Recommand vs e-invoice.be: two Peppol e-invoicing APIs
Recommand (by BRBX) is a developer-focused Peppol API where you build your own UBL. e-invoice.be abstracts UBL creation away, adds email delivery and PDF conversion, and prepares you for EU-wide e-invoicing. Here's how they compare.
TL;DR: Raw UBL vs. Abstracted API
The biggest difference: UBL
Recommand requires you to create and validate your own UBL XML. e-invoice.be's API abstracts this away. send simple JSON, get valid e-invoices.
EU future-proof
As more European countries mandate e-invoicing, e-invoice.be's abstraction layer handles new formats automatically. With Recommand, each country means new UBL work.
e-invoice.be adds the user layer
Email delivery, PDF-to-Peppol conversion, fraud protection, and a web app. Recommand is pure infrastructure with no end-user tools.
About Recommand (BRBX)
Recommand is built by BRBX (brbx.ai), a Belgian startup founded in 2024 by Daan Lenaerts and Kobe Indemans. Based at Corda Campus in Peer, they were featured as “Startup of the Week” in Trends/Knack.
Their positioning: “The open source Peppol API you'll actually enjoy using.” They target software vendors, integrators, and developers, not end-businesses directly. Note: while the code is open-source (AGPL-3.0), running your own Peppol Access Point still requires official Peppol accreditation, which is a costly and complex process. In practice, most users will use Recommand's hosted service.
BRBX's broader vision extends beyond Peppol into business process automation, with Recommand as their first product. They support the full Peppol document spectrum including orders and delivery notes, not just invoices. A key consideration: Recommand requires you to build and validate your own UBL XML documents, which demands significant technical expertise.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | e-invoice.be | Recommand (BRBX) |
|---|---|---|
| Peppol API | REST API with webhooks, SDKs for Java, Python, TypeScript, PHP, Ruby | Open-source REST API (AGPL-3.0) |
| Email delivery | E-invoices delivered directly to email inbox | Not available . API/dashboard only |
| PDF to Peppol | Automatic conversion from PDF, Word, Excel to UBL | Not available . Send pre-formed UBL only |
| End-user interface | Web app + email inbox for non-technical users | Dashboard for developers, no end-user interface |
| Fraud protection | Anti-phishing, IBAN validation, sender verification | End-to-end encryption, digital signatures |
| UBL abstraction | API handles UBL creation. Send simple JSON, get valid e-invoices | You must create and validate your own UBL XML |
| EU future-proof | Abstraction layer adapts to new country formats automatically | Each new country format requires custom UBL work |
| Source code | Proprietary (managed service) | Open-source (AGPL-3.0), but self-hosting requires costly Peppol accreditation |
| Document types | Invoices, credit notes | Invoices, credit notes, orders, delivery notes, and more |
| Reseller programme | White-label Peppol Access Point available | Open-source, build your own (Peppol accreditation required) |
| Maturity | Established, certified Peppol Access Point | Founded 2024, early-stage startup |
Which one is right for you?
Choose e-invoice.be if you...
- Don't want to build and maintain UBL XML yourself
- Want to be future-proof for EU-wide e-invoicing expansion
- Need both API and end-user email delivery
- Want automatic PDF/Word/Excel to Peppol conversion
- Need official SDKs (Java, Python, TypeScript, PHP, Ruby)
- Need fraud protection for incoming invoices
- Want a white-label Peppol Access Point
Choose Recommand if you...
- Have UBL expertise in-house and want full control over XML generation
- Send Peppol documents beyond invoices (orders, delivery notes)
- Want source code visibility (AGPL-3.0)
- Are a developer building a deeply custom Peppol integration
- Only need Belgium-specific e-invoicing (no EU expansion plans)
What Recommand does well
Recommand is a promising project. Here's what stands out:
Beyond invoicing
Supports the full Peppol document spectrum: orders, delivery notes, and credit notes. Not just invoices.
Developer-first design
Clean API, good documentation, sandbox environment. Built for developers, by developers.
Source code available
Code is published under AGPL-3.0, so you can inspect and audit it. Note: self-hosting still requires official Peppol accreditation.
Full UBL control
If you have in-house UBL expertise, Recommand gives you full control over XML generation. No abstraction layer in between.
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Compare with other alternatives
Related tools
Per-invoice pricing, SDKs in Python, TypeScript, PHP, Java, Ruby.