The Countingup Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Countingup in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Countingup
The Insider’s Guide
UK business current account with built-in bookkeeping
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among accounting and invoicing tools, read from Countingup’s own pages.
Made by Counting Ltd · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Countingup’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Countingup’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 22 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade
Countingup is an app-based business current account for UK sole traders and limited companies, with accounting tools built in. Income and expenses are categorized automatically, and the app creates invoices, stores receipts, estimates tax and files VAT returns to HMRC. The account itself is provided by Griffin Bank Ltd, and the monthly subscription depends on how much is paid into the account.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Countingup, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You open a bank account and connect it before the bookkeeping does anything.
- 1
Best for a UK sole trader who wants bank and books in one app
Countingup is a UK business current account with the bookkeeping built in: categorised transactions, invoices, receipts and VAT returns to HMRC.
- 2
Paid plans start at about $6.70 a month
As its pricing page puts it: £5 per month for up to £750 deposited monthly, after a 3-month free trial.
- 3
You can try it first
3-month free trial; the monthly subscription starts after it.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and Android.
- 5
Business account with accounting
Payments in and out are categorized automatically, with cashflow and performance reporting in the app.
- 6
Invoices and payment links
Create and send invoices from the app, see which are unpaid and get a notification when a payment lands.
- 7
Receipt capture
Photograph receipts in the app and attach them to the matching transaction.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 22 of 65
That is against the other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Countingup you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Countingup at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from £5 per month for up to £750 deposited monthly, after a 3-month free trial
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 3-month free trial; the monthly subscription starts after it.
- Runs on
- iOS, Android
- Made by
- Counting Ltd, since 2017
- Category
- Accounting & Invoicing
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a UK sole trader who wants bank and books in one app
Countingup is a UK business current account with the bookkeeping built in: categorised transactions, invoices, receipts and VAT returns to HMRC. The monthly fee climbs with how much money lands in the account, and there is no browser or desktop version, so it only suits people happy to run their business from a phone.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | £5 a month while deposits are under £750, against $14 where the cheaper quarter of accounting tools starts. It goes to £12 up to £7,500 and £20 beyond, so a busy business pays more. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 3-month free trial, then the subscription starts. There is no free plan, and the listing does not say whether a card is needed. |
| Features | C | Categorising, invoices, receipt photos, VAT filing and a tax estimate cover a sole trader's basics. No payroll or stock, and it is built only for UK sole traders and limited companies. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You open a bank account and connect it before the bookkeeping does anything. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iOS and Android only; the listing shows no web or desktop app. Integrations on record are iwoca and HMRC. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Countingup is for
- Fits if you are a UK sole trader or a one-or-two-director limited company who does admin from a phone
- Works for owners who want business banking and VAT filing under one login
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a browser or desktop app, because the listing shows phone apps only
- Not for you if you are a partnership, charity or trust, or your company has more than two directors or corporate shareholders
- Pricey if money flows through it, since the fee rises from £5 to £12 to £20 as deposits grow
- Watch out: more than 3 free transfers or Direct Debits a month cost 27p each, ATM withdrawals £1 and foreign card spending 3%
Good to know
Good for
- UK sole traders who want banking and bookkeeping in one app
- Directors of small limited companies with up to two directors
- Owners who mostly do their admin from a phone
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
~$6.70
A month to start
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.
There is no free plan, and the listing does not say whether a card is needed.
Entry
£5
per month while total monthly deposits are £0 to £750
Includes all banking, accounting and tax features. The page does not name the tiers; they are set by deposits.
Mid
£12
per month while total monthly deposits are £750.01 to £7,500
Same features as the entry tier, priced by how much money comes into the account.
Unlimited deposits
£20
per month for unlimited monthly deposits
Same features, with no cap on deposits.
Trying it first
3-month free trial; the monthly subscription starts after it.
Read from countingup.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: iOS and Android
UK business current account with built-in bookkeeping. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: invoicing, reports, bookkeeping, expense tracking.
Categorising, invoices, receipt photos, VAT filing and a tax estimate cover a sole trader's basics.
