Freeagent

What is FreeAgent

FreeAgent is a cloud accounting platform aimed at small businesses, freelancers, contractors, landlords and accountancy practices in the UK. It was built to cover core bookkeeping needs—bank reconciliation, invoicing, expense capture, payroll and tax filing—while exposing tools that let a business owner or their accountant work together in the same system. The product is HMRC-compatible for VAT, RTI payroll and the upcoming Making Tax Digital for Income Tax roll-out.

FreeAgent provides both single-business subscriptions for small companies and a free Practice Dashboard for accountants and bookkeepers to manage multiple clients. Where relevant, business current account relationships with partner banks (for example NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank or Mettle) can make the product available at no cost for qualifying customers.

The platform includes a mobile app for on-the-go bookkeeping, an automated receipt processing feature called Smart Capture, integrated one-click payments on invoices, and a payroll engine that submits Real Time Information (RTI) to HMRC. It also offers structured tax-focused views (Tax Timeline) and a 90-day cashflow projection to help owners plan short-term liquidity.

FreeAgent is headquartered in Edinburgh and positions itself as a single solution for small UK businesses that need accounting plus direct links to HMRC and to accountants via a shared workspace. For technical details about integrations and developer access, see the FreeAgent developer documentation at their FreeAgent API documentation.

FreeAgent features

What does FreeAgent do?

FreeAgent consolidates standard small-business accounting tasks into an online application: it records income and expenses, matches and reconciles bank transactions, runs payroll and submits RTI to HMRC, supports VAT and Self Assessment submissions, and generates management reports such as profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow forecasts. The platform’s interface focuses on task-driven workflows—create an invoice, record a payment, add an expense or run a payroll cycle—so day-to-day bookkeeping is organised around the business events that matter.

Bank feeds allow automatic import of transactions, which FreeAgent tries to categorise and match with invoices, bills and receipts. The Smart Capture add-on performs OCR-style extraction from receipt images and attempts automatic mapping to the right expense category and transaction. For landlords and sellers, there are features to manage properties and online marketplace connections (for example, an Amazon UK Marketplace connector).

The payroll module supports payslip generation, P60 creation and automatic pension contribution calculations; it also submits RTI to HMRC on behalf of the employer. For tax compliance the product supports VAT returns and Self Assessment filing and exposes a Tax Timeline view that shows upcoming deadlines and estimates of tax owed. FreeAgent is also included on HMRC’s list of compatible software for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; see HMRC’s list of compatible software for more context.

FreeAgent includes a Practice Dashboard for accountants and bookkeepers that provides client overviews, bulk operations (bulk payroll, bulk reporting), client migration tools, and discounted client licences tied to practice size. It integrates with a selection of third-party tools commonly used by small practices (examples include Dext, Syft and marketplace connectors).

Core feature list (high level):

• Bank feeds and transaction import from major UK banks
• Smart Capture for receipts and bills (optional add-on)
• Invoicing with one-click payment links and automated reminders
• Payroll with RTI submissions, payslips and P60s
• VAT & Self Assessment filing and a Tax Timeline for deadlines
• Cashflow forecast with a 90-day projection on the dashboard
• Practice Dashboard and client management tools for accountants
• Mobile app for iOS and Android to record expenses and view invoices
• Integrations and connectors (Amazon, Dext, payment providers)

FreeAgent pricing

FreeAgent offers these pricing plans:

• Limited company: £16.50/month (introductory monthly price, first six months; regular price £33/month) — £165/year (introductory annual price, first year; regular price £330/year)
• Partnership or LLP: £13.50/month (introductory monthly price, first six months; regular price £27/month) — £135/year (introductory annual price; regular price £270/year)
• Sole trader: £9.50/month (introductory monthly price, first six months; regular price £19/month) — £95/year (introductory annual price; regular price £190/year)
• Landlord: £5/month (introductory monthly price, first six months; regular price £10/month) — £50/year (introductory annual price; regular price £100/year)
• Free Plan: £0.00 (available to qualifying customers who hold a business current account with certain partner banks or Mettle; optional add-ons may be chargeable)

Optional add-ons (examples):

• Unlimited receipt and bill captures: £5/month (billed monthly)
• Connect with Amazon UK Marketplace: £6/month (billed monthly)

FreeAgent often offers an introductory 50% discount for the first six months when billed monthly, or for the first year when billed annually; yearly billing equivalents are shown above. Prices cited exclude local VAT where applicable and the company displays the applicable VAT at checkout.

