Best VSME Reporting Software in 2026: Six Platforms Compared by Use Case
By Ricky Schoeman · Last verified: 21 October, 2026 · Independent comparison: see “How we chose” below
Quick answer: For micro and small companies starting VSME reporting, ESG Lift (from €590 a year) and ESGDO (pay per report, with a free version) are the lowest-commitment options, and ExecutESG offers a free VSME Basic tier. Karomia suits companies that want AI-assisted reporting with bank-ready data points. Position Green fit teams that need carbon accounting or broader ESG data management, and GoClimate suits teams that want emissions calculated from invoices.
VSME or “Voluntary Standard”? A quick naming note
On 3 July 2026 the European Commission adopted the standard based on EFRAG’s VSME as a delegated act, and it was published in the Official Journal on 21 September 2026 (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1560 [verify number and entry-into-force date on EUR-Lex before publishing]). Official documents now call it the Voluntary Standard (VS), but most buyers still search for “VSME”, so this guide uses both. Reporting remains voluntary. The act also sets the value-chain cap: large companies reporting under CSRD should not ask smaller suppliers for more than the standard sets out. For the full background, see our VSME explained guide.
VSME reporting software compared at a glance
| Platform | Best for | Pricing (as published) | VSME support | Independent reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESG Lift | Micro and small firms that want the lowest published annual price | From €590/year, flat | Core focus | None found on G2 or Capterra |
| ESGDO | Companies that need one VSME report and don’t want a subscription | One-time fee per VSME report (amount [confirm]); free version available | Core focus: full VSME forms, PDF and XBRL export | No ratings found; listed on AlternativeTo and Software Advice |
| ExecutESG | SMEs that want to start free and upgrade later | Free VSME Basic tier; paid tiers listed on-page (exact € figures not captured) | Free Basic plus paid Comprehensive | None found |
| Karomia | Companies that want AI-assisted reports and bank-ready data points | Not published [confirm] | Yes, alongside CSRD | Capterra listing exists; rating not verified [confirm] |
| GoClimate | Teams that want emissions automated from invoices | Quote only | Partial: environmental disclosures stronger than social and governance | None found |
| Position Green | Growing teams that want one ESG data platform | Not published [confirm] | Not verified [confirm] | Capterra 4.3/5 (9 reviews) |
Pricing and review data compiled August–October 2026 from vendor pages, G2, Capterra and third-party listings. We show review counts next to every rating and say so when no independent reviews exist.
The six platforms
ESG Lift: best for the lowest published annual price
ESG Lift is built around the VSME standard and publishes a flat price of €590 a year. It includes a hybrid Scope 3 calculator, and CSRD support is limited to CSRD-format PDF output. Limits: no independent G2 or Capterra reviews exist yet, so there is little third-party evidence on support or reliability. Check before buying: what the annual price includes and whether it changes at renewal. See our ESG Lift profile.
ESGDO: best for a one-off VSME report
ESGDO is a web application that guides SMEs through the full VSME standard. It uses dynamic multilingual forms, field-level validation and emissions calculators based on official national factors, and it can draw on uploaded company documents for AI guidance. Reports export to PDF and XBRL. You pay a one-time fee per VSME report rather than a yearly subscription, and a free version is available. Paid reports keep your data and documents for at least 18 months. Limits: we could not find independent ratings, and the per-report price needs confirming. Check before buying: how repeat annual reporting is priced.
ExecutESG: best for starting free
ExecutESG offers a free VSME Basic tier and paid tiers, including a Comprehensive module. Its CSRD features sit in higher tiers, and Scope 3 starts at the Pro tier. Limits: exact euro prices for paid tiers render dynamically on its site, so confirm them directly. It has no G2 or Capterra profile, and its own content describes a smaller user community than incumbents. See our ExecutESG profile.
Karomia: best for AI-assisted reports and bank requests
Karomia is a Ghent-based platform founded in 2024. It uses AI to read a company’s documents, fill in the report and flag missing information, and it supports VSME alongside CSRD and double materiality. It raised €2 million in February 2025 and reported more than 45 customers at the time, with PwC Belgium among its partners. Karomia also publishes which VSME data points Belgian banks require under KUBE ESG, which is useful if a bank is your main audience. Limits: pricing is not published, and we could not verify an independent rating. See our Karomia profile.
