bexio Alternative

The Best bexio Alternative for Swiss Freelancers in 2025

You started freelancing for freedom. Not to wrestle with accounting software designed for 50-person companies. Magic Heidi was built specifically for freelancers like you.

Why Freelancers Are Looking for Alternatives

bexio is Switzerland's largest business software provider with 90,000+ SMEs. But comprehensive isn't always better—especially when you're paying for project management, inventory tracking, and HR features you'll never use.

😤

Outdated UX

10-year-old interface design

📱

Barely Usable App

iOS app is limited

🐌

Stagnant Development

No new features for years

Real Feedback from bexio Users

"The UX is about 10 years outdated. The iOS app is barely usable—really, just barely." — Verified user review

"The software is dead. There aren't any new features for years. Small things need dozens of clicks when one would be enough." — GetApp review

"Importing transactions is STILL NOT WORKING WELL. Lots of mistakes, doubles, triples—making it quite unreliable." — Capterra review

On review platforms, bexio scores:

Ease-of-use: 2.7/5
Customer Support: 1.9/5
Value for money: 2.1/5

These ratings don't mean bexio is bad software. They mean it's built for a different user than a solo freelancer.

Comparison

Magic Heidi vs bexio

See how the two platforms compare for Swiss freelancers

Feature	Magic Heidi	bexio
Primary Audience	✓ Freelancers exclusively	SMEs and freelancers
Setup Time	3 clicks to first invoice	Extensive configuration
Expense Management	✓ AI receipt scanning	✗ Manual data entry
Mobile App	✓ 100% feature parity	⚠ Limited functionality
Support	Direct access to CEO	Standard customer service
Pricing	From CHF 21/month	From CHF 45/month

5 Reasons to Switch

Why Swiss Freelancers Choose Magic Heidi

Real benefits that matter for solo professionals

Save CHF 288/Year

Magic Heidi starts at CHF 21/month vs bexio's CHF 45/month. Money that stays in your pocket.

True Mobile-First

Every feature works identically on iPhone, Android, and desktop. Your office is wherever you are.

AI Expense Tracking

Snap a photo, AI extracts all data. Save 2-3 hours per month on bookkeeping.

Non-Accountant Friendly

No double-entry bookkeeping knowledge required. Just send invoices and track expenses.

Real Human Support

Need help? Call the founder directly. Not a chatbot, not a ticket system.

AI-Powered

Expense Tracking That Does Itself

With bexio, expense management means manual data entry. With Magic Heidi, snap a photo and AI extracts merchant, amount, date, and category automatically. Smart categorization learns your preferences over time.

Magic Heidi AI Expense Scanning on Mobile

Full Mobile Feature Parity

bexio's mobile app is an afterthought with limited features. Magic Heidi was built mobile-first—create invoices, scan receipts, review analytics, and generate VAT reports from your phone.

What Swiss Freelancers Actually Need

Before choosing any accounting software, understand what Swiss law requires from you—and nothing more.

🇨🇭 Swiss Compliant

🔒 Zürich Servers

💬 Trilingual

⭐ 4.8/5 Rating

📋

VAT Registration

Required above CHF 100k turnover

📚

Simplified Bookkeeping

Under CHF 500k? No full accounting needed

🧾

QR Invoice Compliance

Swiss QR-bills generated automatically

🏛️

AHV/AVS Reporting

Easy income tracking and exports

Honest Trade-Offs

Is Magic Heidi Right for You?

We believe in transparency. Here's when each option makes sense.

Choose bexio If You...

Have employees needing payroll • Run inventory management • Need direct bank connections • Require project management • Work with multiple team members

Choose Magic Heidi If You...

Work solo as a freelancer • Want simplicity over features • Need full mobile functionality • Prefer AI automation • Value your time over complexity

Testimonials

What Swiss Freelancers Say About Us

Magic Heidi is rated 4.8/5 on the App Store with hundreds of reviews

5 / 5

Very practical and time-saving. Easy to use, good graphics, and the analytics provide a good overview.

App Store User

Verified Freelancer

5 / 5

Top-notch! Simple, clear, and the support is exceptionally fast and very helpful. The invoices look great.

App Store User

Swiss Consultant

5 / 5

Finally software that understands what freelancers actually need. No bloat, just the essentials done right.

Verified User

Independent Professional

Switching from bexio: What to Expect

Worried about migration? Here's the reality:

What you'll need:

Export your client list from bexio (or re-enter them—most freelancers have fewer than 20 active clients)
Download your historical invoices as PDFs for records
Connect your bank via CSV export

What Magic Heidi provides:

Same-day setup
Swiss data storage (Zürich servers)
Full QR invoice compatibility
VAT handling that matches your bexio configuration

Most freelancers complete the switch in under an hour.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bexio worth it for freelancers?

bexio is excellent software for SMEs with employees, inventory, and complex operations. For solo freelancers who only need invoicing and expense tracking, it's typically overkill—and overpriced at CHF 45/month vs Magic Heidi's CHF 21/month.

What's the cheapest accounting software in Switzerland?

CashCtrl offers a free tier but requires accounting knowledge. Magic Heidi starts at CHF 21/month with full support and AI features. bexio starts at CHF 45/month.

Do I need accounting software as a Swiss freelancer?

If your turnover is under CHF 500,000, you can legally use simplified bookkeeping—even spreadsheets. However, dedicated software saves time, reduces errors, and makes tax season painless.

Can Magic Heidi handle Swiss VAT?

Yes. Magic Heidi includes pre-configured Swiss VAT rates (8.1%, 2.6%, 3.8%) and generates compliant reports. Whether you're VAT-registered or below the threshold, the software adapts to your situation.

How do I switch from bexio to Magic Heidi?

Export your data from bexio, sign up for Magic Heidi (no credit card required for the trial), and import your clients. Most users are fully operational within an hour.