The platform provides a 30-day free trial (no card required) and an option for qualifying bank account holders to access FreeAgent for free while they retain that account. For a current, authoritative view of plans, taxes and eligible free offers, visit their official pricing page.

How much is FreeAgent per month

FreeAgent starts at £0.00/month for eligible business current account holders with partner banks (for as long as the account is maintained). Paid subscriptions begin at £5/month as an introductory rate for the landlord tier, with most small-business tiers offered at introductory discounts like £9.50/month, £13.50/month and £16.50/month depending on legal structure. Monthly billing can be cancelled at any time; the company advertises 50% introductory discounts for new customers in many regions.

How much is FreeAgent per year

FreeAgent costs £0.00/year for qualifying partner-bank customers who retain the account that grants the free licence. For paid plans the introductory annual prices start at £50/year for landlords and go up to £165/year (introductory price for limited companies), with regular annual prices of £100/year to £330/year depending on the business type. Annual billing typically offers a saving compared to regular monthly billing; FreeAgent shows the annual equivalent and the amount saved on its pricing page.

How much is FreeAgent in general

FreeAgent pricing ranges from £0 (free) to £33/month (regular price) or £0 to £330/year (regular annual price). The product offers tiered pricing mapped to business legal type (limited company, partnership, sole trader, landlord) and optional add-ons such as unlimited Smart Capture or marketplace connectors. Discounts and introductory pricing (commonly 50% for a specified initial period) are frequently applied to new customers; account-holder promotions with partner banks can provide a free licence for qualifying clients.

Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

What is FreeAgent used for

FreeAgent is used for core small-business accounting and tax compliance tasks. Owners use it to record income and expenses, produce VAT returns and Self Assessment submissions, issue invoices, track unpaid bills and prepare basic management accounts such as profit & loss and balance sheets. The product is particularly common with sole traders, freelancers and small limited companies in the UK who want a single cloud tool for bookkeeping and tax filing.

Accountants and bookkeepers use FreeAgent’s Practice Dashboard to manage multiple client accounts, perform bulk operations, migrate client data and provide real-time collaboration. The platform’s client invite system means an accountant can view the same figures as the client, annotate items and work from within the same ledger.

Payroll administrators and small employers use FreeAgent to process payroll runs, generate payslips and P60s, calculate pension contributions and submit RTI directly to HMRC. Landlords use the product to record rental income and property expenses and to see a tax timeline tailored to rental income.

FreeAgent also serves as a lightweight reporting and cashflow planning tool: it provides a 90‑day cashflow forecast, an invoice timeline to see who owes money and when payments are expected, and a Tax Timeline so users can see upcoming tax liabilities and filing windows.

Pros and cons of FreeAgent

FreeAgent is strong where it is focused: UK small businesses and their accountants. Pros include integrated RTI payroll and HMRC filing capabilities, clear tax-focused interfaces (Tax Timeline), automatic bank feeds and an approachable user experience for non-accountants. The Practice Dashboard and accountant partnership programme make it practical for small accountancy practices to manage clients and offer discounted client pricing.

The product’s strengths also reflect its scope. Because FreeAgent targets small businesses, it intentionally lacks some enterprise-grade features: advanced inventory and manufacturing modules, complex multi-currency accounting for international businesses, and the breadth of integrations offered by larger, generalist platforms can be more limited. Larger firms or those with specialised needs (retail inventory, multi-currency sales, extensive automation) may find other platforms better suited.

Pricing is straightforward but segmented by business type, which can confuse new users deciding which tier applies. There are optional paid add-ons (Smart Capture, Amazon connector), so it’s important to model total cost of ownership before committing. The free licence for partner-bank customers is a clear advantage for those who qualify, but the qualifying criteria are tied to third-party banks and account status.

From a support and compliance perspective, FreeAgent’s UK-based support team and HMRC-compatible features are strengths for UK-only businesses. For businesses outside the UK, FreeAgent’s local compliance features are less relevant and other providers that support international tax jurisdictions and multi-currency accounting may be a better match.

