Is online-handelsregister.de Legitimate? Official Alternatives (2026)

Reading time: 6 minutes

Several commercial sites mimic the official register and charge EUR 10-30 for an extract you can get free elsewhere. The official source is unternehmensregister.de (Bundesanzeiger Verlag, state-run).

Official free sources

• unternehmensregister.de - official, free company data
• handelsregister.de - the register itself
• VIES - EU VAT validation

When paid helps

Use a paid extract only when you need a certified, stamped document for a bank or court. For supplier verification, the free official register is enough.

About the Author: Arshiya Sabaghi is the founder of German Industry Hub. With an MSc in Sales Management and experience at McKinsey & Company (Industrial AI), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and AkkoNobel, he connects international buyers with verified German manufacturers. Based in Amsterdam. Native German, English, Dutch, and Persian.