# agorum core — Document Management (DMS)

agorum core by agorum Software GmbH holds a panel rating of 2.5/5 from 6 AI judges (category median 2/5), as of 2026-10-15. Provenance: EU-Made; sovereignty: not determined.

- Vendor: agorum Software GmbH (https://www.agorum.com)
- Category: [Document Management (DMS)](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management.md)
- Provenance (editorial classification): EU-Made
- Canonical page: https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/agorum-core
- Alternatives: https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/agorum-core/alternatives ([markdown](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/agorum-core/alternatives.md))
- Data as of: 2026-10-20 · evaluated 2026-10-15 · oldest source captured 2026-10-13

**AI-generated.** Every score, rationale and verdict here is written by a panel of AI judges from public evidence — an analysis, not a hands-on test. Every fact quotes the vendor page it was read from. No score can be bought. How scores are made: https://whats-best.ai/methodology

## At a glance

- Vendor: agorum Software GmbH
- Headquarters: Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 13 Oct 2026
- Data hosting: Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 13 Oct 2026
- Free plan: Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 13 Oct 2026

## The panel's verdict

agorum core is an open-source-based document management system from agorum Software GmbH in Ostfildern, Germany, offered on premises or in agorum Cloud. The bench's scoring is highest on document workflows, where scores run from 6 to 8: judges credited a workflow editor with versioned, testable definitions and a DATEV XML online handover documented down to ledger types, while docking points for SAP, Odoo and e-signature appearing only as named modules. Versioning and permissions hold at 6, and audit-proof archiving at 5, where immutability is described concretely but we found no public information on an auditor's report or a tax-audit export. The recurring weaknesses are pricing transparency, sitting at 2 with no public euro figure, and search and portability at 4, since the only documented export moves data between agorum core systems. Sovereignty spans 1 to 3 — some judges value the on-premises and open-source route, while others weigh unconfirmed cloud residency and subprocessors more heavily.

**Speaks for it:**
- Workflow definitions are versioned with old versions kept runnable, plus subworkflows, testing before deployment and log inspection.
- The DATEV XML online handover is documented down to ledger types and the ZIP contents for the interface.
- Documents marked revisionssicher can neither be changed, deleted nor moved for the set period, and the original version stays permanently protected.
- Automatic versioning with restore sits alongside a gapless audit trail of creates, changes and deletions with timestamp and user.
- On-premises deployment is available alongside agorum Cloud, with an open-source product developed in Germany.

**Held against it:**
- We found no public euro figure for any edition, module or licence, with module prices stated to be heavily project- and volume-dependent.
- The only documented export path moves data from one agorum core system into another, and we found no public information on open-format export of documents with metadata, versions and audit trail.
- We found no public information on the contracting entity's jurisdiction, on where the cloud edition stores documents and metadata, or on a subprocessor list.
- The audit trail logs creates, changes and deletions, and we found no public information on reads or exports being logged.
- AI processing runs through attachable OpenAI, Azure OpenAI or Mistral models with no stated processing location, and the OCR tool requires a customer-supplied Mistral API key.

**Best for:**
- You need a GoBD-oriented archive in which documents marked revisionssicher are locked against change, deletion and moving for a chosen number of years, supported by a sample procedure documentation bounded at two to six consulting days.
- Your accounting runs through DATEV and you want the XML online handover with mapped ledger types.
- You want to run on premises and license, set up and operate the system with your own IT team, paying licence costs and maintenance.
- You build multi-step processes and want a workflow editor you can test before deploying to production, with old versions kept runnable.

**Avoid if:**
- You must compute your total cost from public prices before talking to the vendor; the captured pages show no euro figure and state module prices to be heavily project- and volume-dependent.
- You need a documented exit to a successor system in open formats; the migration tool moves data between agorum core systems and its stated use case is building a test system.
- Your procurement requires confirmed cloud data residency and a named subprocessor list before signature; the captured privacy policy covers website and applicant data.

