FreeAgent vs HubSpot CRM

FreeAgent

FreeAgent is a cloud accounting platform designed specifically for freelancers, contractors, and small businesses in the UK. It offers automatic bank feeds, invoicing, expense management, and self-assessment tax return preparation. FreeAgent is particularly popular with UK freelancers and contractors for its excellent handling of UK tax requirements including Self Assessment and VAT returns.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a powerful and easy-to-use customer relationship management platform trusted by over 150,000 companies worldwide. It offers a completely free core CRM with optional paid Marketing, Sales, and Service Hubs for growing teams. HubSpot is the go-to CRM for companies that want to align their marketing, sales, and customer service teams in one platform.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

Pros

• ✓Excellent UK tax compliance including Self Assessment and VAT returns
• ✓Designed specifically for freelancers and contractors
• ✓Clean and easy to use interface
• ✓Automatic bank feeds save significant time

Cons

• ✗Primarily suited for UK market — limited value for non-UK businesses
• ✗Less feature-rich than QuickBooks for complex business needs
• ✗Smaller integration ecosystem than larger competitors
• ✗Not suitable for larger businesses with complex accounting needs

Pros

• ✓Generous free plan that is genuinely useful for small teams
• ✓All-in-one platform covering marketing, sales, and service
• ✓Excellent onboarding resources and HubSpot Academy
• ✓Strong integrations with 1000+ tools

Cons

• ✗Can get very expensive as you add paid Hubs and contacts
• ✗Some advanced features locked behind higher tiers
• ✗Reporting is limited on free and starter plans

Best For

UK freelancers and contractors wanting simple accounting with strong Self Assessment and VAT tools

Best For

SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation