The ERPLight Alternative with Automation
ERPLight is simple and affordable, but everything's manual: you type up receipts yourself and work out VAT by hand. Magic Heidi does it all automatically, at the same price point.
ERPLight is free. But you're still typing everything yourself.
The basic idea behind ERPLight is a good one: simple, affordable, stripped down to the essentials. The bookkeeping work just stays entirely on you.
Typing receipts by hand
No AI receipt scanning, a photo alone isn't enough, you enter the data yourselfBrowser only
No native iPhone or Mac app, everything runs through the web viewVAT as a calculator only
A calculator tool instead of automatic VAT on every invoice and in the quarterly exportJust as simple. But automatic.
Magic Heidi sticks to the same idea, just built for freelancers, no bloat, but with what ERPLight leaves manual: AI receipt scanning, automatic VAT, native apps.
AI receipt scanning included
Snap a photo of the receipt, and Magic Heidi automatically reads out the date, amount, VAT, and supplier. With ERPLight, you type that in by hand.
VAT on every invoice
Both methods set up, calculated automatically per invoice, not just as a separate calculator tool.
Native apps instead of just a browser
iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and web. A real Mac app, no browser tab that has to stay open.
Snap a receipt, done
Photo on the go, VAT assigned automatically, foreign currency converted to CHF. ERPLight only captures expenses manually. More on AI receipt scanning →
Receipts under control, everything at a glance
Sorted, categorized, and correctly assigned for tax purposes, exportable as a list anytime.
Just as simple as ERPLight.
Just without the manual work.
For solo freelancers and sole proprietorships in Switzerland. No bookkeeping knowledge needed, no modules you'll never open.
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 exchange rates
- Recurring invoices and payment reminders
AI Receipt Scanning
Snap a photo of a receipt, Magic Heidi reads the data automatically, ERPLight doesn't.
- Date, amount, VAT, supplier
- Photo, PDF, or forward by email
- Multi-currency with SNB conversion
- Recurring expenses and subscriptions
VAT and Taxes
Effective Method or Net Tax Rate Method, calculated automatically on every invoice, not just in the calculator tool.
- Every Swiss VAT rate built in
- Quarterly statement as an export
- Input tax deduction on expenses
- Annual document for your tax return
Multilingual
For freelancers across Switzerland, not just in German.
- German, French, Italian
- English, Spanish, Portuguese
- Invoices in your client's language
- One account, every language
How's your business doing this month?
Revenue, expenses, profit, and estimated taxes in one dashboard. 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 anytime, no lock-in, even when switching from ERPLight to Magic Heidi or back. More on data security →
Magic Heidi vs. ERPLight and the Alternatives
ERPLight is a solid, affordable choice for the odd document. Here's what makes the difference once receipts and VAT start piling up regularly.
| What matters for freelancers | Magic Heidi | ERPLight | Bexio | Banana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | ✓ Swiss freelancers | Price-sensitive micro-businesses | SMEs with employees | Fiduciaries, double-entry bookkeeping |
| AI receipt scanning | ✓ Included | ✗ Manual entry only | ⚠ Pro tier | ✗ No |
| Native iPhone app | ✓ Yes | ✗ Web only | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Native Mac app | ✓ Yes | ✗ Web only | ✗ No | ⚠ Dated desktop |
| Automatic VAT | ✓ Both methods | ⚠ Calculator tool only | ✓ Both methods | ✓ Yes |
| Languages | ✓ 6 languages | German only | Multilingual | Multilingual |
| QR-Bill | ✓ SIX-compliant | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Price (from) | CHF 25 / month | CHF 0, Pro from CHF 14.90 | ~CHF 35 / month | CHF 79 / year |
| Free plan with no time limit | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ 30 days | ⚠ Trial |
Customer support with a face.
When he's not out and about, Nathan responds to your emails and calls 24/7. No ticket system, no call center.
What over 5'000 Swiss freelancers are saying
From the App Store, Google Play, Capterra, and Trustpilot. Real Swiss solo businesses using Magic Heidi every day.
I started out with a free tool because I wanted to save money. Once I hit five receipts a week, typing them up was eating all my time. With AI receipt scanning, it's just a photo now.
4.7★ — read all reviews
Photo of the receipt, VAT automatic, done. Exactly what my old tool was missing.
5.0★ — read all reviews
The native Mac app alone was worth switching for. No more browser tab that has to stay open.
4.5★ — read all reviews
VAT filing, copy-paste ready
On the VAT statement page, every number is laid out and ready, you copy it straight into the ESTV portal. More on VAT management →
Fair Prices. No Surprises.
Three invoices free, no credit card, no time limit. Pro only when Magic Heidi's worth it.
Free
- 3 invoices
- All core features
- QR-Bill and AI receipt scanning
- All platforms
- No credit card
Pro Annual
- 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's the difference between Magic Heidi and ERPLight?
ERPLight is a lean, affordable tool for quotes, orders, and invoices, and it even has a permanently free plan. The difference comes down to automation: ERPLight captures expenses manually and only offers VAT as a separate calculator tool. Magic Heidi reads receipts from an AI photo and calculates VAT automatically on every invoice, plus you get native apps for Mac and iPhone instead of just the web view.
ERPLight has a free plan with no time limit, why switch?
If you only write the odd invoice or quote now and then, the ERPLight free plan is a good choice. Once you need to capture receipts and file VAT regularly, the manual typing costs you more time than switching would save. Magic Heidi also has a free plan with no time limit, with AI receipt scanning included from the start.
Does Magic Heidi work if you only use German?
Yes, of course — German is one of six supported languages. The difference with ERPLight really shows if you also have clients in French-speaking Switzerland, Ticino, or abroad: Magic Heidi automatically sends invoices in your client's language, while ERPLight is only available in German.
Can I bring my data over from ERPLight to Magic Heidi?
Yes. You export your client list and receipts from ERPLight as a ZIP with a PDF summary. In Magic Heidi, you import clients directly, set up open invoices as opening balances, and scan in past receipts by photo or PDF. If you have questions, Nathan usually answers in person the same day.
Does Magic Heidi work without any bookkeeping knowledge?
Yes, that's exactly what Magic Heidi is built for — just like ERPLight, it doesn't assume any prior knowledge. You never type in accounts or journal entries. You write invoices, photograph receipts, and by the end of the quarter, your VAT numbers are ready to copy straight into the ESTV portal.
Who isn't a good fit for Magic Heidi?
If you issue salary certificates, manage a team, or need an ERP interface for a larger company, Bexio or Abacus are a better fit. Magic Heidi is deliberately built for solo freelancers and sole proprietorships without employees, just like ERPLight, only with more automation.
Ready for automation instead of typing everything by hand?
Three invoices free, no credit card, no time limit. AI receipt scanning and automatic VAT included from day one, in the same price range as ERPLight.