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Fiduciary software: which solution suits your office? (2026)

Which fiduciary software suits your office? The big Swiss comparison of 10 solutions — with current prices, strengths and limits.

Full comparison

Published
Data as of
August 2026
Reading time
5 minutes

The essentials

  1. The difference from company bookkeeping is not the feature scope but the multiplication: what costs a minute for one client costs half a day for thirty.
  2. It is decided by three things that exist only here: multi-client capability, batch processing at year end and for VAT, and a route by which the client delivers their own documents.
  3. All 10 solutions come from vendors based in Switzerland, and 8 handle payroll in full including the electronic filings.
  4. For 7 of the 10 vendors no price is stated. Among the 3 published, the highest entry price is CHF 35.– a month — in this market the price is negotiated per client or per user.
  5. 7 solutions run in the browser, 4 exclusively there. Where office and client open the same solution, data exchange disappears as a separate step of work.
Rather filter for yourself? All 10 solutions with 13 criteria in one table Filter by profile and features, set a budget, read the columns side by side. This article gives the bearings — the table is the tool. To the comparison table

Five criteria in the order in which they shorten the list

Ordered by effect. The first three exist only in this category — they are the reason company bookkeeping does not suffice for a fiduciary office.

  1. Multi-client capability

    Separate data sets in one installation, with one login and one backup. Without it the administrative effort grows with every client — and thirty installations mean thirty updates.

  2. Batch processing

    VAT returns and year ends across many clients, in one pass instead of thirty. The difference shows up in the quarter, not in the demo — ask about the process for twenty clients, not for one.

  3. Documents from the client

    An access route by which the client delivers themselves moves the recording to where the document arises. That is the only change that genuinely lowers the effort per client — everything else only makes it faster.

  4. Payroll

    8 of the 10 solutions handle payroll in full including the electronic filings. For an office that runs payroll for clients, that is not an add-on but half the engagement.

  5. Price and pricing model

    The price last, and more important than its level is its unit of reference: per client, per user or flat. For 7 of the 10 vendors no figure is stated, because that is exactly what gets negotiated. Among the 3 published, the highest entry price is CHF 35.– a month.

What you have to budget

The 3 published entry prices, by band. The bands are fixed and not calculated from this data — that is the only way to compare the category with another.

free (entry at 0)
2
CHF 30 to 59
1
Distribution of the 3 published entry prices across 10 solutions, in francs per month, excluding VAT, as of July 2026. The 7 solutions without a published price are not included — they are not a zero but a request for a quotation.

The 10 solutions, one per row

Alphabetically ordered and expressly not a ranking.

Fiduciary solutions for Swiss offices, alphabetically ordered. List price per month in francs, excluding VAT, as of July 2026.
SolutionList pricePricing modelFree versionDeploymentPayroll (Swissdec)
Abacusvia partner onlyvia partner–Cloud + Desktop/Server✓
Accountovia partner onlyvia partner–Cloud✓
Banana Buchhaltung PlusCHF 0–15 per monthSubscription or licence✓Desktop/Server + Cloudlimited
bexioCHF 35–119 per monthSubscription–Cloud✓
CashCtrlin calculator onlySubscription✓Cloudlimited
Crésusin calculator onlySubscription or licence–Desktop/Server + hosted✓
Infoniqa ONE 50via partner onlySubscription or licence–Desktop/Server + hosted✓
pebeon requestSubscription or licence–Cloud + Desktop/Server✓
Run my AccountsCHF 0–290 per monthService–Cloud✓
Topalvia partner onlyvia partner–Desktop/Server + hosted✓
All 13 surveyed criteria per solution in the comparison table

Which solutions come into question for which case

The same 10 solutions, grouped by the characteristics that decide the choice.

With full payroll 8

Abacus, Accounto, bexio, Crésus, Infoniqa ONE 50, pebe, Run my Accounts, Topal

Also suitable for small offices 8

Recorded fit of at least 2 out of 3 for sole proprietorship or small business.

