RentalBux vs. FreeAgent
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the more complete MTD software for landlords who need an all-in-one property-first platform. It combines full Making Tax Digital compliance across UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment income with comprehensive property management, automated bookkeeping, AI-driven expense categorisation, joint ownership profit-splitting, and a free plan for single-property landlords until March 2028.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and FreeAgent across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | UK Property only (Landlord plan); Sole Trader separate plan |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | Free with NatWest/RBS/Ulster Bank/Mettle account (conditional) |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes (Open Banking) |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | Yes |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant Management | Yes | No |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Payroll | No | Yes |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | No |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | Yes |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Web + iOS + Android |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Software Type | Cloud Accounting | |
| Target Users | Freelancers, Sole Traders, SMEs |
What Is RentalBux? What Is FreeAgent?
What Is RentalBux?
All-in-One MTD Software for Landlords and Sole Traders
RentalBux is an all-in-one property management, accounting, and Making Tax Digital compliance platform built specifically for UK landlords, letting agents, and self-employed individuals. Designed with direct input from accountants who specialise in property and sole trader tax, RentalBux covers everything from tenancy management and rent collection to full bookkeeping with a pre-configured chart of accounts tailored to the property sector.
RentalBux is fully HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax across all three qualifying income categories: UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment. This makes it one of the only landlord-specific MTD software platforms that can handle a landlord who also runs a sole trader business, all from a single subscription.
A major differentiator is RentalBux's pricing model: single-property landlords can use the platform completely free until March 2028, making it one of the most affordable HMRC-approved MTD software options for landlords entering the MTD regime.
What Is FreeAgent ?
Accounting Software for Every Small Business
FreeAgent is a UK-based cloud accounting software founded in 2007, originally built for freelancers and contractors. It was acquired by NatWest Group (then Royal Bank of Scotland) in 2018 for £53 million and remains operationally independent. Over 200,000 UK small businesses use the platform across limited companies, sole traders, partnerships, and landlords.
FreeAgent is widely regarded as one of the UK's friendliest accounting tools — winning the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Luca Award for Friendliest Software of the Year four consecutive years running (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025). It is HMRC-recognised for both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax, making it a legitimate compliance tool ahead of the April 2026 MTD ITSA deadline.
Its landlord-specific module — FreeAgent for Landlords — is designed for unincorporated landlords (individuals who earn property income and are not operating as a limited company). It covers property income and expense tracking, Self Assessment (SA105 UK Property pages), MTD for Income Tax quarterly submissions, bank feeds, and joint ownership splits. The landlord plan is priced at £10/month (excl. VAT) or available free for eligible NatWest Group bank account holders.
Strengths
- Free MTD software for single-property landlords until March 2028
- Handles sole trader + UK property + foreign property income in one platform
- Joint ownership with automatic profit-sharing split by ownership percentage
- Pre-built chart of accounts tailored for landlords and sole traders
- AI-powered expense auto-categorisation and OCR receipt capture
- Agent filing on behalf of landlords — ideal for accountants and letting agents
- Supports HMO properties with auto-created units
Strengths
- Free for NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, and Mettle business account holders
- Award-winning UK-based support (phone, chat, email) — 4x Friendliest Software of the Year
- MTD ITSA compliant — quarterly updates and final declaration directly to HMRC
- Self Assessment SA105 (UK Property pages) auto-populated and filed directly to HMRC
- Joint ownership splits per property (updated February 2025)
- Payroll included as standard across all plans (no extra charge)
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
- Unlimited users at no extra cost
Limitations
- Newer to market compared to established platforms
- No yield or LTV investment analysis tools
- No MTD for VAT support yet
- Some advanced reporting features still in development
- Limited third-party app integrations
- No offline capability
- No tax liability forecasting feature currently
Limitations
- 'Free' is conditional on retaining a qualifying bank account — not unconditional
- No tenant management, lease tracking, or property-specific workflows
- Mixed-income landlords (property + sole trader) cannot file a combined MTD return from one account
- Smart Capture limited to 10 receipts/month free; unlimited costs £5/month extra
- No foreign property income support on the landlord plan
- No agent filing — accountants cannot submit on behalf of landlord clients
- FreeAgent for Landlords is for unincorporated landlords only — limited companies require a more expensive plan (£33/month)
- The 'free' offer is a NatWest Group banking acquisition tool — users who switch banks lose access
Making Tax Digital Compliance
How RentalBux Handles MTD Compliance
RentalBux supports all three MTD qualifying income categories: sole trader income, UK property income, and foreign property income. This makes it suitable for landlords who also earn self-employment income, eliminating the need for separate software. Most accounts are pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. RentalBux also supports agent filing, allowing accountants or letting agents to submit MTD returns on behalf of their landlord clients.
