In a comparison of SAP S/4HANA versions, 2025 is the most recent on-premise release – available since October 2025, with mainstream maintenance until the end of 2032. The 2020 to 2022 releases will be out of maintenance between the end of 2025 and the end of 2027. Since the 2023 release, SAP has only delivered a major release every two years and grants seven instead of five years of maintenance.
Table of Contents
- What do version numbers like “1909” and “2023” mean?
- New release rhythm from 2023
- SAP S/4HANA Versions in Comparison: Release Levels at a Glance
- What each release brought new things
- Maintenance deadlines as a decision factor
- Which SAP S/4HANA version is right for you?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion: Deadlines beat features
“Which S/4HANA version should I use?” is one of the most frequently asked questions when switching from SAP ECC or maintaining an existing system. The decisive factor here is not so much the functional differences as the maintenance periods and the release rhythm, which SAP has changed with the 2023 release. This article compares the release statuses 2020 to 2025 with their dates, the most important innovations and a recommendation on which release is suitable for whom.
What do version numbers like “1909” and “2023” mean?
The version number stands for the year of release of the release. Until 2019, SAP used a four-digit format of year and month – for example, 1511 for November 2015 (the first S/4HANA release ever) or 1909 for 2019. Since the 2020 release, SAP has only used the pure year.
To make a clear distinction: This is about the release statuses of SAP S/4HANA, i.e. the annual or biennial innovation package. The operating model – on-premise, private cloud or public cloud – must be separated from this. The dates mentioned apply to the on-premise and private cloud worlds with clearly defined release statuses. The public cloud version, on the other hand, provides SAP with continuous semi-annual updates.
New release rhythm from 2023
From 2015 to 2022, SAP delivered a new S/4HANA release every year with five years of maintenance. With the 2023 release, SAP has changed that – which also explains why there is no “2024”. SAP has officially announced this step (SAP News: Release and Maintenance Strategy):
- Two-year rhythm: Major releases are only released every two years. 2023 was therefore directly followed by 2025, after which it will be 2027 (planned for October 2027).
- Seven instead of five years of maintenance: Starting with the 2023 release, SAP will extend mainstream maintenance to seven years. This noticeably reduces the upgrade pressure.
- Feature Package Stacks (FPS): In the first two years of a release, SAP delivers three FPS at intervals of about six months – extensions that can be installed without a major upgrade. This is followed by pure support package stacks with bug fixes and legal adjustments.
SAP has promised that at least one S/4HANA release will always remain in maintenance until at least 2040. This is an important anchor for long-term planning.
SAP S/4HANA Versions in Comparison: Release Levels at a Glance
The most planning-relevant value is the end of mainstream maintenance:
| Release | Available since | End of mainstream maintenance | Status (as of mid-2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S/4HANA 2020 | October 2020 | 31.12.2025 | Maintenance expired → customer-specific maintenance |
| S/4HANA 2021 | October 2021 | 31.12.2026 | Maintenance ends at the end of 2026 |
| S/4HANA 2022 | October 2022 | 31.12.2027 | in mainstream maintenance |
| S/4HANA 2023 | October 2023 | 31.12.2030 | “Anchor Release”, 7 years maintenance |
| S/4HANA 2025 | October 8th, 2025 | 31.12.2032 | latest release, 7 years of maintenance |
When mainstream maintenance ends, the system automatically slips into customer-specific maintenance. This does not provide any new support packages and – the crux of the matter for many companies – no longer provides any legal adjustments. In the German environment with ongoing tax and reporting regulations, this is a tangible risk.
What each release brought new things
The functional jumps between the releases are gradual – the actual course is set for the rhythm change in 2023 and the AI boost in 2025.
S/4HANA 2020 and 2021 were dominated by Fiori modernization, initial machine learning scenarios (situation handling) and expanded embedded analytics. Their mainstream maintenance will end at the end of 2025 (2020) and the end of 2026 (2021) respectively.
S/4HANA 2022 deepened predictive functions and compliance topics and laid the first foundations for sustainability. It is the last release in the old five-year model.
S/4HANA 2023 is what SAP calls the “anchor release”: new technology stack, strengthened support for the RESTful ABAP Programming Model (RAP) and ABAP Cloud, clear focus on the clean core principle, and the start of seven-year maintenance. For transitions from ECC or older S/4HANA booths, it is well suited as a target release – within its maintenance window until 2030.
