5 / 5
Too expensive and complicated for what it is... as a graphic designer, I find that we really have limits on the personalisation of invoices.
Graphic Designer
bexio User
bexio Alternative
Skip the Complexity: Magic Heidi vs bexio Marketplace
You became a freelancer for freedom. Not to spend evenings wrestling with accounting software built for 50-person companies. Magic Heidi was built specifically for Swiss freelancers.
Why Freelancers Struggle
with bexio
Over 90,000 Swiss SMEs use bexio—but freelancers aren't SMEs. Your needs are different. Simpler. And your tools should be too. Maybe the pricing feels steep, the interface outdated, or you're tired of adding marketplace apps just to do basic tasks.
💸
Overpaying for features
CHF 35-65/month for tools you'll never touch⏰
Manual expense entry
Hours wasted typing receipt data by hand🤯
Complexity overload
Interface designed for 50-person companiesReal bexio User Reviews
What bexio Users Actually Say
Don't just take our word for it. Here's feedback from actual bexio users.
5 / 5
Simple functions that are standard with competitors are missing here or are unnecessarily complicated. The price-performance ratio is absolutely wrong for me.
Swiss Freelancer
Former bexio User
5 / 5
The UX of the website is about 10 years outdated. The app (iOS) is barely usable.
Mobile User
bexio Reviewer
What Is the bexio Marketplace?
bexio started as accounting software for Swiss SMEs and has grown into a comprehensive back-office platform. The bexio Marketplace extends this with 120+ third-party applications.
Popular Marketplace Apps Include:
| Category | Apps | What They Do |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Clockodo, Proles | Log billable hours |
| Cash Flow | Tresio | Predict future cash position |
| E-Commerce | Shopify, WooCommerce | Sync online store orders |
| CRM | HubSpot, Pipedrive | Manage client relationships |
| Payments | SumUp | Process card payments |
| Automation | Zapier | Connect apps automatically |
For businesses managing inventory, multiple employees, or e-commerce operations, this ecosystem makes sense.
But here's the catch: every add-on is another subscription, another login, another thing to learn.
For a freelance designer, consultant, or developer? That's overkill.
Built for Freelancers
Magic Heidi: Built for Freelancers Only
Magic Heidi launched in 2022 with one mission: make Swiss freelance accounting effortless. Not for SMEs. Not for startups with investors. For freelancers.
No Marketplace Required
Create Swiss QR Invoices in 30 Seconds
Everything you need built-in. No add-ons. No extra subscriptions. No complexity.
- 🧾Swiss QR-Code Invoices
Generate compliant QR invoices in seconds
- 🤖AI-Powered Expense Scanning
Snap a photo, AI extracts everything
- 💰Automatic VAT Calculation
Swiss VAT rates applied correctly
- 🌍Multi-Currency Support
Convert foreign payments to CHF automatically
Invoices
- Invoice #3
Magic Heidi
CHF 500
Jan 29
- Invoice #2
Webbiger LTD
CHF 2000
Jan 24
- Invoice #1
John Doe
CHF 600
Jan 20
Direct Comparison
bexio vs. Magic Heidi
See how the two platforms stack up for Swiss freelancers.
| Feature | Magic Heidi | bexio |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | CHF 25/month | CHF 35/month |
| Target User | ✓ Solo Freelancers | ✗ SMEs, 5-50 employees |
| AI Expense Scanning | ✓ Built-in AI | ✗ Manual entry on web |
| Setup Time | Minutes | Hours |
| Marketplace Required | ✓ Everything built-in | ✗ Yes, for many features |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows | ⚠ Available but criticized |
| Multi-Currency | ✓ Full support | ⚠ Limited, issues reported |
| Learning Curve | Minimal | Steep |
Save Money
The Price Difference Adds Up
Over one year, you save CHF 120-168—enough for a nice client dinner or new equipment. And that's before counting marketplace add-on costs with bexio.
AI-Powered
The AI Advantage
Traditional expense tracking means keeping receipts, logging in, creating expenses, typing merchant names, entering amounts, selecting categories, uploading photos. With Magic Heidi? Photograph receipt. Done. AI extracts everything: merchant, amount, date, category.
What Freelancers NeedWhat Swiss Freelancers
What Swiss Freelancers
Actually Need
After talking with hundreds of Swiss freelancers, the requirements are clear.
Swiss QR-Code Invoices
Since October 2022, QR invoices are the Swiss standard. Magic Heidi makes it automatic—your IBAN generates the code instantly.
