Accounting Software

FreeAgent vs QuickBooks Online

Both are accounting software. The short answer: choose FreeAgent if you are uK freelancers, contractors and small limited companies; choose QuickBooks Online if you are small businesses in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our rankings are not for sale; sponsored placements are always labelled.

FreeAgent logo FreeAgentQuickBooks Online logo QuickBooks Online
Best forUK freelancers, contractors and small limited companiesSmall businesses in the US, UK, Canada and Australia
Free planNo (trial may exist)No (trial may exist)
PricingSee providerSee provider
Built for IndiaGlobalGlobal
CategoriesAccounting SoftwareBilling & Invoicing Software, Accounting Software
Strengths
  • Built around UK tax rules
  • Free with some UK business bank accounts
  • Clear tax timeline
  • Large accountant and app ecosystem
  • Strong reporting
  • Good bank integrations
Watch out for
  • UK-focused
  • Not for larger businesses
  • Availability and features vary by country
  • Costs rise with add-ons
Visit FreeAgentVisit QuickBooks Online

Which should you choose?

FreeAgent: Accounting software for UK freelancers and small companies, covering invoices, expenses, VAT, Self Assessment and payroll.

QuickBooks Online: Widely used cloud accounting software with invoicing, expenses, bank feeds and an accountant ecosystem.

The best way to decide is to run the same week of real work through both — most offer a free plan or trial — and compare how long tasks take, what your team prefers, and the total cost for your number of users including renewal pricing.

Not sure either fits? See all accounting software compared.