FreeAgent vs QuickFile
Both are full cloud accounting tools for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
QuickFile is the cheaper starting point at from £72/yr (VAT included) versus from £144/yr for FreeAgent — but the cheapest plan only wins if it covers the income types you actually have.
| FreeAgent | QuickFile | |
|---|---|---|
| True annual cost from | from £144/yr | from £72/yr |
| Self-employment | Yes | Yes |
| Property / rent | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps your spreadsheet | No | No |
| Accountant access | Yes | Yes |
| Type | full cloud accounting | full cloud accounting |
| HMRC status | Recognised | Recognised |
| Price verified | 2026-08-10 | 2026-08-10 |
FreeAgent
Freelancer-favourite accounting with time tracking and project costing. Free for life with the right bank — which can make it the cheapest serious option by a mile.
- NatWest / RBS / Ulster / Mettle customers (free!)
- Contractors and freelancers
QuickFile
Long-established UK cloud bookkeeping that's free for smaller accounts. Filing MTD for Income Tax needs its Power User Subscription, which covers both self-employment and property income.
- People already using QuickFile's free bookkeeping
- Those wanting low-cost cloud accounting that also files ITSA
Not sure either is right? Use the finder to get a recommendation ranked by what it will actually cost you.
Prices are each tool's cheapest plan, VAT included, last verified 10 August 2026 (catalogue reconciled 10 August 2026). Links are affiliate links and never affect ranking. Not affiliated with HMRC; not tax advice.