Crunch – What You Need to Know
An in-depth look at Crunch — features, strengths, limitations, and who it's best for.
At a Glance
Key facts about Crunch at a glance.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Software Type | General-Purpose Accounting + Accountant Service |
| Target Users | Sole Traders, Freelancers, Contractors, Ltd Companies |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free plan (software only, limited features) |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Yes |
| Property Portfolio Management | No |
| Tenant Management | No |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | No |
| Payroll | Yes |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | No |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
What Is Crunch?
What Is Crunch?
Crunch is a UK-based online accounting platform founded in 2007 by Darren Fell, combining cloud-based bookkeeping software with access to in-house Chartered Certified accountants and expert client managers. Over 15+ years, Crunch has served thousands of sole traders, freelancers, contractors, and limited company owners across all industries. The platform is HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT and has confirmed it will be fully MTD ITSA compatible by April 2026.
Crunch's core strength lies in its hybrid model: rather than just providing software, it pairs accounting tools with real, unlimited access to qualified accountants on its Pro plans. This means that instead of a landlord figuring out MTD filings themselves, Crunch's team of Chartered Certified accountants can handle Self Assessment, VAT returns, HMRC registration, and tax-saving advice. The platform offers invoicing, expense tracking with AI-powered auto-matching ("Luca's Auto Match"), open banking bank feeds, receipt scanning (via "Snap," powered by Dext), and mileage recording.
Strengths
- Unlimited access to Chartered Certified accountants (Pro plans)
- Self Assessment filing handled by accountants (Pro plan)
- Over 15 years in the UK market with established reputation
- Free software plan available for basic accounting
- MTD for VAT already supported; MTD ITSA confirmed for April 2026
- Supports limited companies as well as sole traders
- Trustpilot rating of 4.3 (Excellent) with 1,000+ reviews
Limitations
- No property portfolio management or tenant tracking
- No landlord-tailored chart of accounts or property-specific workflows
- No joint ownership or profit-sharing automation
- Bank feeds sync only weekly (not real-time)
- No agent filing on behalf of landlord clients
- Receipt scanning limited to 15/month on free plan (unlimited costs £5/month extra)
- Higher monthly cost compared to landlord-specific MTD platforms
Making Tax Digital Compliance
How Crunch Handles MTD for Landlords and Sole Traders
Crunch covers sole trader income, UK property income, and foreign property income for MTD ITSA purposes, with quarterly updates and final declarations supported. The platform has confirmed full MTD ITSA compatibility by April 2026, having already been HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT. Crunch's advantage is that on its Pro plans, accountants handle filings directly — the landlord reviews and approves, and Crunch's team submits to HMRC. However, Crunch does not offer agent filing in the traditional sense (where a separate accountant or letting agent uses the platform to file on behalf of a client). Crunch's MTD filing is handled internally by Crunch's own accountancy team.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | 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 | No |
Property Management
Crunch: General-Purpose Accounting — No Property-Specific Features
Crunch does not offer any property-specific management features. There is no property portfolio dashboard, no tenant management, no per-property rent tracking, no joint ownership automation, no HMO support, and no compliance document alerts. Landlords using Crunch would record rental income as standard sales/income entries and property expenses as standard expense entries, without the ability to allocate them to specific properties, tenancies, or ownership structures within the software itself. Crunch's accountants can provide advice on property tax matters, but the software layer does not provide landlord-specific workflows.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | No |
| Tenant Management | No |
| Rent Tracking | No |
| Property Expense Allocation | No |
| Multiple Property Support | No |
| HMO Property Support | No |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | No |
| Maintenance Tracking | No |
| Tenant Screening | No |
| Compliance Document Alerts | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No |
Bookkeeping, Accounting & Digital Record Keeping
Crunch: General-Purpose Bookkeeping with Accountant Oversight
Crunch provides standard bookkeeping features including invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation via open banking, and automated payment reminders. The platform's "Luca's Auto Match" AI feature helps reconcile bank transactions up to 3× faster, and users can approve transactions in bulk. However, Crunch's accounting framework is general-purpose — it does not offer a landlord-tailored chart of accounts, nor are accounts pre-mapped to SA105 property income categories. Bank feeds sync weekly rather than daily. For sole traders on the free plan, reporting is notably limited — there is no formal profit & loss statement or balance sheet. On Pro plans, Crunch's accountants handle year-end accounts preparation and filing, compensating for the software's lighter reporting capabilities.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | No |
| Journal Entries | No |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | No |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | No |
| Xero Integration | Partial |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes |
Invoicing, Expense Tracking
Crunch: Receipt Scanning and Invoicing with Accountant Backup
