Quick answer
FreeAgent for a UK sole trader is £19 a month (£190 a year) excluding VAT, with 50% off for the first 6 months. It is free for customers of NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank business accounts, and for Mettle with one transaction a month. Checked 11 November 2026.
How we compared: every price and plan limit on this page was read from the vendor’s own UK page on 11 November 2026, and tax dates come from GOV.UK. We have not run hands-on tests of these products for this article, so we do not describe how they feel to use. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. See our editorial policy.
How much does FreeAgent cost?
FreeAgent prices by business type rather than by feature tier. These monthly and yearly prices exclude 20% VAT and any promotions, as listed on FreeAgent’s own page, which says pricing is as of 3 June 2026.
| Account type | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | £19 | £190 |
| Partnership or LLP | £27 | £270 |
| Limited company | £33 | £330 |
| Landlord | £10 | £100 |
FreeAgent lists a 30-day free trial on all plans and says you can cancel at any time. Accountants’ clients can also get free licences with the same banks.
| Best for | Software | From (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader on monthly billing | FreeAgent sole trader | £19 |
| Sole trader paying yearly | FreeAgent sole trader | £190 a year |
| Banks with NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank | FreeAgent via your bank | £0 |
| Banks with Mettle (one transaction a month) | FreeAgent via Mettle | £0 |
What does it cost in the first year for a sole trader?
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50% off for 6 months, then monthly | £171 | 6 months at £9.50, then 6 at £19, excluding VAT |
| Monthly at list price | £228 | 12 months at £19 |
| Yearly plan with intro offer | £95 | First year at 50% off, then £190 a year |
| Yearly plan | £190 | £38 less than 12 monthly payments |
| With a NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank business account | £0 | Free while you keep the account |
| With a Mettle account | £0 | Free if you process at least one transaction a month |
Is FreeAgent really free with a bank account?
FreeAgent’s page lists accounts with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank business accounts as free, and says they stay free for as long as you keep the account. Mettle accounts are also listed as free, but you must process at least one transaction a month. If you already bank with one of them, this changes the price comparison completely, so start there.
What does FreeAgent include for sole traders?
The feature table on FreeAgent’s page covers invoicing, expenses, mileage tracking, bills, projects, time tracking and Making Tax Digital. It lists Self Assessment filing as available to sole traders, and it excludes Self Assessment only for partnerships and LLPs. Receipt and bill capture includes 10 a month as standard, with unlimited capture for an extra £5 plus VAT a month. The page does not itemise the sole trader plan any further, so check the details at sign-up.
How does FreeAgent compare with Xero?
| FreeAgent sole trader | Xero Ignite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month (excluding VAT) | £19 (£190 a year) | £18 |
| Intro offer | 50% off for 6 months | 90% off for 6 months |
| Invoices | Not capped on the page | Quotes and 20 invoices a month |
| Self Assessment | Listed for sole traders | Not listed on the plans table |
| Free route | NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, Mettle | Not offered |
Read our Xero pricing guide for every Xero plan and add-on, and our Making Tax Digital guide for the dates.
How do you test FreeAgent?
- Check your bank first. If it is one of the free ones, you may not need to pay at all.
- Connect your bank feed and categorise a month of transactions.
- Create an invoice and a mileage claim, and see where Self Assessment figures appear.
- Note the price after the 6-month offer and set a reminder.
Frequently asked questions
How much does FreeAgent cost for a sole trader?
FreeAgent lists £19 a month or £190 a year for a sole trader, excluding VAT. New customers get 50% off for the first 6 months, so year one is about £171 excluding VAT by our arithmetic. The page states pricing as of 3 June 2026.
Is FreeAgent free with my bank?
FreeAgent’s page lists it as free with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank business accounts, kept free while you keep the account. Mettle accounts are also free if you process at least one transaction a month. Check your bank’s terms.
Does FreeAgent support Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital?
FreeAgent’s feature table lists Self Assessment filing for sole traders and Making Tax Digital. Confirm which tax year you start MTD for Income Tax in on GOV.UK, as the income threshold falls in April 2027 and April 2028.
Is it cheaper to pay FreeAgent yearly?
Yes. The yearly sole trader price is £190, against £228 for twelve months at £19, a saving of £38 by our arithmetic, and FreeAgent shows £95 for the first year with its 50% intro offer. Check the annual terms and refund rules before you pay up front.
What does FreeAgent charge for receipt capture?
FreeAgent’s page lists 10 receipt and bill captures a month as standard and unlimited for an extra £5 plus VAT a month. Other optional add-ons may also be chargeable.
How does FreeAgent compare with Xero on price?
FreeAgent’s sole trader plan is £19 a month. Xero’s cheapest UK plan, Ignite, is £18 but limits you to 20 invoices and 10 bills. Both exclude VAT. See our Xero pricing guide for the full comparison.
Update log: 11 November 2026. Prices and plan limits read from the vendors’ own UK pages and HMRC dates from GOV.UK. Next check: December 2026.
Sources: FreeAgent pricing and features, Xero UK plans. Prices checked 11 November 2026.