FreeAgent's MTD Compliance
FreeAgent for Landlords covers UK property income for MTD purposes, with quarterly updates and final declarations submitted directly to HMRC. The platform auto-populates the UK Property (SA105) pages of the Self Assessment form. However, there are two important limitations for landlords with broader income needs.
First, FreeAgent does not support sole trader income within the landlord plan. Landlords who also run a self-employed business would need a separate FreeAgent sole trader account — and critically, they cannot submit a combined return from both accounts simultaneously. FreeAgent's own documentation confirms: if a landlord uses a separate sole trader FreeAgent account to record other income, they can only make a Self Assessment submission from one version of the software, and must manually enter figures from the other. This creates unnecessary admin burden and error risk for mixed-income landlords.
Second, FreeAgent for Landlords does not support agent filing. Accountants can view and work within a client's FreeAgent account, but cannot submit MTD returns on the landlord's behalf directly from the platform.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes | |
| UK Property Income | Yes | |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes | |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | |
| Final Declaration | Yes | |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | |
| Sole Trader Income | No (separate plan; no combined MTD filing) | |
| UK Property Income | Yes | |
| Foreign Property Income | No | |
| Multiple Income Streams | No |
Winner: RentalBux — Broader income type coverage including sole trader and foreign property, plus agent filing capability, gives RentalBux a decisive advantage for landlords with mixed income preparing for Making Tax Digital.
Property Management
RentalBux: Property Management
RentalBux provides comprehensive property portfolio management with tenant management, rent tracking, property expense allocation, and support for multiple properties. A standout feature is its joint ownership and profit-sharing capability: landlords can define ownership percentages once, and RentalBux automatically splits rental income and expenses. RentalBux also supports HMO properties, automatically creating individual units.
FreeAgent's Property Management Features
FreeAgent for Landlords is correctly positioned as a financial accounting tool, not a property management tool. It tracks money — income, costs, and tax — but it does not manage the landlord-tenant relationship. Landlords can record income and costs against each property and track profitability. FreeAgent added per-property ownership splits in February 2025, allowing joint owners to operate under a single licence with income and expenses automatically allocated based on ownership ratios. However, there is no tenant CRM, lease management, inspection tracking, or any functionality relating to the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (effective May 2026). Landlords who need these capabilities must use third-party tools alongside FreeAgent.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | |
| Tenant Management | Yes | |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | |
| HMO Property Support | Yes (auto-creates units) | No |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | Yes (auto-split by %) | |
| Maintenance Tracking | No | No |
| Tenant Screening | No | No |
| Compliance Document Alerts | Yes | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No | No |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes (basic financial tracking) | |
| Tenant Management | No | |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | |
| Joint Ownership / Profit Sharing | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux — Full tenant and lease management, HMO support, and compliance workflows give RentalBux a decisive lead for landlords who need more than a financial accounting module.
Bookkeeping, Accounting & Digital Record Keeping
RentalBux: Structured Accounting
RentalBux includes a pre-built chart of accounts specifically designed for landlords and sole traders, covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, property repairs, professional services, utilities, and tenant deposits. All accounts are pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. The platform supports cash basis accounting, bank reconciliation, and journal entries.
FreeAgent's Bookkeeping
FreeAgent is built on a robust general accounting foundation covering invoicing, bank feeds, expense tracking, payroll, VAT returns, and Self Assessment. For landlords, the platform allows income and costs to be recorded against each property. FreeAgent's smart categorisation automatically explains new bank transactions based on previous descriptions, reducing manual reconciliation. The platform supports double-entry bookkeeping and includes journal entries, bank reconciliation, and a full chart of accounts — though this is designed for general small businesses rather than specifically for the property sector. Payroll is included as standard across all plans at no extra charge, including RTI filing directly to HMRC — a genuine differentiator versus competitors who charge extra.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (pre-built + custom) | |
| Journal Entries | Yes | |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes (Major UK banks) | |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes | |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | Yes |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | No |
| Xero Integration | No | |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | Yes |
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | |
| Chart of Accounts | Yes | |
| Journal Entries | Yes | |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux — A landlord-tailored chart of accounts pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes gives RentalBux a more relevant accounting structure for property-focused landlords from day one, without manual configuration. FreeAgent wins on payroll depth and VAT filing.
Invoicing, Expense Tracking
RentalBux: Expense Management
RentalBux includes OCR receipt capture, structured expense tracking with landlord-specific categories, auto-categorisation, invoice creation with customisable branding, and payment tracking with reminders.
