Alternatives · Accounting
Countingup alternatives
As of Nov 12, 2026, the highest-graded Countingup alternative is QuickFile (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Countingup compared with 5 alternatives: FreeAgent, QuickFile, Clear Books, IRIS KashFlow and Crunch.
Countingup is a paid product with a free trial, starting at £5 per month for up to £750 deposited monthly, after a 3-month free trial. 2 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Countingup sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| CountingupThis tool | Free trial · from £5/mo | Trial only | iOS, Android |
| FreeAgent | Free trial · from $27/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| QuickFile | Free plan · from £60/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Clear Books | Free plan · from £5/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| IRIS KashFlow | Free trial · from £13.50/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Crunch | Paid | No | Web |
Price against what you get
Countingup starts at about $6.70 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 4 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
FreeAgent, QuickFile, Clear Books and IRIS KashFlow score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Countingup
FreeAgent
Accounting for freelancers and small firms, built in the UK
- FreeAgent starts at $27 per month, billed monthly.
- FreeAgent also lists a web app.
- FreeAgent also covers time tracking.
Suits: Freelancers and contractors who want invoicing, time and books in one plan
QuickFile
UK online accounting, free for smaller ledgers
- QuickFile starts at £60 per year, plus VAT, for accounts over 1,000 ledger entries.
- QuickFile has a free plan, which Countingup lacks.
- QuickFile also lists a web app.
- QuickFile also covers quotes and estimates.
Suits: UK sole traders and small companies with few transactions a year
Clear Books
UK accounting with Making Tax Digital and free sole trader plans
- Clear Books starts at £5 per month, plus VAT, billed monthly (Sole Trader).
- Clear Books has a free plan, which Countingup lacks.
- Clear Books also lists a web app.
- Clear Books also covers payroll.
Suits: UK sole traders who need a free way to keep Making Tax Digital records
IRIS KashFlow
UK online accounting for sole traders and limited companies
- IRIS KashFlow starts at £13.50 per month, billed monthly (£1.35 for the first 6 months).
- IRIS KashFlow also lists a web app.
- IRIS KashFlow lists no iOS and Android apps, which Countingup has.
- IRIS KashFlow also covers payroll and quotes and estimates.
Suits: UK sole traders and contractors who need VAT returns and simple bookkeeping
Crunch
UK online accountants with accounting software included
- Crunch also lists a web app.
- Crunch lists no iOS and Android apps, which Countingup has.
- Crunch also covers payroll.
- Crunch does not cover reports, which Countingup does.
Suits: UK sole traders and limited companies that want an accountant and software together
Limits worth knowing in Countingup
- Open to UK residents aged 18 or over who are sole traders or directors of limited companies; partnerships, charities and trusts are not supported.
- Limited companies must be limited by shares, with up to two directors and all shareholders being individuals.
- Fees apply beyond 3 free account transfers and outgoing Direct Debits a month (27p each), plus £1 per ATM withdrawal and 3% on foreign transactions.
- An app is needed to open and use the account; no desktop or browser app is listed on the pages read.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Countingup?
The alternatives to Countingup in this directory are FreeAgent, QuickFile, Clear Books, IRIS KashFlow and Crunch. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Countingup.
Is there a free alternative to Countingup?
Yes. QuickFile and Clear Books have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.