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AbaNinja

2025 Guide for Freelancers, Small Businesses, and Startups in Switzerland

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If you're searching for AbaNinja, it's important to know that the software is now part of the Swiss21 platform, with roots in Abacus and DeepCloud.

To understand how AbaNinja evolved—from enterprise accounting software to a cloud solution for freelancers and small businesses—read our detailed background guide:
👉 The History of AbaNinja: From Abacus to DeepCloud

This article covers everything you need to know today: access, pricing, features, and whether AbaNinja is the right choice for your business in Switzerland.

What Happened to AbaNinja?

Read the full story here ->

AbaNinja was originally launched by Abacus Research AG in 2016 as a lightweight accounting solution for Swiss small businesses. Over the years, the branding has evolved significantly:

Period Product Name Platform
2016–2017 Abacus Ninja Standalone Abacus product
2017–2024 21.AbaNinja Part of Swiss21.org ecosystem
2024–Present 21.AbaNinja / DeepNinja Swiss21 and DeepCloud platforms

Important: There is no longer a standalone "AbaNinja" website or login. The software is accessed exclusively through the Swiss21 portal.

How to Access AbaNinja

Login and Registration

👉 For Existing Users

If you already have an AbaNinja account, log in here:

Login URL: https://portal.swiss21.org

This is the central Swiss21 portal where you'll access 21.AbaNinja and all other Swiss21 applications.

👉 For New Users

To create a new account:

  1. Go to https://portal.swiss21.org/signup
  2. Complete the registration form with your business details
  3. Select your preferred subscription tier
  4. Click on the 21.AbaNinja tile in your Swiss21 dashboard
  5. Enter your company data and select a chart of accounts

Registration is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes. The free Starter tier allows you to begin immediately.

Swiss21 Pricing

(Updated December 2025)

Swiss21 offers three subscription tiers for the complete platform, which includes 21.AbaNinja (accounting), 21.AbaSalary (payroll), 21.Shop (e-commerce), 21.POS (point of sale), and 21.CRM.

Subscription Tiers

Feature Starter (Free) Basic (CHF 21/mo) Pro (CHF 49/mo)
Documents per year 1,000 2,100 5,000
Addresses & Products 1,000 2,100 5,000
Users 1 3 5
Payroll accounts 1 7 21
Bank connection (auto-sync) ❌ ✅ ✅
Document AI recognition 10/month Unlimited Unlimited
Support tickets 3 total Unlimited Unlimited
VAT methods Gross only Gross, Net, Flat-rate Gross, Net, Flat-rate
Advanced accounting ❌ ✅ ✅
Inventory management ❌ ❌ ✅

Additional Costs

  • Extra users: CHF 5 per user per month
  • Extra payroll accounts: CHF 3.50 per employee per month
  • E-Bill (AbaNet): 21 invoices/month included, then CHF 0.39 each
  • POS Plus Add-on: CHF 19/month (extra cashier users, SumUp)
  • E-Commerce Plus Add-on: CHF 29/month (Google Analytics, coupons, cross-selling)

Important: 2025 Pricing Changes

As of January 1, 2025, significant changes were made to the free Starter tier:

  1. Automatic bank reconciliation was removed from the free tier
  2. AI document recognition limited to 10 scans per month
  3. Support tickets limited to 3 total
  4. No downgrade option: Once you upgrade to a paid tier, you cannot return to Starter

For businesses requiring bank synchronization (essential for efficient bookkeeping), the Basic tier at CHF 21/month is now effectively the minimum functional option.

Key Features of 21.AbaNinja

Invoicing and Accounts Receivable

QR-Bill generation

Fully compliant with Swiss ISO 20022 standard

Quotes and invoices

Create professional documents in minutes

Recurring invoices

Automate monthly billing

Automated reminders

Set up dunning sequences for overdue payments

Customer portal

Clients can view and pay invoices online

Multiple currencies

Support for CHF, EUR, and other currencies

Expense Management and Accounts Payable

AI document recognition (DeepO)

Upload receipts and invoices; the AI extracts vendor, amounts, and suggests categories

Supplier invoice processing

Track and pay vendor bills

Bank integration

Connect to 70+ Swiss banks including UBS, Raiffeisen, PostFinance, and cantonal banks

Automatic reconciliation

Match incoming payments to open invoices using QR-Reference numbers

Accounting and Compliance

Swiss KMU chart of accounts

Pre-configured for Swiss legal requirements

Double-entry bookkeeping

Full Fibu functionality

VAT management

Supports effective method (quarterly) and flat-rate method (semi-annual)

VAT statement export

Generate XML files for direct upload to ESTV

Balance sheet and P&L

Standard financial reports

Fiscal year flexibility

Custom fiscal year periods (paid tiers only)

Integration with Accountants
If your fiduciary (Treuhänder) uses Abacus software, AbaNinja offers seamless integration:

AbaWeb synchronization

Your accountant can view your data in real-time within their Abacus ERP

Direct data transfer

No manual exports or file sharing needed

Collaborative workflow

You handle day-to-day invoicing; your accountant handles year-end and VAT reconciliation

This integration is one of AbaNinja's strongest competitive advantages, particularly if your accountant is already in the Abacus ecosystem.

AbaNinja vs. DeepNinja

What's the Difference?

