FreeAgent vs ZipBooks

FreeAgent is accounting software for business administration, invoicing, expenses, tax reporting and business reports. It builds real-time accounts from bank statements, invoices and expenses, with Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet and Trial Balance reports. Users can create recurring invoices, automate late-payment reminders, turn estimates into invoices and accept payments through Stripe and PayPal. FreeAgent can generate MTD-compatible VAT returns and file them directly to HMRC; payroll calculates PAYE and National Insurance and can submit Real Time Information payroll to HMRC. Its iOS and Android apps cover expense recording, time tracking, invoice management and bank transaction reconciliation. It supports bank feeds from most UK banks via Open Banking and connections to HMRC for MTD VAT. The software is designed for small businesses, accountants and bookkeepers. A free plan is listed, alongside paid plans such as Sole trader at £10 a month and Limited company at £33 a month. Smart Capture includes up to 10 receipts and bills per month as standard; a paid Unlimited add-on removes that cap.

ZipBooks is accounting software for small businesses, combining invoicing, bookkeeping, reporting and business intelligence. Users can send invoices and estimates, take card payments, set recurring auto-billing and automate payment reminders. Accounting tools include bank connections, reconciliation, transaction categorization and financial reports; ZipBooks says it can import transactions automatically from thousands of financial institutions, including many banks in the U.S. and Canada. Users can track project and task time in a browser or iOS app and add time entries to invoices. The product lists Gusto integration, and supports digital payments through Square or PayPal. Time entries can sync with Gusto for payroll, with payroll transaction details recorded in ZipBooks. It is available on web, Android and iOS, and the maker is headquartered in Utah, USA. ZipBooks offers a free plan and a free trial. Their described features range from invoices, bank connections and reports to reconciliation, time tracking, team access, client account management and data migration.