FreeAgent Review UK 2026: Is It Worth It for Sole Traders?
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FreeAgent has a claim no other accounting software can make: if you bank with NatWest, RBS or Mettle, you get the full product completely free. For a lot of UK sole traders, that one fact settles the software question before any comparison begins.
But is FreeAgent actually good? And if you do not bank with NatWest or RBS, is it worth paying for? This review covers the full picture.
What is FreeAgent?
FreeAgent is UK-built accounting software designed specifically for freelancers, sole traders and small businesses. It launched in 2007, was acquired by NatWest Group in 2018, and remains one of the most popular platforms among self-employed people in the UK.
Unlike Xero or QuickBooks, which were built for a broad range of business sizes, FreeAgent was designed from the ground up for people who work for themselves. That focus shows in the product.
FreeAgent pricing UK (2026)
FreeAgent offers three routes to the software:
Free with NatWest, RBS or Mettle
If you hold a NatWest or RBS business account, or use Mettle (NatWest’s app-based business account), you get full access to FreeAgent at no cost. This is the complete product, not a stripped-down version. Everything is included.
Paid plans
- Sole Trader: £19/month (ex-VAT)
- Partnership: £29/month (ex-VAT)
- Limited Company: £39/month (ex-VAT)
There is a 30-day free trial on all paid plans. At £19/month, FreeAgent sits between QuickBooks Simple Start (£10/month) and Xero Standard (£30/month). For sole traders who are not NatWest customers, it needs to earn its place in that pricing tier.
Is FreeAgent Making Tax Digital compliant?
Yes. FreeAgent is on HMRC’s approved software list for both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax. It handles quarterly submissions directly to HMRC without requiring any bridging software.
FreeAgent was one of the earlier platforms to achieve MTD for Income Tax approval, which reflects its deep focus on UK self-employment tax. The submission process is clear and the software surfaces your quarterly totals in a way that makes the process feel manageable rather than intimidating.
Bank connections
FreeAgent connects to most major UK business bank accounts via open banking. The connection to NatWest and RBS is particularly tight, given the ownership structure. If you use either of those banks, transactions feed in automatically and reliably.
Connections to Starling Business, Monzo Business, Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and the main challenger banks are also available and generally reliable. FreeAgent’s bank reconciliation screen is clean and quick to work through. Matching transactions to invoices or expenses is a straightforward process that does not require accounting knowledge.
Ease of use
FreeAgent has one of the cleaner interfaces in UK accounting software. The dashboard gives you a real-time view of what you owe in tax (estimated), what invoices are outstanding, and what your bank balance is. For sole traders who want a clear financial picture without digging through reports, this is well done.
The invoicing module is particularly good. Creating, sending and tracking invoices is fast, and the templates look professional out of the box. Automatic payment reminders reduce the time spent chasing clients.
Where FreeAgent is slightly less intuitive is in expense management. Categorising expenses is straightforward once you know the system, but the initial setup can feel unfamiliar to users who have never used accounting software before.
Overall, FreeAgent is easier to use than Xero but roughly comparable to QuickBooks in terms of the learning curve.
Self Assessment support
FreeAgent has strong Self Assessment integration. The software tracks your income and expenses throughout the year and provides an estimated tax liability in real time, so you always have a rough idea of what you will owe.
At year end, FreeAgent generates a pre-populated Self Assessment return that you can review and submit directly to HMRC from within the software. This direct filing capability is a genuine advantage over platforms that require you to export data and file separately. For sole traders who file their own returns, this is one of FreeAgent’s strongest selling points.
Invoicing
FreeAgent’s invoicing is among the best in this class. You can create and send professional invoices in minutes, set up automatic payment reminders, accept online payments via Stripe or GoCardless, track invoice status in real time, and convert estimates to invoices.
The recurring invoice feature is particularly useful for freelancers with retainer clients. Set it once and the invoice sends automatically each month.
Mobile app
FreeAgent has iOS and Android apps. The mobile experience covers the core tasks well: sending invoices, capturing receipts, checking your bank balance and viewing your tax estimate. It is not as polished as QuickBooks on mobile, but it handles the day-to-day tasks a sole trader actually needs on the go.
Where FreeAgent falls short
Project profitability tracking. FreeAgent has a basic time tracking and project feature, but if you need detailed project cost analysis, Xero or QuickBooks offer more depth here.
Multi-currency invoicing. FreeAgent handles basic foreign currency invoicing, but if you invoice clients in multiple currencies regularly, Xero Premium or QuickBooks Plus handle this more cleanly.
Support. FreeAgent’s support is primarily via email and a knowledge base. There is no phone support, and response times can vary. QuickBooks offers phone support on all plans, which is worth knowing if you tend to need help quickly.
FreeAgent vs Xero vs QuickBooks
| FreeAgent | Xero Standard | QuickBooks Simple Start | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (NatWest/RBS) or £19/month | £30/month | £10/month |
| MTD Income Tax | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self Assessment filing | Direct via software | Via accountant | Via SE plan |
| Invoicing | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Mobile app | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Ease of use | Easy | Moderate | Easy |
| Best for | NatWest/RBS customers, SA filers | Accountant users, growing businesses | Beginners, DIY filers |
Our verdict
If you bank with NatWest, RBS or Mettle: FreeAgent is the obvious starting point. Getting full-featured MTD-compliant accounting software for free is a significant advantage, and FreeAgent is a genuinely good product. There is no reason not to use it.
If you do not bank with NatWest or RBS: The decision is more nuanced. At £19/month, FreeAgent is more expensive than QuickBooks Simple Start and cheaper than Xero Standard. Its Self Assessment integration and invoicing quality are strong enough to justify the price if those features matter to you. But if cost is the priority, QuickBooks at £10/month is harder to overlook.
If you work with an accountant: Ask them whether they support FreeAgent. Many UK accountants do, but Xero is more universally preferred. See our full accounting software comparison for more.
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeAgent really free with NatWest?
Yes. NatWest business banking customers, RBS business customers and Mettle account holders all get full access to FreeAgent at no cost. This is the complete product with no feature restrictions.
Is FreeAgent good for Making Tax Digital?
Yes. FreeAgent is on HMRC’s approved list for MTD for Income Tax and MTD for VAT. It handles quarterly submissions directly to HMRC and is one of the more established platforms for UK tax compliance.
Can I file my Self Assessment through FreeAgent?
Yes. FreeAgent can generate and submit your Self Assessment return directly to HMRC from within the software. This is one of its strongest features and a genuine differentiator versus Xero and QuickBooks.
Does FreeAgent connect to Starling or Monzo Business?
Yes. FreeAgent connects to both Starling Business and Monzo Business via open banking. Transactions feed in automatically once the connection is set up.
What happens to my FreeAgent account if I leave NatWest?
If you switch away from NatWest or RBS, your free FreeAgent access ends. You would need to take out a paid subscription to continue using the software, or migrate your data to another platform.
How does FreeAgent compare to QuickBooks?
FreeAgent has stronger Self Assessment integration and invoicing. QuickBooks has a better mobile app, a lower entry price at £10/month versus £19/month, and phone support. For NatWest customers, FreeAgent wins on price alone. See our Xero vs QuickBooks comparison for more context on how the platforms stack up.
