Read this first. Canny is in development and not yet recognised by HMRC or Companies House. This page compares the planned first release with what FreeAgent offers today. Facts about FreeAgent come from this page, checked on 14 November 2026. If something is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
Side by side
| Canny | FreeAgent | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Native Mac and iPhone app for UK micro-companies and sole traders | Online accounting subscription |
| Runs as | Native Mac and iPhone app | Web app, plus mobile app |
| Bookkeeping and bank import | Yes | Yes |
| VAT returns (Making Tax Digital) | Yes | Yes |
| Company tax return (CT600) and accounts | Yes, in the same app | Yes: final accounts and corporation tax return filed from FreeAgent |
| Where your data lives | Your own iCloud | FreeAgent's servers (FreeAgent is owned by NatWest Group) |
| Price | £49 once, plus £79 for each year you file | £33 a month or £330 a year + VAT for a limited company; free with some bank accounts |
| Cost of a typical first year | £128: the app (£49) plus one year-end pack (£79) | £330 + VAT a year at the full price (half price for the first year). Free while you keep a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business account. |
| Available now | No, in development | Yes |
Choose FreeAgent if
- You already bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle, so it costs nothing.
- You want payroll in the same product.
- You're happy working in a browser.
Choose Canny if
- You bank elsewhere (Starling, Monzo, Tide, Wise…) and would pay £330 + VAT every year.
- You want a native Mac app that works offline.
- You'd rather keep your books in your own iCloud than with a bank-owned service.
- You want to pay only in the years you actually file.
What Canny looks like
One window for the whole year: bank lines to review, receipts from your iPhone, and the next deadline always in view.
