Heftli vs Bexio
Both are Swiss tools. Both support QR-Bill. The difference is who they're built for. Bexio is a full accounting suite — powerful, but complex and expensive for freelancers. Heftli is focused: invoice, track time, get paid. Nothing you don't need.
Time tracking is built in, not bolted on.
Heftli has a live timer on every plan, and those tracked hours feed directly into invoices — no export, no copy-paste. Bexio requires the separate Bexio Work module, which adds complexity and cost. If billing by the hour is core to your business, this matters.
Free plan with real QR-Bill, not a watered-down trial.
Heftli's free plan includes Swiss QR-Bill on every invoice. Bexio offers a 30-day trial, then starts at CHF 49/month. For a solo freelancer sending 5–10 invoices a month, Heftli's Solo plan at CHF 29/month does everything needed. You're not paying for a chart of accounts you'll never touch.
5 languages. Romanian included.
Both tools support German, French, and Italian — the three national languages. Heftli also ships a full Romanian UI, making it the only Swiss invoicing tool that works natively for Romanian-speaking freelancers and contractors in Switzerland. And invoices are generated in the client's language, not just the UI language.
No double-entry bookkeeping. By design.
Heftli doesn't have a chart of accounts, journal entries, or FIBU. That's intentional — most freelancers don't need it, and adding it makes the tool harder for the 80% who just need to invoice and get paid. If you need full Swiss accounting (OR Art. 958), Bexio or a dedicated tool like AbaNinja is the right choice. Heftli is for people who want to spend less time on admin, not more.
Side by side
✓ = Yes · ✗ = No · ~ = Partial / requires add-on. Based on publicly available information as of Jun 2026.
What you actually pay
Heftli is priced for freelancers and small teams. Bexio is priced for growing companies that need full accounting. If you don't need FIBU, you're overpaying with Bexio.
Prices approximate; verify at bexio.com
Choose Heftli if…
- You bill clients by the hour and want time → invoice in one step
- You're a solo freelancer or small team who doesn't need double-entry bookkeeping
- Your clients span multiple languages (DE, FR, IT, RO, EN)
- You want Swiss QR-Bill included from day one, even on the free plan
- You want a simple tool you can learn in 30 minutes, not an accounting course
- You're in IT, architecture, physiotherapy, trades, or professional services
Choose Bexio if…
- You need Swiss FIBU / double-entry bookkeeping (Jahresabschluss)
- You file quarterly MWST and need a full VAT report built into your accounting tool
- You have complex inventory management needs
- You need an API to connect with other enterprise tools
- Your accountant already uses Bexio and you share the dashboard
- You're a growing company (20+ employees) with complex workflows
Built for Swiss professionals
Common questions
Is Heftli cheaper than Bexio?
Yes. Heftli's free plan includes Swiss QR-Bill on every invoice, with paid plans starting at CHF 29/month. Bexio's entry plan starts at CHF 49/month and lacks time tracking. For a freelancer who just needs to invoice and track hours, Heftli costs less and does more.
Does Heftli support Swiss QR-Bill like Bexio?
Yes — Heftli includes compliant Swiss QR-Bill on every invoice, on every plan including free. You get a scannable QR-Bill PDF that your clients can pay instantly with their banking app. This is not a paid add-on.
Does Heftli have time tracking like Bexio?
Yes, and Heftli's time tracking integrates directly into invoicing — tracked hours become invoice line items in one click. Bexio requires a separate Bexio Work module for time tracking, which adds cost and complexity.
Does Heftli support German, French, and Italian like Bexio?
Yes. Heftli's full UI is available in German, French, Italian, Romanian, and English. Crucially, invoices themselves are generated in the client's chosen language — so a French-speaking client gets a French invoice automatically. Heftli is the only Swiss invoicing tool with full Romanian language support.
Can I switch from Bexio to Heftli?
Yes. Heftli's free plan lets you start immediately without a credit card. You can run both in parallel, import your customer list manually, and migrate at your own pace. Heftli is designed to be simple to set up — most users have their first invoice out within 30 minutes of signing up.
Is Heftli suitable for VAT-registered businesses like Bexio?
Heftli supports VAT rates on invoice line items and calculates totals correctly. A dedicated MWST summary report (for quarterly VAT filing) is on the roadmap. For complex double-entry bookkeeping or chart of accounts, Bexio or a dedicated accounting tool is still needed — Heftli is deliberately focused on invoicing, time tracking, and client management.