5 / 5
I tried several Swiss invoicing tools. They all felt like they were built for accountants, not freelancers. Magic Heidi just works.
Anna K.
Translator, Lugano
Swiss-Made Software
Smallinvoice Alternative Built for Freelancers
Smallinvoice is built for small businesses with teams and projects. If you're a solo freelancer, you're navigating menus you don't need and missing AI features that save hours every month. There's a simpler way.
30 sec
Setup Time (vs 2-4 hours)
Unlimited
AI Expense Scans
4.9★
App Store Rating
Looking for a Smallinvoice alternative? You're not alone. Smallinvoice (founded in Basel in 2011, winner of the Swiss Fintech Award 2017) is a solid Swiss platform — but its feature-dense interface and 2-4 hour setup time feel like overkill when you just want to send an invoice and get paid. Magic Heidi was built by a Swiss freelancer who wanted something simpler.
Smallinvoice is Overkill.
You Need Simple.
Smallinvoice was designed for small businesses managing teams, projects, and complex multi-user billing. That feature density creates real friction for solo freelancers: more menus, more configuration, more time spent navigating instead of working. If you just want to create a Swiss QR invoice and track expenses with AI, you need a tool built for your workflow.
🤖
Unlimited AI scanning
Smallinvoice has zero AI features⚡
30-second setup
vs 2-4 hours for Smallinvoice📱
4.9★ mobile apps
Smallinvoice iOS app rated 3.4★See the Difference
From Sign-Up to Invoice in 30 Seconds
No complex setup wizard. No 2-4 hour familiarization period. Magic Heidi is designed so that any freelancer — from translators to IT consultants — can create a professional Swiss QR invoice within seconds of signing up.
Quick Decision Guide
Smallinvoice or Magic Heidi — Which Fits You?
Three questions to help you decide in 30 seconds.
Are you a solo freelancer?
Yes: Magic Heidi — built for one-person businesses
No, I have a team: Smallinvoice — supports up to 5 users per plan
Do you need project management?
Yes: Smallinvoice — includes time tracking and project tools (paid plans)
No: Magic Heidi — focused on invoicing, expenses, and accounting
What matters most?
Speed & simplicity: Magic Heidi
Feature breadth: Smallinvoice
AI automation: Magic Heidi
Side by Side
How Magic Heidi Compares
Same price point. Very different experience.
| Feature | Magic Heidi | Smallinvoice Free | Smallinvoice Professional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | CHF 30/mo | Free (CHF 70K limit) | ~CHF 30/mo |
| Setup Time | 30 seconds | 2-4 hours | 2-4 hours |
| AI Expense Scanning | ✓ Unlimited | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Expense Management | ✓ Included | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Accounting Module | ✓ Included | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Swiss QR Invoices | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Paid plans only | ✓ Yes |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ 4.9★ (all platforms) | ⚠ iOS 3.4★ (3 ratings) | ⚠ iOS 3.4★ (3 ratings) |
| Native Desktop Apps | ✓ Mac + Windows | ✗ Web only | ✗ Web only |
| Users Included |
The Free Plan TrapSmallinvoice Free Sounds Great.
Smallinvoice Free Sounds Great.
Here's What's Missing.
Smallinvoice's free plan lets you invoice up to CHF 70,000 in cumulative document totals — but it strips out the features most freelancers actually need every day.
Expenses
No expense tracking. No receipt management. No reimbursements.
Accounting
No accounting module. No financial reports. No tax-ready exports.
QR-Bills
QR-bill generation requires upgrading to a paid plan.
AI Features
No AI on any plan. No receipt scanning. No auto-categorization.
Magic Heidi's free trial gives you every feature — including AI scanning.
Built for Freelancers
Magic Heidi Does Everything You Need — in 30 Seconds
Every feature and design decision was made with solo professionals in mind. No project management modules. No team seat pricing. Just fast invoicing, smart expense tracking, and Swiss compliance.
- ⚡30-Second Invoices
First invoice in 3 clicks
- 🧾Swiss QR-Bills
SIX v2.3 compliant
- 📱Full Mobile App
100% feature parity
- 🤖Unlimited AI Scans
Zero on Smallinvoice
Invoices
- Invoice #3
Magic Heidi
CHF 500
Jan 29
- Invoice #2
Webbiger LTD
CHF 2000
Jan 24
- Invoice #1
John Doe
CHF 600
Jan 20
Why SwitchWhat Makes Magic Heidi
What Makes Magic Heidi
a Better Smallinvoice Alternative
Purpose-built for Swiss freelancers by a Swiss freelancer who got tired of overcomplicated software.
Invoice in 30 Seconds
No complex setup, no 2-4 hour learning curve. Go from account creation to your first Swiss QR invoice in just 3 clicks. Smallinvoice's comprehensive features mean more menus, more configuration, and more time before you send your first invoice. Learn more about invoicing and quotes.
