FreeAgent alternative: where to go when the free deal ends, and how to switch cleanly
Six UK options checked for MTD for VAT and Income Tax, real prices, and an exit plan that keeps your HMRC history intact.
Short answer: Pandle if you just lost free FreeAgent through your bank and want the lowest bill, Xero if your accountant already uses it or you need lots of integrations, Zoho Books if you're a sole trader who wants to file MTD for Income Tax on a free plan, QuickFile for a small business with few transactions, Coconut if you only need Income Tax and no VAT, and Sage if you're a non-VAT sole trader who wants a big-name free plan. One warning before you pick: cancelling FreeAgent takes effect immediately, with no pro-rata refund, and its export can't be imported anywhere. Export first, cancel last. We compared all six options and checked their prices in 2026.
Our ranking is editorial: any sponsored placement is flagged on its card, and affiliate links never move a score.
Why people leave FreeAgent, and why leaving takes a plan
Most FreeAgent users like it: clean bank reconciliation, easy Self Assessment and VAT returns. The exits come from somewhere else. Six reasons keep coming up on UK business forums, in accountants' threads and in the one-star reviews.
Free ends when the bank account does
FreeAgent is free with a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank business current account for as long as you keep it, and with Mettle if you make at least one transaction a month (Mettle doesn't count for the partnership plan). NatWest Group has owned FreeAgent since 2018. Move banks and the bill lands at once: £19 a month ex VAT as a sole trader, £27 for a partnership or LLP, £33 for a limited company. One forum user put it bluntly: it's costly when you don't bank with NatWest.
Your accountant lives in Xero
Xero is the more common tool in UK practices. Accountants describe FreeAgent as great for contractors and simple books, and as something businesses outgrow once volume and complexity build up. If your accountant asks you to move, staying means shuffling exports at every year end.
Missing integrations
There's no American Express feed, so card statements go in by manual file import. Stripe and PayPal are official integrations, but FreeAgent support doesn't cover third-party apps. One agency left for Xero purely to connect its CRM, project tool and online shop.
Bank feeds that need babysitting
Open Banking feeds need your consent again every 90 days, and only cleared transactions come through. Recent reviews mention unstable Revolut and NatWest feeds. Run a euro account next to a sterling one and you'll also see revaluation entries you need to understand.
Support that feels automated
About 3% of UK reviews are one star, against a high overall score. The complaints rhyme: chat and email answered by bots, accounts closed without explanation, payments taken after cancelling. Not the majority, but it's what pushes the leavers out.
No MTD for Income Tax on company plans
VAT under Making Tax Digital works on every plan. Quarterly Income Tax updates and the final declaration only come on the Sole trader and Landlord plans. That's normal for a limited company, which files Corporation Tax instead, but it confuses partners and directors who also have personal income to report.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right FreeAgent alternative depends on what's pushing you out. Usually one line fits. Each card jumps to the full write-up below. Shopping for MTD software in general rather than leaving FreeAgent? Our MTD software ranking covers the wider field.
Free plan, or £5 a month ex VAT with MTD for VAT and Income Tax.
Your accountant works in XeroXeroUp to two years of FreeAgent data converted across.
You're a sole trader and want to file for freeZoho BooksThe free plan handles MTD for Income Tax.
Your business has few transactionsQuickFileFree up to 1,000 ledger entries, then £60 a year.
You only need Income Tax, no VATCoconutBridging from £49.99 a year.
You're a non-VAT sole trader who wants a big nameSageFree plan for sole traders who aren't VAT registered.
FreeAgent alternatives, one by one
For each tool: why move there, who it suits, its limit, how to bring your FreeAgent data across, and its listed UK price in 2026. Prices are ex VAT unless stated.
Pandle: when the free bank deal ends
CheapestWhy move to Pandle. You're leaving NatWest and FreeAgent now wants £33 a month for your limited company. Pandle Pro does the core job for £5 a month: MTD for VAT, MTD for Income Tax, bank imports. Monthly billing only, no contract, and if you drop back to the free plan your data stays put.