## Scores by judge and criterion

Scores out of 5, each judge scoring independently against the published rubric (v1). "n/r" = not rated: the vendor publishes no price.

| Criterion | The GoBD Auditor | The Records Manager | The IT Integrator | The Mittelstand Owner | The Data Protection Officer | The Skeptic |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Capture, OCR & indexing | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Versioning, permissions & audit trail | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Audit-proof archiving & retention | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Document workflows & integrations | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Search, retrieval & exit | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| European sovereignty | 0.5/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1.5/5 | 1.5/5 | 0.5/5 |
| Pricing transparency | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| **Weighted verdict** | **2.5/5** | **2.5/5** | **2.5/5** | **2.5/5** | **2.5/5** | **2/5** |

### The judges

- **The GoBD Auditor** (v1.0): Has sat through tax audits on the company side and knows that "GoBD-konform" on a homepage proves nothing. Wants the auditor's Testat with its scope and date, archived documents that cannot change, retention per document type, and a Z3 export the tax office can read.
- **The Records Manager** (v1.0): Owns the filing plan and gets the call when a contract from 2019 cannot be found. Wants metadata that is set at capture rather than typed later, version history with restore, search that respects permissions, and a bulk export that keeps metadata and versions together.
- **The IT Integrator** (v1.0): Connects the DMS to the ERP, DATEV and Microsoft 365 and maintains it afterwards. Wants connectors with a stated scope rather than a logo wall, a documented API with webhooks, single sign-on, and a migration path in and out that does not depend on the vendor's services team.
- **The Mittelstand Owner** (v1.0): Runs a forty-person company and wants the paper out of the office and the invoices approved without chasing anyone. Reads for e-invoice intake, an approval workflow that works without a consultant, and a price for users, storage and modules before the partner visit, not after.
- **The Data Protection Officer** (v1.0): Knows the DMS ends up holding personnel files, health certificates and customer contracts in one place. Asks where the cloud edition stores them, which AI provider reads them during capture, who the subprocessors are, and how GDPR deletion is reconciled with retention duties.
- **The Skeptic** (v1.0): Has read "revisionssicher" on every DMS homepage and a Testat on almost none. Distrusts "AI-powered capture" without a validation step, "seamless SAP integration" without a scope, and "no vendor lock-in" from a vendor that documents no export — and treats "price on request from your partner" as an answer.

## European sovereignty — proven facts

Built only from facts on the vendor's own pages; a dimension we could not prove is left open, never scored as zero. Headline: not determined.

| Dimension | Finding | Points | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Not determined | — | — |
| Ownership | Not determined | — | — |
| Data residency | Not determined | — | — |
| Subprocessors | Not determined | — | — |

## Key facts

Each fact is the vendor's own statement, cited to the source page it was read from ([S*n*] → Sources).

**Compliance**
- Albert AI protokollierung: yes · yes [S1]
- Audit cycle: 3 · 2012 · 2015 · 2018 · yes [S10]
- Audit report: agorum core pro · yes · Bescheinigung-GoBD-Softwarepruefung-agorum-core-pro [S10]
- Audited archiving: jährlich durch unabhängigen Wirtschaftsprüfer · yes [S2]
- Current audit report pro: agorum core pro · audit report · yes [S9]
- DSGVO gobd: yes · yes [S1]
- GDPR: yes [S2]
- Gobd certified: Deutschland · yes [S10]
- Gobd legal basis: GoBD · HGB §§ 238-239, 257 · AO §§ 145-147 [S10]
- Retention switzerland: 10 [S10]

**Data**
- Application retention: for duration of employment plus statutory retention periods · 4 [S3]
- Logfile ip retention: only during website use, then deleted or anonymized [S3]

**Hosting**
- Cloud included: Volumen und Traffic · Maintenance · Backup · 50 GB Volumen · SSL-Zertifikat [S2]
- Deployment options: On-Premises · agorum Cloud [S2]
- Onprem storage module: On-Premises: System \| Storage als separate Lizenz (100 GB oder Unlimited) empfohlen bei hoher Datenmenge [S2]

**Integrations**
- API templates: Template structures can be invoked via API [S8]
- Fanpages: Facebook · Twitter · Instagram · XING · LinkedIn · Youtube [S3]
- History API: /MAIN_MODULE_MANAGEMENT/roi/control/changeHistory [S7]
- Searchindexinfo action: SearchIndexInfo action of agorum core template manager for inspecting metadata [S14]