- Business account with accounting
- Payments in and out are categorized automatically, with cashflow and performance reporting in the app.
- Invoices and payment links
- Create and send invoices from the app, see which are unpaid and get a notification when a payment lands.
- Receipt capture
- Photograph receipts in the app and attach them to the matching transaction.
- VAT and tax
- VAT returns are filed to HMRC through a Making Tax Digital-compliant tool at no extra cost, with a running tax estimate and deadline reminders.
- Tax pots
- A tax pot sets money aside, and the page says deposits into it earn 1.45% variable interest.
- Accountant access
- An Accountant Hub lets an accountant see the data they need through secure access.
Where it runs
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- iwoca
- HMRC
Countingup is made by Counting Ltd, and has been around since 2017.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/65
Other accounting and invoicing tools it is graded above
Countingup's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 22 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 15.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 48 of 65) and worst on ease of use (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at about $6.70 a month, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 5 of the 54 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Countingup’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 48 of 65
- CFree plan and trialAbove 15 of 65
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 65
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 65
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 58 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Countingup is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Countingup you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $80.39 a year.
What you could make
- Invoicing, expense tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Countingup’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
FreeAgent, QuickFile, Clear Books, IRIS KashFlow and Crunch
The 5 tools Countingup is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
FreeAgent
Free trial · from $27/mo
Accounting for freelancers and small firms, built in the UK.
- Only FreeAgent lists a web app.
- FreeAgent also covers time tracking.
- 3.0GPA
QuickFile
Free plan · from £60/yr
UK online accounting, free for smaller ledgers.
- QuickFile has a free plan. Countingup does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only QuickFile lists a web app.
- QuickFile also covers quotes and estimates.
- 2.6GPA
Clear Books
Free plan · from £5/mo
UK accounting with Making Tax Digital and free sole trader plans.
- Clear Books has a free plan. Countingup does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Clear Books lists a web app.
- Clear Books also covers payroll.
- 2.2GPA
IRIS KashFlow
Free trial · from £13.50/mo
UK online accounting for sole traders and limited companies.
- Only Countingup lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only IRIS KashFlow lists a web app.
- IRIS KashFlow also covers payroll and quotes and estimates.
- 1.8GPA
Crunch
Paid
UK online accountants with accounting software included.
- Only Countingup lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Crunch lists a web app.
- Countingup also covers reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Countingup free?
No, Countingup is a paid product, but you can try it first. 3-month free trial; the monthly subscription starts after it.
How much does Countingup cost?
Countingup lists 3 plans. Entry: £5 per month while total monthly deposits are £0 to £750.
What platforms does Countingup work on?
Countingup is available on iOS and Android.
Does Countingup have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Countingup is listed for iOS and Android.
Does Countingup have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Countingup is listed for iOS and Android.
Is Countingup open source?
Countingup is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Countingup integrate with?
Countingup's listing names iwoca and HMRC. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Countingup?
Countingup is made by Counting Ltd. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to Countingup?
The closest alternatives to Countingup in our directory are FreeAgent, QuickFile, Clear Books, IRIS KashFlow and Crunch.
How does Countingup compare with other accounting and invoicing tools?
Countingup's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 22 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 15.
Is Countingup good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Countingup B for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $6.70 a month, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 5 of the 54 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Countingup?
To replace Countingup you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Countingup’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Countingup's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Counting Ltd. Prices change, so check countingup.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Countingup, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/countingup
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Countingup: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/countingup
Know someone choosing between accounting and invoicing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/countingup/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded accounting and invoicing tools after Countingup, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Accounting & Invoicing Insider's GuideEvery one of the 67 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Invoice Insider's GuideFree invoicing app from Zoho for freelancers and small businesses3.6 GPA
- Zoho Books Insider's GuideOnline accounting from Zoho, with a free plan and six paid tiers3.4 GPA
- Odoo Insider's GuideBusiness app suite whose Accounting app is free when used on its own3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Countingup’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Countingup is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Counting Ltd. Prices and plans change: check countingup.com before you buy.