Who it suits. Sole traders and small limited companies with simple books who want to cut the bill.
Who it doesn't. A business that wants built-in payroll or a long list of integrations.
Its limit. VAT and MTD Income Tax submissions are listed under Pro, so check what the free plan covers before relying on it.
How to switch. No direct FreeAgent conversion. Import contacts and bank statements by file, then enter an opening trial balance at your switch date.
Price. Free, or Pro at £5 a month ex VAT. 14-day trial with no card.
- Free
- yes, filing in Pro
- Paid
- Pro £5/month ex VAT
- Best for
- simple books
- Limit
- no FreeAgent conversion
Xero: when your accountant already works there
Accountant's pickWhy move to Xero. It's the most common tool in UK practices, and the only option here with a real FreeAgent conversion: MoveMyBooks, promoted by Xero, carries across up to two years of data. Xero covers MTD for VAT and Income Tax and has a deep app marketplace for CRMs, shops and project tools. Our guide to leaving Xero covers the reverse trip.
Who it suits. Limited companies whose accountant uses Xero, and businesses that need many integrations.
Who it doesn't. A sole trader on a tight budget: the entry plan already costs more than Pandle Pro.
Its limit. Payroll and advanced features sit in the higher plans, and the price climbs fast.
How to switch. Clean books? Use the conversion. Messy ones? Start from an opening balance and keep FreeAgent exports for the past.
Price. Ignite £18, Grow £39, Comprehensive £55, Ultimate £70 a month ex VAT, with 90% off for six months when you sign up.
- From
- £18/month ex VAT
- Migration
- 2 years converted
- Labs score
- 3.8/5
- Limit
- higher plans add up
Zoho Books: when you want to file without paying
Free MTD filingWhy move to Zoho Books. Its free UK plan handles MTD for Income Tax, sole trader self-employment pages included. Standard adds VAT and more business features. If you already use Zoho CRM or other Zoho apps, everything connects without a third-party tool.
Who it suits. Sole traders who want free quarterly updates, and small companies happy with a feature-rich interface.
Who it doesn't. Anyone who wants the simplest possible screen.
Its limit. The interface is dense, and VAT filing needs the paid plan.
How to switch. Import contacts, items and balances from spreadsheets; enter the opening balance at the switch date.
Price. Free at £0, Standard £12 a month (£10 billed annually).
- Free
- MTD for Income Tax
- Paid
- Standard £12/month
- Labs score
- 4.0/5
- Limit
- dense interface
QuickFile: when your business has few transactions
Low volumeWhy move to QuickFile. It's free up to 1,000 ledger entries, which covers many micro businesses, then £60 a year plus VAT. It handles MTD for VAT, and Income Tax support sits with the paid Power User subscription.
Who it suits. Small limited companies and sole traders with low volume who want a low fixed cost.
Who it doesn't. A business with hundreds of transactions a month or a need for payroll.
Its limit. A plainer interface than FreeAgent, and MTD for Income Tax costs extra through Power User.
How to switch. Import bank statements and contacts by CSV, then enter opening balances.
Price. Free up to 1,000 entries; £60 a year plus VAT above that.
- Free
- up to 1,000 entries
- Paid
- £60/year
- Labs score
- 3.5/5
- Limit
- plain interface
Coconut: when you only need MTD for Income Tax
Income Tax onlyWhy move to Coconut. If you were on FreeAgent's Sole trader or Landlord plan mainly for MTD for Income Tax, Coconut does that job for less: a bridging plan at £49.99 a year if you keep spreadsheets, or full MTD filing at £129.99 a year. It's also free for two years through Zempler.
Who it suits. Non-VAT sole traders and landlords. Our MTD ranking for landlords goes further on rental income.
Who it doesn't. Any VAT-registered business: Coconut doesn't do VAT.
