Crunch vs HelloTax
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Tax Software fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
· ⭐ Ratings from G2 (real user reviews)
76/100
$35 starting
UK freelancers, contractors, and small limited companies who want online accounting software plus a real UK accountant f
★ Best
💰 Pricing
Starting at $35 (subscription)
Fee notes:
- Monthly prices are in GBP and exclude VAT at 20% (shown as base).
- Yearly plan is equivalent to 10 months' cost, saving two months' fees.
- Crunch is known to charge £28+VAT per month for Core, rising to £38+VAT for Core with payroll, and £48+VAT for Complete.
- Additional services: Self-assessment filing for additional people (e.g., partner) available at £49 per return.
- Payroll for more than 10 employees: additional £5 per employee per month (approximately).
⚠ Watch for:
- VAT (currently 20%) is added to all subscription fees.
- On the yearly plan, if you cancel early, you may be charged the full year's fees.
- There is a setup fee of £99 for new limited company registration or conversion (if you need it) — though sometimes waived.
- Additional self-assessment filings for other individuals (e.g., spouse) are not included and cost extra.
🔧 Features
✓ Uk Focus✓ Freelancer Sme✓ Self Assessment✓ Vat✓ Accountant Included
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Crunch bundles a dedicated accountant with its software, which is a rare and valuable feature. You get a named UK-based accountant who can answer questions via phone or email, which is incredibly useful for tax planning, understanding dividends, or filing compliance. This is a huge benefit for business owners who lack accounting knowledge and would otherwise need to hire a separate accountant, saving time and potentially reducing errors.
- It's built specifically for UK tax rules, which is a major advantage. Crunch handles MTD-compliant VAT, self assessment, corporation tax, and dividend tracking natively, meaning you don't have to manually work out your tax liabilities. The software calculates your corporation tax and even helps with payroll, which is a boon for limited company directors who need to manage their salary and dividends efficiently.
- Real-time bank feeds and automatic reconciliation make bookkeeping less tedious. You connect your UK bank accounts via Open Banking, and Crunch pulls in transactions automatically. You can then categorize expenses quickly, and the software matches them to invoices and bills. This feature cuts down on manual data entry and ensures your financials are always up to date, which is great for businesses with high transaction volumes.
- Transparent monthly pricing is a plus, even if you have to ask for a quote. Once you know the rate (starting at $30/mo), it's a predictable subscription that includes everything: software plus accountant support. Compare this to paying for software (e.g., FreeAgent at ~$30/mo) and then separately paying an accountant (~$100/mo+), and Crunch can be a more cost-effective solution for many small businesses.
- The platform offers a mobile app for on-the-go expense tracking and banking. You can snap a photo of a receipt and it syncs to your account, which is handy for contractors and freelancers who incur expenses while away from their desk. This small feature keeps your records accurate and reduces the pile of paper receipts at year-end.
⚠ Watch out for
- Pricing is opaque — you have to book a demo or call Crunch to get a quote. This is a significant friction point for buyers who are comparing software online. Competitors like FreeAgent and Xero publish their rates clearly, so you know what you're getting into without sales calls. Crunch's hiding of pricing feels outdated and can put off potential customers who prefer self-serve onboarding.
- Crunch is not well-suited for unincorporated sole traders who don't need corporation tax or payroll features. The plans for freelancers (sole traders) are more limited, and the add-ons like payroll are geared toward limited companies. If you're a sole trader, you might be paying for features you don't need, making cheaper alternatives like QuickBooks Self-Employed more appealing.
- Integrations are sparse. Unlike Xero or QuickBooks, which have hundreds of third-party apps, Crunch only offers a handful of native integrations (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, and some banking). If you rely on custom tools or want to sync with a CRM or inventory system, you won't find them easily. This is a major drawback for growing businesses that need connected tools.
- The software's interface feels dated compared to rivals. While it's functional, some users report that the dashboard and navigation are not as intuitive as FreeAgent's. This can make the initial learning curve steeper, and it may feel less polished to tech-savvy users.
- Customer support, while included, can be slow to respond during peak tax season. Some users have reported waiting longer for email responses, which is frustrating when you have urgent questions. In contrast, other platforms offer instant chat support, though Crunch's phone support is generally reliable.
🎯 Best for
UK freelancers, contractors, and small limited companies who want online accounting software plus a real UK accountant for help with taxes and compliance.
🚫 Who should skip
Sole traders with simple finances who want free or low-cost DIY software, or larger businesses needing advanced inventory, multi-currency, or a large app ecosystem.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — if you've used any double-entry accounting software, the core features are easy; you'll need a bit of time to learn Crunch's own navigation and where accountant messages sit.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Crunch is a solid choice for UK limited company owners and contractors who want an all-in-one accounting service with built-in human expertise, especially if you prefer the reassurance of an accountant without the separate cost. It's not the best fit for sole traders who need minimal features or tho
40/100
$22 starting
European e-commerce sellers, especially Amazon FBA merchants, who want a simple, free way to comply with EU VAT across 2
💰 Pricing
Starting at $22 (subscription)
Fee notes:
- Prices are in EUR, excluding 21% Dutch VAT.
- VAT registration fees: €199 per country (one-time) or included in Pro/Enterprise.
- OSS filing per return: €15 per filing if not on a subscription plan.
- Additional services: payroll (from €50/month), corporation tax filing (from €250/year).
- Partner integrations: Amazon, Shopify, Bol.com, and others available at no extra cost.
⚠ Watch for:
- VAT registration fees are not included in the Starter plan; you'll pay €199 per country.
- Currency conversion fees apply if paying in USD (around 2%).
- Setup fee of €99 for onboarding on Professional and Enterprise plans.