FreeAgent's Invoicing
FreeAgent's expense management is powered by Smart Capture and automated bank feeds. Smart Capture offers automatic data extraction, transaction matching, and categorisation from receipt and bill images — up to 10 uses per calendar month included as standard, with unlimited use available at £5/month extra (excl. VAT). FreeAgent's smart categorisation automatically explains new bank transactions based on previous descriptions, reducing manual reconciliation. Invoicing is comprehensive — automated invoices, payment reminders, and one-click payment links are available via Stripe, GoCardless, Tyl by NatWest, and PayPal.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes | |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | No | Yes |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | Yes |
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | |
| Invoice Customisation /Branding | Yes | |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | |
| Payment Tracking / Reminders | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux — OCR receipt capture included at no extra cost, combined with landlord-specific expense categories, gives RentalBux the edge. FreeAgent's equivalent Smart Capture Unlimited feature requires an additional monthly subscription on top of the base plan.
Reporting & Tax Forecasting
RentalBux: Formal Accounting Reports
RentalBux produces structured financial reports including profit & loss statements, balance sheets, journal reports, ledger reports, and trial balances. Smart categorisation helps ensure accuracy.
FreeAgent's Reporting
FreeAgent's reporting suite is mature and well-regarded. The Tax Timeline gives users a real-time running estimate of tax owed and upcoming deadlines, covering Self Assessment, VAT, and Corporation Tax — helping landlords and business owners set aside the right amount throughout the year and avoid surprise bills. The 90-day cashflow forecast uses account data to project incomings and outgoings, surface potential shortfalls, and offer smart suggestions. The Radar feature delivers tailored trend-spotting and business performance insights based on actual account data.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | |
| Trial Balance | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | Yes |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | Yes |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | Partial |
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes | |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes |
Winner: FreeAgent — FreeAgent's Tax Timeline and 90-day cashflow forecast are genuinely useful features for landlords managing tax obligations throughout the year. RentalBux currently lacks cashflow projection tools.
Collaboration & Mobile Apps
RentalBux's Collaborative Features
RentalBux enables agent filing, which gives accountants and letting agents the ability to submit directly on a landlord's behalf.
FreeAgent's Collaboration & Integrations
FreeAgent offers a free Practice Dashboard for accountants and bookkeepers, giving them a centralised view of all client data, the ability to reconsent bank feeds on clients' behalf, and run reports across their entire client base. Unlimited users are included at no extra cost across all FreeAgent plans — a notable advantage for small businesses with multiple team members. However, FreeAgent does not support agent filing: accountants can work within a client's account, but cannot submit MTD returns directly on their behalf.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | |
| Bank Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Accountant / Advisor Portal | Yes | |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | No |
Winner: RentalBux — Agent filing on behalf makes RentalBux significantly more flexible for accountants, letting agents, and teams managing landlord portfolios under MTD. FreeAgent's Practice Dashboard offers excellent visibility and collaboration tools, but stops short of direct submission capability.
Ease of Use, Support & Security
RentalBux: Guided Workflows
RentalBux uses guided workflows, clear dashboards, and no accounting jargon. The platform offers phone support, email/chat support, and a help centre with guides and knowledge base articles.
FreeAgent's User Interface & Learning Curve
FreeAgent is available on web, iOS, and Android — providing full cross-device access for landlords and sole traders who want to manage their finances on the go. Free Agent's broader feature set (payroll, VAT, Self-Assessment, tax timeline, mileage tracking) means more to configure and more to learn, particularly for users who are new to cloud accounting. Its design is clean and well-regarded, however, and its onboarding flow and in-platform guidance are strong. It also has a knowledge base, email and chat support, and UK-based phone support. FreeAgent's webinar and training resources are well-established, particularly given its long history and large user base. For NatWest/RBS/Mettle customers using FreeAgent through their bank, additional support via their bank's business banking team may also be available.
| Feature | RentalBux | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | |
| Chat Support | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise-Grade Security | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | |
| Chat Support | Yes | |
| Help Centre / Knowledge Base | Yes |
RentalBux Features
Sole Trader Income Support for MTD
RentalBux is one of the few landlord-focused MTD software platforms that supports self-employment income alongside UK and foreign property income within a single account. Landlords who also run a trade, consultancy, or freelance business can manage all quarterly submissions from one dashboard. Landlord Studio covers property income only.
Custom Chart of Accounts for Landlords
A property-tailored chart of accounts covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, repairs, utilities, letting agent fees, and more — all pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. No setup required; the system is ready to use from day one. Landlord Studio has no equivalent.
Agent Filing on Behalf of Landlords
Letting agents and accountants can submit MTD quarterly updates and the Final Declaration on behalf of landlord clients directly from the platform. Landlord Studio allows accountant access but does not support submission on the landlord's behalf.
