Softwr

Accounting · head to head

FreeAgent vs Rydoo

FreeAgent logo

FreeAgent

Accounting

Accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Rydoo logo

Rydoo

Accounting

Expense management with per-user pricing and a five-user minimum, built for European multi-entity teams

From
$10/month
Rated
-

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; Rydoo a five-user minimum means very small teams pay for seats they do not have, which removes Rydoo from consideration for firms of two or three.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeAgent and Rydoo actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeAgent and Rydoo differ
AttributeFreeAgentRydoo
Starting priceFree$10/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: 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 Rydoo does not also cover.

Only in Rydoo

  • Receipt OCR
  • Per diem engine
  • Mileage
  • VAT fields
  • Multi-entity
  • ERP export

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

Rydoo

  • A Belgian or German employer that must apply statutory per diem rates correctly across staff travelling in several countriesnot FreeAgent
  • A group with five legal entities wanting one expense tool but separate approval chains and ledgersnot FreeAgent
  • A company that already has a corporate card programme and refuses to change banks to get expense softwarenot FreeAgent
  • A finance team recovering VAT on foreign travel and needing the fields captured at claim timenot 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)

Rydoo

  • A five-user minimum means very small teams pay for seats they do not have, which removes Rydoo from consideration for firms of two or three.
  • Pricing is per user rather than per active user, so organisations where most staff claim expenses twice a year still pay a full seat every month for them.
  • There is no card issuing, so real-time spend control and pre-authorisation are outside the product and remain with your bank.
  • Per diem and multi-entity handling sit on the higher tier, so the countries that most need Rydoo generally cannot buy the cheap plan.
  • Receipt extraction quality varies by language and receipt format, and finance teams still review a meaningful share of claims by hand.

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)

Rydoo

$10/month
  • Essentials$10/month
    • Around 9 per user per month billed annually
    • Five-user minimum
    • Receipt capture, approvals and accounting export
  • Pro$12/month
    • Around 11 per user per month billed annually
    • Per diem engine and advanced policy controls
    • Multi-entity and multi-currency handling
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Quoted pricing
    • Custom ERP and single sign-on work
    • Dedicated support and onboarding

Which should you pick?

Choose FreeAgent if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Rydoo if

  • You need receipt ocr.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want per diem engine.

Questions people ask

Is FreeAgent or Rydoo better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeAgent starts at Free and Rydoo at $10/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeAgent or Rydoo?
FreeAgent has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreeAgent and $10/month for Rydoo.
Does FreeAgent or Rydoo run on more platforms?
FreeAgent runs on Web. Rydoo runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use FreeAgent for free?
Yes. FreeAgent has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rydoo starts at $10/month.
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 Rydoo is typically brought in for.
What can FreeAgent do that Rydoo cannot?
Rydoo covers Receipt OCR, Per diem engine, Mileage, VAT fields.

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
Rydoo: Does Rydoo issue cards?

No. It is expense software only; you keep your existing corporate card or bank programme.

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
Rydoo: Is there a minimum?

Yes, pricing carries a five-user minimum, so the smallest bill is five seats regardless of headcount.

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
Rydoo: Do I need the Pro plan?

If you operate per diems, multiple legal entities or multi-currency claims, yes. Essentials is for single-entity receipt and approval workflows.

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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