The CashCtrl alternative for Swiss freelancers
CashCtrl is built for fiduciaries. Magic Heidi is built for you, with a native iPhone app, AI receipt scan and setup in 60 seconds.
When your accounting software was built for fiduciaries,
but you're not one.
CashCtrl can do a lot, no question. But if you try to use it without an accounting background, you'll spend more time with the tool than with your own business.
Built for fiduciaries, not for me
Accounts, journal entries, multi-client logic — you need none of itNo native iPhone app
Browser on your phone, fresh login every timeManual receipt entry instead of AI
Date, amount, VAT, vendor, all typed by handFreelancer-first instead of ERP baggage
Three tools you actually need, without multi-client logic, without journal entry windows, without setting up a chart of accounts.
AI receipt scan included
Snap a photo of the receipt, Magic Heidi reads the date, amount, VAT and vendor. CashCtrl doesn't have that.
Native apps on 5 platforms
iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and web. One login, everything synced, always offline-ready.
Freelancer-first
No multi-client logic, no inventory, no payroll certificates. Just what you need as a solo business.
Snap the receipt, done
Photo on the go, VAT assigned automatically, foreign currency converted to CHF. Exactly what CashCtrl users miss most. More about AI receipt scan →
Receipts under control, without a chart of accounts
Sorted, categorised and tax-ready, exportable as a list any time. No journal entries, no general ledger, no prior knowledge needed.
Everything CashCtrl leavers miss.
Nothing they don't need.
Built on purpose for solo freelancers in Switzerland. No multi-client management, no ERP modules, no double-entry bookkeeping.
Invoices and quotes
Professional design, multilingual, sent in under a minute.
- Swiss QR-bill v2.3, SIX-compliant
- Invoices in your client's language
- 50+ currencies with daily SNB rates
- Recurring invoices and reminders
AI receipt scan
Snap the receipt, Magic Heidi reads the data automatically.
- Date, amount, VAT, vendor
- Photo, PDF or via email forward
- Multi-currency with SNB conversion
- Recurring expenses and subscriptions
VAT and taxes
Effective method or net tax rate, Magic Heidi calculates, you copy.
- All Swiss VAT rates preloaded
- Quarterly statement as export
- Input VAT deduction on expenses
- Annual document for your tax return
Bank import
CSV from UBS, PostFinance, ZKB, Raiffeisen, Migros, Neon, Yuh and more.
- Automatic payment matching
- Match by amount, date, reference
- Multiple bank accounts in parallel
- Paid / open / overdue at a glance
How's your business doing this month?
Revenue, expenses, profit and estimated taxes in a single dashboard, without closing the books. More about accounting →
Swiss software,
Swiss servers, Swiss support.
Data hosted in Zurich, encrypted in transit and at rest. Personal support from co-founder Nathan, who answers emails and calls himself.
Your data stays in Switzerland
AES-256 at rest, TLS in transit
Nathan answers emails personally
Direct import from UBS, PostFinance, ZKB, Raiffeisen and more
No lock-in, your data is yours
Full ZIP export any time, with all your invoices, expenses, receipts and client records. If Magic Heidi isn't a fit, you walk away with everything. More about data security →
Magic Heidi vs. CashCtrl and co.
CashCtrl isn't bad, it's built differently. Here's what makes the difference when you're a freelancer and not a fiduciary.
| What matters for freelancers | Magic Heidi | CashCtrl | Bexio | Banana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | ✓ Swiss freelancers | Fiduciaries, SMEs with ERP needs | SMEs with employees | Fiduciaries, double-entry bookkeeping |
| Native iPhone app | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Native Mac app | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No | ⚠ Older desktop |
| AI receipt scan | ✓ Included | ✗ No | ⚠ Pro tier | ✗ No |
| QR-bill | ✓ SIX-compliant | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Automatic VAT | ✓ Both methods | ✓ Limited for non-accountants | ✓ Both methods | ✓ Yes |
| Setup time | ✓ 2 minutes | 1+ hour, accounting knowledge needed | 30+ minutes | 1+ hour |
| Price (from) | CHF 25 / month | CHF 24.60 / month (PRO) | ~CHF 35 / month | CHF 79 / year |
| Free plan with no time limit | ✓ Yes | ✓ Generous | ✗ 30 days | ⚠ Trial |
Customer support with a face.