**Legal**
- Content responsible: Oliver Schulze [S4]
- Entity: agorum Software GmbH [S10]
- Founded 1998: 1998 · 4 [S1]
- Gobd disclaimer: GoBD guidance not claimed complete or correct [S9]
- Ihk: IHK Region Stuttgart [S4]
- Register court: Amtsgericht Stuttgart [S4]
- VAT id: DE198023952 [S4]

**Pricing**
- Albert token tiers: Ø-Preis je Mio. Token, EUR · 60 · 49 · 120 [S2]
- Core pro price: excluded · Startpreis für 1 Nutzer · EUR · 32 [S2]
- Core pro tiers: user/month · 32 · EUR · 19.2 · 9.9 · 8.96 · auf Anfrage [S2]
- Credits packs: S 1 Mio Token · M 5 Mio · L 10 Mio · XL 25 Mio · verfällt nicht [S2]
- Llm usage extra: yes [S2]
- Maintenance included: yes [S2]
- Mistral API may cost: yes [S6]
- Module prices on request: individuell im Angebot, projekt- und volumenabhängig [S2]
- Nora360 price: excluded · Startpreis für 1 Nutzer · EUR · 35 [S2]
- Nora360 tiers: user/month · 35 · EUR · 22.4 · 11.55 · 9.8 · auf Anfrage [S2]
- Training not included: no [S2]
- VAT note: no [S2]

