Softwr

Accounting · head to head

FreeAgent vs Tropic

FreeAgent logo

FreeAgent

Accounting

Accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tropic logo

Tropic

Accounting

Software procurement combining a workflow platform with human negotiators and price benchmarks

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; Tropic benchmark coverage is concentrated in commonly purchased SaaS, so a company whose spend is dominated by niche, vertical or regionally sold vendors buys intelligence that does not cover its actual contracts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeAgent and Tropic actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeAgent and Tropic differ
AttributeFreeAgentTropic
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Tropic does not also cover.

Only in Tropic

  • Contract and renewal repository
  • Price benchmarks
  • Negotiation support
  • Intake and approvals
  • Supplier alerts
  • AI consumption management
  • Redundancy analysis
  • Spend reporting

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

Tropic

  • A finance team facing a large renewal with a vendor that knows the market price better than they donot FreeAgent
  • A company whose AI spend is growing faster than anyone can explain and needs consumption measured against commitmentnot FreeAgent
  • An organisation that keeps paying for two products doing the same job in different departmentsnot FreeAgent
  • A lean procurement function that needs negotiation capacity without hiring specialist negotiatorsnot 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)

Tropic

  • Benchmark coverage is concentrated in commonly purchased SaaS, so a company whose spend is dominated by niche, vertical or regionally sold vendors buys intelligence that does not cover its actual contracts.
  • Handing negotiation to a third party can damage a direct supplier relationship that a customer relies on for support and roadmap influence, which is a real cost not captured in a savings figure.
  • Claimed savings are measured against a counterfactual price nobody can verify independently, so the return on the subscription is difficult to audit after the fact.
  • Pricing is quoted and typically scales with spend under management, meaning the fee rises with the very software bill the product is meant to reduce.
  • It is focused on software and AI spend rather than general procurement, so it does not help with services, facilities or physical goods, which for many companies is the larger share of third-party 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)

Tropic

On request
  • Tropic$undefined/year
    • Contract repository, intake and renewal management
    • Access to price benchmark intelligence
    • Negotiation support from Tropic staff

Which should you pick?

Choose FreeAgent if

  • You want to start without paying.
FreeAgent review

Choose Tropic if

  • You need contract and renewal repository.
  • You also want price benchmarks.
Tropic review

Questions people ask

Is FreeAgent or Tropic better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeAgent starts at Free and Tropic at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeAgent or Tropic?
FreeAgent has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreeAgent and On request for Tropic.
Does FreeAgent or Tropic 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. Tropic 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 Tropic is typically brought in for.
What can FreeAgent do that Tropic cannot?
Tropic covers Contract and renewal repository, Price benchmarks, Negotiation support, Intake and approvals.

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
Tropic: What am I actually buying?

Price intelligence and negotiation capacity, wrapped in a contract and renewal management tool. The benchmark data is the asset; the workflow is table stakes.

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
Tropic: Does it work for niche software?

Less well. Benchmarks are strongest on widely purchased SaaS. Ask for coverage on your top ten suppliers by spend before signing.

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
Tropic: Can I verify the savings?

Not independently. Savings are measured against an estimated market price, so treat the figures as directional and negotiate the fee accordingly.

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
Tropic: Does it cover non-software spend?

No. It is software and AI spend. Services, facilities and goods need a general procurement tool.

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