FreeAgent
Namely
| Feature | FreeAgent | Namely |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $14/mo | Contact sales |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best For | uk-freelancers, sole-traders, small-businesses, contractors | mid-size-companies, hr-teams, growing-businesses, people-operations |
| Founded | 2007 | 2012 |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Expenses | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Returns | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bank Reconciliation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Project Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payroll | ✗ | ✓ |
| Benefits Admin | ✗ | ✓ |
| Talent Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Compliance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ FreeAgent Pros
- Great for UK businesses
- HMRC compliant
- Easy invoicing
- Bank feeds
✗ FreeAgent Cons
- UK-focused
- Limited for larger businesses
- No inventory management
✓ Namely Pros
- All-in-one HR solution
- Good for mid-size companies
- Employee self-service
- Compliance tools
✗ Namely Cons
- Customer support issues reported
- Interface can be slow
- Limited customization
The Verdict
FreeAgent is built for uk freelancers and sole traders, with a focus on invoicing and expenses. Namely targets mid size companies and hr teams and leads with payroll and benefits-admin.
Namely uses custom enterprise pricing, while FreeAgent starts at $14/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
FreeAgent edges out on user ratings (4.3 vs 3.9). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: FreeAgent has a slight overall edge — but if all-in-one hr solution matters most to you, Namely may still be the right call.