Regulas vs FreeAgent for Making Tax Digital
FreeAgent is a UK-focused accounting platform owned by NatWest, popular with freelancers and sole traders. But for Making Tax Digital specifically, how does it compare to Regulas?
Feature comparison
| Feature | Regulas | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Making Tax Digital quarterly submissions | ||
| Final declaration filing | ||
| Live HMRC tax calculations | ||
| AI-powered categorisation | ✓ (Auto-explain) | |
| UK & foreign property support | Limited | |
| Section 24 finance cost restriction | ✓ Automatic | |
| Agent/accountant portal | ||
| HMRC guidance built in | ||
| Free tier | ✓ (£0/mo) | ✓ (NatWest/RBS) |
| Bank feeds | Coming soon | |
| Invoicing | ||
| VAT MTD | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Self Assessment (SA100) |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | Regulas | FreeAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Cheapest | £0/month | Free (NatWest/RBS), otherwise £15.50/mo |
| Standard | £5.99/month | £29.50/month |
| Professional | £12.99/month | £29.50/month (single tier) |
| Enterprise | £29.99/month | N/A |
FreeAgent is free for NatWest, RBS, and Ulster Bank business current account holders. If you bank with NatWest Group, FreeAgent is a strong free option. Regulas is free for everyone — regardless of where you bank.
Who should choose Regulas?
- Sole traders who don't bank with NatWest and want a free Making Tax Digital solution
- Landlords — Regulas has purpose-built property features including Section 24 and multi-property support
- Those wanting live HMRC tax calculations rather than software-side estimates
- Users who want a focused Making Tax Digital tool without needing invoicing, time tracking, or payroll
- Anyone who finds FreeAgent's interface too complex for simple quarterly submissions
Who should choose FreeAgent?
- NatWest/RBS customers — you get FreeAgent free, which is hard to beat
- Freelancers who need invoicing, time tracking, and expense claims alongside MTD
- Users who also need to file Self Assessment (SA100) or MTD for VAT
- Those wanting bank feeds and automatic reconciliation today
The bottom line
FreeAgent is a well-rounded UK accounting tool — especially if you get it free through NatWest. But if your core need is Making Tax Digital quarterly compliance, Regulas is purpose-built for exactly that. It's simpler, cheaper (free for everyone), and brings HMRC guidance into every workflow. For landlords especially, Regulas's property-specific features are a clear advantage.
Try Regulas free
Making Tax Digital compliance. Free for everyone. No bank account required.
Disclaimer: Feature and pricing information is based on publicly available data as of March 2026 and may change. FreeAgent is a trademark of FreeAgent Central Limited (NatWest Group). Regulas is not affiliated with FreeAgent or NatWest Group.