The KLARA alternative for solo freelancers
KLARA is built wide, from POS to online shop. Magic Heidi does one thing: invoicing, accounting and expenses for Swiss solo freelancers.
When KLARA is too much for you.
All you wanted was to send invoices and file receipts. Instead you click through modules you never need.
Modules you never open
POS, online shop, website, appointments — all there, none usedToo many clicks per invoice
Business-OS menus for one simple QR invoiceNo AI receipt scanning
You still type receipts in by handOnly the tools a solo freelancer actually needs
No POS. No shop. No website. Just invoicing, accounting, expenses and VAT, in one app, learned in five minutes.
Freelancer features only
Magic Heidi deliberately doesn't build a POS, a shop or a website module. You don't pay for things you never open.
AI receipt scanning included
Snap the restaurant receipt, Magic Heidi pulls out the date, amount, VAT and supplier. KLARA still doesn't have this.
Native apps
iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and web. A real Mac app, not a browser workaround.
Snap the receipt, done
Photo on the go, VAT mapped automatically, foreign currency converted to CHF. Something KLARA still doesn't offer. More on AI receipt scanning →
Receipts under control, all at a glance
Sorted, categorised and tax-mapped properly, exportable as a list any time. No module switching, no submenus.
Everything Swiss freelancers need.
None of the KLARA business-OS bits you don't.
Built on purpose for solo business in Switzerland. No POS tills, no online shops, no website builders, no employee-team complexity.
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 scanning
Snap the receipt, Magic Heidi reads the data automatically.
- Date, amount, VAT, supplier
- Photo, PDF or 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 pre-loaded
- Quarterly return as export
- Input VAT deduction on expenses
- Year-end document for your tax return
Bank import
CSV from UBS, PostFinance, ZKB, Raiffeisen, Migros, Neon, Yuh and the rest.
- 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 one dashboard, without clicking through five modules. More on 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
Your data belongs to you
Full ZIP export any time, no lock-in, even when you switch from KLARA to Magic Heidi or the other way around. More on data security →
Magic Heidi vs. KLARA and the alternatives
We're not saying KLARA is bad. KLARA is built differently — for shops, salons, restaurants. Here's what makes the difference for solo freelancers.
| What matters for freelancers | Magic Heidi | KLARA | Bexio | Banana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | ✓ Swiss freelancers | SMEs with shop, POS, employees | SMEs with employees | Accountants, double-entry bookkeeping |
| Solo focus | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Spread very wide | ⚠ SME focus | ⚠ Bookkeeper focus |
| Native iPhone app | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Native Mac app | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No | ⚠ Old desktop |
| AI receipt scanning | ✓ Included | ✗ No | ⚠ Pro tier | ✗ No |
| QR invoice | ✓ SIX-compliant | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| VAT automatic | ✓ Both methods | ✓ Yes | ✓ Both methods | ✓ Yes |
| Setup time | 2 minutes | 30+ minutes, lots of modules | 1+ hour | 1+ hour |
| Price (from) | CHF 25 / month | CHF 35+ / month | ~CHF 35 / month | CHF 79 / year |
| Free plan with no time limit | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Limited | ✗ 30 days | ⚠ Trial |
Customer support with a face.
When he isn't out and about, Nathan answers emails and calls 24/7. No ticketing system, no call centre.
What over 5'000 Swiss freelancers say
From the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and Trustpilot. Real Swiss solo businesses using Magic Heidi every day.
I was on a Swiss business OS with everything in it — POS, shop, appointments. I never opened 90% of it. Magic Heidi just does what I need, and does it well.
4.7★ — read all reviews
Finally, no more click marathon for a simple QR invoice. Snap the receipt, VAT automatic, done.
5.0★ — read all reviews
Used to have everything bundled in, now only what I need. The two hours a month I save on receipts already paid for the switch.
4.5★ — read all reviews
VAT return copy-paste ready
On the VAT return page every number is laid out, you copy it straight into the FTA portal. More on VAT management →
Fair pricing. No surprises.
Three invoices free, no credit card and no time limit. Pro only when Magic Heidi is worth it for you.
Free
- 3 invoices
- All main features
- QR invoice and AI receipt scanning
- All platforms
- No credit card
Pro Yearly
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited expenses
- AI receipt scanning 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 scanning included
- Bank import (all CH banks)
- Automatic VAT
- Priority support by email and phone
Frequently asked questions
What sets Magic Heidi apart from KLARA?
KLARA is a wide business OS with POS, online shop, website builder, appointment booking and accounting. Magic Heidi deliberately does only four things: invoicing, expenses, accounting and VAT, built for solo freelancers without employees and without a shop. On top of that you get AI receipt scanning, which KLARA still doesn't offer, plus native apps for Mac and Windows.
KLARA has an online shop and POS, don't I need that?
If you run a café, a hair salon, a restaurant or a shop with a till, then yes, KLARA is a better fit. If you bill hours, projects or consulting days as a solo freelancer, you don't need a POS, an online shop or a website builder. You'd be paying every month for modules you never open.
I have employees, does Magic Heidi work for me?
Honest answer: no. Magic Heidi has no payroll, no multi-user roles and no team time tracking. If you issue salary statements or coordinate a team, KLARA or Bexio are better for you. Magic Heidi is deliberately built only for solo self-employed people and sole proprietorships without staff.
Can I bring my data from KLARA to Magic Heidi?
Yes. From KLARA you export your client list, open invoices and receipt list as CSV or PDF. In Magic Heidi you import clients directly, you can recreate invoices as opening balances, and load receipts retroactively by photo or PDF. If you need help, Nathan answers personally, often the same day.
Does Magic Heidi work without bookkeeping knowledge?
Yes — that's exactly what Magic Heidi is built for. You don't type accounts, journal entries or double-entry bookkeeping. You write invoices, snap receipts, and at the end of the quarter the VAT numbers are ready to copy into the FTA portal. If you grow and want to work with a fiduciary, Magic Heidi exports everything in the usual formats.
What if I want to leave again later?
You export all invoices, expenses, receipts and client data as ZIP, CSV and PDF, any time, no waiting and no surcharge. Pro plans also have a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions. No lock-in, neither on the way in nor on the way out.
Which profile doesn't fit Magic Heidi?
If you need a shop till with a POS printer, run an online shop, issue salary statements or want an ERP interface for a larger company, KLARA, Bexio or Abacus are better for you. Magic Heidi is deliberately built for solo freelancers and sole proprietorships without employees, not for retail, hospitality or SMEs with teams.
Ready to swap KLARA for a tool just for you?
Three invoices free, no credit card, no time limit. Data in Switzerland, personal support from the founders, 30-day money-back on Pro. No POS, no shop, no module jungle.