OnPay vs FreeAgent

OnPay

OnPay is a full-service payroll and HR platform designed for small and mid-size businesses. It offers unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filing, and built-in HR tools at an affordable flat rate. OnPay is consistently rated as one of the best value payroll solutions for small businesses and supports a wide range of industries including restaurants, farms, and nonprofits.

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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.

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Pros

• ✓Excellent value — flat monthly pricing with no per-run fees
• ✓Supports multiple pay schedules and unlimited payroll runs
• ✓Strong industry-specific features for restaurants, farms, and nonprofits
• ✓US-based customer support included on all plans

Cons

• ✗US-only — no international payroll support
• ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
• ✗Limited advanced HR features compared to full HRIS platforms

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

Best For

Small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees

Best For

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