GoClimate: best for invoice-driven emissions tracking
GoClimate, founded in Sweden in 2017, automates emissions calculations from invoices. Its environmental disclosures are stronger than its social and governance coverage, so check how it handles the full VSME Basic Module. Limits:pricing is by quote only (“book a meeting”) and we found no G2 or Capterra reviews despite its longer track record. See our GoClimate profile.
Position Green: best for one ESG data platform as you grow
Position Green is an ESG data management platform that centralises data collection, analysis and reporting. Capterra shows 4.3/5 from nine reviews, a small but real independent sample, and it is the only platform in this list where we could confirm a rating. Limits: we could not confirm its VSME module or its pricing, so ask both questions before shortlisting. See our Position Green profile.
Other VSME-native tools outside our six
Two VSME-specific tools appear on Capterra but are not yet in our index: VSME Reporter (free VSME Basic plan; €99/month for Comprehensive) and VSME Ready (€199/year Basic). These figures come from their Capterra listings and we have not independently verified them.
How to choose VSME reporting software
- Module coverage. Check that it covers the Basic Module (B1–B11) and, if banks or customers ask for it, the Comprehensive Module (C1–C9). See [Basic vs Comprehensive explained](/vsme-basic-vs-comprehensive/ [confirm URL]).
- Total cost over two years. Ask what changes at renewal, and whether you pay per report or per year. Our VSME software cost guide has typical ranges.
- Scope 3 handling. Some tools calculate it, others only collect inputs.
- Exports. Confirm you can produce a standard-aligned report your bank or customers will accept, such as PDF or XBRL.
- Evidence of support quality. Where independent reviews exist, read them. Where they do not, ask for references.
Do you need software at all?
Not always. A very small company with simple data can report from a free template. Software starts to pay off when data comes from several people or systems, when customers ask for repeat reports, or when you also need carbon accounting. We cover the trade-off in VSME template vs software.
How we chose and what we don’t claim
We compared seven platforms using published vendor pricing and feature pages plus G2, Capterra and third-party listings. We do not publish a single “best overall” score, because only one of the seven has an independent rating we could confirm and a composite score would be misleading. Instead we label each platform by use case and show what we could and could not verify. Prices change, so confirm with the vendor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best VSME reporting software?
It depends on your size and needs. ESG Lift, ESGDO and ExecutESG suit small companies that want low or free entry prices. Karomia suits companies that want AI-assisted reports and bank-ready data. We do not name a single overall winner.
How much does VSME reporting software cost?
Prices range widely. ESG Lift starts at €590 a year, ExecutESG has a free VSME Basic tier, and ESGDO charges a one-time fee per report. GoClimate prices by quote, and Karomia and Position Green do not publish prices.
Is VSME reporting mandatory?
No. The Voluntary Standard, adopted by the Commission as a delegated act on 3 July 2026, is voluntary. Customers, banks or investors may still ask for it, and it caps what large companies can request from smaller suppliers in their value chain.
Is VSME the same as the Voluntary Standard (VS)?
The Voluntary Standard is based on EFRAG’s VSME and keeps its structure. The Commission adopted it as a delegated act in July 2026 and published it in the Official Journal on 21 September 2026. Many people still call it VSME.
Which ESG reporting software has transparent pricing in Germany?
ESG Lift (€590 a year) and ExecutESG (free tier plus listed plans) publish prices in euros, and ESGDO publishes a per-report model. GoClimate requires a sales conversation, so a like-for-like price comparison is not possible with them.
Which VSME software has the most independent reviews?
Of these six, only Position Green has a rating we could confirm: 4.3/5 from nine Capterra reviews. We found no G2 or Capterra profiles for ESG Lift, ExecutESG or GoClimate, and could not verify ratings for Karomia or ESGDO.
Do I need software for VSME reporting or is a template enough?
A free template can work for very small companies with simple data. Software helps when several people contribute data, when you report repeatedly, or when you also need carbon accounting and Scope 3 calculations.
