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Accounting · head to head

FreeAgent vs Pennylane

FreeAgent logo

FreeAgent

Accounting

Accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pennylane logo

Pennylane

Accounting

French tool combining business finances, accounting and a pro account in one platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FreeAgent has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FreeAgent introductory pricing shown is 50% off the regular rates; Pennylane no pricing is displayed on the homepage or linked pricing page; visitors are directed only to a Demarrer maintenant (Start now) signup flow with no published EUR figure
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeAgent and Pennylane actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeAgent and Pennylane differ
AttributeFreeAgentPennylane
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

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 Pennylane
  • Splitting rental income and expenses across multiple properties automaticallynot Pennylane
  • Collecting invoice payments faster through one-click payments and remindersnot Pennylane
  • Capturing bills and receipts via AI to auto-categorize expensesnot Pennylane
  • Filing Real Time Information payroll directly to HMRC for employeesnot Pennylane

Pennylane

  • Automated invoicing with payment reminders and collectionsnot FreeAgent
  • Real-time cash flow visibility and financial forecastingnot FreeAgent
  • Employee expense management with card controls and workflowsnot FreeAgent
  • Automated supplier invoice payment processingnot FreeAgent
  • Mandatory e-invoicing compliance (France September 2026)not 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)

Pennylane

  • No pricing is displayed on the homepage or linked pricing page; visitors are directed only to a Demarrer maintenant (Start now) signup flow with no published EUR figure
  • The product bundles accounting, invoicing and a business bank account together, so buyers cannot subscribe to only one function

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)

Pennylane

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Pennylane review.

Which should you pick?

Choose FreeAgent if

  • You want to start without paying.
FreeAgent review

Choose Pennylane if

Nothing in the data separates Pennylane from FreeAgent on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Pennylane review

Questions people ask

Is FreeAgent or Pennylane better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeAgent starts at Free and Pennylane at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeAgent or Pennylane?
FreeAgent has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreeAgent and On request for Pennylane.
Does FreeAgent or Pennylane run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use FreeAgent for free?
Yes. FreeAgent has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pennylane starts at On request.
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 Pennylane is typically brought in for.

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
Pennylane: What financial processes does Pennylane help automate?

Pennylane streamlines multiple financial functions including invoice creation, expense management, payment collection, and receipt documentation. The platform centralizes data from facturation, purchasing, treasury, and accounting in one unified system.

Source
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
Pennylane: Can Pennylane help with corporate spending control?

Yes. Pennylane provides corporate cards for employees with built-in spending controls and authorization workflows, allowing businesses to manage team expenses while maintaining visibility and approval requirements.

Source
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
Pennylane: Does Pennylane provide real-time financial visibility?

Yes. Pennylane's unified dashboard provides live transaction visibility and real-time cash flow monitoring across the entire business, helping teams access financial data instantly.

Source
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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