Data analyzed on 15 February 2026 based on the OurSoftware.eu directory
When we started compiling an overview of European software solutions, we didn't expect to pass 100 so quickly. Today, our directory lists 116 European software tools across 14 countries and 27 categories. From privacy-conscious email services in Amsterdam to publicly traded tech giants in Germany — the European software ecosystem is richer and more diverse than most people realize.
By Country: The Netherlands Leads the Way
That's probably no surprise — since we're based in the Netherlands ourselves, we have a natural bias toward discovering Dutch tools first. Still, with 38 listings, the Netherlands accounts for a remarkable 33% of all tools in our directory — from accounting packages like Moneybird and Gekko to cloud platforms like mosa.cloud and Cyso. Germany follows with 23 tools, including global players like SAP, Celonis, and N26. France takes third place with 21 tools, from search engine Qwant to marketplace platform Mirakl.
European Software by Country
stats by oursoftware.eu
The strong Dutch presence is no coincidence. The Netherlands has a thriving startup ecosystem, bolstered by high digital literacy, a strong emphasis on privacy (GDPR), and a tradition of business pragmatism. Many Dutch tools target SMEs and freelancers — exactly the segment that needs affordable, accessible software.
By Category: Business Software Dominates
Our 27 categories reflect the breadth of the European offering. Business Software leads with 13 tools, followed by Banks & Payments (10) and Accounting (9). Cloud, Communication, and Productivity share fourth place with 8 listings each.
Plus 17 other categories with 1–3 listings each, including Healthcare, DevOps, Hosting, AI, Insurance, and more.
The strong presence in financial services is particularly striking. With banks like N26 and Qonto, payment platforms like Adyen and Mollie, and a range of accounting packages, Europe offers a fully-fledged alternative to the American fintech landscape.
Unicorns and Publicly Traded Giants
Our directory isn't just filled with small startups. More than 10 unicorns — companies valued above $1 billion — are listed: Collibra (Belgium), Celonis (Germany), N26 (Germany), Qonto (France), Mirakl (France), Contentsquare (France), Factorial (Spain), Cabify (Spain), Jobandtalent (Spain), and TravelPerk (Spain).
The directory also features several publicly traded companies: SAP, ASML, Adyen, OVHcloud, Deezer, Wise, XING, and NXP. Together, these companies represent a market capitalization of hundreds of billions of euros — proof that European software is taken seriously worldwide.
From SAP (1972) to the Startups of 2024
The oldest listing in our directory is SAP, founded in 1972 in Walldorf, Germany. More than fifty years later, it remains one of the world's largest software companies. At the other end of the spectrum are companies launched as recently as 2024, such as Flux, Shppys, and EmailConnect — proof that European software innovation shows no signs of slowing down.
Between these two extremes, we find a fascinating mix: bootstrapped companies that deliberately choose organic growth alongside heavily funded scale-ups. Simple Analytics, for instance, founded by Adriaan and Iron, is entirely self-funded and serves over 33,000 users. On the other hand, Factorial has raised more than $250 million to bring HR software to all of Europe.
And We're Not Done Yet
116 tools is a nice milestone, but it's just the beginning. Every week we discover new European software solutions that deserve to be highlighted. From Scandinavian privacy tools to Southern European fintech innovations — the offering keeps growing.
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