Magic Heidi The KLARA alternative for solo freelancers
KLARA accounting is built for SMEs. Magic Heidi is built for self-employed people without staff: QR invoices, receipts, VAT and bank connection in one app, for CHF 299 a year incl. VAT instead of CHF 660 excl. VAT.
KLARA is built for teams and tills.
You work alone.
A few invoices a month, a handful of receipts, a VAT return once a quarter. None of that needs a till, an online shop or admin roles.
Everything your sole proprietorship needs. No SME bloat.
KLARA is solid business software from Lucerne: double-entry accounting, bank connection, CRM and modules for POS, online shop and payroll. If you work alone, you pay for a lot of substance you never open.
- 💸CHF 361 less per year
CHF 299 incl. VAT instead of CHF 660 excl. VAT for KLARA Business Basic on the annual plan. Month to month, CHF 39 instead of CHF 69.
- 📞Phone support included
KLARA Basic offers chat and email, phone support starts with Business Plus at CHF 79 a month.
- 💻Real apps for Mac and Windows
KLARA runs in the browser, with myKLARA for iPhone and Android. Magic Heidi also runs natively on Mac and Windows.
What you actually get for your money
Source: klara.ch/business, checked on 23 September 2026, KLARA prices excl. VAT, Magic Heidi prices incl. VAT. Magic Heidi is our own product, so the current details on klara.ch are what counts.
| What matters for freelancers | Magic Heidi | KLARA Business Basic | KLARA Business Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual plan | CHF 299/year (CHF 24.99/month) | CHF 660/year (CHF 55/month) | CHF 948/year (CHF 79/month) |
| Month to month | CHF 39, cancel any time | CHF 69 | CHF 99 |
| Free trial | ✓ 3 invoices & 3 expenses in total, no time limit | ⚠ 30-day trial | ⚠ 30-day trial |
| Built for | ✓ Freelancers & sole proprietors | SMEs, local businesses | SMEs with a team |
| QR invoices & quotes | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Receipts by phone & AI | ✓ Unlimited (fair use) | ✓ myKLARA app | ✓ myKLARA app |
| Bank connection | ✓ Direct bank connection or CSV import, with payment matching | ✓ Automatic bank connection | ✓ Automatic bank connection |
| Apps | ✓ iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, web | ⚠ Web, iPhone, Android | ⚠ Web, iPhone, Android |
| Phone support | ✓ Included | ✗ Chat & email | ✓ Included |
| Type of bookkeeping | ⚠ Income and expense statement | ✓ Double-entry with balance sheet | ✓ Double-entry with balance sheet |
| POS, shop, website, payroll | ✗ Not included, on purpose | ⚠ As add-on modules | ⚠ As add-on modules |
Your admin in four steps
No chart of accounts, no journal entries, no setup project. The figures for your VAT return and tax return build up along the way.
Write the invoice
Pick the client, add 2 days at CHF 1,250, send. The Swiss QR-bill, VAT and payment terms are filled in, in the client's language.
Snap the receipt
Date, amount, VAT and supplier are read automatically, foreign currencies converted to CHF. PDF receipts you simply forward by email.
Connect your bank
Link your bank directly or upload the CSV from your e-banking, and paid invoices are matched automatically.
Hand over the numbers
VAT totals per period for the FTA portal, and a year-end export as ZIP, CSV or PDF for your tax return and your fiduciary.
Receipts done in the moment
KLARA also reads receipts with AI through the myKLARA app. In Magic Heidi the scan feeds straight into your expenses, your VAT and your annual overview, with no monthly cap (fair use) and on every device, Mac included. How AI receipt scanning works →
How much does KLARA accounting cost?
KLARA accounting is not sold on its own, it comes inside the KLARA Business packages. List prices excl. VAT, checked on klara.ch on 23 September 2026. POS, shop, website, booking and payroll cost extra as modules.
KLARA Business Basic
All accounting features, CRM, order management, e-archive, up to 3 admin users, chat and email support.