S/4HANA 2025 relies on AI and automation. The SAP assistant Joule and agentic AI take on recurring tasks in finance, purchasing and supply chain; in addition, there is real-time anomaly detection, predictive accounting and a rolling cash forecast directly in the system. For compliance, the Green Ledger with CO₂ recording at document level (CSRD/ESG) counts. In terms of extensibility, SAP introduced the A-D extensibility model in August 2025, which classifies adjustments according to their upgrade security. On the interface, Fiori (Horizon theme), “My Home” and SAP Mobile Start provide a more modern working day. A detail for practice: Many AI functions such as Joule run on the cloud side via SAP BTP – but the functional, UX and development innovations are also available on-premise.
Maintenance deadlines as a decision factor
If you are thinking about the right S/4HANA version, you should start with the calendar, not the function list. Two deadlines characterize the roadmap in German SMEs. For SAP ERP 6.0 (EHP 6–8), mainstream maintenance will end on 12/31/2027; Paid extended maintenance is possible until 2030 for an additional charge. For older enhancement packages (EHP 0–5), maintenance has already expired at the end of 2025. So if you are still working on ECC, you have a narrow time window. And if you’re sitting on S/4HANA 2020 or 2021 today, it’s best to plan the jump directly to a current release instead of working your way through several intermediate upgrades.
The rule of thumb for most projects: land on a release with a long remaining term – 2023 (until 2030) or 2025 (until 2032) – and not on a level that will soon fall out of maintenance.
Which SAP S/4HANA version is right for you?
A compact decision-making aid:
- Fresh transition from ECC (greenfield or system conversion): usually S/4HANA 2025. It offers the longest maintenance (until 2032), the full range of AI features and the latest clean-core tools – so you don’t have to follow suit soon.
- Already on 2023: no pressure to act. They will remain comfortable until 2030 and only then – or if there is a specific need for the AI functions – switch to 2025 or 2027.
- On 2020, 2021 or 2022: Plan for an upgrade. 2020 is already out of mainstream maintenance, 2021 falls at the end of 2026, 2022 at the end of 2027. The target release is 2025.
- The driver is embedded AI (joules, agentic processes): then there is hardly any way around 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the latest SAP S/4HANA version?
The latest on-premise release is SAP S/4HANA 2025, available since October 8, 2025. Mainstream maintenance will run until the end of 2032.
Why is there no SAP S/4HANA 2024?
Because SAP has switched to a two-year rhythm with the 2023 release. 2023 was therefore directly followed by 2025; the next major release is planned for October 2027.
How long will SAP S/4HANA 2023 be supported?
For 2023, the extended seven-year maintenance will apply for the first time – mainstream maintenance will end on 31.12.2030.
When does SAP ECC maintenance end?
For SAP ERP 6.0 (EHP 6–8), mainstream maintenance ends on 12/31/2027, with optional extended maintenance for an additional charge until 2030. After that, a switch to SAP S/4HANA is practically unavoidable.
Do I have to take every release with me?
No. Thanks to seven-year maintenance, it is enough to stay in the maintenance window. Interim releases can be skipped; the only important thing is not to slip into customer-specific maintenance, in which there are no more legal adjustments.
Conclusion: Deadlines beat features
For most companies, the comparison of S/4HANA versions boils down to two questions: How long does the maintenance run – and how many intermediate upgrades do I save? Those who are new to S/4HANA will be safe for the longest time in 2025; those who are on 2023 will have peace until 2030. It is important not to remain at an expiring level, because there are no longer any legal changes in customer-specific maintenance.
This is exactly where it is worth looking beyond the release: The B2B e-invoicing obligation (§ 14 UStG) applies regardless of whether you work on S/4HANA 2022, 2023 or 2025 – in some cases also on ECC. As an SAP PartnerEdge Build Partner, we at Munich Enterprise Software develop add-ons that run on SAP ECC and S/4HANA across releases and generate and receive formats such as ZUGFeRD and XRechnung directly from the system – clean-core-oriented and without cloud compulsion. This means that your e-bill remains reliable, no matter which release you stand on.
Are you planning a switch or an upgrade and want to know how e-invoices and outgoing messages fit neatly into your target release? Talk to us.