FreeAgent free trial

FreeAgent provides a 30-day free trial that allows prospective customers to use the full product (including bank feeds and basic features) without entering payment card details. The trial is designed to let new users test bookkeeping workflows, send invoices, connect a bank feed and assess the payroll and tax filing features. Trial accounts typically allow the user to see the Tax Timeline, cashflow forecast and the app’s mobile receipt capture functionality.

Because the trial does not require a credit card, it is low-risk to evaluate the software. If the user decides to subscribe, FreeAgent applies introductory discounts as described on their pricing page; those discounts and the availability of a free licence through partner banks are displayed during sign-up. The company also documents how to set up start dates, opening balances and import previous transactions so an account can be migrated into production during or after the trial.

For accountants and bookkeepers the Practice Dashboard onboarding is also available to test during sign-up: practices can create a free dashboard to see how client management, bulk operations and migration tools work before adding paid client licences. If you need help during the trial, FreeAgent’s UK-based support team is available by email and phone and the knowledge base contains step-by-step guides and webinars.

Is FreeAgent free

Yes, FreeAgent can be free for qualifying customers. Customers who hold a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank or Mettle business current account may be able to use FreeAgent free of charge for as long as they retain the qualifying account. For all other users, FreeAgent provides a 30-day free trial after which paid subscriptions apply according to the business type and billing cycle selected.

FreeAgent API

FreeAgent publishes a developer API that enables programmatic access to core accounting objects such as contacts, invoices, bills, bank transactions and timeslips. The API uses OAuth2 for authentication and supports RESTful endpoints that return JSON; it is suitable for integrations that need to synchronise invoices, post payments, read bank feed data or extract client information for reporting.

Common use cases for the API include connecting external payment gateways, building custom reporting dashboards, synchronising CRM data with client ledgers and automating bookkeeping tasks from other business systems. The developer site documents endpoints, sample code and authentication steps; start developing with the FreeAgent API by visiting the FreeAgent API documentation.

For accountancy practices, the API can be used in conjunction with third-party reporting and analysis tools to run practice-wide reports, or to build bespoke connectors for industry-specific software. FreeAgent may impose rate limits and requires applications to follow authentication and data protection guidelines; developers should consult the API docs and the product’s terms of service before building production integrations.

10 FreeAgent alternatives

FreeAgent competes in the small-business accounting space. Below are paid and open source options that teams commonly evaluate alongside FreeAgent.

Paid alternatives to FreeAgent

• Xero — Cloud accounting with broad third-party integrations, multi-currency support and a large partner ecosystem; strong for businesses that need richer app connectivity.
• QuickBooks Online — Widely used, with scalable plans, strong invoicing and payroll options (regional variations) and a large marketplace of apps and accountants.
• Sage Business Cloud Accounting — Offers standard accounting and payroll modules, with a long history in SMB finance and regional packages that suit established small firms.
• Zoho Books — Cost-effective accounting with built-in CRM integration and automation features; attractive for teams already using Zoho apps.
• FreshBooks — Focus on freelancers and service businesses with simple invoicing, time tracking and expense features.
• KashFlow — UK-focused accounting software targeting small businesses with basic bookkeeping and payroll integrations.
• Wave — Free core accounting with paid add-ons (payments, payroll in limited regions); strong option for cost-sensitive freelancers and micro-businesses.

Open source alternatives to FreeAgent

• Odoo (Community edition) — Modular open source ERP with accounting modules; best when you can host and customise it for workflows beyond core accounting.
• ERPNext — Open source ERP with accounting, CRM and inventory integrated; suitable for small companies that want a self-hosted, extensible solution.
• LedgerSMB — Open source double-entry accounting system aimed at small to mid-sized businesses that can host and maintain the software.
• GnuCash — Desktop-focused double-entry accounting application for small businesses and personal finance; not cloud-native but useful for single-user setups.
• Dolibarr — Open source ERP and CRM with accounting modules that are suitable for small organisations, with a range of community extensions.

When choosing an alternative, consider support for HMRC filing (if UK compliance is required), payroll RTI submission capability, integration needs, hosting model (cloud vs self-hosted), and whether you prefer a hosted service or an open-source system you manage yourself.

Frequently asked questions about FreeAgent

What is FreeAgent used for?

FreeAgent is used for small-business accounting and tax filing in the UK. Its core capabilities cover bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, invoicing, payroll (RTI) and VAT and Self Assessment submissions. The platform is commonly used by freelancers, contractors, small limited companies and accountancy practices that need HMRC-compatible workflows.

