List of the 300 largest software companies Germany [2024 Update]

List of the 10 largest software companies in Germany

The German software industry is characterized by many small and medium-sized companies. Among the 10 largest software providers worldwide, you will find only one German name: SAP. We present the 10 largest German software developers below:

1. SAP SE, Walldorf

Several former IBM employees founded the software company SAP in 1972. This evolved into the world’s third-largest software company with more than 100,000 employees. SAP has focused entirely on software development for corporate business processes and operates exclusively b2b business. Its customers include around 350,000 companies.

2. Finanz Informatik GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurt/Main

Finanz Informatik is the central IT service provider for the savings bank organization. The company emerged from mergers of the regional IT centers of the savings banks from the 1990s and has existed in this form since 2008. The core task of Finanz Informatik is the IT mapping of savings bank business processes.

3. DATEV eG, Nuremberg

DATEV is a cooperative IT service provider. It supports tax consultants, auditors, lawyers and their clients who are required to keep accounts. The focus is on software solutions for accounting and financial bookkeeping, personnel accounting, payroll accounting and tax returns. DATEV software is used by around 2.5 million German SMEs.

4. CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA, Koblenz

CompuGroup is one of the leading international providers of healthcare software. Founded in 1984, the company started with IT systems for dentists. In the meantime, the portfolio also includes solutions in the areas of medical practices, hospitals, payer administration, pharmaceuticals, medical laboratories and medical archiving. CompuGroup has around 8,000 employees.

5. Software AG, Darmstadt

Software AG has been around since 1969, and its 4,700 employees focus on software support for business process analysis and control, as well as database management. The business is divided into two divisions: Enterprise Transaction Systems (ETS) and Business Process Excellence (BPE).

Update 2023: What had been announced for some time is now final: The Darmstadt-based software company is being acquired by US financial investor Silver Lake. The group secures a majority stake in Software AG with around 63% of the shares.

Update 2024: At the end of 2023, it was announced that Software AG is selling its Super iPaaS business (StreamSets and webMethods) to IBM. The purchase price is EUR 2.13 billion and the transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.

6. Vector Informatik GmbH, Stuttgart

Vector Informatik was founded in 1988 and develops vehicle software tools and software components.The focus is on control software for passenger cars.Vector Informatik has an international presence and, in addition to its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, has further branches in Braunschweig, Hamburg, Munich, Regensburg and Karlsruhe. The group has around 3,000 employees.

7. Nemetschek SE, Munich

Nemetschek SE specializes in software for planning and controlling construction projects and for the entertainment industry.Founded in 1963 by Georg Nemetschek, the company forms a group with numerous subsidiaries and around 3,000 employees.There are four business units: Planning & Design, Build & Construct, Manage & Operate and Media & Entertainment.

8. TeamViewer AG, Göppingen

The company TeamViewer is named after the software of the same name, which has been on the market since 2005.It enables remote control and remote maintenance of computers. Since then, the functionality has been continuously expanded – among other things, to meet the needs of large companies and with additional application options. TeamViewer employs around 1,250 people.

9. Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co.KG, Freiburg im Breisgau

The Haufe Group has evolved over time from a classic specialist publisher into a multifaceted information, training and software provider. Many software solutions run under the lexware brand and are tailored to the accounting needs of SMEs.Haufe is family-owned and employs 2,100 people.

10. PSI Software AG, Berlin

PSI Software was founded in 1969 by AEG employees.With a good 2,000 employees, the company serves two business segments:Energy Management and Production. The Energy Management division develops software for energy control systems, while the Production division develops process software for steel production, vehicle and machine construction, logistics and transportation.

Picture source: Luca Bravo via Unsplash (06.07.2023)

This information is included

• Company name
• General contact data (address, e-mail address, telephone number, URL)
• Name of the management
• Serial letter suitable for addressing the management (e.g. “Dear Dr. Müller”)
• Sales figures for the years 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements)
• Employee figures for the years 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements)
• Sector classification & Field of activity

Note: If the sales and employee figures are not included in a company’s own financial statements but in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the data from the respective consolidated financial statements are provided.

Map: Headquarters of the software players

Software-industry by cities

In terms of the number of software companies per city, Munich is the clear number one in Germany. There is no other city where so many software developers have their headquarters in Germany. The list of the top 7 also includes the major cities of Berlin and Hamburg. In addition, the technologically strong cities of Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Nuremberg are among the German cities with the most software companies. This is due in part to the universities there and the large technology companies in the region, which produce suppliers and spin-offs. For example, the presence of SAP makes Heidelberg an interesting location for IT companies.