- Auto-generated Swiss QR-code
- Multiple VAT rates built-in
- Send directly via email
- Professional templates included
Unlimited AI Expense Scanning
Snap a photo of any receipt. Our AI extracts amount, date, vendor, and category automatically. Smallinvoice has no AI features on any plan — expenses are manual entry only, and the free plan doesn't include expense tracking at all. See how it works →
- Unlimited scans included
- Automatic categorization
- Foreign currency conversion
- Bank statement import
Native Apps on Every Platform
Magic Heidi offers 100% feature parity across iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Web. Smallinvoice's iOS app is rated just 3.4★ (3 ratings) and its Android app 4.4★ (36 ratings) on respective app stores. Magic Heidi is rated 4.9★ with full native desktop apps that Smallinvoice doesn't offer.
- Same interface everywhere
- Create invoices on the go
- Scan expenses anywhere
- Real-time sync across devices
AI-Powered
Expense Tracking That Does Itself
Paper receipts are the enemy of freelancers. Lost. Faded. Forgotten. Snap a photo — Magic Heidi's AI extracts the date, amount, VAT, category, and vendor automatically. No more manual data entry. No more shoeboxes of receipts. Smallinvoice requires typing every expense by hand.
Stay on Top of Your Business
Your Finances, at a Glance
Revenue, expenses, tax obligations — all in one clean dashboard. Magic Heidi gives you a real-time overview of your freelance business without navigating through layers of menus designed for team-based project management.
Explore Features
Everything a Swiss Freelancer Actually Needs
No project management modules. No team seat pricing. Just the tools you'll use every day.
Invoicing
Swiss QR invoices in 30 seconds. Professional templates.
AI Expenses
Snap receipts. AI does the rest. Unlimited.
Accounting
Balance sheet, income statement, tax-ready reports.
VAT Management
All Swiss VAT rates. Settlement-ready.
Bank Import
Import statements. Match payments to invoices.
Quotes
Professional quotes. Convert to invoice in one click.
Customers
Contact management. Import from CSV.
Security
Data hosted in Zürich. Swiss privacy standards.
100% Swiss.
Like You.
Both Smallinvoice (Basel) and Magic Heidi are Swiss-built and Swiss-hosted. The difference? Magic Heidi was built from day one by a Swiss freelancer for Swiss freelancers — not as an all-purpose business management platform. Learn about our security →
🇨🇭 Swiss-Owned Company
🔒 Data Hosted in Zürich
💬 Swiss Support (DE/FR/IT/EN)
⭐ 4.9★ App Store Rating
📋
Swiss QR-Bills
SIX-compliant invoices
💰
Swiss VAT Rates
8.1%, 2.6%, 3.8%
🏦
Swiss Banks
UBS, PostFinance, ZKB...
🌐
4 Languages
DE, FR, IT, EN
Smallinvoice: Credit Where It's Due
Smallinvoice has real strengths. It's been serving the Swiss market since 2011, won the Swiss Fintech Award in 2017, and powers PostFinance's SmartBusiness white-label offering. Here's what it genuinely does well:
- Multi-user support — Professional plan includes 3 users (~CHF 30/mo), Business includes 5 users (~CHF 45/mo) — great for small agencies
- Project management & time tracking — Start/stop timers, manual logging, project association, hourly rates per project (paid plans)
- PostFinance e-finance integration — Direct connection for automated payment matching and account reconciliation
- Accounting software exports — Banana, INFONIQA ONE 50, and Topal
- Additional integrations — eBill sending, Pingen postal mail delivery, e-Salar payroll, PayPal payment links, REST API
- Swiss data hosting — 256-bit encryption, GDPR compliant, data exclusively in Switzerland
- 5-language invoices — German, French, Italian, Spanish, and English
Who Should Stay with Smallinvoice
Smallinvoice makes sense if you:
- Run a small agency with 2-5 team members who need shared access
- Need integrated project management with time tracking tied to invoicing
- Use PostFinance and want direct e-finance integration for automated payment matching
- Need payroll preparation via e-Salar in the same platform as invoicing
If none of those apply — if you're a solo freelancer who wants to send invoices, track expenses, and stay tax-ready — Magic Heidi does it faster, simpler, and with AI.
Legitimate Concerns with Smallinvoice
- Retroactive client editing — Changing a client's address in the master data retroactively changes ALL previous invoices, including sent and paid ones. This creates potential tax compliance issues. The workaround reportedly requires a higher-priced plan
- Mixed support quality — User reviews on trusted.de (4.2/5 from 43 reviews) show inconsistent support experiences. Some praise responsive help; others report inadequate responses
- Mobile app quality — iOS app rated 3.4★ with only 3 ratings; Android app rated 4.4★ with 36 ratings
- No annual pricing — Smallinvoice bills monthly in arrears with no annual discount option
Easy Migration
Switch from Smallinvoice in 15 Minutes
Three simple steps. No data lost. No downtime.
1. Export from Smallinvoice
Download your customer list as CSV and export your invoices for your records.
2. Sign Up Free
Create your Magic Heidi account in 30 seconds. No credit card required.
3. Import & Go
Upload your customer CSV with one click. Start invoicing immediately.
Need Help Migrating?
