FreeAgent vs Sage Accounting
Side-by-side comparison for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
FreeAgent
Free if you have a NatWest Group business account, otherwise £19–£33/mo.
FreeAgent is a polished UK-built accounting platform owned by NatWest. It's free if you hold a business current account with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank, or a free Mettle business account, and you make at least one transaction a month. Outside that, it's a paid subscription. Strong for sole traders and landlords wanting automation.
Visit FreeAgentSage Accounting
Established UK brand, trusted by accountants.
Sage's cloud accounting product. Solid, enterprise-backed, wide accountant adoption. Has a dedicated landlord flow.
Visit Sage AccountingFull feature comparison
| FreeAgent | Sage Accounting | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & compliance | ||
| Price from | Free | £15/mo |
| Free tier | ✓ | – |
| HMRC-recognised | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Bank feeds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Receipt scanning | ✓ | ✓ |
| CIS support | – | – |
| Furnished holiday let support | – | – |
| VAT submission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bridging software | – | – |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple properties | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accountant access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best suited to | ||
| Sole Traders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landlords | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbnb / Short-let Hosts | – | – |
| CIS Subcontractors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Uber & Gig Drivers | – | – |
| Freelancers | ✓ | – |
| Spreadsheet Users | – | – |
| Simple Affairs | – | – |
| Accountants | ✓ | ✓ |
| VAT-Registered | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ = supported. Based on each provider's published plans; check their site for the latest details.
FreeAgent verdict
If you already have a NatWest Group business account, or are willing to open a (free) Mettle account, this is effectively free. Otherwise it's an expensive full-fat accounting platform.
Sage Accounting verdict
Solid choice if your accountant prefers Sage. Otherwise Xero gives you more for less.