The Crunch Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Crunch 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.
Crunch
The Insider’s Guide
UK online accountants with accounting software included
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among accounting and invoicing tools, read from Crunch’s own pages.
Made by Crunch · 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 Crunch’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Crunch’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
1.8
GPA, above 7 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade
Crunch is a UK online accountancy for sole traders, limited companies and e-commerce sellers. Its accounting software, covering invoices, expenses, bank connections and payroll, comes with an accountant-led service that includes Self Assessment and year-end filing. Prices are generated through an instant quote form and are not published as a plan list.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about Crunch, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You start with a quote and an accountant, not a signup.
- 1
Best for UK companies wanting an accountant included
Crunch is a UK online accountancy where an accountant and the accounting software come in one package.
- 2
It runs on Web
Web.
- 3
Accountant-led service
Crunch pairs its software with accountants who handle year-end accounts, tax returns and Self Assessment filing.
- 4
Invoices and expenses
The software pages cover sending invoices, tracking expenses and a payments feature called CrunchPay.
- 5
Bank connection and reconciliation
Connect a business bank account and reconcile its transactions against invoices and expenses in the software.
- 6
A 1.8 GPA, above 7 of 65
That is against the other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 7
Keep it
To replace Crunch 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.
Crunch at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Crunch
- Category
- Accounting & Invoicing
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for UK companies wanting an accountant included
Crunch is a UK online accountancy where an accountant and the accounting software come in one package. No prices are published: you get an instant quote based on turnover and transactions, and payroll, company formation and Self Assessment can add to it. Get a few quotes before you sign.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No plan prices are published: costs come from a quote based on turnover, transactions and extras. Unpublished means the middle grade. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan or trial on record, and even the software-only option is priced through a quote. |
| Features | B | Accountant, invoices and expenses, bank reconciliation, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, payroll and a tax review. The listing shows no gap in the job. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You start with a quote and an accountant, not a signup. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only and UK only, with no app or integrations listed. |
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 Crunch is for
- Fits if you run a UK limited company and want an accountant plus software in one bill
- Makes sense if you're a UK sole trader who wants Self Assessment and MTD handled
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to see a price before talking to anyone: it's quote only
- Watch out: employee payroll is £20 plus VAT a month for up to 5 employees, and company formation is £100
- Watch out: Self Assessment is described as worth £240 plus VAT where it isn't already in your plan
- Not for you if you're outside the UK
Good to know
Good for
- UK sole traders and limited companies that want an accountant and software together
- Contractors and e-commerce sellers who want help with filing
- Businesses that prefer a quote based on turnover and transactions
Worth knowing
- Prices come from an instant quote based on turnover, transactions and extras, so no plan prices are listed here.
- Employee payroll is listed at £20 plus VAT a month for up to 5 employees; company formation is £100.
- Self Assessment filing is described as worth £240 plus VAT where it is not already part of a plan.
- A software-only option exists, but its price is also given through the quote process.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Crunch's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No plan prices are published: costs come from a quote based on turnover, transactions and extras.
We could not confirm Crunch’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. crunch.co.uk has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
UK online accountants with accounting software included. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: invoicing, bookkeeping, expense tracking, payroll.
Accountant, invoices and expenses, bank reconciliation, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, payroll and a tax review.
- Accountant-led service
- Crunch pairs its software with accountants who handle year-end accounts, tax returns and Self Assessment filing.
- Invoices and expenses
- The software pages cover sending invoices, tracking expenses and a payments feature called CrunchPay.
- Bank connection and reconciliation
- Connect a business bank account and reconcile its transactions against invoices and expenses in the software.
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
- MTD ITSA software is advertised at no additional cost to accountancy clients, per the comparison pages.
- Director and employee payroll
- Director payroll is included for up to 2 directors; employee payroll is an add-on handled by Crunch.
- Tax optimization review
- The Premium plan description lists a tax optimization review, and the site advertises average tax savings for clients.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Crunch is made by Crunch.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/65
Other accounting and invoicing tools it is graded above
Crunch's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 7 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on features (B, above 51 of 65) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Crunch’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 65
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 65
- BFeaturesAbove 51 of 65
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 65
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 65
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 Crunch 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.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 55 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools grade higher.
What you could make
- Invoicing and expense tracking: 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.
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Crunch’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
QuickFile, FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks Online and IRIS KashFlow
The 5 tools Crunch is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
QuickFile
Free plan · from £60/yr
UK online accounting, free for smaller ledgers.
- QuickFile has a free plan. Crunch does not.
- Only QuickFile lists iOS and Android apps.
- Crunch also covers payroll.
- 2.2GPA
FreeAgent
Free trial · from $27/mo
Accounting for freelancers and small firms, built in the UK.
- Only FreeAgent lists iOS and Android apps.
- Crunch also covers payroll.
- FreeAgent also covers time tracking and reports.
- 2.6GPA
Xero
Free trial · from $27/mo
Cloud accounting for small businesses, with unlimited users.
- Only Xero lists iOS and Android apps.
- Xero also covers reports.
- 2.4GPA
QuickBooks Online
Free plan · from $38/mo
Cloud accounting from Intuit, from a free plan to 25-user Advanced.
- QuickBooks Online has a free plan. Crunch does not.
- Only QuickBooks Online lists iOS and Android apps.
- QuickBooks Online also covers reports.
- 2.2GPA
IRIS KashFlow
Free trial · from £13.50/mo
UK online accounting for sole traders and limited companies.
- IRIS KashFlow also covers reports and quotes and estimates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
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 Crunch free?
No. Crunch is a paid product.
What platforms does Crunch work on?
Crunch is available on Web.
Does Crunch have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Crunch is listed for Web.
Does Crunch have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Crunch is listed for Web.
Is Crunch open source?
Crunch is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Crunch?
Crunch is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Crunch?
The closest alternatives to Crunch in our directory are QuickFile, FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks Online and IRIS KashFlow.
How does Crunch compare with other accounting and invoicing tools?
Crunch's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 7 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 3.
Could I make my own version of Crunch?
To replace Crunch 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 Crunch’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Crunch'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 Crunch. Prices change, so check crunch.co.uk 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
- Crunch, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/crunch
- 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, "Crunch: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/crunch
Know someone choosing between accounting and invoicing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/crunch/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded accounting and invoicing tools after Crunch, 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 Crunch’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. Crunch is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Crunch. Prices and plans change: check crunch.co.uk before you buy.