FreeAgent has been a popular choice for UK freelancers and sole traders for years. Its UK-focused design and the free access for NatWest and RBS business customers have made it a go-to platform. But not everyone banks with NatWest, and not everyone needs what FreeAgent offers.
ClearMTD is in development and has not received HMRC production approval. Public registration and live submissions are unavailable. Its current scope is owner-operated digital records and in-year quarterly updates for self-employment, UK property and foreign property. Final Declaration and agent filing are not supported.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
Why People Look for FreeAgent Alternatives
The Price Without NatWest
Compare the provider’s current subscription price, VAT, introductory discounts and renewal cost against the features you need. A lower price is useful only if the product supports your income sources and required filing tasks.
More Features Than You Need
FreeAgent includes time tracking, project management, invoicing, multi-currency support, payroll, and detailed financial reporting. These features are valuable for agencies and growing businesses, but a sole trader with one income source and standard expenses does not benefit from them.
Every unused feature adds visual noise and complexity. Finding the quarterly submission screen among project dashboards and time tracking reports is harder than it needs to be.
Interface Age
While FreeAgent has been updated over the years, parts of the interface show their age. The navigation can feel dated compared to newer tools, and some workflows involve more clicks than they should. This is a cosmetic concern, but when you use software regularly, the experience matters.
Performance With Large Transaction Volumes
Some users report that FreeAgent slows down when you have a large number of transactions. For landlords with multiple properties generating regular rental income, or sole traders with high transaction volumes, this can become genuinely irritating.
Not Optimised for Property Income
FreeAgent was designed primarily for freelancers and small service businesses. While it can handle property income for MTD purposes, it was not built with landlords as the primary audience. If property income is your main (or only) income source, you may find the setup and categorisation less intuitive than a tool designed with landlords in mind.
What You Actually Need for MTD
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax requires three things:
- Digital record keeping — your income and expenses stored in compatible software
- Quarterly submissions — four updates per year sent to HMRC
- Annual declarations — a Final Declaration after the tax year
That is the legal requirement. Everything else — invoicing, time tracking, project management, payroll — is optional. Useful for some, unnecessary for many.
ClearMTD availability
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
When FreeAgent Is Still the Right Choice
FreeAgent is a strong product for the right user. You should probably stick with FreeAgent if:
- You bank with NatWest or RBS — free access is hard to argue with
- You need invoicing and time tracking as core parts of your workflow
- You have employees and need integrated payroll
- Your accountant specifically uses FreeAgent and you want shared access
- You like FreeAgent's tax timeline feature that estimates your liability throughout the year
If any of those are genuinely important to how you run your business, FreeAgent offers good value. But if you are paying £25 a month mainly to submit four quarterly updates and an annual declaration, you are overpaying for what you need.
Other Alternatives to Consider
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
HMRC does not provide its own MTD for Income Tax software. Free products are available from commercial providers; check their eligibility, limits and supported income sources in the official software finder.
For a full comparison of all the main options, see our MTD software comparison 2026 or our guide to the best MTD software for sole traders. Also see our alternatives pages for QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage.
ClearMTD availability
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
The Bottom Line
FreeAgent is a capable tool, but it was designed to be a full accounting platform for freelancers and small businesses. If all you need is MTD compliance — digital records, quarterly submissions, annual declarations — you do not need a full accounting platform. You need a tool that does those three things well, simply, and affordably.
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClearMTD as reliable as FreeAgent for HMRC submissions?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
What if I am currently mid-year on FreeAgent?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
Does ClearMTD have a mobile app?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Can I go back to FreeAgent if ClearMTD does not work for me?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
What about MTD for VAT?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.