Best Free Expense Trackers for UK Self-Employed (2026)

Updated July 2026 · Independent comparison, not sponsored

Expense tracking apps range from fully free browser tools to full accounting suites that are free only under certain conditions. Here's how the main free options compare for UK sole traders.

	PayToolkit	FreeAgent	Pocket Clear	Finny
Free	✓	Free with NatWest/RBS/Mettle account	✓	✓
No signup required	✓	✗	✗	✗
No data stored by default	✓	✗	✗	✗
Mileage tracking	✓	✓	Varies	Varies
HMRC category mapping	✓	✓	Limited	Limited
Full accounting suite	✗	✓	✗	✗
Tax dashboard / profit view	✓	✓	Limited	✓
Mobile friendly	✓	✓	✓	✓

FreeAgent is genuinely excellent if you already bank with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, or Mettle — you get a full accounting suite for free, including MTD-compliant VAT filing, which PayToolkit does not offer. If you don't bank with one of those providers, FreeAgent is a paid product. Pocket Clear and Finny are solid lightweight trackers. PayToolkit's Expense Tracker is aimed at people who want to log expenses and see their tax position without any signup or account at all, syncing only if you choose to.

Try PayToolkit's Expense Tracker free

FAQ

Is FreeAgent really free?

Only if you hold a business account with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, or Mettle. Otherwise it's a paid subscription.

Does PayToolkit's Expense Tracker require an account?

No — you can use it as a guest with no signup. An optional free account is available if you want your data to sync across devices.

Methodology: Comparisons are based on each provider's own published pricing and feature pages as of July 2026. We link out to alternatives fairly and do not accept payment for placement in this comparison. If something here looks out of date, let us know.