FreeAgent vs Hurdlr: Which Is Better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of FreeAgent and Hurdlr, two finance tools — what each does, who it's best for, and how to choose between them.
Quick verdict
FreeAgent and Hurdlr are both finance tools, so it comes down to fit. Pick FreeAgent if you want Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK. Pick Hurdlr if you want Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses.
FreeAgent
Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK.
- Category
- Finance
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Best for
- accounting, freelance, small-business
Hurdlr
Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses.
- Category
- Finance
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Best for
- freelance, expenses, mileage
| At a glance | FreeAgent | Hurdlr |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK. | Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses. |
| Category | Finance | Finance |
| Type | Software | Software |
| Best for | accounting, freelance, small-business, invoicing | freelance, expenses, mileage, taxes |
What is FreeAgent?
FreeAgent is UK-based cloud accounting software built for small businesses, freelancers, contractors and landlords. It brings invoicing, expenses, tax and reporting into one place and files directly to HMRC, taking the fear out of self-assessment and VAT for people who run their own business but aren't accountants.
What is FreeAgent?
FreeAgent handles the full money side of a small business: raising invoices and chasing payment, capturing expenses, tracking projects and time, connecting to your bank, and turning all of it into the tax returns HMRC expects. Because it's designed around UK tax rules, it can file Self-Assessment and VAT returns directly and is a recognised solution for Making Tax Digital (MTD).
Who it's for
FreeAgent is aimed at UK sole traders and freelancers, limited companies, contractors, and landlords, as well as the accountants and bookkeepers who support them. It's ideal for anyone who wants to stay on top of their books and file taxes correctly without hiring out every part of the process.
Key features
- Invoicing with automated reminders and online payment options
- Expense capture with AI-powered Smart Capture
- Self-Assessment and VAT returns filed directly to HMRC
- Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax compliance
- Integrated payroll with Real Time Information (RTI) submission
- 90-day cashflow forecasting
- Bank feeds via Open Banking
- Full mobile app access
Tax without the panic
FreeAgent's biggest draw is how it demystifies UK tax. As you invoice and record expenses through the year, it continuously works out what you'll owe, then lets you file Self-Assessment and VAT straight to HMRC when the time comes — no spreadsheets, no last-minute scramble, and full MTD compliance built in. For sole traders and small limited companies, that alone can replace a lot of accountant hours.
Everyday bookkeeping made simple
Open Banking bank feeds pull transactions in automatically, Smart Capture reads receipts so expenses log themselves, and 90-day cashflow forecasting shows what's coming so there are no nasty surprises. Invoices can be sent with automatic reminders and online payment links, helping small businesses get paid faster with less chasing.
Integrations and support
FreeAgent connects with tools like Dext and Amazon and other business services, and is backed by a UK-based human support team — a meaningful reassurance when the questions are about your own tax. It carries strong customer ratings and industry recognition for its ease of use.
Pricing
FreeAgent offers a genuinely free tier for customers who bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle, and otherwise monthly plans roughly £5–£33 depending on whether you're a landlord, sole trader or limited company, often with introductory discounts. A 30-day free trial with no card required lets you try it first.
Payroll and projects
Beyond the books and tax, FreeAgent covers running a small operation day to day. Integrated payroll with RTI submission handles paying yourself or a small team and reports it to HMRC correctly, while project and time tracking let contractors and agencies see profitability per job and bill accurately. For a one-person company, having payroll, projects, invoicing and tax in a single tool removes a surprising amount of scattered admin.
Why choose FreeAgent
For a UK freelancer, contractor or small limited company, FreeAgent is one of the most reassuring ways to run the books and stay on the right side of HMRC. The combination of everyday bookkeeping, direct MTD-compliant filing, real UK support and (for some banks) a free plan makes it a standout choice for people who'd rather spend time on their business than on tax admin.
What is Hurdlr?
Hurdlr is an automatic income, expense and mileage tracker built for self-employed people — freelancers, gig workers and small business owners — who want to maximize their tax deductions without doing the bookkeeping by hand. It quietly runs in the background, capturing the mileage, expenses and income that so often go unrecorded and cost the self-employed money at tax time.
What is Hurdlr?
