Magic Heidi The simple alternative to bexio, KLARA & co.
For the self-employed without staff: 11 comparisons from AbaNinja to WinBIZ, with real prices, strengths and limits. If another tool fits you better, we'll tell you.
All alternatives from A to Z
Find the tool you use today and open the comparison. The right column tells you when you're better off staying there.
| Comparison | Pick this tool instead if you … |
|---|---|
| AbaNinja alternative SMEs in the Abacus world | aren't VAT-registered and the free plan is enough |
| Banana alternative Spreadsheet-style, associations | like booking in tables (free up to 70 entries, then from CHF 89/year) |
| bexio alternative SMEs with employees | need payroll, double-entry and several users |
| CashCtrl alternative Double-entry in the browser | know debit and credit and want to book in the browser |
| Crésus alternative Desktop classic from Romandie | do payroll and taxes on a desktop and don't need a mobile app |
| ERPLight alternative Quotes, orders and invoices | only invoice and are happy to enter expenses by hand |
| KLARA alternative Local SMEs with POS and shop | want POS, web shop and payroll in one system |
| Pebe alternative Fiduciaries and payroll | issue salary statements or manage several employees |
| Sage alternative SMEs with Swiss localisation | are a company with a team looking for a classic SME suite |
| Smallinvoice alternative Invoicing with modular pricing | send few invoices and the free plan is enough |
| WinBIZ alternative SMEs in French-speaking Switzerland | need lots of features and accept the learning curve |
None of these fit? You work alone and want invoices, receipts and VAT in one app: start free with Magic Heidi.
Built for teams.
You work alone.
69 clicks in bexio, 33 in Magic Heidi: that's what sign-up, a first invoice and a first receipt took in our click test.
Modules you never open
Payroll runs, stock and user rolesAccounting homework
Chart of accounts and debit/credit before your first invoiceThe essentials cost extra
AI scanning and bank often only in big plansThe three big SME tools side by side
Price per month on annual billing. bexio and KLARA excl. VAT, AbaNinja with no VAT info, Magic Heidi incl. VAT. Sources: bexio.com, klara.ch, swiss21.org, checked in November 2026.
| Feature | Magic Heidi | bexio Advanced | KLARA Business Basic | AbaNinja Basic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | CHF 24.90 CHF 299/year | CHF 42 CHF 504/year | CHF 55 CHF 660/year | CHF 21 CHF 252/year |
| Use it for free | ✓ 3 invoices & 3 receipts (in total), no time limit | ✗ 30-day trial | ✗ 30-day trial | ✓ Free Starter plan |
| Built for | ✓ Self-employed without staff | SMEs with employees | Local SMEs | SMEs in the Abacus world |
| AI receipt scanning | ✓ Unlimited (fair use) | ⚠ 50 scans per month | ✓ Via the myKLARA app | ✓ Unlimited |
| Apps | ✓ iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, web | ⚠ bexio Go and web | ⚠ Web, iPhone, Android | ⚠ Web, plus AbaClik |
| Double-entry & payroll | ✗ Deliberately not included | ✓ Yes, payroll from CHF 7/mo. extra | ✓ Yes, payroll as an add-on | ✓ Yes, 7 payroll runs included |
How to switch without stress
You don't have to move everything at once. If you're VAT-registered, switch at the start of a VAT period. That way each return stays in one system.
1. Open an account
Free, no credit card. Add your logo and IBAN, done.
2. Import your data
Drop in clients, invoices and receipts as Excel/CSV. The AI maps the columns.
3. New here, old there
New invoices in Magic Heidi, collect the open ones in your old tool.
4. Cancel the old one
Only once the last open invoice is paid. Export everything first.
Rather plan the switch together?
In the free 30-min onboarding call we look at your move together. In German, French, Italian or English.
Tried other tools, chose Heidi
4.8 out of 5 from more than 200 public reviews.