When he's not out and about, Nathan answers emails and calls around the clock. No ticket system, no forum, no 'please ask your fiduciary'.
What more than 5'000 Swiss freelancers say
From the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and Trustpilot. Real Swiss solo businesses who switched from more complex tools to Magic Heidi.
I was on a technical accounting tool for fiduciaries — it was overkill. Magic Heidi does exactly what I need as a freelancer, in half the time.
4.7★ — read all reviews
The AI receipt capture alone saves me two hours a month. Photo, quick check, done. My old tool didn't have that, I had to type everything in.
5.0★ — read all reviews
Finally an accounting tool I actually use on the iPhone. QR-bill in a minute, VAT at quarter-end without Excel.
4.5★ — read all reviews
VAT statement copy-paste-ready
All the numbers are sitting there in order — you copy them straight into the FTA portal. Effective method or net tax rate, no chart-of-accounts setup. More about VAT management →
Fair pricing. No surprises.
Three invoices free, no credit card and no time limit. Pro only when Magic Heidi pays off.
Free
- 3 invoices
- All core features
- QR-bill and AI receipt scan
- All platforms
- No credit card
Pro Yearly
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited expenses
- AI receipt scan included
- Bank import (all CH banks)
- Automatic VAT
- Priority support by email and phone
- Zapier and API
Pro Monthly
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited expenses
- AI receipt scan included
- Bank import (all CH banks)
- Automatic VAT
- Priority support by email and phone
Common questions about switching
What sets Magic Heidi apart from CashCtrl?
CashCtrl is a cloud accounting tool with ERP features, built for fiduciaries, their clients and accountants. You work with accounts, journal entries and a classic accounting workflow. Magic Heidi is built for solo freelancers without an accounting background: no accounts, no multi-client logic, but AI receipt scan, native apps for iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows, and setup in under two minutes.
CashCtrl is very affordable thanks to its generous free tier — why switch?
CashCtrl genuinely has one of the most generous free tiers in Switzerland — that's honestly a strong argument. If you're comfortable with accounting and just need a free cloud accounting tool, CashCtrl is a good choice. Switching makes sense if you want to save time (AI receipt scan), work on the go (native iPhone app), have no accounting background, or want a clean freelancer workflow without ERP modules.
Can I bring my data from CashCtrl to Magic Heidi?
Yes. CashCtrl has a clean CSV export for invoices, receipts and clients. You import clients directly, and invoices and expenses can be added entry by entry or via CSV. If you need a hand, Nathan personally helps with the setup — just drop a line to support@magicheidi.ch.
I work with a fiduciary who uses CashCtrl — does Magic Heidi still fit?
Yes. At year-end you give your fiduciary a clean export from Magic Heidi (PDF, CSV or ZIP with all receipts, invoices and VAT statements). Any fiduciary can work with that, regardless of which accounting software they use themselves. Magic Heidi doesn't replace your fiduciary — it gives them better data.
Does Magic Heidi work without any accounting knowledge?
That's exactly the point. You don't need to know any accounts, write journal entries or set up a chart of accounts. You write invoices, snap receipts, import bank statements, and at quarter-end you read off the finished VAT statement. Magic Heidi does the maths in the background. CashCtrl users without an accounting background often spend more time with the tool than with their business — that's exactly what Magic Heidi avoids.
What if I want to leave later?
You export all invoices, expenses, receipts and client records as ZIP, CSV and PDF, any time. No lock-in. Pro plans also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
Which profile doesn't fit Magic Heidi?
If you're a fiduciary and want to manage multiple clients in parallel, you need CashCtrl with its multi-client logic. If you write payroll certificates, need inventory management, or a deep API-level ERP integration for a larger company, CashCtrl or Bexio is a better fit. Magic Heidi is built on purpose for solo freelancers and sole proprietorships, not for SMEs with teams or accountants with clients.
Ready to switch from CashCtrl?
Three invoices free, no credit card, no time limit. Data in Switzerland, personal support from the founders, 30-day money-back on Pro. If it's not a fit, you export everything in one click.