Its limit. No VAT support, and it's built for sole traders and landlords rather than limited companies. The year-end declaration costs £49.99 extra on the bridging plan.
How to switch. Start at the beginning of a tax quarter and import bank transactions; keep FreeAgent exports for earlier periods.
Price. Bridging £49.99 a year; MTD filing £129.99 a year.
- Bridging
- £49.99/year
- Filing
- £129.99/year
- Labs score
- 3.9/5
- Limit
- no VAT
Sage Accounting: a free plan for non-VAT sole traders
Free for non-VATWhy move to Sage. A long-standing UK name with a free plan for sole traders who aren't VAT registered, and paid plans that cover MTD for VAT and Income Tax. Many UK accountants know it.
Who it suits. Sole traders under the VAT threshold who want a known brand at no cost.
Who it doesn't. Someone who needs a FreeAgent data conversion.
Its limit. The free plan stops at VAT registration; past that you move to a paid plan.
How to switch. Import contacts and bank data by file, then enter opening balances.
Price. Sole Trader Free at £0, Sole Trader £7 a month, Start £20 a month.
- Free
- non-VAT sole traders
- Paid
- from £7/month
- Labs score
- 3.6/5
- Limit
- free ends at VAT
FreeAgent and its 6 alternatives compared
Our default: Pandle if you want the lowest bill, Xero if your accountant is on it. A limited company that leaves NatWest pays £33 a month for FreeAgent, against £18 for Xero Ignite, £12 for Zoho Books Standard and £5 for Pandle Pro. One row per tool: entry price on the left, MTD coverage and migration on the right.
| Entry price | MTD and migration | |
|---|---|---|
| FreeAgentWhere you start | £19 sole trader, £27 partnership, £33 limited company a month ex VAT; free with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle | VAT on all plans; Income Tax on Sole trader and Landlord; export not re-importable |
| PandleCheapest | £0; Pro £5/month ex VAT | VAT and Income Tax in Pro; file import |
| XeroAccountant's pick | Ignite £18/month ex VAT | VAT and Income Tax; 2 years converted |
| Zoho BooksFree filing | £0; Standard £12/month | Income Tax on free plan, VAT on paid |
| QuickFileLow volume | £0 up to 1,000 entries; £60/year | VAT; Income Tax with Power User |
| CoconutIncome Tax only | £49.99/year bridging | Income Tax only, no VAT |
| SageNon-VAT sole traders | £0; Sole Trader £7/month | VAT and Income Tax on paid plans |
Prices listed by each vendor in 2026, ex VAT where the vendor says so.
Switch from FreeAgent in eight steps
Order matters, because FreeAgent cuts access the moment you cancel. Each step protects something: your records, your HMRC filings, your cash.
Pick your switch date
FirstSwitch at the start of a VAT quarter, ideally the start of your financial year. A quarter split across two tools means rebuilding a return from two sources.
- Best moment
- start of a VAT quarter
- Risk
- split periods
List everything that runs
One hourBank feeds, recurring invoices and bills, payroll, integrations (Stripe, PayPal, Amazon), users and their access levels, paid add-ons like unlimited Smart Capture. Anything you don't list won't make the trip.
- Time
- one hour
- Watch
- recurring items, payroll
Export everything while you still pay
EssentialSettings, then Export All Data: spreadsheets of your data plus a zip of attachments. FreeAgent says plainly that this export is for record-keeping and can't be re-imported. Add PDF copies of the trial balance, nominal ledger and audit trail for every period. Accountants who've handled FreeAgent exits all say the same: download soft copies.
- You get
- spreadsheets and a zip
- Trap
- not re-importable
Choose conversion or opening balance
DecideGoing to Xero with clean books? Conversion carries up to two years across. Anywhere else, or with messy books, start from an opening trial balance at the switch date. Faster, safer, and the history lives in your exports.
