FreeAgent review UK

Key facts

About FreeAgent

FreeAgent is a UK-built cloud accounting platform developed specifically for freelancers, sole traders, limited companies, partnerships and landlords. It is operated by FreeAgent Central Ltd, a Scottish private limited company registered at Companies House under number SC316774, incorporated on 19 February 2007. The registered office is at One Edinburgh Quay, 133 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9QG. FreeAgent Central Ltd was formerly registered under the name FREE AGENT CENTRAL LIMITED.

FreeAgent was acquired by NatWest Group in 2018 but continues to operate as a standalone product available to any business, regardless of banking relationship. The company describes itself as operationally independent of NatWest Group. NatWest customers with certain business current accounts receive a FreeAgent subscription as part of their banking package, which has contributed to FreeAgent's broad UK user base. This review covers the standard paid subscription available to all businesses.

For context on how FreeAgent's pricing compares to Xero and QuickBooks, see the cluster anchor page Xero vs QuickBooks UK and the Accounting software cost UK comparison page.

Pricing: confirmed from vendor site

FreeAgent's pricing page was accessible and successfully fetched during this research session, making it the only vendor in this cluster whose standard GBP pricing is confirmed directly from the vendor source. The pricing model is structured by business type rather than by feature tier, meaning all business types on a given plan access the same core feature set, with pricing set according to the legal structure of the business. All prices below are the standard monthly rates excluding VAT, as published on freeagent.com/pricing in June 2026.

Source: freeagent.com/pricing, June 2026. All prices exclude VAT at 20%. Annual billing offers a saving of approximately 17% compared with monthly rolling plans.

A promotional offer of 50 per cent off for the first six months (on monthly billing) or the first year (on annual billing) was displayed on the FreeAgent pricing page in June 2026. This is a time-limited promotional rate, not the standard price. The standard prices shown above apply after the promotional period ends. Promotional terms change and the offer may not be available at the point of subscribing; confirm before signing up.

Optional add-ons are available at additional cost: Smart Capture Unlimited (automated receipt and expense capture) at £5/month and an Amazon integration at £6/month. These are not included in the headline plan prices.

Features included across all plans

FreeAgent's feature set is broadly the same across all business-type plans; the pricing reflects business structure rather than access to a limited feature set at lower tiers. Core features included across all plans are: invoicing and quotes, bank feed connections and reconciliation, expense management, MTD-compatible VAT return preparation and filing direct to HMRC, self-assessment tax return support, corporation tax filing support for limited companies, payroll for up to ten employees (for business types where this is applicable), and a multi-user login for business owners, accountants and bookkeepers.

FreeAgent's inclusion of payroll at no additional per-employee charge for up to ten employees is a notable feature of the base plan, differentiating it from Xero's Ignite plan (which charges payroll separately) and QuickBooks Online (which requires a separate payroll product). For businesses with a small employed workforce, this all-inclusive payroll can represent meaningful cost savings at the same headline monthly price.

The platform also produces estimated tax liability summaries in real time as transactions are entered, which is particularly relevant for sole traders who need to forecast self-assessment tax bills throughout the year rather than discovering the liability only at filing time. For context on how MTD for Income Tax affects sole traders specifically, the Quicko UK review covers a tax-focused alternative tool with a different approach to self-assessment.

Making Tax Digital: FreeAgent's HMRC status

FreeAgent is confirmed as HMRC-recognised software for Making Tax Digital for VAT, as stated on its own pricing page. The platform allows VAT-registered businesses across all four business-type plans to maintain digital records and submit VAT returns directly to HMRC, satisfying the MTD for VAT legal requirement that has applied to all VAT-registered businesses since April 2022.