Hurdlr automates the parts of self-employed finances people hate. It tracks mileage automatically as you drive, captures business expenses and receipts, monitors income across multiple streams, and calculates your tax liability in real time so there are no surprises. The whole point is to surface deductions you'd otherwise miss and keep you ready for tax season year-round.
Who it's for
Hurdlr is made for freelancers, independent contractors, gig-economy workers (rideshare, delivery, and the like) and small business owners — anyone whose income and expenses are their own responsibility and whose deductions directly affect their take-home pay. If you drive for work or juggle several income sources, it's especially valuable.
Key features
- Automatic mileage tracking
- Business expense and receipt capture
- Real-time tax estimates and payment reminders
- Income tracking across multiple streams
- Invoicing (on the Pro tier)
- Accounting tools with financial reporting
- Bank reconciliation
Finding money you'd otherwise miss
Hurdlr's core promise is deductions. The company reports that freelancers and small business owners find over $5,600 in tax deductions on average using the app — money that slips away when mileage and small expenses go untracked. By capturing them automatically, Hurdlr turns everyday activity into legitimate write-downs, and its real-time tax estimates mean you always know roughly what you'll owe and can set money aside in time.
Automatic by design
The reason Hurdlr works where manual tracking fails is automation. Mileage logs itself as you drive, bank connections pull in expenses, and income from different sources is consolidated in one view — so staying organized doesn't depend on remembering to enter anything. That hands-off approach is why gig workers and busy freelancers stick with it.
Scale and trust
Hurdlr reports more than $8B in finances tracked and over $300M in taxes saved for its users, with a 4.7 app-store rating — evidence that the automatic-tracking approach delivers real, measurable value at scale rather than just convenience.
Pricing
Hurdlr offers a free plan to start, with Premium and Pro tiers that add features like automatic tracking rules, invoicing and deeper accounting tools. The free tier is enough for many gig workers to begin capturing mileage and expenses immediately, upgrading only when they want the extra automation and business features.
Ready for tax season all year
Hurdlr's real-time tax estimates are what set it apart from a plain expense tracker. Instead of discovering your tax bill in April, you see a running estimate of what you owe as income and deductions accumulate, plus reminders for quarterly payments. That means you can set money aside as you earn and file with organized records already in hand — no year-end shoebox of receipts, and far less risk of an unpleasant surprise from the tax authority.
Why choose Hurdlr
For anyone self-employed, Hurdlr is one of the easiest ways to stop leaving money on the table at tax time. Its automatic mileage, expense and income tracking — plus real-time tax estimates — turn a dreaded chore into something that happens on its own, and the average deductions it surfaces can pay for the app many times over.
Key differences at a glance
- Purpose: FreeAgent is Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK. Hurdlr, by contrast, is Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses.
- Category & type: both sit in Finance, and both are offered as software.
- Best suited for: FreeAgent leans toward accounting, freelance, small-business, whereas Hurdlr leans toward freelance, expenses, mileage.
- Community rating: FreeAgent is not yet rated vs Hurdlr is not yet rated. Ratings are community-submitted and change over time.
FreeAgent vs Hurdlr: which should you choose?
FreeAgent and Hurdlr both serve the finance space, so the best choice depends on your priorities. Choose FreeAgent if you want Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK. Choose Hurdlr if you want Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses.The smartest move is to try each one's free tier or trial on a real task — that's the fastest way to feel the difference and pick the tool you'll actually stick with.
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeAgent better than Hurdlr?
It depends on what you need. FreeAgent is Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK. Hurdlr is Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses. Both are finance tools, so the right pick comes down to your specific priorities, budget and workflow.
What's the main difference between FreeAgent and Hurdlr?
FreeAgent focuses on Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, popular in the UK. while Hurdlr focuses on Automatic expense, mileage and tax tracking app for freelancers, self-employed workers and small businesses. Read the full breakdown above and check each tool's site for current features and pricing.
Can I use both FreeAgent and Hurdlr?
In many cases, yes — teams often use complementary tools together. Whether it makes sense depends on overlap in functionality and your budget. Try the free tier or trial of each to see how they fit your stack before committing.
Which is cheaper, FreeAgent or Hurdlr?
Pricing changes often, so check each tool's pricing page for the latest. Many tools offer a free tier or trial, which is the best way to evaluate value for your specific usage before you pay.