- CHF 55/month on the annual plan (CHF 660/year)
- CHF 69/month month to month
- CHF 48/month on the 2-year plan (code from a KLARA consultation)
KLARA Business Plus
Adds unlimited admin users, phone support, time tracking, projects and budgets.
- CHF 79/month on the annual plan (CHF 948/year)
- CHF 99/month month to month
- CHF 69/month on the 2-year plan (code from a KLARA consultation)
KLARA Business Premium
The largest package. The configurator on klara.ch shows the final price with modules.
- CHF 127/month on the annual plan (CHF 1,524/year)
- CHF 159/month month to month
- CHF 111/month on the 2-year plan (code from a KLARA consultation)
Magic Heidi
Invoices, receipts, VAT and bank connection for freelancers. No modules, no minimum term. Prices incl. VAT.
- CHF 299/year (CHF 24.99/month)
- CHF 39/month, cancel any time
- CHF 361/year less than KLARA Basic
What users say about KLARA
Reviews are self-selected and not representative. They do show where praise and complaints pile up.
myKLARA app: 4.2 out of 5
In the Swiss App Store, 200 reviews, checked on 23 September 2026. The mobile app scores decently.
Trustpilot: 1.3 out of 5
148 reviews for klara.ch, checked on 19 July 2026. Complaints often concern how hard support is to reach, billing and account access, and loading times.
What speaks for KLARA
Automatic bank connection, double-entry accounting with a balance sheet, accruals and asset management, access for staff and fiduciaries, plus POS, shop and website from one provider. KLARA says it is used by more than 50,000 SMEs.
When KLARA is still the better choice
You run a hair salon, a café or a shop with a till, you have employees on payroll, or your company must keep double-entry books with a balance sheet. Then KLARA fits better, and we say so.
Support with a face, by phone too
At Magic Heidi, Nathan, the founder, answers the phone himself in German, French, Italian and English, and email support also covers Portuguese, Spanish and Romansh. No call centre, no surcharge for phone support, and a free 30-minute onboarding call if you want help getting started.
The questions KLARA users ask us first
Straight answers before you move your bookkeeping.
Do I need double-entry bookkeeping?
Not as a sole proprietor under CHF 500,000 turnover (Art. 957 CO). An income and expense statement is enough, and that is exactly what Magic Heidi covers. A GmbH or AG needs double-entry.
I work with a Treuhänder
Keep them. Give them their own access as a second user, or export invoices, expenses, VAT totals and every original receipt as PDF, CSV or ZIP. Your fiduciary works from clean data instead of a shoebox.
How much work is the move?
Drag your client, invoice and expense lists into Magic Heidi, the AI recognises the columns on its own. Let open KLARA invoices get paid there. Want help? Book a free 30-minute onboarding call.
Where is my data?
Stored on servers in Zurich, encrypted, under Swiss data protection law. AI receipt recognition is processed by a specialised US provider.
What about my VAT return?
Effective or net tax rate method, several rates per invoice, input tax on receipts and totals per period. If you are VAT-registered, switch at the start of a VAT period.
And if it doesn't fit?
Cancel monthly, 30-day money-back guarantee and a full ZIP export at any time. No minimum term, no 2-year lock-in.
What Swiss freelancers say about Magic Heidi
Real reviews from the App Store, Google and Capterra. In the Swiss App Store, Magic Heidi is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars (98 reviews, checked on 23 September 2026).
“I've been testing this as my wife is struggling with Klara. I like the way it works with the Mac as you can just send the invoice straight to your mail program, or WhatsApp.”
“Very logical, intuitive software. Easily customisable with your own data. Good app. Very fast support.”
“So far I've only scanned and uploaded receipts/expenses. It has always captured everything perfectly, I didn't have to correct anything.”
“Great if you're in Switzerland, I recommend this platform. Everything is simple and you have access to your full statistics and even the figures you have to deduct for VAT.”
One price. Every feature.
Start free with no time limit and no credit card. Upgrade when Magic Heidi has earned it.