FreeAgent also received HMRC recognition for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA), as announced on the FreeAgent blog in September 2022. MTD for ITSA becomes mandatory for sole traders and landlords with business or property income above £50,000 from April 2026, extending to those above £30,000 from April 2027 and above £20,000 from April 2028. FreeAgent specifically notes it is working with HMRC to support landlord clients through its landlord product for MTD for ITSA purposes. Buyers should independently verify current recognition status for both MTD for VAT and MTD for ITSA using the HMRC compatible software list at gov.uk.

NatWest relationship and free access routes

Businesses banking with NatWest or Royal Bank of Scotland may be eligible for a free FreeAgent subscription as part of their business current account, depending on the account type held. This free access route covers the same core product as the paid subscription reviewed here. Businesses receiving FreeAgent through their bank account should be aware that the subscription is typically tied to maintaining the bank account; if the account is closed or downgraded, the FreeAgent access may also end. Confirm the terms of bank-linked access with NatWest or Royal Bank of Scotland directly. This review covers the standard paid subscription available to all businesses regardless of bank.

Limitations and considerations

FreeAgent does not support multi-currency accounting in the same way as Xero's Grow plan or QuickBooks' higher tiers. Businesses that invoice international customers in foreign currencies, or that hold foreign currency bank accounts requiring reconciliation, may find FreeAgent's capabilities limited and should verify the extent of foreign currency support directly with the vendor before subscribing. The Xero vs QuickBooks UK page covers multi-currency comparisons in more detail.

FreeAgent's integration marketplace is smaller than Xero's, which lists over 1,000 third-party apps. Businesses with existing software stacks that require specific integrations should verify whether those integrations are available on FreeAgent before migrating from an alternative platform. Common integrations available on FreeAgent include payment processors such as Stripe and GoCardless and bank feeds from most major UK banks, but the breadth of available connections is narrower than on Xero or QuickBooks.

The payroll functionality included in the base plan supports up to ten employees. Businesses with more than ten employees should confirm with FreeAgent whether additional payroll users can be added and at what cost, as the pricing page reviewed in June 2026 listed the ten-employee payroll as included without specifying what happens beyond that threshold.

For comparison with other accounting-adjacent tools, see the Yordex UK review and Klippa UK review for spend management and invoice processing alternatives.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for editorial and informational purposes only. Software pricing, features, and promotional offers change frequently and without notice. Promotions referenced may no longer be available. Confirm current GBP pricing and MTD/HMRC-recognised status directly with the vendor and via gov.uk before making any subscription or purchasing decision. This page does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice.

Frequently asked questions

What UK legal entity operates FreeAgent?

FreeAgent is operated by FreeAgent Central Ltd, a Scottish private limited company registered at Companies House under number SC316774. The registered office is One Edinburgh Quay, 133 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9QG. The company was incorporated on 19 February 2007 and is a subsidiary of NatWest Group, which acquired it in 2018.

Is FreeAgent free for NatWest customers?

Some NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland business current account holders receive a free FreeAgent subscription as part of their account package, depending on account type. This bank-linked access may be conditional on maintaining the relevant account. For businesses not banking with NatWest, the standard paid subscription prices shown above apply. Confirm eligibility and terms directly with the bank.

Does FreeAgent include payroll?

Yes. FreeAgent includes payroll for up to ten employees within all paid plan prices at no additional per-employee charge. This is a notable inclusion compared with some competitors that charge payroll separately. Businesses with more than ten employees should confirm additional payroll terms with FreeAgent directly.

Is FreeAgent HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital?

Yes. FreeAgent is HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for VAT, confirmed on its own pricing page. It is also HMRC-recognised for MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment, as announced in September 2022. Verify current recognition status using the HMRC compatible software list at gov.uk.

What is the standard price for a FreeAgent limited company subscription?

As of June 2026, the standard monthly price for a FreeAgent limited company subscription is £33/month on monthly billing, or £330/year (equivalent to £27.50/month) on annual billing. Both prices exclude VAT at 20%. A promotional discount of 50% off for the first six months or first year was available in June 2026; confirm current promotional terms before subscribing.