Domibus

Overview

Domibus is the European Commission’s open-source sample implementation of an eDelivery AS4 Access Point. It is aimed at government entities, private businesses and software or service providers that need interoperable document and data exchange. The zero licence cost is attractive, but this is an on-premise platform for organisations prepared to operate its application server, database and Java stack.

Key features

eDelivery exchanges messages through interoperable nodes over public or private networks. Digital signatures and encryption protect integrity and confidentiality, while every message requires a digitally signed receipt acknowledgement. That combination suits regulated or operationally important exchanges where proof of delivery matters, rather than teams looking for a simple end-user invoicing product.

The REST Plugin adds an authenticated, OpenAPI-driven interface, webhook notifications, and workflows for resending or downloading messages. Default Web Service, File System and JMS plugins provide practical integration routes, with Jakarta EE 8 and Jakarta EE 10 variants. This breadth helps technical teams connect existing systems, but it also makes architecture and upgrade planning part of the product decision.

Domibus 5.2.1 supports hardware security modules for private-key storage. The UTIMACO simulator is listed for this purpose, and the specific HSM should be tested before production, so security-conscious deployments can use dedicated key protection without assuming every device is plug-and-play.

Pricing

The Domibus plan costs free and is an open-source, downloadable sample implementation under the European Union Public Licence. API access is included, and there is no paid tier or free trial to compare. The financial advantage is clear for organisations able to supply their own hosting, administration, integration and support; the licence does not remove those operational responsibilities.

Platforms

Domibus is available for API use on Linux in a self-hosted, on-premise deployment. Domibus 5.2.1 supports Apache Tomcat 10.1 and WildFly 37.0.x with Jakarta EE 10, or WebLogic 14.1.2 with Jakarta EE 8. WildFly is a poor choice for a new installation because support ends after Domibus 5.2.

Runtime options are MySQL 8 or Oracle 19c and Oracle JDK 21 or Eclipse Temurin 21. Plugins made for Domibus 5.1 or earlier are incompatible with the 5.2 Jakarta EE 10 edition after the javax.* to jakarta.* namespace change. The latest security patch identified for the 5.2.1 line is version 5.2.1.3, released on 11 September 2026.

Who it's for

Choose Domibus when your organisation needs a standards-based AS4 access point, signed receipts and encrypted exchange, and has engineers to run a supported Java application-server and database combination. It can serve public-sector networks, businesses and providers embedding eDelivery in their own services.

It is a poor fit for buyers wanting a hosted service, a consumer-friendly interface or broad vendor-managed support. Releases receive at least one year of support from a minor-version release, or at least two years when designated LTS, with coverage limited to critical security patches and major bug fixes. The eDelivery Support Service operates from 8am to 6pm on normal European Commission working days.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No licence charge: the open-source plan costs 0.00 USD, making large-scale adoption possible when infrastructure is already available.
• Strong message assurance: encryption, signatures and mandatory signed receipts address confidentiality, integrity and acknowledgement requirements.
• Useful integration surface: REST, Web Service, File System and JMS options accommodate different existing architectures.
• HSM capability: supported private-key storage can suit deployments with stricter key-management controls.

Cons

• Operational burden: self-hosting leaves server, database, Java, upgrades and plugin compatibility to your team.
• Narrow support scope: standard support focuses on critical security patches and major bug fixes, not comprehensive feature assistance.
• Upgrade risk: older plugins cannot run on the 5.2 Jakarta EE 10 edition, requiring compatibility work before migration.
• Short-lived server option: WildFly should be avoided for new installations because it will not be supported after version 5.2.

Alternatives

For a hosted electronic-invoicing workflow, Billit offers Android, iOS and web access, a free licence for Peppol sales invoices, and paid usage up to 25 documents per month at €690 a month.

phase4 is another free open-source option for Linux, macOS, Windows or self-hosting, but its Apache 2.0 library requires manual integration.

Holodeck B2B is free, open-source software for desktop operating systems and requires Java 11 or later.

B2Brouter, BillingEngine, ONESOURCE Pagero, PeppolSoft and Tradeshift are alternatives for readers comparing other electronic-document or invoicing services; their plans and platforms differ from Domibus.

See the broader Electronic Invoicing Software category for more options.

Verdict

Domibus is a strong choice for technically capable organisations that need a free, on-premise AS4 access point with secure, acknowledged exchange and multiple integration plugins. Look elsewhere if you need hosted simplicity, broader support coverage or freedom from Java, application-server and database compatibility work.