- Compliant QR codes from your IBAN
- Clients scan and pay instantly
- No typing account numbers
- Professional branded invoices
VAT Compliance Without Accounting Degrees
If your revenue exceeds CHF 100,000, VAT registration is mandatory. Your software should handle rates automatically.
- 8.1% standard rate
- 2.6% reduced rate
- Automatic calculations
- Tax-ready reports
Expense Tracking That Doesn't Feel Like Work
Every receipt matters for tax deductions. But nobody wants to type merchant names at 10 PM. AI scanning changes the game.
- Snap photo of receipt
- AI extracts all details
- One-tap confirmation
- Hours saved yearly
Works Where You Work
Freelancers aren't chained to desks. Your accounting should work on the train, at client meetings, or from your couch.
- iPhone & Android apps
- Mac & Windows desktop
- Web access anywhere
- Real-time sync
Swiss-Made for
Swiss Freelancers
Magic Heidi was built in Switzerland, for Switzerland. Your data stays in Swiss data centers, and every feature is designed for Swiss compliance.
🇨🇭 Swiss Made
🔒 Swiss Data Centers
💬 DE/FR/EN Support
⭐ 4.9★ Rating
🧾
QR-Code Invoices
Swiss standard since 2022
💰
VAT Management
Automatic Swiss rates
🏦
Bank Connection
Major Swiss banks supported
📊
Trustee Reports
Clean exports they accept
When bexio Marketplace Makes Sense
Let's be fair. bexio isn't bad software. It's wrong software for freelancers.
Choose bexio if you:
- Manage employees and need payroll
- Run an e-commerce store requiring inventory sync
- Need complex project management with multiple team members
- Want CRM integration with sales pipelines
- Have revenue over CHF 500,000 with complex accounting needs
Choose Magic Heidi if you:
- Work solo or with occasional contractors
- Send fewer than 50 invoices monthly
- Want invoicing done in under a minute
- Need expenses tracked without data entry
- Value simplicity over endless features
- Work across multiple devices throughout the day
Easy Migration
Switching from bexio: Easier Than You Think
Most freelancers complete setup in under an hour. Many send their first Magic Heidi invoice the same day.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bexio too complicated for freelancers?
For many, yes. bexio serves SMEs with complex needs. If you're solo, you're paying for features like payroll, inventory, and project management you'll never use. The interface reflects this complexity.
What exactly is the bexio Marketplace?
It's a collection of 120+ third-party apps that integrate with bexio. These add functionality like time tracking (Clockodo), cash flow forecasting (Tresio), and e-commerce connections (Shopify). Each is a separate subscription.
Does Magic Heidi support Swiss QR invoices?
Absolutely. QR codes generate automatically from your IBAN. Clients scan with their banking app and pay instantly—no manual account entry.
Do I need accounting knowledge to use Magic Heidi?
No. Magic Heidi handles VAT calculations, categorization, and report generation. You focus on your work; the software handles compliance.
Is there a free option?
Magic Heidi offers a free plan limited to 3 invoices—enough to test everything. bexio has a free trial but no permanent free tier.
Which software has better AI features?
Magic Heidi was built with AI integration from day one. bexio added basic receipt recognition to mobile but lacks deep AI throughout the platform.
Can I use Magic Heidi if I work with international clients?
Yes. Magic Heidi supports multiple currencies with automatic CHF conversion. bexio users report significant friction with non-EU currencies and non-IBAN payments.
What if my business grows beyond freelancing?
If you hire employees or need inventory management, bexio or similar SME platforms become relevant. Many freelancers use Magic Heidi for years before reaching that point—and the switch is straightforward when needed.
The Bottom Line
The bexio Marketplace solves problems most freelancers don't have. It's powerful software designed for growing SMEs with complex operations.
If that's you in five years, great. bexio will be there.
But today? If you're a Swiss freelancer who needs to send invoices, track expenses, and stay tax-compliant without drowning in features?
Magic Heidi does exactly what you need. Nothing more. Nothing less.
- 30% lower cost than bexio
- AI expense scanning that saves hours yearly
- 3-click invoicing that respects your time
- Every platform covered: iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Web
- Swiss-compliant from QR codes to VAT
Your time is valuable. Your software should recognize that.
Try Magic Heidi Free
Create your account in 2 minutes. Send your first Swiss QR invoice in 3 clicks. No credit card required. Questions? Our team (yes, actual humans in Switzerland) responds within hours, not days.