FreeAgent
FreeAgent is a comprehensive cloud accounting software designed specifically for small business owners and freelancers to manage invoices, expenses, and tax returns in one place.
Xero
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small business owners and accountants to manage invoices, bank reconciliation, inventory, and payroll through a real-time financial dashboard.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FreeAgent | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Website | freeagent.com | xero.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $15/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2007 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, UK | Wellington, New Zealand |
Overview
FreeAgent
FreeAgent is a powerful cloud accounting tool built to simplify the financial lives of freelancers and small business owners. You can manage every aspect of your business finances from a single dashboard, including professional invoicing, automated expense tracking, and real-time cash flow monitoring. It eliminates the stress of manual bookkeeping by connecting directly to your bank accounts and automatically categorizing your transactions.
You can also stay on top of your tax obligations with ease, as the software generates VAT returns and Self Assessment filings based on your data. Whether you are a sole trader or running a limited company, you get a clear view of your profitability and upcoming tax deadlines. It is designed to be accessible for non-accountants, giving you the confidence to manage your books without needing a finance degree.
Xero
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform that helps you take control of your small business finances from anywhere. Instead of manual data entry, you can automate your bank feeds so your transactions flow directly into your accounts for easy reconciliation. You can track your cash flow in real-time, send professional recurring invoices, and manage your bills to keep your suppliers happy.
The platform is built for collaboration, allowing you to share access with your accountant or bookkeeper so you are always looking at the same numbers. Whether you are managing inventory, processing payroll, or tracking project expenses, you can handle everything through a single dashboard. It simplifies complex tasks like tax preparation and financial reporting, giving you more time to focus on growing your business.
Overview
FreeAgent Features
- Smart Invoicing Create and send professional invoices in seconds and set up automated reminders to chase late payments for you.
- Expense Management Snap photos of your receipts with the mobile app to track your business spending and out-of-pocket expenses instantly.
- Bank Feeds Connect your bank account to automatically import transactions and see your real-time cash flow without manual entry.
- Project Management Track your time, log billable hours, and monitor project profitability to ensure every job stays within your budget.
- Tax Forecasting Get a real-time view of how much tax you owe and receive automatic alerts for upcoming filing deadlines.
- Mobile Accounting Manage your business finances on the go with native iOS and Android apps that sync across all your devices.
Xero Features
- Bank Reconciliation. Connect your bank accounts to automatically import and categorize your transactions every day for an up-to-date view of your cash.
- Online Invoicing. Create and send professional invoices from your desktop or mobile device and let customers pay you instantly via credit card.
- Bill Management. Track and pay your bills on time to build better supplier relationships and get a clear overview of upcoming accounts payable.
- Expense Tracking. Capture costs by taking photos of receipts with your phone to automate expense claims and keep your records digital.
- Inventory Management. Keep track of what you have in stock, populate invoices with items, and monitor which products are your best sellers.
- Project Tracking. Monitor your project profit margins by tracking time and expenses against specific jobs to ensure every hour is billed.
Pricing Comparison
FreeAgent Pricing
- Full feature access
- Free for NatWest/RBS/Ulster customers
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited clients and projects
- Self Assessment filing
- UK-based support
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Designed for non-VAT registered
- Self Assessment filing included
- Automated bank feeds
- Unlimited invoices and estimates
- Smart reporting tools
Xero Pricing
- Send up to 20 invoices
- Enter up to 5 bills
- Reconcile bank transactions
- Capture receipts with Hubdoc
- Short-term cash flow snapshots
- Everything in Early, plus:
- Send unlimited invoices
- Enter unlimited bills
- Bulk reconcile bank transactions
- Standard business reporting
Pros & Cons
FreeAgent
Pros
- Completely free for many UK business bank customers
- Very intuitive interface designed for non-accountants
- Excellent automated tax forecasting and filing features
- Highly rated UK-based customer support team
- Seamless mobile app for managing expenses on the go
Cons
- Limited inventory management for product-based businesses
- Pricing can be high for those without partner banks
- Fewer third-party integrations compared to Xero or QuickBooks
Xero
Pros
- Clean and intuitive user interface
- Excellent mobile app for managing finances
- Seamless collaboration with your accountant
- Massive ecosystem of third-party app integrations
- Automated bank feeds save significant time
Cons
- Strict limits on the entry-level plan
- Multi-currency support requires the highest tier
- Customer support is primarily online-only
- Recent price increases for long-term users