- Annual plans require prepayment; no refunds after 14 days.
🔧 Features
✓ Amazon Fba✓ Oss Filing✓ Eu Wide✓ Dutch Origin✓ Marketplace Focus
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- The completely free core EU VAT compliance and OSS filing is a game-changer for Amazon FBA sellers. While competitors like Avalara charge per transaction or require annual contracts, HelloTax removes cost barriers, allowing sellers to maintain EU compliance without a significant financial outlay. This is especially valuable for startups and smaller sellers who are just beginning to expand across borders.
- HelloTax's deep specialization in Amazon FBA and e-commerce VAT is evident in its features. The platform understands how FBA inventory triggers VAT obligations in each EU country and provides clear guidance on multi-country registrations. This hands-on expertise reduces the risk of costly errors that generalist accounting software often overlooks.
- Coverage of all 27 EU countries in a single OSS filing simplifies cross-border compliance. Sellers no longer need to file separate VAT returns for each country, as HelloTax aggregates data and submits one return via the OSS system, saving time and reducing complexity.
- HelloTax offers automated VAT registration and management for multiple countries, handling the paperwork and ongoing requirements. This feature is critical for Amazon FBA sellers who frequently store products in warehouses across several countries, as it ensures they remain legally compliant without manual intervention.
- The platform integrates directly with Amazon, syncing sales data automatically. This reduces manual data entry and the risk of errors, allowing sellers to focus on growing their business rather than wrestling with spreadsheets.
⚠ Watch out for
- HelloTax exclusively supports EU VAT compliance, leaving sellers with non-EU obligations (e.g., UK, US, Asia) without coverage. A seller with global operations would need to invest in additional software or services, which undermines the convenience of a single-platform approach.
- The platform is tailored for Amazon FBA and e-commerce marketplace scenarios. Sellers who engage in direct B2B or B2C sales outside marketplaces, such as via their own online store or in-person sales, may find that HelloTax doesn't accommodate their needs, as it may not handle supply chain VAT nuances like drop-shipping.
- HelloTax is not a full-fledged accounting or ERP system. It focuses solely on VAT compliance, so users still need to rely on other tools for general bookkeeping, financial reporting, and integrations with banking or inventory management systems, adding complexity to their tech stack.
- The pricing model, while free for core filings, can become unclear with optional add-ons. Starting at $22/month for additional features, but sellers may require extra services like physical representation in some countries, which could escalate costs unexpectedly.
🎯 Best for
European e-commerce sellers, especially Amazon FBA merchants, who want a simple, free way to comply with EU VAT across 27 countries through OSS filing.
🚫 Who should skip
Large multinational retailers with complex global VAT chains, non-EU sellers that also need VAT advice for multiple jurisdictions, or businesses looking for a complete accounting suite.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal—the interface is straightforward and designed for sellers who need to file OSS returns without deep VAT expertise.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
HelloTax is an excellent choice for Amazon FBA sellers focused exclusively on EU markets, offering free VAT compliance and OSS filing that is unmatched in the industry. However, sellers with global obligations or non-marketplace sales should look for a more comprehensive solution. Bottom line: If yo
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseCrunchHelloTax
Managing a UK limited company's day-to-day bookkeeping90—
Full ledger, bank reconciliation, expense tracking, and accountant oversight bui
Filing personal self-assessment tax returns85—
Crunch calculates your tax liability from your income and expenses and lets you
VAT compliance for a small e-commerce or services business82—
MTD-compliant VAT submission with automated calculations and digital links to HM
Getting accountant advice on tax planning without hiring a separate firm94—
The included accountant support means you can ask questions about dividends, sal
Running a large or growing business with complex inventory or payroll35—
Crunch targets freelancers and small businesses, not mid-sized companies with mu
EU OSS VAT filing for Amazon FBA sellers—96
HelloTax automates the entire OSS filing process, capturing cross-border sales a
Managing VAT registrations for multi-country FBA inventory—88
It helps track where FBA stock creates physical presence and files the required
Amazon marketplace compliance for Dutch e-commerce exporters—94
Built by a Dutch team with deep Amazon-specific knowledge, it's tailored to sell
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Crunch if...
- You are: UK freelancers, contractors, and small limited companies who want online accounting software plus a real UK accountant f
- 👍 Bundled human accountant support at a transparent monthly subscription — rare among online accountin
- 👍 Built specifically for UK tax rules: MTD-compliant VAT, corporation tax, self-assessment, and divide
- 👍 Real-time bank feeds from major UK banks simplify reconciliation and keep financials up to date with
- 💰 From $35.28/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Pricing is opaque; you have to book a demo or call to get a quote, unlike FreeAg
Choose HelloTax if...
- You are: European e-commerce sellers, especially Amazon FBA merchants, who want a simple, free way to comply with EU VAT across 2
- 👍 Completely free for core EU VAT compliance and OSS filing, removing a significant cost barrier for A
- 👍 Deep specialization in Amazon FBA and e-commerce VAT, with hands-on understanding of how FBA invento
- 👍 Covers all 27 EU countries in a single OSS filing, simplifying cross-border compliance.
- 💰 From $22/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Only handles EU VAT; sellers with non-EU VAT obligations (e.g., UK, US, Asia) wi
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Crunch cost?
Crunch doesn't publish upfront pricing; you need to request a quote or contact their sales team. Pricing typically varies based on your business structure (sole trader vs limited company) and the level of service you need.
Is Crunch a good FreeAgent alternative?
Yes, for UK users who want accountancy support bundled in. Crunch includes human accountant access, which FreeAgent alone doesn't. But FreeAgent has a slightly polished UX and a larger third-party ecosystem, so it depends on your preference for software vs. service.
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