Free
- 3 invoices and 3 expenses (in total)
- All features unlocked
- QR invoice and AI receipt scanning
- All 5 apps
- No credit card
Pro Yearly
- Unlimited invoices and quotes
- Unlimited expenses and AI scans (fair use)
- Bank connection & import
- VAT, both methods
- Priority support by email and phone
- Zapier and API
Pro Monthly
- Unlimited invoices and quotes
- Unlimited expenses and AI scans (fair use)
- Bank connection & import
- VAT, both methods
- Priority support by email and phone
All prices incl. VAT. 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
Frequently asked questions about KLARA and Magic Heidi
What is the difference between Magic Heidi and KLARA?
KLARA is a broad SME system: double-entry accounting, automatic bank connection, CRM, order management and add-on modules for point of sale, online shop, website, booking and payroll. Magic Heidi does only what a solo freelancer needs: invoices and quotes, expenses with AI receipt scanning, VAT, automatic reminders and a direct bank connection. It has native apps for iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows, and one price with every feature included. Both scan receipts with AI.
How much does KLARA accounting cost?
KLARA accounting is part of KLARA Business. Business Basic costs CHF 55 a month on the annual plan (CHF 660 a year), CHF 69 month to month, or CHF 48 a month on the 2-year plan with a code from a KLARA consultation. Business Plus costs CHF 79 a month on the annual plan, Business Premium CHF 127 a month, all excl. VAT (checked on klara.ch on 23 September 2026). Modules such as POS, shop or payroll cost extra. Magic Heidi costs CHF 299 a year or CHF 39 month to month, VAT included.
Is KLARA free?
No. KLARA Business comes with a 30-day free trial, after which you need a paid package. Magic Heidi has a free plan with no time limit: 3 invoices and 3 expenses in total, with every feature unlocked and no credit card.
Doesn't KLARA also scan receipts with AI?
Yes. The myKLARA app scans receipts and reads supplier, date and amount with AI. Magic Heidi does the same on every paid plan with no monthly cap (fair use), and you can also forward receipts by email or drop in PDFs on the Mac or Windows app.
KLARA has an online shop and POS. Don't I need that?
If you run a café, a salon, a restaurant or a shop with a till, yes, and KLARA is the better fit. If you bill hours, projects or consulting days, you do not need a POS, an online shop or a website builder in your accounting tool.
I have employees. Does Magic Heidi work for me?
No. Magic Heidi has no payroll, no team roles and no team time tracking (you can add one second user, such as your fiduciary). If you pay salaries or coordinate a team, KLARA or bexio suit you better. Magic Heidi is built for self-employed people and sole proprietorships without staff.
What alternatives to KLARA are there?
If you are torn between the big SME tools, our KLARA vs bexio comparison shows the differences. If you know bookkeeping and want double-entry, look at CashCtrl or Banana. For companies with employees, bexio is worth a look. For freelancers and sole proprietors without staff, Magic Heidi is the lean choice.
Can I bring my data from KLARA to Magic Heidi?
Yes. Pick a cut-off date, such as the start of a quarter or year. Export your client list, and if you like your invoices and expenses, from KLARA and drag the files into Magic Heidi; the AI recognises the columns, no template needed. Keep closed financial years as PDFs in your archive (Swiss retention period: 10 years) and let open KLARA invoices get paid before you cancel. If you are VAT-registered, switch at the start of a VAT period. Need help? Book a free 30-minute onboarding call, email hello@magicheidi.ch or call +41 78 300 24 77.
Does Magic Heidi work without bookkeeping knowledge?
Yes. You do not type journal entries or work with a chart of accounts. You write invoices, snap receipts, connect your bank, and at the end of the period the VAT figures are ready. As a sole proprietor under CHF 500,000 turnover, an income and expense statement is enough under Art. 957 CO.
What if I want to leave again later?
Export all invoices, expenses, receipts and client data as ZIP, CSV and PDF at any time, at no extra cost. The monthly plan can be cancelled any time, paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and there is no minimum term.
Try Magic Heidi before your next KLARA bill
3 invoices and 3 expenses free in total, every feature unlocked, no credit card. Data stored in Zurich, personal support, 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