How does FreeAgent handle payroll?

FreeAgent includes a payroll module that submits RTI to HMRC. It generates payslips and P60s, calculates employee pension contributions and supports standard payroll operations for small employers. The payroll functionality is integrated into the same account so payroll entries reconcile with the business ledger.

Does FreeAgent integrate with HMRC for Making Tax Digital?

Yes, FreeAgent is listed as compatible software for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. The product supports VAT returns and the MTD requirements where applicable and is on HMRC’s list of compatible software for filing. Users can submit VAT and Self Assessment returns directly from the platform.

Can I import my bank transactions into FreeAgent?

Yes, FreeAgent supports bank feeds and transaction imports. It connects to many UK banks to automatically import transactions, which can then be matched to invoices, bills and receipts. Accountants can view feed status across multiple clients from the Practice Dashboard.

Is there a FreeAgent mobile app?

Yes, FreeAgent provides mobile apps for iOS and Android. The apps let users create invoices, capture receipts, record expenses and view account balances on the go. The mobile receipt capture integrates with the Smart Capture add-on to reduce manual data entry.

Why would an accountant choose the FreeAgent Practice Dashboard?

Accountants use the Practice Dashboard to manage multiple clients efficiently. It offers client overviews, bulk operations (like payroll or reconsenting bank feeds), migration tools and discounted client licences as the practice grows. The dashboard centralises client data so practices can run reports across their client base.

When can I start a FreeAgent free trial?

You can start a FreeAgent 30-day free trial immediately without a credit card. The free trial gives access to the platform’s main features, including bank feeds, invoicing and tax timelines, so you can evaluate whether the functionality covers your business needs. Trials are useful before committing to paid billing or applying for a partner-bank free licence.

Where does FreeAgent store my data?

FreeAgent is a cloud-hosted service with data stored on secure servers. The company publishes security and compliance information and operates security controls appropriate for financial data; developers and admins should consult FreeAgent’s documentation and privacy policy for details on hosting, encryption and retention. For integration specifics, see the FreeAgent API documentation.

How much does FreeAgent cost per user?

FreeAgent offers tiered pricing based on business type rather than per-user licensing. Pricing examples include introductory monthly rates such as £16.50/month for limited companies and £9.50/month for sole traders, with an available £0.00 option for qualifying bank account holders. Visit their official pricing page for current rates and details about partner-bank offers.

Does FreeAgent offer an affiliate or partner programme?

Yes, FreeAgent operates a Partner Programme for accountants and bookkeepers and has referral incentives for customers. Accountants can join the partner programme to access discounts, onboarding resources and client management tools; business customers can refer friends to receive subscription discounts when the referee subscribes. For partner details consult FreeAgent’s partner pages on their website.

FreeAgent careers

FreeAgent maintains a careers section for roles across product, engineering, support, sales and operations. Positions are posted on their corporate site and typically list responsibilities, required experience and the office location (Edinburgh) or remote/hybrid options. Candidates interested in product development or support roles in financial software should review role descriptions carefully and prepare examples of relevant domain experience.

Hiring cycles for UK tech companies often include an initial recruiter screen, a technical or role-specific assessment and one or more interviews with hiring managers. FreeAgent highlights cultural fit and domain knowledge (accounting or fintech experience) in many roles; check the company’s careers page for current openings and application instructions.

FreeAgent affiliate

FreeAgent runs referral incentives that reward existing customers who refer new customers that subscribe. The site documents the mechanics—start a trial via a unique referral link, and if the referral subscribes both parties receive a discount—so affiliates or referral partners can track conversions and rewards. For professional affiliates, such as accountants, the Partner Programme offers a different route to discounts and practice-level benefits.

Businesses or individuals interested in affiliate-style promotions should review FreeAgent’s partner and referral terms to understand eligibility, discount amounts and any time limits or exclusions.

Where to find FreeAgent reviews

Reviews of FreeAgent are available on major software review platforms such as Trustpilot, G2 and Capterra where users rate the product on usability, support and feature completeness. Industry blogs, accountancy forums and small‑business communities also publish case studies and comparative reviews that highlight how FreeAgent performs against other UK-focused accounting packages. For structured comparisons, see independent review sites that list feature matrices and user feedback.

For official statements and release notes about features, pricing and compliance, consult FreeAgent’s corporate site and their official pricing page.