Magic Heidi The Smallinvoice alternative for freelancers
Smallinvoice is a solid Swiss tool. If you work alone, Magic Heidi lets you send QR invoices in 30 seconds, scan receipts with AI and do your VAT.
Smallinvoice grows with teams. You work alone.
Projects, time tracking, up to five users, a link to payroll software: Smallinvoice covers a lot. On your own you need little of it, but you still click through all those menus.
QR only from Starter
The free plan has no QR invoiceModules for teams
Projects and users you never openNo AI scan mentioned
The website doesn't mention AI receipt scanningMagic Heidi vs. Smallinvoice
Smallinvoice per its official website, as of August 2026. Click test from January 2026 (onboarding, QR invoice, receipt), recorded on video.
| Feature | Magic Heidi | Smallinvoice |
|---|---|---|
| QR invoice | ✓ on the free plan too | ⚠ only from Starter |
| AI receipt scanning | ✓ unlimited (fair use) | ⚠ not mentioned on the website |
| Users | 1 + access for your accountant | ✓ 3 (Professional) or 5 (Business) |
| Projects & time tracking | ⚠ not the focus | ✓ on the Business plan |
| Apps | ✓ iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, web | ⚠ web; native apps not mentioned on the website |
| Click test | 33 clicks | 108 clicks (QR invoice could not be activated in the test) |
| Best for | Solo freelancers, sole proprietorships | Small teams with projects |
Smallinvoice reviews: strong for teams
Smallinvoice has been on the Swiss market for over ten years, won the Swiss Fintech Award in 2017 and runs SmartBusiness for PostFinance. It's the better fit if:
You're a team
Professional includes 3 users, Business 5.
Projects and hours
Project management and time tracking come with the Business plan.
PostFinance & post
Payment matching via PostFinance e-finance, letters sent via Pingen.
Payroll & accountant
Connects to e-Salär, exports to Banana, INFONIQA ONE 50 and Topal.
Google Maps (as of March 2026): 3.8★ from 12 reviews. Long-time customers mainly praise its reliability:
"Great software – we've been using smallinvoice for about 7 years. No downtime, no bugs, very professional support." — Andreas Graf, Google Maps (translated from German)
"Customer for 10 years. Top software!" — Faruk Hoxha, Google Maps (translated from German)
Our own experience: in our January 2026 click test, onboarding, a QR invoice and a receipt took us 108 clicks, and the QR invoice could not be activated in our test scenario. Count along: watch the video.
Smallinvoice pricing vs. Magic Heidi
Smallinvoice per its official pricing page (as of August 2026): CHF 15, 30 or 45 per month excl. VAT, shown here per year incl. 8.1 % VAT. Magic Heidi incl. VAT, cancel anytime in the app.
| Plan | Per year incl. VAT | Users | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallinvoice Free | CHF 0 | 1 | up to CHF 70'000, no QR |
| Smallinvoice Starter | CHF 194.58 | not stated | QR from here |
| Smallinvoice Professional | CHF 389.16 | 3 | – |
| Smallinvoice Business | CHF 583.74 | 5 | with projects & time |
| Magic Heidi Free | CHF 0 | 1 | 3 invoices + 3 receipts |
| Magic Heidi yearly | CHF 299 | 1 + accountant | CHF 169 cheaper |
| Magic Heidi monthly | CHF 468 | 1 + accountant | cancel any month |
To be honest: if all you need is QR invoices, Smallinvoice Starter costs less. Magic Heidi includes AI receipt scanning, bank connection, VAT and all apps, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Smallinvoice's free plan goes up to CHF 70'000 in document totals, but without QR invoices. All details on our plans: Pricing.
Switch from Smallinvoice in 4 steps
You don't start from scratch: drag and drop your clients, invoices and expenses into Magic Heidi, and the AI recognises the format. See the guide
1. Export
Download your client list and invoices from Smallinvoice, archive old PDFs.
2. Start for free
Create your account, add your logo and IBAN. No credit card.
3. Import
Drop in the file, the AI recognises clients, invoices and expenses.
4. First QR invoice
Send it, and cancel Smallinvoice only once everything has moved over.
Move with help
Book a free 30-minute onboarding call and we'll set up your account with you.
Compared, tested, stayed
4.8 out of 5 from over 200 public reviews. Some of them used other programs before.
“Tried lots of things and ended up sticking with Magic Heidi. Convincing throughout, and easy and intuitive to use. Very happy 🇨🇭”
“I tested various comparable apps before taking out a subscription. Then I clearly chose Magic Heidi. Very intuitive to use and reduced to the essentials.”
“The first program that's really easy to use, even for office-challenged construction guys like me. The most user-friendly thing I've ever tried, and I bought it right away!”
Questions about switching
What is the best Smallinvoice alternative for freelancers?
For solo freelancers and sole proprietorships, Magic Heidi is the lean choice: QR invoices on the free plan, unlimited AI receipt scanning and VAT in one app. In our click test, Magic Heidi needed 33 clicks, Smallinvoice 108. If you work in a team or need payroll, have a look at all alternatives.
Where do I find the Smallinvoice login?
Smallinvoice runs in the browser, and you'll find the login on the Smallinvoice website. With Magic Heidi, you sign in in the app on iPhone, Android, Mac or Windows, or on the web. You can turn on two-factor authentication at any time.
Is there a Smallinvoice app?
Smallinvoice is a web app that you use in the browser, on your phone too. The official website doesn't mention native apps for iPhone, Android, Mac or Windows (as of September 2026). Magic Heidi has native apps for iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows and runs on the web, all in sync.
Is Smallinvoice free?
Yes, with limits: the free plan covers one user up to CHF 70'000 in document totals, but without QR invoices. Those start with Starter at CHF 15 per month (excl. VAT). With Magic Heidi, 3 invoices and 3 receipts in total are free, with all features and the QR code, no credit card needed.
How much does Smallinvoice cost compared to Magic Heidi?
Smallinvoice costs CHF 15 (Starter), CHF 30 (Professional, 3 users) or CHF 45 (Business, 5 users) per month, excl. VAT. Magic Heidi costs CHF 24.99 per month on the yearly plan (CHF 299 per year) or CHF 39 monthly, incl. VAT. All details on the Pricing page.
Can I bring my data over from Smallinvoice?
Yes. Export your clients and invoices from Smallinvoice and drag the files into Magic Heidi; the AI recognises the format, no column mapping needed. Keep your old invoices as PDFs, since the retention period is 10 years. The guide: Importing data.
Can my accountant work with Magic Heidi?
Yes. You give your accountant their own access to your account. You can export the annual report for your tax return and all your data at any time. Projects and time tracking aren't Magic Heidi's focus: if you need several users with their own projects, Smallinvoice Professional or Business is the better fit.
Where is my data stored?
Smallinvoice states that it stores data in Switzerland with 256-bit encryption. Magic Heidi stores your data in Zurich, encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256), with weekly backups and export at any time. AI receipt scanning partly uses services outside Switzerland. More on the Security page.
How did Smallinvoice do in the click test?
In January 2026, we counted the clicks in six Swiss tools for onboarding, one QR invoice and one receipt: Magic Heidi 33, bexio 69, Smallinvoice 108. In Smallinvoice, the QR invoice could not be activated in our test scenario; that's a test result, not a verdict on the whole product. Every measurement is recorded on video: Smallinvoice video and all results.
Fewer menus, more free time
Try Magic Heidi with 3 invoices and 3 receipts for free, QR invoice included. No credit card, and Pro comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
