- Sleek ranks first for a named accountant and bookkeeping on every plan
- Crunch still suits directors who want to run their own books in an app
- Export your Crunch data before you leave, then hand over to your new firm
Sleek is our top-ranked pick among Crunch Accounting alternatives, followed by Gorilla Accounting, Accounting Wise, The Accountancy Partnership and Mazuma. Sleek gives every client a named limited company accountant with bookkeeping included on every plan, so one person knows your company and the books aren’t left to you. If you like running your own books in an app with accountants on hand, staying with Crunch can still make sense, and we cover when below.
Why look for a Crunch alternative?
Most people comparing companies like Crunch aren’t unhappy with the software. Crunch pairs its own accounting app with unlimited advice from a team of chartered certified accountants, and plenty of directors like that model.
Public customer reviews of Crunch are largely positive, with frequent praise for the software and friendly staff. Among the critical reviews, the most common theme is waiting for replies to queries, and Crunch has acknowledged some of these delays in its own responses.
Beyond service, the reasons people look at Crunch alternatives usually come down to how its plans are built:
- You want one named accountant. On Crunch’s Limited Company Pro and Premium plans, a dedicated Client Success Manager is your first contact, backed by a team of accountants. A dedicated accountant comes with Premium Plus, which Crunch aims at businesses turning over more than £100k.
- You want the bookkeeping done for you. Crunch’s plans are built around keeping your books in its software, with a dedicated bookkeeper available as an add-on.
- You want more filings in the core fee. A director’s Self Assessment return is included on Premium but charged separately on Pro, and the confirmation statement and a registered office are options you add when you build a quote.
- You’d rather use Xero or FreeAgent. Crunch runs on its own software, so a firm that works in your preferred package may suit you better.
In Sleek’s UK sales calls, directors thinking about switching tend to ask one question first: what does the fee include, and what costs extra? Our guide to limited company accountant costs sets out typical ranges, so you can judge any quote on scope rather than headline price.
How did we rank these Crunch Accounting alternatives?
We scored the Crunch competitors that come up most often for UK limited companies. We’re Sleek, so we’ve ranked ourselves first, and we’ve set out the criteria so you can check our working.
Each provider was scored on details published on its own website in October 2026:
- whether every plan comes with a named or dedicated accountant, rather than only the top tiers
- whether bookkeeping is included in the fee or charged as an add-on
- how many filings and company services you can keep with one provider as you grow
Packages change, so check the latest version with any provider before you sign.
| Rank | Provider | Named or dedicated accountant | Bookkeeping | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sleek | Yes, a named UK accountant on every plan | Included on every plan | Growing limited companies that want bookkeeping, filings and company admin in one place |
| 2 | Gorilla Accounting | Yes, on every package | You keep the books in FreeAgent or Xero, with a quarterly review | Contractors and freelancers who want one all-inclusive fixed fee |
| 3 | Accounting Wise | Yes, on every package | Chosen as part of a pre-built or build-your-own package | Businesses that want a custom package |
| 4 | The Accountancy Partnership | Yes, on every package | Paid add-on, or keep your own books in Pandle | Directors who want to start lean and add services later |
| 5 | Mazuma | An accountancy team rather than a named accountant | Done by Mazuma’s team | Sole traders and small companies that want to hand over paperwork |
| – | Crunch (for reference) | Client Success Manager plus an accountant team; dedicated accountant on Premium Plus | You keep the books in its app, or add a bookkeeper | Directors who want to run their books in software with unlimited advice |
Competitor prices are left out on purpose, because headline fees change often and rarely cover the same work, and Sleek’s plans are set out below. For a full head-to-head on price and scope, see Sleek vs Crunch.
Which Crunch alternative suits your business?
Here’s how each Crunch alternative UK directors shortlist compares against our criteria, in ranked order.
1. Sleek: best for growing limited companies
Every Sleek plan comes with a named UK accountant and bookkeeping included, plus year-end accounts, your Company Tax Return, the confirmation statement and at least one director’s Self Assessment return. Each plan also sets a reply time for your accountant, so you know when to expect an answer.
Here’s how the four plans break down (prices exclude VAT):
| Plan | Price | Annual revenue | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £900 a year (annual billing only) | Up to £90,000 | Annual bookkeeping, 1 Self Assessment return, replies within 72 hours |
| Scale | £1,399 a year or £130 a month | Up to £90,000 | Quarterly bookkeeping, 2 Self Assessment returns, replies within 48 hours |
| Pro | £1,836 a year (usually £2,160) or £200 a month | Up to £200,000 | Monthly bookkeeping, VAT registration and quarterly VAT returns, replies within 24 hours |
| Enterprise | £4,299 a year or £399 a month | Up to £500,000 | Everything in Pro, plus a quarterly management accounts review, a quarterly advisory call on request and same-day replies |
Payroll is £85 per employee a year, and Xero is available for £375 a year if you’d rather not use SleekBooks. Incorporation, a registered office, company secretarial support, R&D tax credit claims and SEIS/EIS advance assurance can all sit with the same team. You can compare our plans and pricing in full before you decide.
Choose Sleek if you want a Crunch alternative UK limited companies can keep as they grow, with one accountant who knows your company and handles the books for you. What you pay for is what you get, and each plan spells out every filing it covers.
2. Gorilla Accounting: best for one all-inclusive fee
Gorilla Accounting gives every client a dedicated accountant and one fixed-fee package covering accounts, the Company Tax Return, quarterly VAT returns, payroll for up to two employees and one Self Assessment return. FreeAgent is included, and Xero is available.
You keep the books yourself, with a quarterly review from your accountant, so check that suits how you work.
