FreeAgent vs ZipBooks Comparison
Compare FreeAgent vs ZipBooks features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
FreeAgent
6.4/10
FreeAgent is UK cloud accounting software for sole traders, limited companies, partnerships, and landlords. It covers invoicing, banking, payroll, and Making Tax Digital filing.
ZipBooks
5.6/10
Cloud accounting software for small businesses and freelancers, with invoicing, payments, bank feeds, reconciliation and reporting, and a free starter plan.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.4/10 | 5.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £10/mo Landlord | $15/mo Smarter |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | £10/mo Landlord | Free Starter |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
FreeAgent vs ZipBooks cost by team size
| Team size | FreeAgent | ZipBooks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | £10/moLandlord | $15/moSmarter |
| 5 users | £10/moLandlord | $15/moSmarter |
| 10 users | £10/moLandlord | FreeStarter |
| 25 users | £10/moLandlord | FreeStarter |
| 50 users | £10/moLandlord | FreeStarter |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose FreeAgent
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose ZipBooks
- Has a free plan (FreeAgent does not)
- Higher Analytics score (5/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 8/10)
Pros & Cons
FreeAgent
Pros
- Free for customers with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or qualifying Mettle business account.
- Built-in HMRC filing covers MTD VAT, Self Assessment, and MTD for Income Tax, and the limited company plan adds end-of-year filing.
- Reviewers often praise its UK-based phone and chat support.
- Every plan includes time tracking, projects, and invoicing, which suits freelancers who bill by the hour.
- Multi-currency invoicing and foreign-currency bank accounts are supported, with realised and unrealised gains and losses calculated automatically.
Cons
- Reviewers describe invoice templates as basic and say custom reporting is limited.
- Payroll suits only director-only setups or very small teams.
- Its integration ecosystem is smaller than those of Xero or QuickBooks.
- It has no multi-entity consolidation or advanced controls, so it does not scale to larger firms.
- Some users report out-of-date help articles.
ZipBooks
Pros
- The free Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, customers and vendors.
- Recurring invoices with auto-billing and automated reminders are available from the 15 per month tier.
- Reviewers say new staff can pick up the interface quickly.
- Bank and card transactions sync daily and are auto-categorized for reconciliation.
- Paid tiers cost less than QuickBooks, which reviewers cite as a reason for switching.
Cons
- Reviewers report limited reporting and customization options.
- No inventory or mileage tracking.
- Reconciliation and book locking are reserved for the 35 per month Sophisticated tier.
- Some users report slow support responses.
- A very small company, estimated at about four employees.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
FreeAgent scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.4/10 against 5.6/10 for ZipBooks. The largest gap is in Compliance: 8/10 for FreeAgent and 4/10 for ZipBooks.
ZipBooks has a free plan; FreeAgent does not list one.
