The best Crunch alternative for UK freelancers
Crunch bundles professional accountancy services with software — great if you want an accountant included. Invoa is focused invoicing software at £7.99/mo, built for freelancers who just need to invoice and get paid.
Try Invoa Free — No Credit CardFree Starter plan — 3 invoices/mo with no commitment.
The core difference
Crunch is not purely invoicing software — it is an accountancy service that includes software. The main draw is access to qualified accountants who handle your VAT returns, bookkeeping, and Self Assessment. That makes Crunch genuinely useful if you want professional accountancy included in a monthly subscription. Invoa is a different kind of product: focused invoicing software built for UK freelancers who already have an accountant or handle their own tax returns, and who need a fast, HMRC-compliant way to create invoices, chase payments, and reconcile their bank account.
At a glance
The headline differences between Invoa and Crunch for UK freelancers.
When each product wins
These are genuinely different products. The right choice comes down to whether you need accountancy services bundled in.
Choose Invoa when…
- You already have an accountant and just need great invoicing software
- You want HMRC-compliant VAT invoices that work out of the box — no configuration
- You want UK Open Banking to automatically match bank payments to invoices
- You want to save money — Invoa Pro is £7.99/mo vs Crunch Sole Trader Pro at £27+VAT/mo
- You file your own Self Assessment via HMRC online and don't need accountant support
- You want a free plan with no ads and no commitment
Choose Crunch when…
- You want a dedicated accountant included in your monthly subscription
- You want your VAT returns prepared and filed for you automatically
- You want Self Assessment filing handled by a professional
- You need expense tracking, bookkeeping, and full accounts preparation
- You are a limited company and need full company accounts and corporation tax filing
- You want a single provider for all your accountancy and invoicing needs
Feature comparison
A complete side-by-side look at what each product includes for UK freelancers.
Invoa: Open Banking auto-reconciliation (Beta). Crunch: bank feeds free with business bank accounts.
Crunch: MTD VAT on Plus plan (£10+VAT/mo) and above.
Crunch: ITSA support on Plus plan and above.
Invoa: Business plan. Crunch: available across plans.
Invoa: 3 invoices/mo. Crunch: ad-supported free tier.
Crunch: dedicated accountants on Sole Trader Pro (£27+VAT/mo) and above.
Crunch: included on accountancy service tiers.
Crunch: built-in payroll on accountancy tiers.
Frequently asked questions
How does Crunch compare to Invoa on price?
Crunch's software-only plans start at free (ad-supported) and go up to £10+VAT/month (£12/month) for Crunch Plus. However, Crunch's main proposition is its accountancy service tiers, which start at £27+VAT/month (£32.40/month) for Sole Trader Pro — this includes a dedicated accountant, bookkeeping support, VAT returns, and Self Assessment filing. Invoa Pro is £7.99/month and covers unlimited invoicing with HMRC-compliant VAT invoices, UK Open Banking reconciliation, and automatic payment reminders. If you only need invoicing software and handle your own accounting, Invoa is significantly cheaper. If you want an accountant bundled in, Crunch's service tiers offer good value for what they include.
Does Crunch include a professional accountant?
Yes — Crunch's accountancy service tiers (Sole Trader Pro at £27+VAT/mo and above) include access to qualified accountants who handle your VAT returns, year-end accounts, and Self Assessment filing. The software-only plans (Free, Lite, Plus) do not include accountant support. Invoa does not include accountant services — it is invoicing software only. If you already work with your own accountant, Invoa handles the invoicing side and produces the exports they need.
Does Crunch support Making Tax Digital?
Yes. Crunch supports both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA). MTD VAT filing and MTD ITSA are available on the Crunch Plus software plan (£10+VAT/month) and all accountancy tiers. Invoa keeps MTD-compatible records but does not submit directly to HMRC — that step is handled by your accountant or a separate bridging tool.
Why use Invoa instead of Crunch for UK freelancing?
The right choice depends on what you need. If you want an all-in-one service that handles your invoicing, bookkeeping, VAT returns, and Self Assessment with a dedicated accountant — Crunch's accountancy tiers offer genuine value. If you only need invoicing software — to create invoices, track payments, chase late payers automatically, and reconcile your bank account — Invoa does that job at £7.99/month, significantly cheaper than Crunch's accountancy plans. Many freelancers use Invoa for day-to-day invoicing and a separate accountant (or file their own Self Assessment via HMRC online) for the annual tax side.
Can I switch from Crunch to Invoa?
Yes. You can export your client and invoice history from Crunch and recreate your clients in Invoa. Since Invoa stores your invoice PDFs from the point you start, your records are preserved going forward. Note that if you are currently using Crunch for your VAT returns or Self Assessment filing, you will need to arrange an alternative for those — either filing directly via HMRC's online service or through a separate accountant. The Invoa free Starter plan lets you test the product before committing, with no time limit.
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Try Invoa free — no credit card required
Start on the free Starter plan. HMRC-compliant VAT invoices, automatic payment reminders, and UK Open Banking reconciliation — built for UK freelancers at £7.99/mo.
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