**Product**
- Albert AI: ALBERT \| AI is an assistant over documents/emails, answers in rights context, autonomous AI agents for routines [S1]
- Albert AI agents: ALBERT \| AI Agents: AI agents that analyze, plan and act autonomously around the clock with access to tools, knowledge and data [S8]
- Albert AI models: ALBERT \| AI: connect own or hosted language models like OpenAI or Azure OpenAI for use in chats, commands and workflows [S8]
- Albert audit logging: ALBERT AI Protocol: JSON-Audit aller KI-Prozesse [S2]
- Albert billing model: monthly ALBERT output token volume · yes [S2]
- Albert capabilities: ALBERT AI Chat: KI-Chat mit Dokumentenkontext, Zusammenfassung, autonome Aufgaben [S2]
- Albert credit no expiry: no [S2]
- Albert mcp: ALBERT AI MCP: bidirektionale Model-Context-Protocol-Anbindung; agorum core als MCP-Server [S2]
- Albert requirements: 11.10 · yes [S2]
- Albert sandbox: ALBERT AI Sandbox: Docker-Container mit Desktop, Browser-Automatisierung und Shell [S2]
- Audit trail compliance: Supports compliance requirements via tamper-proof (revisionssichere) archiving of all changes [S8]
- Audit trail logging: Comprehensive logging of all object changes (create, change, delete) with timestamp and user information [S8]
- Audit trail summary: Gapless logging of all object changes with timestamp, user and action [S8]
- Automated testing: agorum.dev: automated testing of new features in the development process, with code editor and auto-completion [S8]
- Availability: agorum core pro [S5]
- Basic archive revisionssicherheit: agorum core basic archive · yes [S10]
- Central inbox: yes · yes [S10]
- Checkincomment: yes [S7]
- Claimed metrics: 1998 · 98 · 24 · 2.5 [S1]
- Cloud available: yes [S10]
- Cloud cost model: nach Volumen und Traffic · yes [S2]
- Content trigger: Content-Trigger: automate processes based on document content changes, e.g. auto-start translations on edit [S8]
- Core pro description: agorum core pro: revisionssichere Ablage, unbegrenzte Workflows, DSGVO-konform, Kernfunktionen, Schnittstellen und APIs inklusive [S2]
- Core pro platform: agorum core combines ECM, document management, workflows and AI on one platform [S1]
- Core pro requirement: yes [S2]
- Datahandler manager: DataHandler-Manager: custom data handlers developed with JavaScript, JDBC or full-text search to connect external sources [S8]
- Datev xml online node: workflow node generates ZIP file for DATEV XML online interface containing invoices and XMLs [S12]
- Description: Processes documents using Mistral OCR API [S6]
- Disable image ocr: yes [S5]
- Dms migration export availability: agorum core open · agorum core pro [S13]
- Dms migration export docs scope: Documentation covers exporting data and then importing it [S13]
- Dms migration export installation: Plugin is installed and uninstalled via the agorum core plugin manager [S13]
- Dms migration export purpose: Exports data from one agorum core system and imports it into another agorum core system (agorum core migration tool) [S13]
- Dms migration export use cases: Building a test system with a smaller data volume [S13]
- Documentation effort: 6 · 2 [S10]
- Edition features: Workflows für mehrstufige Prozesse; Aktive Ordner verarbeiten Dokumente automatisch [S2]
- Excludeidlist: yes [S7]
- Explorer metadata search: yes [S14]
- Export ledger types: accountsPayableLedger · accountsReceivableLedger · cashLedger [S12]
- Filetype specific config: yes [S7]
- Firsthistoryaftercreate: 60 [S7]
- Folder templates: Folder/file structure templates with permissions and metadata, callable by users, via API or workflow nodes [S8]
- Hot folder: Hot Folder: special folders triggering configurable actions (convert, workflows, move, scripts) when files are added [S8]
- Language scope licensing: Sprachunterstützung lizenzabhängig [S5]
- License not version bound: no [S2]
- Locked documents immutable: for the entered time · yes · yes · yes [S9]
- Modules list: Dokument \| E-Rechnung · Dokument \| Doc Form Family · Schnittstelle \| DATEV · Integration \| GetMyInvoices · Integration \| invoicefetcher · Dokument \| Reader · Schnittstelle \| SAP · Schnittstelle \| Odoo · Integration \| E-Mail-Adapter · Integ… [S2]
- Multi llm switchable: yes [S1]
- Musterverfahrensdokumentation pro: yes · template procedure documentation · agorum core pro version [S9]
- Nexthistorytime: 60 [S7]
- Node internal id: agorum.datev.xml.online [S12]
- Nora360 components: Aufgabensystem · Vorgangssystem · CRM · Projekt (Scrum) · Ticketsystem [S2]
- Nora360 examples free: yes · yes [S2]
- Nora 360: NORA \| 360° links customers, contracts, cases and communication in real time [S1]
- Notobjectnameforhistory: yes [S7]
- Ocr advanced language pack: Chinesisch (vereinfacht und traditionell) · Japanisch · Koreanisch · Zusatzlizenz [S5]
- Ocr barcode types: Codabar · Code 128 · Code 39 · Code 39 Extended · Code 39 HIBC · Code 93 · EAN-13 · EAN-8 · Interleaved 2 of 5 · MSI · MSI Plessey · Patch Code · PDF417 · POSTNET · POSTNET 32-Bit · POSTNET 52-Bit · POSTNET 62-Bit · QR Code · GS1-128 (UCC-… [S5]
- Ocr base languages: Basisumfang · lateinisch [S5]
- Ocr capabilities: text · barcodes · PDF · TIF · serverseitig [S5]
- Ocr installation: yes [S5]
- Ocr license requirement: agorum core pro Lizenz [S5]
- Ocr multi system: yes [S5]
- Ocr output format: PDFs · Bilder · yes [S6]
- Ocr purpose: automatische Erfassung, Volltextsuche-Indizierung, Workflow-Integration [S5]
- Ocr tuner: OCR-Parameter an spezielle Scans anpassen · yes [S5]
- Open source: yes · Deutschland [S1]
- Original version permanent: yes · yes [S7]
- Paid configurations disclaimer: Product descriptions, images and videos may contain individually chargeable configurations and/or add-on modules. [S4]
- Param API key: apiKey · yes [S6]
- Param bbox annotation format: bboxAnnotationFormat · no [S6]
- Param document annotation format: documentAnnotationFormat · no [S6]
- Param document uuids: documentUuids · yes [S6]
- Param include image base64: includeImageBase64 · no [S6]
- Param model default: model · mistral-ocr-latest · no [S6]
- Param pages: pages · yes · yes [S6]
- Patorg: agorum core PatOrg: tamper-proof storage for PatOrg documents with data transfer via CMIS; full-text and metadata search [S8]
- Plugin template manager: Plugin Template Manager: flexibly develop, configure and manage plugins for existing systems [S8]
- Prerequisite datev enabled: DATEV interface activated via agorum core support tool [S12]
- Process documentation support: Verfahrensdokumentation kann per Projektplan eigenständig oder mit externem Berater erstellt werden [S10]
- Reader module quota: Dokument \| Reader: monatliches Kontingent verarbeiteter Dokumente, 100 bis unlimited, Preis nach Volumen [S2]
- Recommended workflow scanner: scanner/emails to central inbox, indexing via module Verschlagwortung und Ablage [S9]
- Reindex unrecognized: yes [S5]
- Requires mistral API key: yes [S6]
- Retention any years: any number of years [S9]
- Revision security outside basic archive: yes · requires appropriate permission [S9]
- Revisionssicher lock: yes · yes [S10]
- Rotation fifo: fifo [S7]
- Scanner recommendations: 300 · Graustufe · geringe/keine [S5]
- Search engine solr: Search engine is Solr [S14]
- Search fulltext metadata tags: fulltext · metadata · tags [S14]
- Searchable pdf: PDF mit eingebettetem Text, durchsuchbar und kopierbar · Durchsuchbares PDF durch OCR erstellen [S5]
- Searchindex rebuild: yes [S14]
- Smart search editions: agorum core open · agorum core pro [S14]
- Solr configurable: yes [S14]
- Solr metadata repair: yes [S14]
- Solr search syntax: yes [S14]
- Storage deduplication: yes [S7]
- Structured annotations: yes [S6]
- Support tool entries: DATEV CSV interface · DATEV CSV interface (with positions) · DATEV XML interface online · DATEV XML interface online (with positions) [S12]

