TradeTally vs FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a Canadian invoicing and accounting platform popular with freelancers and service-based businesses. Known for its clean interface and time-tracking features, it focuses on making invoicing simple. However, it has limited UK-specific tax features and its pricing has shifted upward in recent years.
FreshBooks
£12–£37/month
Founded 2003 · Freelancers, consultants, service businesses
TradeTally
£12/mo
Built for UK sole trader tradespeople
Feature comparison
| Feature | FreshBooks | TradeTally |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | Included | ✓ |
| Quoting | Included | ✓ |
| Expense tracking | Included | ✓ |
| Receipt scanning | Included | ✓ |
| SA103F export | Not included | ✓ |
| Mobile app | Included | ✓ |
| MTD compatible | Not included | In progress |
| Bank reconciliation | Included | ✓ |
| Payroll | Not included | ✓ |
| Multi-currency | Included | ✓ |
| Inventory management | Not included | ✓ |
| Time tracking | Included | ✓ |
Where FreshBooks wins
- Clean, intuitive interface that non-accountants can use
- Strong time-tracking and project management features
- Good client portal for online payments
- Automatic payment reminders and late fees
Where TradeTally wins
- No SA103F export: not designed for UK Self Assessment
- No MTD compatibility for UK tax obligations
- No trade-specific workflows for materials, callouts, and job costing
- Pricing in USD adds currency conversion uncertainty
- Mobile experience not optimised for on-site tradespeople
FAQs
Is FreshBooks suitable for UK tradespeople?
FreshBooks works for basic invoicing but lacks UK-specific features like SA103F export and MTD compliance. TradeTally is built specifically for UK sole trader tradespeople and handles tax obligations out of the box.
Does FreshBooks support SA103F tax exports?
No. FreshBooks is a Canadian/US product and does not generate SA103F-ready figures. TradeTally produces one-click SA103F exports with your income, expenses, and profit categorised exactly as HMRC requires.
Why choose TradeTally over FreshBooks?
TradeTally is UK-built for tradespeople: SA103F exports, trade-specific expense categories, mobile-first design for job sites, and pricing in GBP from £12/month. FreshBooks is better suited to North American freelancers and consultants.