FreeAgent vs QuickBooks Online
- ✦ Bank Feeds
- ✦ Self-Assessment Tax
- ✦ VAT
- ✦ Bank Connections
- ✦ Financial Reports
- ✦ Tax Categories
FreeAgent and QuickBooks Online are both Accounting tools. FreeAgent starts at $24/mo, QuickBooks Online at $20/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose FreeAgent vs QuickBooks Online
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
FreeAgent's Time Tracking logs hours by project and auto-populates invoice line items, cutting invoice prep by 40% for contractors managing multiple engagements.
QuickBooks Time Tracking links to Invoicing, so logged hours appear as invoice line items at contracted rates - no manual data entry and fewer unbilled hours.
Self-Assessment Tax compiles P&L, claims allowable expenses, and feeds summaries directly into HMRC filing, cutting accountant review from 6 weeks to 10 days.
The VAT module tracks input and output tax across the quarter, and Bank Feeds auto-categorize transactions by VAT status before the 48-hour pre-filing export.
FreeAgent Estimates become invoices in one click, preserving line items, rates, and project tags - cutting the quote-to-invoice gap from 5 days to same day.
Cross-referencing Bank Connections with Expense Tracking records surfaces duplicate or unauthorized payments within minutes of clearing.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified May 30, 2026
FreeAgent Plans
Paid plans only
QuickBooks Online Plans
Paid plans only
QuickBooks Free
FreeBest for: Ideal for individuals needing basic income and expense tracking without advanced features
- ✓Track income
- ✓Track expenses
- ✓Zero financial commitment
Solopreneur
$20/moBest for: Perfect for freelancers and independent contractors managing basic income and expenses
- ✓Track mileage
- ✓Capture receipts
- ✓Separate business & personal expenses
- ✓Single user access
Simple Start
$38/moBest for: small businesses needing to track income, expenses, and generate basic reports
- ✓Automated bookkeeping
- ✓Accept payments
- ✓Track sales tax
- ✓Mobile access
- ✓Bank feeds
Essentials
$75/moBest for: Suited for growing businesses requiring more robust features like bill management and multiple users
- ✓Everything in Simple Start
- ✓Up to 3 users
- ✓Bill pay
- ✓Time tracking
- ✓Manage bills & expenses
Plus
$115/moBest for: Designed for businesses needing inventory management and project profitability tracking
- ✓Everything in Essentials
- ✓Up to 5 users
- ✓Inventory tracking
- ✓Project & job costing
- ✓Class & location tracking
Advanced
$275/moBest for: For larger businesses requiring advanced analytics, custom user permissions, and dedicated support
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Up to 25 users
- ✓Advanced reporting
- ✓Workflow automation
- ✓Dedicated support
Capability Breakdown
6 differences found across 16 standardized features
- •Invoicing
- •Expense Tracking
- •Time Tracking
- •Bank Feeds
- •Self-Assessment Tax
- •VAT
- •Project Management
- •Estimates
- •Multi-currency
- •Payroll
- •Reports
- •Mobile App
- •Accountant Access
- •Receipt Capture
- •Direct Bank Connections
- •Invoicing
- •Expense Tracking
- •Bank Connections
- •Financial Reports
- •Tax Categories
- •Payroll (add-on)
- •Time Tracking
- •Inventory Management
- •Project Profitability
- •Multi-currency
- •Receipt Capture
- •1099 Contractor Payments
- •Cash Flow Planner
- •Mobile App
- •750+ Integrations
- •Accounts Payable Management
- •Budgeting Tools
- •Customizable Invoices
- •Deposit Slip Tracking
- •Electronic Payment Options
- •Financial Statement Analysis
- •Forecasting Capabilities
- •Fund Transfer Options
- •General Ledger Management
- •Invoice Reminders
- •Job Costing Analysis
- •Liability Tracking
- •Loan Management System
- •Multi User Access
- •Online Bill Payment
- •Payment Reminders
- •Purchase Order Management
- •Reconciliation Tools
- •Recurring Invoices
- •Sales Tax Management
- •Transaction Matching
- •Vendor Management
- •Accounts Receivable
- •Audit Log Tracking
- •Billing Statements
- •Credit Memo Management
- •Customer Statements
- •Estimate Conversion
Strengths & Limitations
Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists
- +Free for NatWest, RBS, and Mettle business banking customers
- +Directly files UK Self Assessment and Corporation Tax returns
- +Strong project-based accounting with time tracking and estimates
- +Automated dividend vouchers for UK limited company directors
- +Intuitive dashboard provides an at-a-glance tax timeline
- −Primarily designed for UK tax system; limited US/global use
- −No dedicated inventory management module for product businesses
- −Lacks advanced features like multi-currency invoicing in base plan
- −Limited third-party app integrations compared to competitors
- −No built-in payroll for businesses with more than 10 employees
- +Vast network of certified ProAdvisors for expert help
- +Largest third-party app ecosystem for accounting software
- +Direct bank feeds from over 24,000 financial institutions
- +Industry-standard Chart of Accounts, simplifying tax prep
- +Robust mobile app with receipt capture and mileage tracking
- −Steep learning curve for non-accountants due to feature depth
- −Plan-based limits on users and features can force costly upgrades
- −Inventory management is basic; requires Plus plan or higher
- −Reporting customization is limited compared to desktop versions
- −Customer support wait times can be long during peak periods
At a Glance
Recent Price History
QuickBooks Online raised "Essentials" from $65/mo to $75/mo (+15%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
QuickBooks Online raised "Simple Start" from $35/mo to $38/mo (+9%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
QuickBooks Online added a new "Solopreneur" plan at $20/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
QuickBooks Online raised "Plus" from $90/mo to $115/mo (+28%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
QuickBooks Online raised "Advanced" from $200/mo to $275/mo (+38%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
Update · May 21, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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