If you've encountered "DeepNinja," here's the distinction:

Aspect 21.AbaNinja DeepNinja
Platform Swiss21.org DeepCloud.swiss
Login Swiss21 portal DeepCloud SSO
Free tier available Yes (Starter) No
Bundled apps 21.Shop, 21.POS, 21.CRM, AbaSalary Standalone
Mobile app (AbaClik) Yes No
Target users Small businesses, startups Fiduciary clients, advanced users

DeepNinja is essentially the same core software but positioned within the DeepCloud ecosystem for users who need tighter integration with DeepBox (document management) and DeepSign (electronic signatures). Most small businesses should stick with the Swiss21 platform.

How AbaNinja Compares to Alternatives

AbaNinja vs. Bexio

Criteria AbaNinja (Swiss21) Bexio
Free tier Yes (limited) No (trial only)
Starting price CHF 21/month CHF 35/month
Best for Abacus-connected accountants Standalone businesses
User interface Functional, data-dense Modern, intuitive
Bank connections 70+ Swiss banks Extensive Swiss banks
E-commerce integration 21.Shop (bundled) Shopify, WooCommerce
Payroll Included (21.AbaSalary) Separate module

👉 Choose AbaNinja if: Your accountant uses Abacus, you need a free starting point, or you value the bundled Swiss21 ecosystem.

👉 Choose Bexio if: You prioritize UI design, need more e-commerce integrations, or work independently of the Abacus ecosystem.

AbaNinja vs. KLARA

Criteria AbaNinja KLARA
Approach Traditional ledger-based Widget-based assistant
Best for Users with basic business knowledge Complete beginners
Free tier Yes Yes (limited)
Owner Abacus/DeepCloud Swiss Post

👉 Choose AbaNinja if: You understand basic accounting concepts like debit/credit.

👉 Choose KLARA if: You're a complete novice and prefer conversational interfaces.

AbaNinja vs. CashCtrl

Criteria AbaNinja CashCtrl
Free tier Limited Full-featured (CashCtrl FREE)
Paid pricing CHF 21–49/month CHF 340/year (~CHF 28/month)
Swiss-based Yes (St. Gallen) Yes (Basel)
Accountant integration Excellent (Abacus) Limited

👉 Choose CashCtrl if: You want a powerful free version without the Abacus ecosystem lock-in.

User Reviews

What People Say

Based on reviews from Trustpilot, Capterra, and user forums:

Positive Feedback

  • Free QR-bill invoicing: Users appreciate being able to create compliant invoices at no cost
  • Abacus integration: Seamless data flow with accountants who use Abacus
  • AI document scanning: The DeepO feature saves significant manual entry time
  • Swiss data residency: Data stored in ISO 27001-certified Swiss data centers

Common Complaints

  • Support response times: Lower-tier users report slow ticket resolution (sometimes days)
  • No phone support: Only ticket-based support for non-premium users
  • 2025 pricing changes: Many users frustrated by removal of bank sync from free tier
  • UI complexity: Interface described as "industrial" compared to more modern competitors
  • Synchronization bugs: Some users report issues with 21.Shop to AbaNinja data flow

Overall Verdict

AbaNinja receives mixed reviews averaging around 3-4 stars across platforms. It's highly rated by users whose accountants use Abacus (seamless integration) but criticized by users expecting premium support at lower price tiers. The 2025 pricing restructuring has been controversial.

Getting Started

Step-by-Step

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Step 1: Create Your Account

  1. Visit https://portal.swiss21.org/signup
  2. Enter your email and create a password
  3. Verify your email address
  4. Complete business information (name, address, UID if applicable)
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Step 2: Configure 21.AbaNinja

  1. From the Swiss21 dashboard, click the "21.AbaNinja" tile
  2. Select your chart of accounts (KMU standard is pre-selected)
  3. Enter your VAT settings (exempt, gross method, net method, or flat-rate)
  4. Add your bank account details for the QR-bill payment information
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Step 3: Set Up Your First Invoice

  1. Go to Addresses → Add your first customer
  2. Go to Products → Add your services or products
  3. Go to Customer Documents → Create Invoice
  4. Select customer, add items, and generate
  5. Send via email or download as PDF with QR-bill
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Step 4: Connect Your Bank (Paid Tiers)

  1. Navigate to Settings → Banking
  2. Select your bank from the list
  3. Authenticate via your bank's e-banking portal
  4. Enable automatic transaction sync
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Step 5: Optional — Connect to Your Accountant

If your fiduciary uses Abacus:

  1. Go to Settings → Subscription and Add-ons → Abacus Financial Accounting
  2. Enter your accountant's mandate number
  3. Your accountant will confirm the connection from their end

Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful Resources

Summary

Is AbaNinja Right for You?

AbaNinja (via Swiss21) is ideal if:
✅ You're a freelancer, startup, or small business in Switzerland
✅ Your accountant uses Abacus software
✅ You want to start free and grow into paid features
✅ You value Swiss data residency and privacy
✅ You need bundled tools (invoicing, payroll, shop, POS, CRM)

Consider alternatives if:
❌ You need premium support and a polished UI (consider Bexio)
❌ You're a complete accounting novice (consider KLARA)
❌ You want powerful free features without ecosystem lock-in (consider CashCtrl)
❌ Your accountant doesn't use Abacus (integration benefit is lost)

Last updated: December 2025

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for your specific situation.