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FreeAgent vs QuickBooks: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)

Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for FreeAgent and QuickBooks side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.

On the data: On the data below, FreeAgent leads on a free plan; QuickBooks leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

Data comparison compiled by Toolradar, not hand-reviewed Methodology
Data comparison 628 user reviews compared Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:

FreeAgent

UK cloud accounting for limited companies and sole traders

Best for you if:

  • • You want a free tier before you commit

QuickBooks

Small business accounting software

Best for you if:

  • • You want industry standard
At a Glance
FreeAgentFreeAgent
QuickBooksQuickBooks
Starts at
Free plan, paid from £27.50/mo, billed yearly Annual plan
From $38/mo, billed monthly Simple Start plan
Category
Accounting Invoicing
Finance Accounting
Rating
3.6/5 Capterra 4.4 · SourceForge 2.3 · G2 4.3 223 reviews4.4/5 G2 4.4 405 reviews
Free plan
Yes No
Watch out for
VAT not included in listed prices50% introductory discount expires after 3 months, doubling your bill overnight

Choose FreeAgent or QuickBooks?

FreeAgent

Choose FreeAgent if

  • You want a free tier before you commit
  • You want comprehensive all-in-one solution covering invoicing, expenses, payroll, tax, and cash flow forecasting
  • You want free for users with eligible UK business bank accounts (NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, Mettle), making it highly cost-effective
  • You work in accounting, not finance
QuickBooks

Choose QuickBooks if

  • You want industry standard
  • You want easy to use
  • You work in finance, not accounting

In-Depth Analysis

FreeAgentFreeAgent

UK cloud accounting for limited companies and sole traders

Good value

FreeAgent's pricing is fair and competitive for UK small businesses, with the £33/month or £330/year (£27.50/month) plans offering solid value for MTD VAT, payroll, and invoicing.

Watch out

VAT not included in listed prices

Strengths

  • Pro: Comprehensive all-in-one solution covering invoicing, expenses, payroll, tax, and cash flow forecasting.
  • Pro: Free for users with eligible UK business bank accounts (NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, Mettle), making it highly cost-effective.
  • Pro: Award-winning UK-based support team available via phone, email, and live chat.

Weaknesses

  • Con: Primarily designed for UK-based businesses, with a focus on HMRC compliance and UK tax regulations.
  • Con: The free tier for bank account holders may have limited features compared to the full paid subscription.

Key features

HMRC-recognized Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax and VAT with direct filing to HMRC. Real-time cash flow forecasting with a 90-day projection and smart suggestions for shortfalls. Integrated payroll that submits Real Time Information (RTI) directly to HMRC, including automatic pension calculations. Automated invoicing with one-click payments, recurring invoices, and payment reminders. Mobile app for recording expenses, tracking time, managing invoices, and capturing receipts on the go.

QuickBooksQuickBooks

Small business accounting software

Watch out

50% introductory discount expires after 3 months, doubling your bill overnight

Strengths

  • Pro: Industry standard
  • Pro: Easy to use
  • Pro: Great integrations

Weaknesses

  • Con: Can be expensive
  • Con: Learning curve for advanced features

Key features

Accounting software Invoicing Expense tracking Payroll Tax preparation Financial reporting

Plans and prices: FreeAgent vs QuickBooks

Plans and prices of FreeAgent and QuickBooks, as read on each vendor's pricing page. Each plan keeps its own billing unit.
ToolPlans and pricesSource
FreeAgent
  • Free with bank: Free
  • Monthly: £33/mo, billed monthly
  • Annual: £27.50/mo, billed yearly
freeagent.com/pricingread Oct 7, 2026
QuickBooks
  • Simple Start: $38/mo, billed monthly
  • Essentials: $75/mo, billed monthly
  • Plus: $115/mo, billed monthly
  • Advanced: $275/mo, billed monthly
quickbooks.intuit.comread Sep 29, 2026

Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on FreeAgent pricing and QuickBooks pricing.

Key Takeaways

FreeAgent

  • Has a free plan

QuickBooks

  • Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 3.6/5

What the data shows

On the data below, FreeAgent leads on a free plan; QuickBooks leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

  • QuickBooks has the higher user rating (3.6/5 from 223 reviews for FreeAgent, 4.4/5 from 405 reviews for QuickBooks).
  • Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: FreeAgent £27.50/mo, billed yearly; QuickBooks $38/mo, billed monthly.
  • Only FreeAgent has a free plan.

Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How do FreeAgent and QuickBooks compare in 2026?

On the data below, FreeAgent leads on a free plan; QuickBooks leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. QuickBooks has the higher user rating (3.6/5 from 223 reviews for FreeAgent, 4.4/5 from 405 reviews for QuickBooks). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: FreeAgent £27.50/mo, billed yearly; QuickBooks $38/mo, billed monthly. Only FreeAgent has a free plan.

What are FreeAgent and QuickBooks used for?

FreeAgent: UK cloud accounting for limited companies and sole traders. QuickBooks: Small business accounting software.

What does FreeAgent cost vs QuickBooks?

FreeAgent's cheapest paid plan is Annual at £27.50/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. QuickBooks's cheapest paid plan is Simple Start at $38/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 7, 2026.

What's the main difference between FreeAgent and QuickBooks?

FreeAgent's main strength: comprehensive all-in-one solution covering invoicing, expenses, payroll, tax, and cash flow forecasting. QuickBooks's main strength: industry standard.

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