Accounto, Banana Buchhaltung Plus, bexio, CashCtrl, Crésus, Infoniqa ONE 50, pebe, Run my Accounts

With a permanently free tier 2

Banana Buchhaltung Plus, CashCtrl

Browser only 4

Accounto, bexio, CashCtrl, Run my Accounts

Installable on your own machine 6

Abacus, Banana Buchhaltung Plus, Crésus, Infoniqa ONE 50, pebe, Topal

Without a published price 7

Abacus, Accounto, CashCtrl, Crésus, Infoniqa ONE 50, pebe, Topal

The 10 solutions in detail

Each solution with its positioning, price and limits, alphabetically. Prices and characteristics are recorded values with a verification date; strengths and limits are our assessment from vendor documentation and trial accounts.

Abacus

ERP heavyweight, strongest payroll

The heavyweight: a Swiss ERP with the country’s most complete payroll and HR coverage – but always with a partner and a project budget.

Price
Abacus does not publish prices. Quoted through a sales partner, depending on modules, user count and the implementation project. — As of August 2026
For whom
Growing SMEs from around 20 employees, businesses with complex payroll (hourly wages, collective agreements, construction) and accounting firms.
Vendor
Abacus Research AG
Headquarters
Wittenbach SG
Deployment
Cloud · Desktop/Server
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • Payroll and HR are effectively the Swiss benchmark (CLA, Swissdec, time management)
  • Scales from SME to upper mid-market
  • Industry editions (construction, fiduciary, healthcare, public sector)
  • Very high conformity with Swiss law and audit requirements

Limits

  • No self-service: implementation, training and support run through partners
  • Opaque pricing, total cost only clear after a quote
  • Clearly oversized for sole traders and associations

All surveyed data on Abacus

Accounto

Automated, through your accountant

An automation platform for accounting firms: documents are posted by machine, the SME only supplies and reviews.

Price
normally obtained through the accounting firm; price negotiated there — As of August 2026
For whom
SMEs whose accounting firm runs Accounto – and accountants who want to automate routine work.
Vendor
Accounto AG
Headquarters
Zürich
Deployment
Cloud
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • High degree of automation in document processing
  • Clear division of labour between SME and accountant
  • Continuously current figures instead of year-end crunch
  • Built for Swiss requirements

Limits

  • Not freely available to end customers
  • Financial accounting only – no orders, no inventory
  • Dependent on your choice of accounting firm

All surveyed data on Accounto

Banana Buchhaltung Plus

Cheap, offline, association standard

Accounting on a spreadsheet principle: extremely affordable, runs offline and the go-to solution for associations and micro businesses.

Price
from approx. CHF 149/year (Advanced), roughly CHF 13/mo.; free version with a row limit — As of August 2026
For whom
Associations, foundations, sole proprietors, side businesses – wherever clean double-entry bookkeeping is enough and no ERP is needed.
Vendor
Banana.ch SA
Headquarters
Lugano TI
Deployment
Desktop/Server · Cloud
Payroll (Swissdec)
limited, filings by hand

Strengths

  • Value for money is practically unmatched, with a free entry level
  • Works like a spreadsheet – fast for people comfortable with numbers
  • Runs offline on Windows, Mac and Linux; the file stays with you
  • Ready-made Swiss templates including VAT filing and association accounts

Limits

  • Payroll is basic only – no Swissdec wage declaration
  • Bank reconciliation less automated than with cloud vendors
  • No CRM, no order chain, plain looks

All surveyed data on Banana Buchhaltung Plus

bexio

Cloud all-rounder for small firms

The most widely used cloud standard among small Swiss businesses: quotes, invoices, banking and accounting in one place, with the largest network of accounting firms.

