FreeAgent vs Pandle (2026): which should you pick?

Pick FreeAgent if

• Fits if you're a UK sole trader or limited company filing with HMRC
• Works for you if you bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle, as it's free with them

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you run payroll in the US, as the US edition has none
• Pricey if you only send a few invoices, since there's one $27 plan and nothing smaller
• Skip it if you want unlimited receipt scanning included, as that's $6 a month extra
• Watch out: the advertised price is 50% off the first 6 months, then it renews at $27 a month
• Tight if you bank outside the UK, as the bank feeds page names mainly UK banks and support is UK-based

Pick Pandle if

• Fits if you're a UK sole trader who files VAT or MTD
• Works for freelancers who want free invoicing and can skip bank feeds

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you stay free, because bank feeds, receipt uploads and projects are Pro
• Watch out: Pro is £5 plus VAT, rolling monthly, with no annual plan
• Not for you if you're outside the UK, as it's built around VAT and MTD
• Watch out: bank connections run through Plaid

FreeAgent

• The advertised prices are 50% off the first 6 months (or first year, paid annually); it then renews at $27 a month or $270 a year.
• Payroll, Making Tax Digital and HMRC filing belong to the UK edition; the US edition lists sales tax reports but no payroll.
• UK prices depend on business type, excluding VAT: £10 a month for landlords, £19 sole traders, £27 partnerships and £33 limited companies.
• Support comes from accountants based in the UK, and the bank feeds page names mainly UK banks.

Pandle

• Bank feeds, receipt uploads, projects and extra users need Pandle Pro, which is £5 a month plus VAT.
• The pages are aimed at the UK, with Making Tax Digital and VAT filing.
• Pandle Pro is billed monthly only; the pricing page says there is no annual subscription.
• Pandle describes itself as an agent of Plaid Financial Ltd for its bank connections.

FreeAgent

Estimates and invoices

Send estimates and invoices from templates, convert an estimate to an invoice in one click, and invoice in other currencies.

Bank feeds

Import transactions daily from linked bank accounts, or upload OFX, QIF and CSV statements, and explain each one as money in or out.

Expenses and Smart Capture

Photograph receipts on the phone and upload them. Unlimited Smart Capture scanning is a $6 a month add-on.

Time tracking and projects

Record time with a stopwatch or timesheets and see the income, costs and profit of each project.

Dashboard and Radar

A dashboard shows cash flow and when tax bills are due, and Radar points out trends in the business's numbers.

Sales tax reports

Set one or more sales tax rates, including compound ones, and report tax charged and reclaimable, with Schedule C reporting.

Pandle

Invoices and quotes

Sends quotes and invoices in several currencies, with payment reminders, recurring transactions and customer statements.

VAT and Making Tax Digital

Submits VAT returns and MTD income tax updates, and produces EU VAT and EC sales lists, on the free plan too.

Bank and payment feeds

Pandle Pro pulls in bank feeds, PayPal feeds and Stripe feeds; bank rules automate the categorizing.

Receipts and mileage

Pandle Pro can upload receipts and track mileage, and the mobile app can record journeys automatically.

Projects and stock

Pro adds projects, stock control and cash flow forecasting on top of the standard business reports.

Users and companies

Pandle Pro allows unlimited users with permissions and multi-company management.

FreeAgent

• FreeAgent$27

  per month, billed monthly

  Advertised at $13.50 a month for the first 6 months. One plan with invoicing, expenses, banking, projects, time tracking, sales tax reports and multiple currencies.

Pandle

• Free£0

  Quotes and invoices, items, reports, VAT returns and MTD income tax submissions; no bank feeds or receipt uploads.

• Pandle Pro£5

  per month (+VAT), rolling monthly

  Adds bank feeds, receipt uploads, projects, user permissions, unlimited users, mileage tracker, stock control and live chat.

FreeAgent

• Other savings

  50% off the first 6 months

  New customers on monthly billing pay $13.50 a month for 6 months, then $27. The UK offer works the same way on each business-type price.

• Annual discount

  Pay yearly: 12 months for the price of 10

  Paying upfront costs $270 a year, the price of 10 months. The first year is half price at $135.

• Other savings

  Free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle account

  UK businesses with a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank business account, or a Mettle account used at least once a month, get FreeAgent free.

Pandle

No public discounts listed.