Sole Trader
19 pounds plus VAT per month, half price for the first six months.
R450/mo
per month
- Invoicing and expenses
- UK self assessment
- Bank feeds
- Projects and time tracking
FreeAgent vs QuickBooks Online Accountant
Verified ratings, feature-by-feature comparison and rand pricing — everything a South African business needs to pick between these two.
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Ratings
Every score, at a glance
Verified user ratings across every dimension — FreeAgent against QuickBooks Online Accountant, nothing weighted.
Dimensions won
0 – 5
FreeAgent vs QuickBooks Online Accountant, across 5 rating dimensions
Widest rating gap
+0,2
QuickBooks Online Accountant leads on overall
Verified reviews
358
186 for FreeAgent, 172 for QuickBooks Online Accountant
FreeAgent
4,2
186 verified reviews
QuickBooks Online Accountant
4,4
172 verified reviews
Ratings by dimension
- FreeAgent
- QuickBooks Online Accountant
Overall
4,2
4,4
Ease of use
4,1
4,2
Value for money
4,1
4,3
Customer service
4,1
4,3
Functionality
4,1
4,3
Share of verified reviews
Who South African reviewers actually write about.
- FreeAgent (186)
- QuickBooks Online Accountant (172)
Cost to get started
Cheapest paid plan, shown per month.
FreeAgent
R450/mo
QuickBooks Online Accountant
Free plan
QuickBooks Online Accountant is the cheaper way in. Lower isn't automatically better — weigh it against the ratings above.
Head to head
Where each one wins
Row by row, with the stronger score highlighted. Straight from verified reviews.
| FreeAgent | QuickBooks Online Accountant | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4,2 | 4,4 |
| Reviews | 186 | 172 |
| Ease of use | 4,1 | 4,2 |
| Value for money | 4,1 | 4,3 |
| Customer service | 4,1 | 4,3 |
| Functionality | 4,1 | 4,3 |
| Starting price | R450/mo | Free plan |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
Features
Feature by feature, checked off
Everything each product ships, side by side. No marketing gloss.
| Feature | FreeAgent | QuickBooks Online Accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Pound invoicing with automatic reminders | ||
| UK VAT returns under Making Tax Digital | ||
| Self assessment and corporation tax tracking | ||
| UK bank feeds | ||
| Expenses and mileage | ||
| Projects and time tracking | ||
| Recurring invoices | ||
| Cash flow view | ||
| Payroll for UK employees | ||
| Accountant access | ||
| Client list with one login for all books | ||
| Bulk reclassify transactions | ||
| Books review workflows | ||
| Write off invoices in bulk | ||
| Practice management and deadlines | ||
| Team assignments and access control | ||
| ProAdvisor training and certification | ||
| Find an Advisor directory listing | ||
| Client subscription discounts | ||
| QuickBooks Ledger access |
Pricing
Both price lists, in rand
Every plan from both vendors, priced as South African teams actually pay.
FreeAgent plans
Try it free
Limited Company
33 pounds plus VAT per month for UK limited companies.
R780/mo
per month
- Everything in Sole Trader
- Corporation tax estimates
- Dividend vouchers
- UK VAT filing to HMRC
Free via bank
Free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business account.
Free
no card needed
- Full product at no cost
- While the account stays open
Straight from the vendor
Get current pricing
These are list prices in rand and vendors adjust them from time to time. Check with FreeAgent Central for the figure you'll actually pay.
QuickBooks Online Accountant plans
Accountant
Free for accounting and bookkeeping practices. Sign up with your firm details.
Free
no card needed
- All clients under one login
- Accountant only tools
- Practice management and work tracking
- Free ProAdvisor training and certification
- 50% client discounts for the duration
- Access to QuickBooks Ledger for low transaction entities
Straight from the vendor
Get current pricing
These are list prices in rand and vendors adjust them from time to time. Check with Intuit for the figure you'll actually pay.
Verdict
Our verdict
QuickBooks Online Accountant edges this comparison on verified user ratings (4,4 vs 4,2), but the right choice depends on your workflows: FreeAgent remains a strong pick where its strengths — UK VAT filed directly to HMRC and Self assessment built up through the year — match your priorities. Shortlist both, take the free trials where offered, and test against a real month of your own data.