Accounting Start
Quoting, invoicing and banking for one user. Price includes VAT.
R240/mo
per month
- Create invoices in seconds
- Track what you are owed
- Automatic bank feeds
- Work from anywhere on the mobile app
Sage Accounting vs FreeAgent
Verified ratings, feature-by-feature comparison and rand pricing — everything a South African business needs to pick between these two.
Sage Accounting
Online accounting that thousands of South African small businesses run on every day
4,1(296)
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Ratings
Every score, at a glance
Verified user ratings across every dimension — Sage Accounting against FreeAgent, nothing weighted.
Dimensions won
0 – 3
Sage Accounting vs FreeAgent, across 5 rating dimensions
Widest rating gap
+0,1
FreeAgent leads on overall
Verified reviews
482
296 for Sage Accounting, 186 for FreeAgent
Sage Accounting
4,1
296 verified reviews
FreeAgent
4,2
186 verified reviews
Ratings by dimension
- Sage Accounting
- FreeAgent
Overall
4,1
4,2
Ease of use
4,1
4,1
Value for money
4,0
4,1
Customer service
4,0
4,1
Functionality
4,1
4,1
Share of verified reviews
Who South African reviewers actually write about.
- Sage Accounting (296)
- FreeAgent (186)
Cost to get started
Cheapest paid plan, shown per month.
Sage Accounting
R240/mo
FreeAgent
R450/mo
Sage Accounting 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.
| Sage Accounting | FreeAgent | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4,1 | 4,2 |
| Reviews | 296 | 186 |
| Ease of use | 4,1 | 4,1 |
| Value for money | 4,0 | 4,1 |
| Customer service | 4,0 | 4,1 |
| Functionality | 4,1 | 4,1 |
| Starting price | R240/mo | R450/mo |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
Features
Feature by feature, checked off
Everything each product ships, side by side. No marketing gloss.
| Feature | Sage Accounting | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Quotes and invoicing | ||
| Automatic bank feeds and reconciliation | ||
| VAT return preparation at the standard 15% rate | ||
| Supplier bills and purchase orders | ||
| Inventory tracking | ||
| Financial and management reports | ||
| Foreign currency invoicing (additional module) | ||
| Mobile app for iOS and Android | ||
| Accountant access | ||
| Receipt capture with AutoEntry | ||
| 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 |
Pricing
Both price lists, in rand
Every plan from both vendors, priced as South African teams actually pay.
Sage Accounting plans
Try it free
Accounting Standard
Full bookkeeping with VAT returns. Two users and one company included, price includes VAT.
R435/mo
per month
- Everything in Start
- VAT return calculations for SARS eFiling
- Automatic bank reconciliation
- Up to 5 users (extra users R75 per month)
- Receipt capture with AutoEntry
Straight from the vendor
Get current pricing
These are list prices in rand and vendors adjust them from time to time. Check with Sage for the figure you'll actually pay.
FreeAgent plans
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
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.
Verdict
Our verdict
FreeAgent edges this comparison on verified user ratings (4,2 vs 4,1), but the right choice depends on your workflows: Sage Accounting remains a strong pick where its strengths — VAT returns calculated at 15% for SARS eFiling and Automatic bank feeds from major South African banks — match your priorities. Shortlist both, take the free trials where offered, and test against a real month of your own data.