FreeAgent vs FreshBooks: which fits your firm?
FreeAgent starts at $27 per month and FreshBooks starts at $23 per month; both list solo and small firms.
Prices and details checked August 31, 2026 for FreeAgent and August 15, 2026 for FreshBooks. Both records sit in Core ledger and bookkeeping and are compared on vendor-published specifications, the same way across every tool.
FreeAgent vs FreshBooks side by side
6 of 13 dimensions differ. Rows marked "Differs" are where the two records do not match.
| Dimension | FreeAgent | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Entry priceDiffers | $27 per month | $23 per month |
| Pricing modelDiffers | Flat rate | Per entity |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free planDiffers | Yes | No |
| Firm size fit | Solo, Small | Solo, Small |
| Built forDiffers | Firms and their clients | Small businesses |
| Specialisation | Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping |
| Automation profile | High volume, routine work | High volume, routine work |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Geo availabilityDiffers | UK, US | US, UK, Canada, Global |
| Integrations listedDiffersBoth list: PayPal, Stripe, Zapier. | 8 listed | 7 listed |
| Certifications | Not published | Not published |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Knowledge base | Phone, Email, Chat, Knowledge base |
Which one fits your firm
Choose FreeAgent if
- UK freelancers, sole traders, and small limited companies that need MTD VAT and Self Assessment filing.
- Small UK practices wanting a free practice dashboard to manage clients with discounted licenses.
- NatWest, RBS, or Mettle business account holders who can use FreeAgent at no cost.
Think twice about FreeAgent if
- Businesses outside the UK and US. FreeAgent is built around HMRC rules, with a separate US edition.
- Mid-market or multi-entity groups. FreeAgent targets freelancers and small companies.
- Firms needing US payroll or state filings. The US edition centers on invoicing, expenses, and sales tax reporting.
Choose FreshBooks if
- Freelancers and solo service businesses that need invoicing-first accounting with built-in payment collection.
- Small service-based businesses that want time tracking, expense capture, and bookkeeping in one tool.
- Accountants who service-bill clients on Plus or Premium tiers. Accountant access is included from Plus up.
Think twice about FreshBooks if
- Practices whose clients run inventory-heavy or multi-entity businesses. FreshBooks targets service operations.
- Firms that want AI-driven coding or anomaly detection. FreshBooks does not highlight AI features.
- Practices that intend to use FreshBooks to run their own firm. FreshBooks is not a practice management tool.
What each one does
About FreeAgent
FreeAgent is cloud accounting software for UK freelancers, sole traders, and small limited companies, covering invoicing, expenses, bank feeds, VAT, Self Assessment, and the Construction Industry Scheme. Accountants get a free practice dashboard with discounted client licenses, and the software is free for NatWest, RBS, and Mettle business account holders.
Best for UK freelancers and small companies that need MTD and Self Assessment, and the small firms that support them.
FreeAgent profileFreeAgent pricing and plansFreeAgent vendor site
About FreshBooks
FreshBooks is invoicing-first accounting software for freelancers and small service businesses. It covers expense tracking, time logging, and double-entry bookkeeping, with accountant access included on Plus plans and above.
Fits best when freelancers and solo service businesses need invoicing-first accounting with built-in payment collection.
FreshBooks profileFreshBooks pricing and plansFreshBooks vendor site
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, FreeAgent or FreshBooks?
- FreshBooks has the lower published entry tier, $23 per month, against $27 per month for FreeAgent. That covers the cheapest published plan only, not the plan either vendor would put in front of your firm.
- Do FreeAgent and FreshBooks both offer a free trial?
- Yes. Both FreeAgent and FreshBooks list a free trial. FreeAgent publishes a permanently free plan, and FreshBooks does not.
- Which one integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, FreeAgent or FreshBooks?
- Neither published integration list names QuickBooks or Xero. Both lists do share PayPal, Stripe and Zapier. Check the vendor pages for anything added since these records were last checked.
- Which suits a smaller firm, FreeAgent or FreshBooks?
- Both records list the same firm sizes: solo and small. The split comes from the rest of the record, including deployment, specialisation and the integrations each vendor lists.