Bench vs FreeAgent — Accounting Comparison (2026)

FreeAgent

Accounting for freelancers and small businesses

Compare Bench and FreeAgent side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.

The bottom line

Bench and FreeAgent are both strong contenders in the accounting space, but they serve different needs. FreeAgent edges ahead with an overall score of 70/100 compared to Bench's 68/100. Bench is easier to get started with (9/10 for ease of use vs 8/10). On pricing, neither offers a free tier — Bench starts at $299/mo and FreeAgent at $27/mo. FreeAgent rates higher for value for money (7/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.

At a glance

	Bench	FreeAgent
Our score	68/100	70/100
Starting price	$299/mo	$27/mo
Free tier	No	No
Best for	Expert bookkeeping for your business	Accounting for freelancers and small businesses

Pricing comparison

Bench

No free tier

Bookkeeping$349/mo

Bookkeeping & Tax$699/mo

Pricing verified 2026-03-19

FreeAgent

No free tier

Standard$27/mo

Pricing verified 2026-03-19

Calculate your cost

Bench plan

FreeAgent plan

BenchBookkeeping

$299/mo

$3,588/yr

FreeAgentStandard

$23/mo

$276/yr

Cheaper— save $3,312/yr

Visit Bench →Visit FreeAgent →

Feature comparison

core

Feature	Bench	FreeAgent
Invoicing	No	Yes
Expense tracking	Yes	Yes
Bank reconciliation	Yes	Yes
Financial reports	Yes	Yes

advanced

Feature	Bench	FreeAgent
Payroll	No	Built-in (UK)
Inventory	No	No
Multi-currency	No	Yes
Tax filing	Bookkeeping & Tax plan	UK Self Assessment & VAT

integrations

Feature	Bench	FreeAgent
Stripe	Yes	Yes
PayPal	Yes	Yes
Shopify	Yes	No
Zapier	No	Yes

Ratings breakdown

Bench

Ease of use

9/10

Value for money

6/10

Features

6/10

Support

8/10

FreeAgent

Ease of use

8/10

Value for money

7/10

Features

7/10

Support

7/10

Choose Bench if...

You're ready to invest from $299/mo
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
You need enterprise-grade capabilities

Visit Bench →

Choose FreeAgent if...

You're ready to invest from $27/mo
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
You need enterprise-grade capabilities

Visit FreeAgent →

Frequently asked questions

Is Bench or FreeAgent better?

FreeAgent scores 70/100 compared to Bench's 68/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Bench excels at ease of use (9/10) while FreeAgent scores 8/10.

How much does Bench cost compared to FreeAgent?

Bench starts at $299/mo. FreeAgent starts at $27/mo. FreeAgent is the more affordable option.

Does Bench or FreeAgent have a free plan?

Neither Bench nor FreeAgent offers a free tier. Bench starts at $299/mo and FreeAgent at $27/mo.

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