Crunch provides invoicing with recurring invoice support, automated payment reminders, and expense tracking. Receipt scanning is available through "Snap" (powered by Dext), with 15 free scans per month on the free plan and unlimited scanning for an additional £5/month. The AI-powered "Luca's Auto Match" feature helps categorise and reconcile bank transactions automatically. Crunch also supports mileage recording and CrunchPay for faster invoice payments. On Pro plans, Crunch's accountants review expenses and ensure correct categorisation — an advantage for landlords who are unsure which expenses are allowable.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Limited |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | No |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Yes |
Reporting & Tax Forecasting
Crunch: Self Assessment Screen and Accountant-Prepared Reports
For sole traders on Crunch's free plan, reporting is limited — the software calculates self-employment income on the Self Assessment screen, but does not produce a formal profit & loss statement or balance sheet. On Pro plans, Crunch's accountants prepare year-end accounts and file Self Assessment on the landlord's behalf. For limited company clients, Crunch provides full reporting including accounts for Companies House, full accounts for HMRC, management information, and CT600 corporation tax returns. Crunch also provides real-time tax liability tracking on paid plans, helping users understand their tax position throughout the year.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | No |
| Balance Sheet | No |
| Trial Balance | No |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes |
| Cash Flow Reporting | Yes |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | Yes |
Collaboration & Mobile Apps
Crunch's Collaborative Features
Crunch takes a fundamentally different approach to collaboration: rather than enabling external accountants to file on your behalf, Crunch is the accountant. On Pro plans, landlords and sole traders get unlimited access to Crunch's in-house team of Chartered Certified accountants and expert client managers — available via phone, email, and in-app live chat at no extra cost. Users can also invite an external accountant or bookkeeper to collaborate securely within their Crunch account if needed. The platform supports data imports from Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent, making switching straightforward. Mobile access is available via iOS and Android apps, and the mobile-friendly web interface allows on-the-go management. However, Crunch does not support agent filing in the traditional HMRC sense — its filing capability is internal to Crunch's own accountancy.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | No |
| Bank Integration | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android |
| Web Browser Access | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
Ease of Use, Support & Security
Crunch's Ease of Use
Crunch emphasises its jargon-free approach and has built its reputation on making accounting accessible. The platform offers in-app live chat with client managers, phone support, email support, video tutorials, FAQs, and a knowledge base. On Pro plans, users have direct access to dedicated accountants and experts. Crunch holds a 4.3 "Excellent" rating on Trustpilot with over 1,000 reviews, with users consistently praising its responsive and knowledgeable support team. Crunch has also won industry awards for its training programme, which is AAT and ACCA accredited.
| Feature | Crunch |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes |
| Chat Support | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes |
| Enterprise-Grade Security | Yes |
Unique Features Only Crunch Offers
Unlimited Access to Chartered Certified Accountants
On Pro plans, landlords and sole traders get unlimited access to Crunch's in-house team of Chartered Certified accountants and expert client managers via phone, email, and in-app live chat. This is included in the monthly fee — no hourly charges.
Self Assessment Filed by Accountants
On Crunch's Sole Trader Pro plan (£27+VAT/month), accountants handle the preparation and filing of your annual Self Assessment, VAT returns, and HMRC registration. This removes the burden of tax filings entirely from the landlord.
MTD for VAT Support
Crunch is already HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for VAT. VAT-registered sole traders and limited companies can submit VAT returns directly through the platform.
Limited Company Support
Crunch offers comprehensive plans for limited company directors (from £90+VAT/month), including corporation tax returns, Companies House filings, director payroll, IR35 support, and a registered office service.
Tax Liability Tracking
Crunch provides real-time tax liability tracking on paid plans, helping sole traders and landlords understand their estimated tax position throughout the year.
Mileage Recording
Crunch includes mileage recording functionality for business travel — useful for landlords who drive to properties for inspections, maintenance, or viewings.
Who Should Choose Crunch?
Crunch is the better choice for:
Sole Traders and Landlords Who Want an Accountant Included
If you don't want to handle MTD filings, Self Assessment, or tax calculations yourself, Crunch's Pro plan bundles unlimited accountant access with the software. Your dedicated team files everything for you — quarterly updates, Self Assessment, and VAT returns if applicable.
Landlords Who Also Need VAT Support
Crunch is already HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT. If you're a VAT-registered landlord or sole trader, Crunch handles both MTD ITSA and MTD VAT in one platform.
Limited Company Property Owners
If you hold rental properties through a limited company, Crunch offers comprehensive Ltd company plans (from £90+VAT/month) with corporation tax returns, Companies House filings, director payroll, and IR35 support.
Sole Traders with Simple Property Income
If you have one or two properties and your primary need is simple MTD compliance with expert tax advice, Crunch's accountant-led approach may suit you better than a self-service property management platform.
Landlords Who Want Tax Liability Forecasting
Crunch provides real-time tax liability tracking, helping you understand your estimated tax position throughout the year and avoid surprise bills.
People Who Prefer Human Support Over Software Features
If your priority is having a real person handle your accounting rather than learning to use property management software, Crunch's unlimited expert support with Chartered Certified accountants is its defining advantage.