FreeAgent vs. Sage Accounting

For micro and small business it is a great solution. The new requirements for MTD for landlords could also be met with this software. Groups and more complex businesses could not use the accounts and tax returns features, however they still could use it for bookkeeping and then export the data to other tax and accounts production software.

Sage accounting software is a solid option for small to mid-sized businesses that need reliable financial management without unnecessary complexity. It offers strong core features like invoicing, expense tracking, payroll integration, and reporting, making it a practical choice for day-to-day accounting needs.

Incentivized

• Recurring invoices with automated follow-up is fantastic for helping to get paid on time
• Automated bank transfers are the easiest way to ensure that I can reconcile my accounts with ease
• Support is fantastic
• Built-in Time tracking for projects/tasks (integration with Basecamp to get this info) is fantastic, it allows us to accurately track what we are working on and get paid for it!

• Sage Accounting makes it easy to pay my invoices with an automated QR code that opens a payment portal.
• Sage Accounting automatically shows my bank account balance and that's pretty neat.
• Sage Accounting has excellent security with 2 factor authentication and I trust my money is kept safe.

Incentivized

• Reporting on financials, time tracking and project status is a little poor. It's adequate for what what we need, but would be great to see more advanced features.
• API is quite closed so cannot integrate with our other project management tools.

Incentivized

• Only being able to use the premium accounting on ONE computer, very frustrating if you have a long drive or something, and I could have utilized that time catching up on our accounting, but I don’t want to bring my computer along. It would be nice not to use the cloud software just to use on multiple devices.
• Speaking of Cloud software, the inability to talk to an actual human is insane. We were promised that the cloud software was much easier and straightforward. We didn’t know whether we had issues that could only be addressed by an AI chatbot. When we did talk to a human, they always referred back to the AI chatbot.
• Again, for the cloud software, the inability to transfer over the entirety of my books because there was foreign currency (USD) is insane. We ended up canceling and going back to regular accounting software because I spent 12 hours I didn't have trying to move our books over, which ultimately didn’t work, and I would have had to reformat everything, which I shouldn’t have to do.
• You should be able to link your bank account and have all deposits and withdrawals appear automatically. QuickBooks does this, and I really enjoyed QuickBooks for that reason. It would be a nice feature to have.

Incentivized

We have used Freeagent for many years now and it serves us well for our needs. To change it would mean a lot of work, and this would most likely only happen if the cost became prohibitive to us.

Incentivized

I could not live without Sage Accounting, it has become an integral part of my everyday. The more I have used Sage Accounting the more I have fallen in love with it. I am excited to be part of this ever-evolving accounting system that has grown from strength to strength, making life easier is something Sage does so well.

It is a great software that does everything we need for small business clients. It allows to keep the books in a cloud from bookkeeping to accounts production and tax returns, all in one software. There are no major drawbacks and I would highly recommend it for most of our clients.

Incentivized

The system is very user-friendly, and the data is easy to access. Each task module is self-explanatory, and the reports provide straightforward access to necessary information. The graphics and the ability to export to PDF and Excel are essential for our daily operations. Additionally, the system efficiently generates collection letters and emails them directly to customers.

Incentivized

Based in a cloud and never had any issues with down time. I can access from any device

Sage Accounting availability is generally very good. They post messages which appear on users screen time to time, highlighting where functionality in a particular area is undergoing maintenance. More often than not, maintenance is completed in a timescale quicker than initially estimated by Sage. Where significant maintenance is required, Sage usually perform it overnight.

Sage Accounting work quickly and performs well, I have never had an issue with it running slow. It integrates with other software swiftly, so no waiting for the screen to load. Error messages are only something I have had when I have done something wrong.

I have never personally used support

Incentivized

Sage Accounting are easy to contact and have knowledgeable and helpful staff. Whenever I've encountered a problem I've always been able to get assistance and guidance and it feels like the person at the end of the phone/screen knows the product well.

Staff are always friendly, and patient, always work at a speed that suits you. You are never rushed, and In only a short time they seem to be able to help you make great strides. It has been a pleasure not a chore, learning how SAGE Accounting works and benefits me and the company.

I find the online training was very informative and they answered all my questions. I am also certified in Sage One and provided online training in the program which I have set up several people on and they love how it keeps them organized.

Did not participate

Incentivized

I've done this a few times now, both manually and also by uploading by way of the implementation process. Sometimes it went smoothly (with a very basic set of books), but often the upload creates a mess with the accounts and it takes a lot of time to sort it out

Incentivized

I used Fresh Books for about three years prior to switching to FreeAgent. It was the accounting functionality that made the difference - in the past two years I've not regretted the switch. Fresh Books is good, but its the UK accounting features that make FreeAgent indispensable to my business.

It's about the same, just a different way to get to a similar end goal. Ultimately, Sage offers superior, rigid compliance tracking and robust multi-entity management tools. QuickBooks certainly wins for its more modern UI, thousands of native app integrations, and superior built-in reporting, making it far more flexible when scaling and connecting to other apps/services.

Incentivized

I do not consider Sage Accounting to be Sage's best product for scaling up business as its functionality for doing so is limited. Sage 50 Accounts or Sage Intaact are far more suited for this. I would evaluate very carefully the possible need in the future for scalability in the first instance before selecting software.

• Has freed up a lot of time based on my previous system of managing my invoicing and accounts through Word and Excel
• I have an accurate day to day handle on the financial position of my business so I can manage my cashflow better
• The inbuilt time recording against projects has saved time in creating the invoices but also tracks my profitability on the work I do

Incentivized

• Sage has allowed us to be self-supporting and to perform full-cycle accounting up to the point of handing off to the accountant at year-end.
• We are self-sustaining and do not need outside accounting assistance, such as an independent bookkeeper.
• Sage has allowed us to save money at year's end, as we can do all the prep internally up until the handoff to the accountant, minimizing the hours he has to spend on our file.

Incentivized