FreeAgent review

FreeAgent is UK accounting software for small businesses, freelancers, contractors and landlords. Its main job is to keep bookkeeping, invoicing and tax admin in one place, rather than replace an accountant or provide tailored tax advice.

The listed features include Making Tax Digital support and direct submission of VAT and Self Assessment returns to HMRC, plus up-to-date tax calculations showing what is due and when. FreeAgent also tracks cash flow and provides a 90-day forecast. Payroll tools submit RTI information to HMRC and manage payslips, P60s and pension calculations. Invoicing includes customisation, reminders and one-click customer payments, with invoice management available in the mobile app.

There are plans for different business types, as well as a free option for eligible bank-account customers. The pricing page lists a 30-day free trial. The main catch is that free access depends on keeping an eligible account, not simply signing up for the software.

FreeAgent’s strongest case is its concentration of UK tax and bookkeeping tasks. For a business with straightforward accounts, being able to track income and expenses, issue invoices, monitor tax calculations and submit VAT or Self Assessment returns from one product can reduce routine admin. The product also covers payroll and cash-flow forecasting, rather than stopping at invoice creation.

The pricing page lists introductory prices of £9.50 per month for sole traders, £13.50 per month for partnerships or LLPs, and £16.50 per month for limited companies. Annual billing is listed at £11.25 per month for partnerships and £13.75 for limited companies. These are 50% offers; regular prices are listed as £19–£33 per month or £270–£330 per year, excluding VAT.

Some Reddit users say FreeAgent makes DIY accounts manageable when their business is simple. Others describe accountants as valuable for explaining deadlines, checking submissions and advising on expenses or tax. That points to a sensible use case: FreeAgent can handle the records and filings, while an accountant can still provide judgment the software does not.

The free plan is conditional. It is for eligible bank-account customers and remains free only while the eligible account is retained; the pricing details say a Mettle account needs at least one transaction each month. It is not a general, no-strings free tier.

There is also a monthly cap of 10 receipt and bill captures on the listed free and paid plans. Smart Capture Unlimited costs £5 per month, billed monthly and excluding VAT. The Amazon UK connection is another £6 per month, excluding VAT. Those extras can change the bill if you rely on automated capture or Amazon imports.

Introductory prices are not the long-term price: the stated 50% discounts apply for six months on monthly billing or the first year on annual billing. Regular prices are £19–£33 monthly or £270–£330 annually, excluding VAT. And while Reddit discussions include people who manage simple accounts themselves, commenters also warn that more complex income, costs or tax questions can make professional advice worthwhile. FreeAgent’s filing tools do not remove that need.

FreeAgent’s listed prices are introductory offers, not the ongoing rate. The Limited company plan is £16.50 monthly for six months, or £13.75 per month on annual billing for the first year. Partnership or LLP costs £13.50 monthly or £11.25 per month on annual billing. Sole trader is £9.50 monthly; no annual price is listed. The stated regular prices are £19–£33 per month or £270–£330 per year, excluding VAT.

Each paid plan includes up to 10 receipt and bill captures a month. Smart Capture Unlimited adds £5 per month, excluding VAT; the Amazon UK connection adds £6 per month, also excluding VAT. The free plan is not open to everyone: you need to retain an eligible bank account, and Mettle customers need at least one transaction each month. Free and paid plans both have the 10-capture cap unless you add unlimited capture. A 30-day free trial is listed, but check the billing terms before signing up so the introductory rate does not get mistaken for the renewal price.

The published information confirms tax, invoicing and bookkeeping features, but it does not specify migration services, supported import formats, export formats or what happens to data after cancellation. We would confirm those points with FreeAgent before moving historical invoices, expenses and tax records; the available material is not enough to promise a low-effort switch or an easy exit.

There is one clear operational limit to plan around: receipt and bill capture is capped at 10 a month unless you pay £5 monthly for Smart Capture Unlimited. Free access also depends on keeping an eligible bank account. Those limits may be reasons to compare alternatives if your capture volume grows or your bank account changes. The published published material includes no Reddit posts, so we can’t responsibly say what users there most often cite as a reason for leaving. If you are switching away, verify that you can export the records you need before cancelling.