Branded Invoice Creation
Invoice creation with customisable branding for service charges and commercial landlords. Not available in Landlord Studio.
AI-Powered OCR Receipt Capture with Auto-Categorisation (Coming soon)
RentalBux's AI will read uploaded receipts and categorise the expense automatically against the pre-built chart of accounts. Landlord Studio's Smart Scan extracts dates and amounts but does not include AI-driven expense categorisation.
Formal Accounting Reports
Balance sheet, trial balance, ledger reports, and journal reports. Landlord Studio does not produce these natively.
Free Plan Including MTD Submissions Until March 2028
RentalBux's free single-property plan includes MTD quarterly submissions. Landlord Studio's free GO plan covers property management for up to three units but requires a paid PRO plan (from £12/month) to access MTD submission functionality.
Unique Features Only FreeAgent Offers
Tax timeline and real-time tax liability estimates
FreeAgent's Tax Timeline gives landlords and business owners a live view of their total tax liability across Self Assessment, VAT, and Corporation Tax, with deadlines and amounts due updated in real time. This helps users set aside the right funds throughout the year and avoid surprise bills.
90-Day Cashflow Forecast
FreeAgent projects incomings and outgoings 90 days into the future using account data, flagging potential shortfalls and offering smart suggestions. Useful for landlords managing multiple income and cost streams.
MTD for VAT — Direct HMRC Filing
FreeAgent is HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT as well as MTD for Income Tax. VAT-registered landlords and businesses can generate and submit MTD-compatible VAT returns directly from the platform.
Free with NatWest Group Banking
For landlords already banking with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or Mettle, FreeAgent is available at no subscription cost for as long as the account is retained, saving between £50 and £396 per year (+ VAT) depending on business type.
Radar — Business Performance Insights
FreeAgent's Radar feature delivers unique, tailored insights into business performance based on actual account data — trend-spotting, anomaly detection, and actionable tips. FreeAgent's Radar feature delivers unique, tailored insights into business performance based on actual account data — trend-spotting, anomaly detection, and actionable tips.
Broader Small Business Accounting Scope
FreeAgent covers limited companies, partnerships, sole traders, and landlords within a single platform. Corporation Tax return generation, end-of-year filing for companies, and a comprehensive accountant directory make it a strong choice for landlords who also run a formal business entity.
Who Should Choose RentalBux?
RentalBux is a strong fit if you:
Landlords with Mixed Income Streams
If you earn from both property and self-employment, RentalBux handles sole trader income alongside UK and foreign property income in a single MTD-compliant platform.
Joint Owners and Family Portfolios
The automated profit-sharing split is a standout feature. Define ownership percentages once and RentalBux calculates each owner's share automatically.
Budget-Conscious Landlords Entering MTD
Free MTD software for single-property landlords until March 2028, with no upfront commitment.
Landlords Who Want Proper Accounting Structure
Chart of accounts, journal entries, profit & loss, balance sheet, and trial balance give RentalBux a structured accounting foundation.
Accountants and Letting Agents
Agent filing on behalf, multi-user access, and spreadsheet import make RentalBux practical for professionals managing multiple landlord portfolios.
Commercial Landlords and HMO Owners
Invoice creation with branding for service charges, plus automatic HMO unit creation and tenant management.
Who Should Choose FreeAgent?
FreeAgent is the better MTD software choice for:
NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or Mettle business banking customers
For qualifying bank customers, FreeAgent is genuinely free, fully featured, and covers MTD ITSA, MTD VAT, Self-Assessment, payroll, and property income in a single platform. For this user group, FreeAgent is one of the strongest value propositions in the entire MTD software market.
Unincorporated Landlords with Simple UK Property Portfolios
FreeAgent for Landlords covers core MTD compliance, SA105 filing, bank reconciliation, and joint ownership splits. If your situation is straightforward and financial tracking is all you need, FreeAgent's polished interface and award-winning support make it a pleasure to use.
Landlords Who Also Run a Limited Company or Partnership
FreeAgent covers limited companies and partnerships as well as sole traders and landlords. For landlords whose primary identity is a business owner — needing Corporation Tax, end-of-year company accounts, and full payroll — FreeAgent's broader scope is a better fit.
Landlords Who Want Tax Forecasting and Cashflow Planning
FreeAgent's Tax Timeline and 90-day cashflow forecast are genuinely useful features that RentalBux currently does not offer. Landlords who want a live view of their tax liability and forward cashflow projections will find FreeAgent's reporting more mature in this respect.
Landlords Who Value Award-Winning UK Support
Four consecutive Friendliest Software of the Year awards and a Silver at the 2024 UK Customer Experience Awards reflect FreeAgent's genuine, sustained investment in accessible design and responsive customer service.