> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://efreedirectory.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # FreeAgent Is Free, but Only If You Bank With NatWest - URL: https://efreedirectory.com/freeagent-free-plan-limits/ - Published: 2026-10-21T07:15:43.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T07:15:43.000Z - Description: The most conditional free tier in the directory. It is genuinely free software, attached to a genuine bank account. - Author: Chintan Dhokai - Tags: tool, Finance & Invoicing **FreeAgent is free at £0.00 for as long as you hold a business current account with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank, or a Mettle account with at least one transaction a month. Everyone else pays £33 a month after a 30-day free trial, with a £16.50 introductory rate for the first six months. Prices exclude 20% VAT.**[1](#sources) This is the only free tier in the category that is conditional on a banking relationship rather than on usage. It is not a freemium ladder. It is a partnership product: the bank pays for the accounting software to keep the business banking with them. ## What you actually get | | Eligible bank customer | Everyone else | | ------------------------ | ---------------------- | -------------- | | Price | £0.00 | £33/mo | | First six months | £0.00 | £16.50 | | Trial | Not needed | 30 days | | Accounting and invoicing | Yes | Yes | | Cashflow forecast | Yes | Yes | | Self-assessment filing | Yes | Yes | | VAT | Not applicable | Not applicable | | VAT on price | None payable | Plus 20% VAT | Optional add-ons apply on both routes: unlimited Smart Capture at £5 a month and Amazon Marketplace connection at £6 a month, each plus VAT. ## The condition is precise NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank business current accounts qualify for as long as the account is retained. Mettle, the digital business account in the same group, qualifies provided there is at least one transaction each month. That monthly transaction requirement is worth noting. A dormant Mettle account loses eligibility where a NatWest current account does not. ## What it costs to leave the bank Switching away from a qualifying account converts the subscription to £33 a month, plus VAT. That is £475 a year including VAT, which is a real cost of changing banks and worth factoring into the decision in either direction. The arrangement is a customer retention mechanism, and FreeAgent is honest about it on the pricing page rather than burying the condition. ## What the software actually is FreeAgent is full UK accounting: invoicing, expenses, bank feeds, VAT returns, self-assessment filing and cashflow forecasting. It is built for UK sole traders and limited companies, including the Making Tax Digital workflows that UK businesses need. For a UK freelancer, the combination of real accounting and a £0 price is difficult to beat, provided the bank account already exists. ## Where it does not travel FreeAgent is a UK product. It handles UK VAT and self-assessment, not US sales tax or multi-currency accounting at depth. Businesses outside the UK get none of the free route and little of the product's value. Even inside the UK, the free tier depends on a banking decision that not everyone wants to make. ## How it compares [Wave](https://efreedirectory.com/wave-free-plan-limits/) is free for anyone with unlimited invoicing and bookkeeping, funded by card fees. [Zoho Books](https://efreedirectory.com/zoho-books-free-plan-limits/) is free under $50,000 revenue regardless of where you bank. [Zoho Invoice](https://efreedirectory.com/zoho-invoice-free-plan-limits/) is free forever with no banking condition at all. [Xero](https://efreedirectory.com/xero-free-plan-limits/) has no free plan for anyone. FreeAgent is the cheapest full UK accounting product in this category and the most conditional. ## When it is free in practice A UK sole trader or limited company already banking with NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank. A Mettle customer running at least one transaction a month, which for an active business is automatic. Anyone who has not yet chosen a business bank and is comparing the total cost of banking plus software. ## When it stops being free The moment the qualifying bank account closes, whatever the reason. A dormant Mettle account with no transactions in a month, where eligibility lapses. Moving the business outside the UK, where neither the free route nor the product fits. ## Frequently asked questions **Is FreeAgent free?** Yes, if you hold a business account with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or a Mettle account with monthly transactions. **How much does FreeAgent cost otherwise?** £33 a month, plus 20% VAT, after a 30-day free trial. **Is there an introductory price?** Yes, £16.50 a month for the first six months for non-eligible customers. **Does a Mettle account qualify?** Yes, provided at least one transaction is made each month. **What happens if I switch banks?** The subscription reverts to £33 a month plus VAT. **Is FreeAgent available outside the UK?** It is built for UK accounting, VAT and self-assessment, so it is of little use elsewhere. *Free eligibility conditions, the Mettle transaction requirement, the £33 standard rate, the £16.50 introductory rate, VAT treatment and add-on prices verified against FreeAgent's pricing page on 20 October 2026.* ## Sources 1. FreeAgent pricing: [www.freeagent.com/pricing](https://www.freeagent.com/pricing/?ref=efreedirectory.com). Used for: No general free plan; free only with a NatWest group bank account. *All sources are the vendor's own plan or documentation pages, checked on 20 October 2026\. Plan terms change without notice, so confirm current limits before you rely on them.*