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Verified ratings, feature-by-feature comparison and rand pricing — everything a South African business needs to pick between these two.
The entry plan that gets a one person business onto proper books
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Ratings
Verified user ratings across every dimension — QuickBooks Online Simple Start against FreeAgent, nothing weighted.
Dimensions won
0 – 5
QuickBooks Online Simple Start vs FreeAgent, across 5 rating dimensions
Widest rating gap
+0,2
FreeAgent leads on overall
Verified reviews
404
218 for QuickBooks Online Simple Start, 186 for FreeAgent
218 verified reviews
186 verified reviews
Overall
Ease of use
Value for money
Customer service
Functionality
Who South African reviewers actually write about.
Cheapest paid plan, shown per month.
QuickBooks Online Simple Start
R322/mo
FreeAgent
R450/mo
QuickBooks Online Simple Start is the cheaper way in. Lower isn't automatically better — weigh it against the ratings above.
Head to head
Row by row, with the stronger score highlighted. Straight from verified reviews.
| QuickBooks Online Simple Start | FreeAgent | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4,0 | 4,2 |
| Reviews | 218 | 186 |
| Ease of use | 4,0 | 4,1 |
| Value for money | 4,0 | 4,1 |
| Customer service | 3,9 | 4,1 |
| Functionality | 3,9 | 4,1 |
| Starting price | R322/mo | R450/mo |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
Features
Everything each product ships, side by side. No marketing gloss.
| Feature | QuickBooks Online Simple Start | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices and quotes | ||
| Income and expense tracking | ||
| Automated bank feeds | ||
| AI powered transaction categorisation | ||
| VAT tracking at 15% | ||
| Receipt capture on mobile | ||
| Basic reports and dashboards | ||
| Free accountant access | ||
| 30 day free trial | ||
| 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 |
Pricing
Every plan from both vendors, priced as South African teams actually pay.
One user plus free access for your accountant. 30 day free trial, no contract.
R322/mo
per month
Straight from the vendor
These are list prices in rand and vendors adjust them from time to time. Check with Intuit for the figure you'll actually pay.
19 pounds plus VAT per month, half price for the first six months.
R450/mo
per month
33 pounds plus VAT per month for UK limited companies.
R780/mo
per month
Free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business account.
Free
no card needed
Straight from the vendor
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.
Verdict
FreeAgent edges this comparison on verified user ratings (4,2 vs 4,0), but the right choice depends on your workflows: QuickBooks Online Simple Start remains a strong pick where its strengths — Professional invoices in minutes and Automated bank feeds with smart categorisation — match your priorities. Shortlist both, take the free trials where offered, and test against a real month of your own data.