“Tried lots of tools and ended up sticking with Magic Heidi. Convincing throughout, and easy and intuitive to use. Very happy.”
“Magic Heidi is perfect for my sole proprietorship. The app is very clearly laid out and very simple to understand. Thank you, it’s a joy to work like this.”
“Until now I did everything with Excel and binders and spent a huge amount of time on it. Then I came across Magic Heidi, and I have to say it’s a must-have for anyone who is self-employed.”
Questions before switching
Which accounting software suits the self-employed?
It depends on what you need. If your sole proprietorship has less than CHF 500'000 in turnover, the law only requires an income and expense record. If you also work alone, Magic Heidi is built exactly for that. If you need double-entry bookkeeping, look at CashCtrl or Banana; for a free start with payroll, AbaNinja. Coming from one of the two market leaders? Read our bexio alternative and KLARA alternative pages.
Is Magic Heidi cheaper than bexio and KLARA?
Yes. Magic Heidi costs CHF 299 a year incl. VAT. bexio Advanced costs CHF 504 and KLARA Business Basic CHF 660, both excl. VAT (CHF 544.82 and CHF 713.46 with VAT). There are cheaper tools too: AbaNinja Basic at CHF 252 a year, plus free plans at AbaNinja and Smallinvoice. Each comparison shows what you get for the money. Our prices: pricing.
When is Magic Heidi not the right choice?
When you have employees and run payroll, have to keep double-entry books, or manage stock, a till or a web shop. Then bexio, KLARA, CashCtrl or another tool in the table above fits better, and the right column tells you which one. Magic Heidi is deliberately made only for Swiss self-employed people without staff.
Can I bring my clients, invoices and receipts over from bexio, KLARA or Excel?
Yes. Export clients, invoices or expenses as an Excel or CSV file and drop it into the matching section in Magic Heidi. The AI works out which column is which. Test with a few entries first. You have to keep your old records for 10 years, so export them in full before you cancel. Step by step: import your data; what moves over from bexio and what doesn't is on the bexio alternative page. An old double-entry journal can't be imported; keep it as an archive.
Where is my data stored, and can I get it out again?
Your data is stored in Zurich, encrypted in transit and at rest, with weekly backups. You can switch on 2FA at any time. For AI receipt scanning we partly use services outside Switzerland. You can export everything as ZIP, CSV or PDF at any time, even if you switch again later.
When is the best time to switch?
If you're VAT-registered, switch at the start of a reporting period so every VAT return stays in one system. If you're not VAT-registered, you can switch any time. Create new invoices in Magic Heidi, let the open ones run out in your old tool and only cancel once the last one is paid.
Does Magic Heidi do double-entry accounting?
No, deliberately not. Magic Heidi keeps an income and expense record, which is enough for sole proprietorships under CHF 500'000 revenue. On top come QR invoices, AI receipt scanning, bank reconciliation and VAT with all rates (8.1 %, 2.6 %, 3.8 %), effective or net tax rate method, ready for the FTA ePortal. More on the invoicing software and accounting software pages.
Can my fiduciary keep working with me?
Yes. You give your fiduciary their own access to your account, or export invoices, receipts and VAT figures as ZIP, CSV or PDF. If they currently keep your books directly in bexio or KLARA, talk the switch through with them first.
How up to date are the prices in the comparisons?
Most comparisons name their source and the date they were checked; the prices on this page were checked in November 2026. Competitor prices are excl. VAT, ours incl. VAT. Magic Heidi is our own product, so we're not neutral: the current information on each provider's website always takes precedence.
Can I try Magic Heidi for free before I cancel?
Yes. You start with 3 invoices and 3 receipts for free (in total), with every feature and no credit card. After that, Pro costs CHF 24.90 a month on the yearly plan (CHF 299) or CHF 39 monthly, cancel any time, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way you can compare both tools side by side.
Try Heidi before you cancel
3 invoices and 3 receipts free, no credit card. Keep your old tool running until you're sure.
