Crunch vs FreeAgent Comparison
Compare Crunch vs FreeAgent features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Crunch
5.4/10
UK online accountancy service that pairs bookkeeping and invoicing software with ACCA-regulated accountants for sole traders, contractors and small limited companies.
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 | 5.4/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | £27/mo Sole Trader Pro | £10/mo Landlord |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Crunch Free | £10/mo Landlord |
| Features | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Crunch
- Has a free plan (FreeAgent does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs £10/mo
Why choose FreeAgent
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
Crunch
Pros
- Paid plans include a qualified UK accountant who prepares and files Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, VAT and year-end accounts.
- Fixed monthly pricing through a published quote tool, backed by a price match guarantee and a 14-day free trial.
- MTD for Income Tax software comes at no extra cost on sole trader plans.
- Dividend vouchers, board minutes and distributable reserves are automated for limited company directors.
- Support is available by phone, live chat, video and email, and Trustpilot reviewers often praise named advisers.
Cons
- Far fewer third-party integrations than Xero or QuickBooks, and no app marketplace.
- Payroll for staff, director Self Assessment and multi-currency all cost extra on top of the base fee.
- Recent reviews complain about inconsistent support and software glitches, such as bank file formats not being recognised.
- A poor fit for complex companies with group structures or share schemes.
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.