Price
from approx. CHF 39/mo. (Starter); Pro plans approx. CHF 65–115/mo., payroll and further modules extra — As of August 2026
For whom
Trades, agencies and service firms with 1–20 employees that work online and let their accounting firm look over their shoulder.
Vendor
bexio AG
Headquarters
Rapperswil-Jona SG
Deployment
Cloud
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • Very short learning curve, tidy interface
  • Automatic bank reconciliation with most Swiss banks
  • Large accountant network – almost every firm knows it
  • Over 300 integrations and apps (POS, time tracking, shop)

Limits

  • Cost accounting, inventory and production only rudimentary
  • Cost rises quickly with user count and extra modules
  • No offline operation, no desktop edition

All surveyed data on bexio

CashCtrl

Lean cloud bookkeeping, open API

Lean Swiss cloud bookkeeping with an unusually open API – popular with technically minded users and associations.

Price
free version for small books; Pro from approx. CHF 290/year, roughly CHF 24/mo. — As of August 2026
For whom
Digitally confident sole traders, associations and small businesses that do their own bookkeeping and want automated data flows.
Vendor
CashCtrl GmbH
Headquarters
Switzerland
Deployment
Cloud
Payroll (Swissdec)
limited, filings by hand

Strengths

  • Generous free tier, then a very moderate price
  • Documented API, import and export without obstacles
  • Clean double-entry bookkeeping with Swiss chart of accounts
  • No reseller or partner requirement – ready immediately

Limits

  • No full Swissdec payroll
  • Small company behind it, smaller ecosystem
  • No dedicated mobile app

All surveyed data on CashCtrl

Crésus

Affordable, strong payroll module

The de facto standard in French-speaking Switzerland: affordable, robust, with one of the best Swissdec payroll modules in the small-business segment.

Price
from approx. CHF 29/mo. per module (invoicing, accounting, payroll), cloud edition slightly higher — As of August 2026
For whom
Small businesses and SMEs – especially in the Romandie – that run payroll themselves and prefer a local installation.
Vendor
Epsitec SA
Headquarters
Yverdon-les-Bains VD
Deployment
Desktop/Server · hosted
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • Very strong payroll (Swissdec) at a small price
  • Runs offline, very stable, modest system requirements
  • Widely used by accounting firms in western Switzerland
  • Modules can be bought individually – gradual expansion possible

Limits

  • Smaller footprint and community in German-speaking Switzerland
  • Classic interface, no modern cloud experience
  • Module logic: how the parts interact takes some learning

All surveyed data on Crésus

Infoniqa ONE 50

Proven classic, installed locally

The proven classic from the Sage 50 era: very solid bookkeeping and payroll, traditional to operate, often introduced by the accounting firm.

Price
from approx. CHF 49/mo., or licence from approx. CHF 700 plus maintenance; modules sold separately — As of August 2026
For whom
Established small businesses and SMEs that want the tried and tested, local installation and a strong payroll module.
Vendor
Infoniqa Schweiz AG
Headquarters
Root LU
Deployment
Desktop/Server · hosted
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • Mature payroll (Swissdec) and deep bookkeeping functions
  • Familiar to many accounting firms from the Sage years
  • Local installation possible – data stays in-house
  • Modular structure: pay only for what you use

Limits

  • Interface feels dated next to cloud vendors
  • Cloud is only hosting of the desktop application, not cloud-native
  • No real mobile app; setup usually via partner

All surveyed data on Infoniqa ONE 50

pebe

Ledger with securities and payroll

Thurgau accounting software with a speciality that is otherwise missing: integrated securities accounting alongside the general ledger, Swissdec payroll and invoicing.

Price
pebe publishes no prices. Information and quotes directly from the vendor; cloud (pebe Live) and local installation. — As of August 2026
For whom
Accounting firms, foundations and companies holding securities that want books, portfolio and payroll in the same system.
Vendor
pebe AG
Headquarters
Frauenfeld TG
Deployment
Cloud · Desktop/Server
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • Securities accounting with valuation and reporting (pebeINVEST)
  • Swissdec-certified payroll (pebeLOHN)
  • Cloud and desktop from one vendor
  • Well established among accounting firms

Limits

  • No published prices – comparison only after a conversation
  • German only, no mobile app
  • Orders and inventory only basic

All surveyed data on pebe

Run my Accounts

Bookkeeping fully outsourced

Not software for doing your own bookkeeping, but outsourced accounting with online access – you supply documents, the provider does the posting.

