Overview

KashFlow brings everyday accounting tasks into a web-based service, with mobile apps for working from a phone. Invoices can be customised, emailed or printed, and recurring billing and reminders can reduce follow-up work for businesses with repeat clients. Quotes and estimates can become invoices, connecting sales preparation to billing.

Purchases, expenses and mileage tracking cover routine bookkeeping. Receipt capture, financial reports and access for an accountant add practical support for keeping records current and reviewing them. KashFlow has served small businesses since 2005 and joined IRIS following its acquisition in 2013.

Key features

Banking, tax and payroll

Bank feeds connect multiple accounts and import transactions for reconciliation and cash-flow visibility. That can cut manual entry, but the Starter allowance of 25 bank transactions is a meaningful constraint for businesses with frequent account activity; Business removes the transaction cap. KashFlow also supports online VAT returns through an HMRC connection, alongside sales tax tools and multi-currency support.

Payroll is included, with five payroll employees on both plans. That is useful for small employers, but the listed allowance does not scale with the move to Business, so firms with larger payrolls should check whether it fits before choosing.

Integrations and access

An accounting API supports application integrations, bespoke development and automation scripts, making KashFlow a more plausible fit for teams that need to connect accounting to an existing stack. Zapier and IRIS Pay are also among the plan features. The service supports Android, iOS and web access; KashFlow Go is described for use with a phone and internet connection.

KashFlow describes SSL encryption for data in transit, firewall monitoring, London-based hosting and a backup data centre. Support includes a UK customer team, knowledge base, videos, webinars and training events.

Pricing

KashFlow is paid software with a 14-day trial and no free plan. The published standard monthly prices are £13.50 per month for Starter and £27.50 per month for Business. Starter includes one user, up to 10 invoices, 25 bank transactions and five payroll employees. It is positioned for sole traders, contractors and small businesses, but the invoice and bank limits make it a poor fit once volume grows.

Business includes unlimited invoices and bank transactions, five payroll employees and multi-user access. It is aimed at growing businesses and limited companies; the higher price buys room for more activity and users, rather than a larger payroll allowance.

Annual offers for new customers are $97.00 per year for Starter, with one user, 10 invoices and up to 25 bank transactions, and $178.00 per year for Business, with unlimited invoices and bank transactions and multi-user access. Promotional monthly plans for new customers are also shown for Starter and Business, but their prices are custom pricing. Compare the annual offer terms with the standard monthly prices when budgeting, and account for the trial ending after 14 days: there is no free tier to keep using afterward.

Platforms

KashFlow supports web, Android, iOS and API access. That combination suits businesses needing a browser-based accounting system with mobile access or a route to custom integration.

Who it's for

Starter is the more natural choice for a sole trader or contractor with one user, low invoice volume and no more than 25 bank transactions in the period the allowance covers. Business makes more sense for a growing company that needs multiple users or unlimited invoice and bank transaction volumes. The API can appeal to teams automating accounting workflows, while the five-employee payroll cap deserves particular attention from employers comparing tiers.

Pros and cons

Pro: Invoicing covers recurring billing, reminders and quote conversion, useful for businesses managing repeat work and the path from estimate to invoice.
Pro: Multi-account bank feeds, VAT submission and accountant access bring reconciliation and core tax workflows into the same service.
Pro: An accounting API supports bespoke integrations and automation, an advantage for teams fitting accounting into an existing stack.
Con: Starter caps usage at 10 invoices and 25 bank transactions, which can force an upgrade even for a small business with frequent activity.
Con: Business raises invoice and transaction limits but retains the five-employee payroll allowance.
Con: There is no free plan, so continued use requires a paid subscription after the 14-day trial.

Alternatives

Choose Wave if a free plan and unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records matter more than KashFlow’s stated UK VAT workflow and accounting API; online card payments carry a 2.9% + $0.60 fee per transaction. FreshBooks is another paid alternative with a free trial and monthly Lite, Plus and Premium tiers, for readers comparing a different tiered invoicing service.

Zoho Books may suit solopreneurs and micro businesses seeking an indefinite free plan, provided annual revenue stays below $50K. Consider Odoo Accounting if a free plan and self-hosted availability are priorities. BUSY is a free alternative with a web platform and a free billing and accounting plan. FreeAgent is worth comparing for its free plan and paid Sole trader and Partnership or LLP tiers. Clear Books offers a forever-free sole-trader bookkeeping plan with no transaction limits, alongside a paid Sole Trader tier. GnuCash is a free desktop option for Linux, macOS and Windows.

For broader comparisons, browse Bookkeeping Software, Accounting Practice Management Software or Salon Accounting Software.

Verdict

KashFlow is a sound fit for small businesses that want bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll and bank reconciliation together, with an API for integrations and accountant access. Choose it when Starter’s limits fit your volume or Business’s unlimited invoices and bank transactions justify the higher standard monthly price. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan, expect Starter caps to be restrictive, or require payroll for more than five employees.

	Frappe Books	KashFlow
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	Free	£8.08/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Android, api, iOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Invoice creation	Yes	—
Inventory tracking	Yes	—
Receipt capture	—	Yes
Accountant access	—	Yes

Frappe Books vs KashFlow

Frappe Books

KashFlow