Bench vs FreeAgent Comparison
Compare Bench vs FreeAgent features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Bench
5/10
Online bookkeeping and tax service for US small businesses: a dedicated bookkeeper keeps the books in Bench's own software, with optional tax filing.
FreeAgent
6.4/10
FreeAgent is UK cloud accounting software for sole traders, limited companies, partnerships, and landlords. It covers invoicing, banking, payroll, and Making Tax Digital filing.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | £10/mo Landlord |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | £10/mo Landlord |
| Features | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Bench vs FreeAgent cost by team size
| Team size | Bench | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $199/moBookkeeping Light | £10/moLandlord |
| 5 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | £10/moLandlord |
| 10 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | £10/moLandlord |
| 25 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | £10/moLandlord |
| 50 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | £10/moLandlord |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Bench
Our data shows no clear advantage over FreeAgent.
Why choose FreeAgent
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for freelancers (10/10 vs 6/10)
- Includes Invoicing, which Bench lacks
- Includes Payroll, which Bench lacks
Pros & Cons
Bench
Pros
- A dedicated human bookkeeper does the monthly categorizing and reconciliation, so owners don't need to learn accounting software.
- Flat monthly pricing, with about 20 percent off for annual billing, makes costs predictable.
- The bundled plan adds business tax filing and up to four advisory calls a year from licensed professionals.
- Bench is SOC 2 compliant, and Plaid bank connections are read-only.
- Owners and reviewers describe the dashboard as simpler than QuickBooks for non-accountants.
Cons
- Bench shut down abruptly in December 2024 before Employer.com bought it, and some customers still question its continuity.
- Reviews since the acquisition report slower responses, bookkeeper turnover and late monthly closes.
- It does not handle payroll, invoicing or bill pay.
- Books are kept on a modified cash basis in proprietary software, which makes moving to QuickBooks or Xero harder.
- It is expensive compared with DIY accounting software, and there is no free trial.
FreeAgent
Pros
- Free for customers with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or qualifying Mettle business account.
- Built-in HMRC filing covers MTD VAT, Self Assessment, and MTD for Income Tax, and the limited company plan adds end-of-year filing.
- Reviewers often praise its UK-based phone and chat support.
- Every plan includes time tracking, projects, and invoicing, which suits freelancers who bill by the hour.
- Multi-currency invoicing and foreign-currency bank accounts are supported, with realised and unrealised gains and losses calculated automatically.
Cons
- Reviewers describe invoice templates as basic and say custom reporting is limited.
- Payroll suits only director-only setups or very small teams.
- Its integration ecosystem is smaller than those of Xero or QuickBooks.
- It has no multi-entity consolidation or advanced controls, so it does not scale to larger firms.
- Some users report out-of-date help articles.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
FreeAgent scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.4/10 against 5/10 for Bench. The largest gap is in Cost: 3/10 for Bench and 8/10 for FreeAgent.
No, neither Bench nor FreeAgent lists a free plan.
FreeAgent is the better fit for freelancers: we rate it 10/10 for them, against 6/10 for Bench.
FreeAgent has Invoicing and Payroll, which Bench lacks.
