Essentials
Three users plus free accountant access. 30 day free trial, no contract.
R508/mo
per month
- Everything in Simple Start
- Bill management and payment scheduling
- Multiple currencies
- Time entry against customers
- Accounting AI cleanup tools
QuickBooks Online Essentials vs FreeAgent
Verified ratings, feature-by-feature comparison and rand pricing — everything a South African business needs to pick between these two.
QuickBooks Online Essentials
Three users, supplier bills and multiple currencies for growing teams
3,9(187)
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Ratings
Every score, at a glance
Verified user ratings across every dimension — QuickBooks Online Essentials against FreeAgent, nothing weighted.
Dimensions won
0 – 5
QuickBooks Online Essentials vs FreeAgent, across 5 rating dimensions
Widest rating gap
+0,3
FreeAgent leads on overall
Verified reviews
373
187 for QuickBooks Online Essentials, 186 for FreeAgent
QuickBooks Online Essentials
3,9
187 verified reviews
FreeAgent
4,2
186 verified reviews
Ratings by dimension
- QuickBooks Online Essentials
- FreeAgent
Overall
3,9
4,2
Ease of use
3,8
4,1
Value for money
3,9
4,1
Customer service
3,9
4,1
Functionality
3,9
4,1
Share of verified reviews
Who South African reviewers actually write about.
- QuickBooks Online Essentials (187)
- FreeAgent (186)
Cost to get started
Cheapest paid plan, shown per month.
QuickBooks Online Essentials
R508/mo
FreeAgent
R450/mo
FreeAgent is the cheaper way in. Lower isn't automatically better — weigh it against the ratings above.
Head to head
Where each one wins
Row by row, with the stronger score highlighted. Straight from verified reviews.
| QuickBooks Online Essentials | FreeAgent | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3,9 | 4,2 |
| Reviews | 187 | 186 |
| Ease of use | 3,8 | 4,1 |
| Value for money | 3,9 | 4,1 |
| Customer service | 3,9 | 4,1 |
| Functionality | 3,9 | 4,1 |
| Starting price | R508/mo | R450/mo |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
Features
Feature by feature, checked off
Everything each product ships, side by side. No marketing gloss.
| Feature | QuickBooks Online Essentials | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Everything in Simple Start | ||
| Bill capture and management | ||
| Payment scheduling | ||
| Multiple currencies with gain and loss tracking | ||
| Time entry | ||
| Three user seats | ||
| Free accountant access | ||
| Recurring invoices | ||
| VAT tracking at 15% | ||
| Pound invoicing with automatic reminders | ||
| UK VAT returns under Making Tax Digital | ||
| Self assessment and corporation tax tracking | ||
| UK bank feeds | ||
| Expenses and mileage | ||
| Projects and time tracking | ||
| Cash flow view | ||
| Payroll for UK employees | ||
| Accountant access |
Pricing
Both price lists, in rand
Every plan from both vendors, priced as South African teams actually pay.
QuickBooks Online Essentials plans
Try it free
Straight from the vendor
Get current pricing
These are list prices in rand and vendors adjust them from time to time. Check with Intuit for the figure you'll actually pay.
FreeAgent plans
Sole Trader
19 pounds plus VAT per month, half price for the first six months.
R450/mo
per month
- Invoicing and expenses
- UK self assessment
- Bank feeds
- Projects and time tracking
Limited Company
33 pounds plus VAT per month for UK limited companies.
R780/mo
per month
- Everything in Sole Trader
- Corporation tax estimates
- Dividend vouchers
- UK VAT filing to HMRC
Free via bank
Free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business account.
Free
no card needed
- Full product at no cost
- While the account stays open
Straight from the vendor
Get current pricing
These are list prices in rand and vendors adjust them from time to time. Check with FreeAgent Central for the figure you'll actually pay.
Verdict
Our verdict
FreeAgent edges this comparison on verified user ratings (4,2 vs 3,9), but the right choice depends on your workflows: QuickBooks Online Essentials remains a strong pick where its strengths — Supplier bill management with due date visibility and Multiple currency invoicing and payments — match your priorities. Shortlist both, take the free trials where offered, and test against a real month of your own data.