3. Accounting Wise: best for a custom package
Accounting Wise offers pre-built packages or a build-your-own option, plus one-off services, with a dedicated online accountant on every package. It works with several software providers and offers face-to-face meetings for clients in London and the Home Counties.
Check which services sit in your monthly package and which are billed separately.
4. The Accountancy Partnership: best for starting lean
Every client gets a dedicated accountant and Pandle software, with director Self Assessment returns, VAT returns, payroll and bookkeeping added as paid extras. There’s no fixed-term contract.
Add up the extras you’ll need before comparing totals. Our Sleek vs The Accountancy Partnership comparison covers the detail.
5. Mazuma: best for handing over paperwork
Mazuma’s team does the bookkeeping from paperwork you send by app or post, with its software included in the fee. Support comes from an accountancy team rather than one named accountant.
Ask which filings and add-ons sit in your quote, and who your day-to-day contact will be.
When does staying with Crunch make sense?
Sometimes. Crunch suits directors who like keeping their own books in an app and want unlimited advice from chartered certified accountants on top, so not everyone comparing Crunch alternatives needs to move.
Staying put is usually the sensible call if:
- you’re comfortable doing your own bookkeeping in Crunch’s software
- you’re a contractor who relies on Crunch’s IR35 tools
- your questions are simple enough for a Client Success Manager backed by an accountant team
- you’re close to your year end or in the middle of an HMRC enquiry, when moving firms adds work
If one specific problem started your search, raise it with Crunch first. If it isn’t fixed, leaving Crunch is straightforward, as Crunch describes its plans as a monthly rolling subscription with no long-term contract.
How do you switch from Crunch without losing records?
Switching works the same way as leaving any accountant, and your new firm does most of the legwork. You don’t need permission to go, as ICAEW guidance on changing accountant explains that an outgoing accountant has no power to grant or refuse clearance for the new firm to act.
What happens when you switch?
- Choose your new accountant and agree the scope and fee in writing.
- Export your records from Crunch’s software while your subscription is still active.
- Tell Crunch in writing that you’re leaving, and agree the last piece of work they’ll complete.
- Your new accountant sends Crunch a professional enquiry and asks for the handover.
- Your new firm gets authorised as your agent with HMRC for Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE.
- Your records move into the new firm’s software, ready for the next filing.
Which records should you ask for?
Before you switch from Crunch, make sure you have:
- your last filed accounts and Company Tax Return, with the tax computations
- a full export of your invoices, expenses and bank transactions up to the switch date
- VAT returns and workings for the current and previous year
- payroll records, including any P11D forms
- your company’s tax references and its Companies House authentication code
- records of dividends paid and any director’s loan account balance
Keep your own copies as well. A limited company must keep its accounting records for six years from the end of the financial year they relate to, and HMRC can fine you £3,000 if you don’t.
When is the best time to switch?
Timing matters more than process. A private company must file accounts 9 months after its financial year ends and its Company Tax Return 12 months after the accounting period, so switching with a few weeks to go puts both firms under pressure.
The calmer window is usually just after your accounts are filed, or a few months before your year end. Our guide on how to change accountants walks through every step.
How Sleek helps you switch from Crunch
When you switch from Crunch to Sleek, we contact Crunch, request the handover and get authorised with HMRC, so you’re not chasing anyone. Your named accountant reviews your exported records, moves your books onto your new plan and confirms your next deadlines.
Our online accounting services cover bookkeeping, year-end accounts, corporation tax and the confirmation statement in one relationship, with VAT returns and payroll available as your company grows.
Compare a Sleek quote with your Crunch quote
Prices may vary with current promotions. Check the latest on the relevant page.
FAQs on crunch accounting alternatives
Is there a cheaper alternative to Crunch?
Several Crunch competitors advertise lower starting fees, but a starting fee rarely covers the same work. Crunch’s own plans differ too: a director’s Self Assessment return is included on Limited Company Premium but charged separately on Pro. Price the services your company actually needs with each provider, then compare annual totals rather than headline monthly fees.
Will I lose my data if I leave Crunch?
Your records sit in Crunch’s own software, so export them before your subscription ends. Crunch’s support team points users to the “Export your Crunch data” option in Settings, which downloads your records as a spreadsheet. Keep the export with your company records and share a copy with your new accountant.
Is there a minimum contract when leaving Crunch?
Crunch describes its plans as a monthly rolling subscription with no long-term contract. Check your plan’s terms for notice and for any work already under way, such as year-end accounts, before you give notice. Confirm in writing which filings Crunch will finish before the handover.
Do I need to tell Companies House when I change accountant?
No, Companies House doesn’t record who your accountant is. If your registered office is your accountant’s address, though, you’ll need a new address and must file form AD01 to change it. Crunch offers a registered office address as an add-on, so check whether this applies to you.
Do companies like Crunch handle R&D claims or SEIS?
Some online accountants do, usually as specialist work outside the core package. Sleek handles R&D tax credit claims and SEIS/EIS advance assurance alongside your accounts. Ask any provider whether this work is quoted separately before you assume it’s included.
How can I check an online accountant is properly qualified?
Ask which professional body the firm’s accountants belong to, such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT, and check membership directly with that body. ICAEW runs a public Find a Chartered Accountant directory for its members. Most online firms list their memberships on their websites, which gives you a starting point.
Is a local accountant a better choice than an online one?
A local firm suits you if regular face-to-face meetings matter more than flexible contact. Online firms mostly work by phone, email and video, though some offer in-person meetings as well. Think about how often you want to talk to your accountant and how, then pick the model that matches.