Email hello@magicheidi.ch or call the founder directly. We'll walk you through it.
Testimonials
Trusted by Swiss Freelancers
Join 5,000+ self-employed professionals across every canton.
5 / 5
Clean, beautiful design — unusual for invoicing apps. I actually enjoy opening it.
Sarah M.
Graphic Designer, Zürich
5 / 5
Finally, accounting software that doesn't make me feel stupid. The AI expense scanning alone saves me hours every month.
Thomas R.
IT Freelancer, Lausanne
5 / 5
This accounting platform is incredibly easy to understand and use! As a freelance videographer in Switzerland, it's perfect.
David S.
Freelance Videographer, Bern
5 / 5
Top-notch support. I had a question about bank imports on a Sunday evening and got a helpful reply within hours.
Lisa W.
Marketing Freelancer, Basel
5 / 5
Simple, clear, and exceptionally fast support. The invoices look great too.
Marc D.
Consultant, Geneva
Simple Pricing. All Features Included.
One plan. Every feature. No per-user pricing. No feature gates.
Free Trial
CHF0/month
Try before you buy
- 3 invoices
- 3 expenses
- All features unlocked
- No credit card required
Best Value
Annual
CHF24.99/month
Billed Annually at CHF 299
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited expenses
- Unlimited AI expense scanning
- All platforms (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Web)
- Bank statement import
- Swiss VAT management
- Priority support
Monthly
CHF30/month
Flexible, cancel anytime
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited expenses
- Unlimited AI expense scanning
- All platforms included
- Bank statement import
- Swiss VAT management
🛡️30-day money-back guarantee. Smallinvoice Professional costs ~CHF 30/month with no AI features. Magic Heidi includes unlimited AI scanning at the same price.
FAQ
Questions About Switching from Smallinvoice
Is Magic Heidi compliant with Swiss accounting standards?
Yes. Magic Heidi fully supports Swiss QR invoices (QR-bill v2.3 with structured addresses), all Swiss VAT rates (8.1%, 2.6%, 3.8%), and generates all documentation for your annual tax return. See our accounting features for details.
Can I import my customer data from Smallinvoice?
Yes. Export your customer list from Smallinvoice as CSV and import it into Magic Heidi with one click. Most freelancers complete the migration in under 15 minutes. Learn more about customer management.
Does Magic Heidi have time tracking and project management?
Magic Heidi focuses on what solo freelancers use daily: invoicing, expense tracking, accounting, and VAT management. It does not include project management or team time tracking — that's where Smallinvoice offers more. If you manage complex multi-person projects, Smallinvoice or bexio may be a better fit. If you need fast invoicing with AI, Magic Heidi is the better choice.
Does Smallinvoice have AI features?
No. Smallinvoice does not offer AI-powered features on any plan. Expense entry is manual only. Magic Heidi includes unlimited AI expense scanning that automatically extracts date, amount, vendor, VAT, and category from receipt photos.
What does Smallinvoice's free plan actually include?
Smallinvoice's free plan covers basic invoicing (up to CHF 70,000 in cumulative document totals) with 1 user and CRM. However, it excludes expense management, accounting, QR-bill generation, project management, time tracking, statistics, and API access. To access these features, you need a paid plan starting at approximately CHF 15/month (Starter).
How does pricing compare?
Smallinvoice Professional costs approximately CHF 30/month (EUR 27) and includes 3 users, time tracking, expenses, and accounting — but no AI features and no annual discount. Magic Heidi costs CHF 30/month (or CHF 24.99/month billed annually at CHF 299/year) and includes unlimited AI expense scanning, native apps on 5 platforms, and a significantly simpler interface. For solo freelancers, the value favors Magic Heidi. See our pricing page.
Does Magic Heidi work with my Swiss bank?
Yes. Magic Heidi generates Swiss QR invoices compatible with all Swiss banks — UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, ZKB, and cantonal banks. You can import bank statements to match payments with invoices. Smallinvoice offers direct PostFinance e-finance integration; Magic Heidi uses CSV bank statement import instead.
What features does Smallinvoice have that Magic Heidi doesn't?
Smallinvoice offers project management with time tracking, multi-user accounts (3-5 users on paid plans), direct PostFinance e-finance integration, eBill sending, payroll preparation via e-Salar, automated postal mail via Pingen, and accounting software exports to Banana, INFONIQA ONE 50, and Topal. If you need these team and project features, Smallinvoice may be a better fit. Magic Heidi focuses on simplicity, AI automation, and native mobile apps for solo freelancers.
Is my data safe?
Yes. All data is hosted in Zürich, Switzerland. We follow Swiss privacy standards and never share your data with third parties. Both Smallinvoice and Magic Heidi host data exclusively in Switzerland. Learn more about our security →
What if I want to cancel?
Cancel anytime with one click. No lock-in periods, no hidden fees. Export your data before you leave — it's yours.
Ready to Try a Simpler Swiss Invoicing Tool?
Join 5,000+ Swiss freelancers using simpler, AI-powered invoicing. Start free today — no credit card required.