- Conversion
- to Xero, 2 years
- Otherwise
- opening balance
Set up the new tool and connect HMRC
Half a dayChart of accounts, VAT scheme, bank accounts, invoice templates and numbering. Then authorise the new software with HMRC for MTD so the next return goes from there.
- Time
- half a day
- Check
- HMRC authorisation
Run both for one VAT quarter
SafetyKeep FreeAgent running alongside for one VAT quarter and compare both returns before you submit from the new tool. A gap found now costs an hour; found at year end, it costs a day.
- Length
- one VAT quarter
- Payoff
- errors caught early
Cancel just before renewal
TimingCancellation is immediate: no more log-in, bank feeds stop, and there's no pro-rata refund. It needs the top access level (level 8). Cancel right before the next payment, once your exports are checked.
- Effect
- immediate
- Refund
- none pro rata
Keep access to your history
AfterFreeAgent keeps your data for a year after cancelling, and you can reactivate within that year. After that it's deleted. Some FreeAgent partners say read-only access can be requested from support: ask before you cancel. Store the exports where your accountant can find them.
- Kept
- one year
- Then
- deleted
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a FreeAgent exit go wrong
The same mistakes show up in forum threads about leaving. None is technical. Each one costs more than the time it would have taken to avoid it.
Cancelling before exporting
Access stops instantly. No export means reactivating, and paying, to get your data back.
Expecting to re-import the export
The export is an archive, not a transfer file. Plan for conversion to Xero or an opening balance.
Closing the bank account first
Leaving NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle ends the free deal. Pick your new tool before you move banks.
Switching mid-quarter
A VAT return split across two tools has to be rebuilt by hand. Wait for the next quarter.
Forgetting payroll
FreeAgent includes payroll on company, partnership and sole trader plans. Pandle, Coconut and some entry plans don't: sort payroll before you go.
Picking a tool that can't file what you owe
Coconut has no VAT; FreeAgent's company plan has no MTD for Income Tax. Match the tool to the returns you actually file.
- Full export downloaded and opened
- PDFs of trial balance, ledger and audit trail
- Switch date on a quarter or year start
- Opening balances entered and checked
- New tool authorised with HMRC
- Cancellation booked just before renewal
FreeAgent alternative: common questions
Is FreeAgent still free with NatWest?
Yes, with a NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank business current account for as long as you keep it, and with Mettle if you make at least one transaction a month, except on the partnership plan. Close the account and you move to the standard price.
How much does FreeAgent cost?
£19 a month for a sole trader (£190 a year), £27 for a partnership or LLP (£270), £33 for a limited company (£330), £10 for a landlord (£100), all ex VAT. New monthly customers get 50% off for six months, and every plan has a 30-day trial.
What's the cheapest FreeAgent alternative for a limited company?
Pandle Pro at £5 a month ex VAT covers MTD for VAT. QuickFile is free up to 1,000 ledger entries, then £60 a year. Zoho Books Standard costs £12 a month.
Can I export my FreeAgent data?
Yes: Settings, Export All Data, which gives spreadsheets and a zip of attachments. It's for record-keeping only and can't be re-imported, so add PDF reports for each period.
Can I move from FreeAgent to Xero?
Yes. MoveMyBooks, promoted by Xero, converts up to two years of FreeAgent data. It works best on clean books; otherwise start from an opening balance.
Does FreeAgent do MTD for Income Tax?
On the Sole trader and Landlord plans, yes: quarterly updates and the final declaration. Company and partnership plans cover VAT and their own year-end filings. For a wider look at MTD tools, see our MTD software ranking.
Do I get a refund if I cancel FreeAgent mid-month?
No. Cancellation is immediate and there's no pro-rata refund, so cancel just before your next payment date.
What happens to my data after I cancel?
FreeAgent keeps it for a year, during which you can reactivate the account. After that it's deleted.
How long does a switch take?
The set-up takes a day or two. Plan for one VAT quarter in parallel before you rely on the new tool alone.
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