Price
service from approx. CHF 220–400/mo. depending on document volume, software included — As of August 2026
For whom
Small businesses and SMEs that deliberately do not want to do their own bookkeeping and want a predictable monthly price.
Vendor
Run my Accounts AG
Headquarters
Stäfa ZH
Deployment
Cloud
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • The books are actually kept, not merely made possible
  • Up-to-date figures every month with no internal effort
  • Fixed-price model, payroll can be added
  • No software know-how required

Limits

  • Considerably more expensive than software alone
  • Little control over day-to-day posting
  • No order or inventory module, no ERP ambition

All surveyed data on Run my Accounts

Topal

Accounting depth for professionals

Professional financial accounting for fiduciaries and accounting specialists – deep in the books, deliberately narrow elsewhere.

Price
No published prices – licence or subscription via partner, typically obtained through the accounting firm. — As of August 2026
For whom
Accounting firms and companies with their own accounting department that need reporting depth.
Vendor
Topal Solutions AG
Headquarters
Nidau BE
Deployment
Desktop/Server · hosted
Payroll (Swissdec)
complete, with electronic filings

Strengths

  • Very high bookkeeping and reporting depth
  • Built for client-mandate and fiduciary workflows
  • Good payroll module with Swissdec
  • Clean interfaces to upstream and adjacent systems

Limits

  • Requires professional knowledge – not for beginners
  • Orders and inventory are not the focus
  • Sold and priced through partners

All surveyed data on Topal

Multiplication rather than feature scope

Accounting software for one business is judged by what it can do. A fiduciary solution by what it can do thirty times without the effort rising thirtyfold. Those are two different questions asked of the same program, and the data sheets answer only the first.

The second can be tested with a single question in the sales conversation: how many clicks does the VAT return take for twenty clients. Whoever answers «per client it is very simple» has not understood the question.

Migrating from an existing solution

A switch with thirty clients is thirty switches, and each has its own financial year. That is why fiduciary offices rarely change software and why a change runs in stages: new clients in the new system, existing ones at their respective year end.

Before the switch, two things belong clarified that appear nowhere else: whether the new system takes over the existing clients’ charts of accounts without standardising them — and whether both systems can run in parallel without double licence costs per client.

And reckon with a year of parallel operation. For an office with thirty clients that is the floor, not the exception.

Frequently asked questions

What does fiduciary software cost?

3 of the 10 vendors compared publish a price; the highest published entry price is CHF 35.– a month, excluding VAT, as of July 2026. For 7 solutions the price runs through a quotation — the rule in this market, because it is negotiated per client or per user.

Does the client have to have the same software?

No, but it helps. Where client and office use the same solution, data exchange disappears as a separate step. 7 of the 10 solutions run in the browser, which is what makes shared access possible at all.

Is ordinary accounting software enough for a small office?

Up to about five clients often yes — beyond that, multi-client capability becomes the bottleneck. The comparison of accounting solutions carries adoption in the fiduciary market as a row of its own; that is the pointer to which solutions offices actually use.

Where do client data have to sit?

The location is not prescribed. For engagements subject to audit and for professional duties, however, separate requirements on confidentiality and availability apply; the data location appears in the comparison table as a row of its own. Clarify it with your professional association, not with this post.

Where the figures come from

Every figure in this text is calculated at build time from the verified survey and not typed in.

Prices
Vendor information from price lists, product pages and trial accounts, each value with a verification date. As of July 2026. A median across 3 published values would not be information and therefore does not appear in the text.
Feature information
Vendor documentation. What a vendor does not state itself appears as «not surveyed» and not as a no.
Interests
The operator makes none of the solutions compared and maintains no paid placements.

Once the requirements are set, the comparison table is the faster tool: there you filter the 10 solutions by multi-client capability, year end and payroll — and see all 13 recorded details per solution.

All 10 providers in the comparison table: Fiduciary software

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