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Accounting · head to head

FreeAgent vs Mesh Payments

FreeAgent logo

FreeAgent

Accounting

Accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mesh Payments logo

Mesh Payments

Accounting

Virtual card and spend management platform aimed at SaaS and travel spend

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FreeAgent introductory pricing shown is 50% off the regular rates; Mesh Payments cashback only applies above a monthly spend threshold published at around fifty thousand dollars, so smaller programmes pay the per user fee and never see the rebate that justifies it.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeAgent and Mesh Payments actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeAgent and Mesh Payments differ
AttributeFreeAgentMesh Payments
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per month
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in FreeAgent

Nothing recorded that Mesh Payments does not also cover.

Only in Mesh Payments

  • Per vendor virtual cards
  • Physical and virtual employee cards
  • Subscription and renewal tracking
  • Receipt capture and matching
  • Approval workflows
  • Travel spend controls
  • Accounting sync
  • Cashback programme

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

FreeAgent

  • Submitting VAT and Self Assessment tax returns to HMRC directlynot Mesh Payments
  • Splitting rental income and expenses across multiple properties automaticallynot Mesh Payments
  • Collecting invoice payments faster through one-click payments and remindersnot Mesh Payments
  • Capturing bills and receipts via AI to auto-categorize expensesnot Mesh Payments
  • Filing Real Time Information payroll directly to HMRC for employeesnot Mesh Payments

Mesh Payments

  • A software company trying to stop shadow SaaS renewals by giving every vendor its own capped cardnot FreeAgent
  • A finance team that wants receipts matched at the point of spend rather than chased at month endnot FreeAgent
  • A business issuing single use cards for contractor and agency payments with hard limitsnot FreeAgent
  • A team funding trip specific spend with a card that expires when the trip endsnot FreeAgent

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

FreeAgent

  • Introductory pricing shown is 50% off the regular rates
  • All prices exclude 20% VAT
  • Add-ons required for some features (Smart Capture Unlimited £5/month, Amazon integration £6/month)

Mesh Payments

  • Cashback only applies above a monthly spend threshold published at around fifty thousand dollars, so smaller programmes pay the per user fee and never see the rebate that justifies it.
  • Revenue depends on interchange, which means Mesh has a structural interest in card spend running through its rails and less incentive to support bank transfer or direct debit payment methods that many suppliers prefer.
  • Card issuing is limited to the entities and countries Mesh's issuing partners support, so groups with subsidiaries outside that footprint must run a second card programme and lose the single view they bought Mesh for.
  • The free Pro tier caps at three users, which is below the size at which spend control actually becomes a problem, so it functions as a trial rather than a usable plan.
  • It is a spend and card tool rather than an accounts payable system, so invoice heavy businesses still need a separate AP platform and end up reconciling two sources of supplier spend.

Pricing, plan by plan

FreeAgent

Free
  • Sole Traders$9.5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £19/month)
    • Annual option at £95/year (regular £190)
  • Landlords$5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £10/month)
    • Annual option at £50/year (regular £100)
  • UK Partnerships/LLPs$13.5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £27/month)
    • Annual option at £135/year (regular £270)
  • UK Limited Companies$16.5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £33/month)
    • Annual option at £330/year (regular £330)

Mesh Payments

Free
  • ProFree
    • Up to 3 users
    • Virtual and physical cards
    • Receipt capture
  • Premium$13/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Approval workflows
    • Subscription management
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Multi entity support
    • SSO and advanced controls
    • Custom approval hierarchies

Which should you pick?

Choose FreeAgent if

  • You want to start without paying.
FreeAgent review

Choose Mesh Payments if

  • You need per vendor virtual cards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want physical and virtual employee cards.
Mesh Payments review

Questions people ask

Is FreeAgent or Mesh Payments better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeAgent starts at Free and Mesh Payments at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeAgent or Mesh Payments?
FreeAgent starts at Free and Mesh Payments at Free.
Does FreeAgent or Mesh Payments run on more platforms?
FreeAgent runs on Web. Mesh Payments runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use FreeAgent for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FreeAgent best used for?
FreeAgent is most often used for submitting vat and self assessment tax returns to hmrc directly, splitting rental income and expenses across multiple properties automatically, collecting invoice payments faster through one-click payments and reminders, capturing bills and receipts via ai to auto-categorize expenses. Of those, submitting vat and self assessment tax returns to hmrc directly and splitting rental income and expenses across multiple properties automatically are not what Mesh Payments is typically brought in for.
What can FreeAgent do that Mesh Payments cannot?
Mesh Payments covers Per vendor virtual cards, Physical and virtual employee cards, Subscription and renewal tracking, Receipt capture and matching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FreeAgent: Does FreeAgent offer a free option?

FreeAgent is free for qualifying customers maintaining business accounts with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, or certain Mettle accounts.

Source
Mesh Payments: Is the free plan really free?

Yes for up to three users, with cards and receipt capture included. Beyond three users you move to the paid tier.

FreeAgent: What is FreeAgent's pricing for sole traders?

Sole traders pay £9.50/month (50% introductory rate; regular £19/month), or £95/year annually (regular £190/year), excluding 20% VAT.

Source
Mesh Payments: How does Mesh make money on a thirteen dollar plan?

Interchange on card spend. The subscription is a minority of revenue, which is why the cashback programme has a monthly spend threshold attached.

FreeAgent: What add-ons does FreeAgent offer?

Optional add-ons include Smart Capture Unlimited at £5/month and Amazon integration at £6/month, allowing customers to extend base plan functionality.

Source
Mesh Payments: Can Mesh replace our accounts payable process?

Not fully. It controls card spend well but invoice capture, supplier onboarding and payment runs are better served by a dedicated AP tool.

FreeAgent: Does FreeAgent offer a trial?

FreeAgent provides a 30-day free trial with no commitment, and customers can cancel at any time during or after the trial period.

Source
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