
- Growth path
- Growth path: Sage Active (small) → Sage 100 (mid-market) → Sage X3 / Sage Intacct (upper mid-market/international). Transitions are product switches with data migration, not a simple upgrade.
Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) in the DACH region
Compliance requirements differ by country – DATEV/GoBD in Germany, FinanzOnline/RKSV in Austria, VAT/QR invoice in Switzerland. This is how Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) performs across the three markets:
Hosting & data protection
Sage Active: Sage public cloud (SaaS), operated in EU data centers. Sage 100: on-premise at the customer (MS SQL Server) or private-cloud/managed hosting via Sage partners (Azure/AWS). Pure public-cloud multi-tenancy is only available with Sage Active. Note for Switzerland: Swiss-specific compliance applies to Sage Active; the classic Sage 100/SMB products for the Swiss market have been operated under Infoniqa since 2022.
DATEV
Yes — the DATEV interface is a core component: Sage 100 offers full DATEV integration (posting/master-data export for the tax advisor), and Sage Active offers a DATEV/tax-advisor export. Sage has a historically strong footprint in DATEV-driven environments.
GoBD
Yes — GoBD compliance is standard; Sage Active is GoBD-certified, and Sage 100 meets GoBD requirements including audit-proof document handling.
E-invoicing (XRechnung / ZUGFeRD)
Yes — e-invoicing in XRechnung and ZUGFeRD is native, built in out of the box for Sage Active. For Sage 100 in Germany, native e-invoicing support arrives from January 1, 2026 via Sage's e-invoicing add-on package (Komfortpaket) for active customers, covering receipt/creation of structured invoices in line with Germany's e-invoicing mandate.
Language & support
Product and support in German; localized for the DACH region. Sage 100 offers limited multi-language capability but is primarily geared toward the German-speaking market.
Onboarding & implementation
- Duration
- Sage Active: days to a few weeks (self-service cloud). Sage 100: several weeks to months depending on module scope and data migration.
- Partner
- Sage 100 is implemented almost exclusively through certified Sage partners; Sage Active is largely self-implemented, optionally with partner support.
- Cost
- Sage Active: low/included. Sage 100: project-dependent, on request.
The dense DACH partner network is a core advantage for industry customization and local support, but it also makes Sage 100 implementation partner- and project-driven.
Switching & migrating to Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active)
Sage 100 Desktop was discontinued at the turn of 2024/2025; the line is being transitioned to web-based operation and an e-invoicing add-on package (mandatory from January 1, 2026). Migrations typically run through certified Sage partners. Moving from Sage Active (small) to Sage 100 (mid-market) is a product switch, not a mere version upgrade — a data migration must be planned. Master data/transaction imports and DATEV handovers are standard.
Verdict: is Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active) worth it?
A solid, deeply DACH-integrated, DATEV-aligned product family from a financially strong, publicly listed vendor — ideal for accounting- and trade-focused SMEs that value stability, compliance, and a dense partner network over lean SaaS modernity. Not a tool for highly complex variant/group manufacturing or strong international multi-company requirements (Sage X3/Intacct cover those instead).
Frequently asked questions about Sage (Sage 100 / Sage Active)
Is Sage a genuine cloud ERP?+
It depends on the product. Sage Active is a genuine, native cloud system (SaaS) for small businesses. Sage 100 is a modular mid-market ERP that runs on-premise or as a hosted private-cloud solution via partners — so it is not native multi-tenant SaaS.
Which Sage product fits which company size?+
Sage Active targets freelancers, founders, and small businesses (approx. 1–20 employees). Sage 100 is designed for the established mid-market with roughly 20–500 employees. For upper mid-market/international requirements, Sage also offers X3 and Intacct.
How does Sage handle DATEV, GoBD, and e-invoicing?+
That's the core strength: DATEV interface, GoBD compliance, and e-invoicing (XRechnung/ZUGFeRD) are anchored as standard. Sage Active is GoBD-certified; for Sage 100, Sage is providing an e-invoicing add-on package from January 1, 2026.
What does Sage cost?+
Sage Active starts at approx. EUR 25/month (Starter) or EUR 49/month (Essentials, incl. payroll). Sage 100 is billed per user/module — e.g. inventory management from ~EUR 56, accounting from ~EUR 58, production from ~EUR 34 per user/month, plus add-on modules and implementation. Binding prices are available from the partner (as of 2025/2026).
Is Sage available in Austria and Switzerland?+
Yes, but the picture is nuanced: Sage 100 is available across DACH via partners. The smaller Swiss/Austrian SMB products (Sage Start, Sage 50 Extra, Sage 200 Extra) were transferred to Infoniqa at the end of 2021. Sage 50 Switzerland supports QR-bill, ISO 20022, and Swissdec.
Can I later switch from Sage Active to Sage 100?+
In principle, yes, but these are two separate products. A switch is a product transition with data migration, not a simple upgrade — it should be planned together with a Sage partner.
Sources (10)
- https://www.sage.com/de-de/produkte/sage-active/
- https://www.sage.com/de-de/produkte/sage-100/
- https://www.sage.com/de-de/news/pressemitteilungen/2026/03/das-neue-sage-active/
- https://omr.com/en/reviews/product/sage-100/pricing
- https://www.capterra.com.de/reviews/156947/sage-100cloud
- https://erp-software.org/software/sage-100/
- https://www.gruenderkueche.de/empfehlungen/buchhaltungssoftware-sage-active/
- https://sage-software.desk-firm.de/blog/sage-100-preisliste-2025/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sage_Group
- https://www.startupschwiiz.ch/bewertungen/sage-50-schweiz
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