Comparison
Finovo vs FreeAgent
Both serve UK small businesses — but only one handles France and Germany too. Here’s the full side-by-side.
People searching for a FreeAgent alternative usually hit the same wall: the product is excellent for UK-only sole traders, but it stops at the border. If you are comparing Finovo vs FreeAgent because you now have French customers, German payroll, or a finance team that works in more than one language, this page is written for you.
Unlike FreeAgent, Finovo is built around one idea: UK HMRC Making Tax Digital, French DGFiP TVA, and German ELSTER VAT filing live in the same ledger, under one subscription. That is the headline difference — not a prettier dashboard, but whether you can close the month without exporting spreadsheets to another country-specific tool.
Below you will find an honest split of strengths on each side, a detailed feature comparison table, a pricing snapshot you should verify on each vendor site, a step-by-step migration guide from FreeAgent to Finovo, and answers to the questions we hear most from finance leaders before they switch.
FreeAgent
Where FreeAgent genuinely wins
- ✓Deep UK focus: MTD VAT submission is mature, and the product is trusted by UK accountants for contractor-style businesses.
- ✓Included UK payroll on the standard plan for many users — a real cost saving if you only pay people in the UK.
- ✓Free access for eligible NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank business banking customers — unbeatable if that is your bank.
- ✓Polished native mobile apps on iOS and Android today, ideal for receipt capture on the move.
- ✓Straightforward pricing and a generous trial — easy to evaluate without procurement friction.
Where FreeAgent is weaker for cross-border teams
- ✗No native French TVA (DGFiP) or German ELSTER VAT filing — you will need another platform or manual accountant workflows for those markets.
- ✗No French or German payroll in product — expansion into Paris or Berlin means a second HR stack.
- ✗Multi-currency exists but is not designed around ECB or BoE live rate workflows the way cross-border finance teams expect.
- ✗SEPA batch payment files and pain.001 exports are not a headline capability compared with continental European tools.
- ✗The interface is English-first; bilingual finance teams sometimes duplicate work in spreadsheets.
Finovo
Why Finovo is the stronger fit when you grow past the UK
- ✓One subscription covers UK, France and Germany: MTD, DGFiP, and ELSTER are first-class, not bolt-ons.
- ✓French and German payroll paths are included from the Professional tier — aligned with how holding companies actually operate.
- ✓Open banking across 2,400+ UK and EU institutions with daily sync, so German and French accounts sit next to UK accounts.
- ✓Full English, French and German UI translations — one workspace for international teams without parallel ledgers.
- ✓SEPA XML batch exports, fixed assets, and a branded client portal designed for B2B sellers who invoice across borders.
Where Finovo is still catching up
- ~Mobile apps are rolling out — if native iOS and Android is a hard requirement today, FreeAgent currently has the edge.
- ~We do not bundle free software with a UK high-street bank — if you already get FreeAgent at £0, your effective price comparison is different.
- ~The integration marketplace is younger than FreeAgent's — if you rely on a niche UK payroll or industry connector, validate it before you move.
Feature
| Feature | Finovo | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £15/mo | £19/mo (£9.50 first 6 months via NatWest/RBS) |
| UK VAT (MTD) | All plans — direct MTD submission | All plans — direct MTD submission |
| French TVA (DGFiP) | Included — direct DGFiP CA3 submission (FR launch pending approval) | Not supported |
| German VAT (ELSTER) | Included — direct ELSTER submission (DE launch pending approval) | Not supported |
| UK Payroll | From Professional plan | Included — RTI filing to HMRC |
| French Payroll (DSN) | From Professional plan | Not supported |
| German Payroll (DATEV) | From Professional plan | Not supported |
| Open banking | 2,400+ UK & EU banks — daily sync | UK banks via Yapily — daily sync |
| Multi-currency invoicing | 50+ currencies with live ECB/BoE rates | Yes — limited currency support |
| SEPA batch payments | Yes — pain.001 XML generation | No |
| Fixed assets & depreciation | Yes — straight-line, declining balance | Basic — no automated depreciation |
| Client portal | Yes — branded portal, online payment | Yes — invoice viewing and payment |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android (coming soon) | iOS + Android |
| Free trial | 60 days (Professional) or 30 days — no card required | 30 days — no card required |
| Accountant access | Included on all plans | Free for NatWest/RBS/Ulster customers |
Pricing comparison (verify before you buy)
Retail prices change with promotions and banking bundles. Use this table as a planning snapshot, then confirm live numbers on each website. The important line is not only headline monthly cost — it is what you pay once you add payroll, extra countries, and accountant seats.
| What you are comparing | Finovo | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Typical entry price (public list, UK) | Starter from £15/mo — same stack for UK, FR, DE compliance | From £19/mo list; £9.50/mo for six months with some NatWest/RBS promotions |
| UK payroll | Included from Professional plan — no per-employee add-on | Included on standard plans — strong for UK-only payroll |
| French + German compliance in the same product | Included — TVA, ELSTER, payroll paths on higher tiers | Not available — requires separate tools per country |
| Accountant access | Included on every plan | Included; free for eligible bank customers |
| Free trial | 60 days (Professional) or 30 days, card not required | 30 days, card not required |
Promotions, FX, and tax-inclusive display can change effective cost. If you are eligible for free FreeAgent through banking, model your total cost of ownership including any new tools you would still need for France or Germany.
Switching from FreeAgent to Finovo
Most migrations finish in an afternoon if your chart of accounts is tidy. You do not need to freeze trading — run both systems in parallel for one VAT period if your accountant prefers a soft cutover.
Export a trial balance and chart of accounts from FreeAgent
Download CSV or PDF reports for the current year and prior closing balances. Your Finovo onboarding checklist will tell you exactly which ledgers we need; keep fixed assets and payroll mappings handy.
Move open invoices, bills, and contacts
CSV templates cover customers, suppliers, unpaid invoices, and recurring templates. If you use projects, export them now — we map project tags into Finovo cost centres.
Reconnect bank feeds in Finovo
Because Finovo uses its own open banking consent, reconnect each UK and EU account inside Finovo, then import the last 90 days if you want a clean reconciliation window.
Recreate payroll and tax settings
HMRC PAYE references, VAT registration numbers, and scheme dates should match exactly. If you are adding French or German entities, add registrations before you file — your accountant can review in a shared workspace.
Parallel run one return, then cut over
Many teams file one more MTD return from FreeAgent while reconciling Finovo, then switch filing credentials after the period closes. Pick the approach your accountant signs off on.
Need help? Finovo support can review your export package before import — send anonymised samples if policy requires. The goal is zero surprises on VAT or payroll deadlines.
Common questions: Finovo vs FreeAgent
Our honest take
FreeAgent is a strong choice if you’re a UK-only sole trader or contractor — especially if you bank with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank, where FreeAgent is included free with your business account.
Finovo is the better fit if you operate across UK, France or Germany, need multi-country payroll, or want a more modern interface. Starting at £15/mo vs FreeAgent’s £19/mo, it’s also less expensive at full price.
The biggest differentiator is international compliance. No other tool at this price point gives you MTD, DGFiP TVA and ELSTER VAT filing in one platform.
Start your free trial
No credit card required. Import your FreeAgent data via CSV in minutes.
Switching from FreeAgent? See our step-by-step migration guide →