**Support**
- Self service option: yes [S2]

34 more facts on the canonical page: https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/agorum-core

## Questions

### Is agorum core European?

Yes. whats-best.ai classifies agorum core as EU-Made.

### Where does agorum core store data?

Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 13 Oct 2026.

### Does agorum core have a free plan?

Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 13 Oct 2026.

### What are the best alternatives to agorum core?

As of 15 Oct 2026, the panel rates [AMAGNO (3/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/amagno), [Doxis (3/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/doxis) and [EASY Archive (2.5/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/easy-archive) highest among the other 14 Document Management (DMS) products evaluated. Ratings that look equal are rounded to half stars; the order uses the unrounded rating, then the name. The highest-rated European alternative is [AMAGNO](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/amagno) (EU-Made). Ratings are the AI panel’s opinion, formed from public evidence: [how scores are made](https://whats-best.ai/methodology#ordering). The full list, with European products first: [agorum core alternatives](https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/agorum-core/alternatives).

## What this page leaves out

- 15 product facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 14 integrations facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 9 subprocessors facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 4 support facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 3 compliance facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 2 legal facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 1 hosting fact could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and was left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 1 pricing fact could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and was left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 2 sovereignty dimensions could not be confirmed on the vendor’s own pages and are shown as unknown.
- 6 of the readings below were written against an earlier fact sheet — a fact has been corrected, added or pulled since. Until the panel next runs on this product you are reading the older judgement.

## Sources

- [S1] Vendor homepage: https://www.agorum.com/ (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S2] Pricing page: https://www.agorum.com/produkte/produkte/preise (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S3] Privacy policy: https://www.agorum.com/datenschutz (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S4] Legal notice: https://www.agorum.com/impressum (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S5] Capture, OCR & indexing — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/agorum-core-ocr-engine.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S6] Capture, OCR & indexing — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/mistral-ocr.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S7] Versioning, permissions & audit trail — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/historie-und-versionierung-von-dokumenten.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S8] Versioning, permissions & audit trail — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/agorum-core/tools/agorum-core-tool-audit-trail (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S9] Audit-proof archiving & retention — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/revisionssicherheit-und-gobd-im-archiv-basis.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S10] Audit-proof archiving & retention — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/verfahrensdokumentation-nach-gobd.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S11] Document workflows & integrations — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/workflows-einrichten.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S12] Document workflows & integrations — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/datev-xml-schnittstelle-online.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S13] Search, retrieval & exit — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/integration-l-dms-migration-export.html (checked 2026-10-13)
- [S14] Search, retrieval & exit — found from sitemap: https://www.agorum.com/documentation/agorum-core-smart-search.html (checked 2026-10-13)

---

Cite as: whats-best.ai, "agorum core — Document Management (DMS)", AI panel analysis, as of 2026-10-20. https://whats-best.ai/software/document-management/agorum-core

Corrections: https://whats-best.ai/correct/616?target=page