If you run a small UK business and you are looking for an online accountant, you have probably come across both Mazuma and Crunch. They are two of the biggest names in the space, and they both offer a flat-fee, app-based service aimed at small limited companies, sole traders, and contractors. But they work quite differently under the bonnet.
This article compares Mazuma vs Crunch across the factors that actually matter to a business owner: price, software, what you get for your money, and which type of business each one suits best. We are an ICAEW qualified firm ourselves, so we will give you the straight facts without the marketing spin.
What Mazuma and Crunch Actually Do
Both firms are online accountants. You do not visit a physical office. You submit your income and expenses through their software, and their team prepares your accounts, tax returns, and filings. The difference is in how the software works and how much human involvement you get.
Mazuma uses a receipt-scanning model. You photograph receipts using their mobile app, and their team categorises them for you. You do not do the bookkeeping. They do. This is their main selling point: hands-off bookkeeping for a flat monthly fee.
Crunch gives you full accounting software (Crunch Software) to use yourself. You connect your bank feed, categorise transactions, and run your own bookkeeping. Their team then reviews everything, prepares your year-end accounts, and files your tax returns. You do the day-to-day data entry. They do the compliance.
That distinction drives everything else in this comparison.
Pricing: Mazuma vs Crunch Fees
Pricing changes over time, so always check the current rates on each provider's website. But as of the 2025/26 tax year, here is where they sit.
Mazuma Pricing
Mazuma charges a flat monthly fee based on your business type and the number of transactions you process. For a typical limited company director with moderate spending, expect to pay roughly £90 to £130 per month. Sole trader packages start lower, around £60 to £80 per month. The price includes the bookkeeping service (they categorise your receipts) plus your annual accounts and tax return filings.
There are add-ons for things like VAT returns, payroll, and self assessment for company directors. Each add-on adds roughly £15 to £30 per month.
Crunch Pricing
Crunch also uses a flat monthly fee. Their limited company package (which includes the software, year-end accounts, and corporation tax return) starts at around £80 to £100 per month. Sole trader packages are cheaper, around £50 to £70 per month.
Crunch's base package does not include VAT filing or payroll. Those are separate add-ons, typically £15 to £25 per month each. One thing Crunch includes in their standard package that Mazuma charges extra for is the self assessment return for the director.
Bottom line on price: Crunch tends to be slightly cheaper if you are comfortable doing your own bookkeeping. Mazuma is more expensive but you are paying for them to do the bookkeeping for you. A sole trader with ten receipts a month will pay less under either model than a limited company with fifty transactions a month.
Software and User Experience
Mazuma Software
Mazuma's mobile app is straightforward. You take a photo of a receipt, the app reads the date and amount, and you tag it (petrol, office supplies, software subscription). Their team then checks and categorises everything properly. You can also forward email invoices to a dedicated address.
The dashboard shows your profit and loss in real time, your tax estimate, and what you owe HMRC. It is not full accounting software in the Xero or QuickBooks sense. You cannot run a detailed aged debtor report or manage stock. But for a typical service business or contractor, it gives you everything you need.
Crunch Software
Crunch's own software is a proper double-entry accounting system. It has bank feeds, invoicing, expense tracking, and automated VAT calculations. You categorise transactions yourself, though Crunch's system learns patterns over time and suggests categories.
The software is less polished than Xero or FreeAgent in my experience. The interface feels a generation older. But it works, and because it is built specifically for the Crunch service, the handoff between your bookkeeping and their compliance work is seamless. There is no file export or import step.
If you already use Xero or QuickBooks, Crunch will not integrate with those. You have to use their software. Mazuma, by contrast, works with whatever software you already use, or you can use their app alone.
Service Scope: What Is Actually Included
This is where the Mazuma vs Crunch comparison gets interesting, because the headline price does not tell you the full story.
What Mazuma Includes
- Unlimited receipt processing via their app
- Monthly management accounts (profit and loss, balance sheet)
- Year-end accounts and corporation tax return (CT600) for limited companies
- Self assessment tax return (SA100) for sole traders
- Confirmation statement filing at Companies House
- HMRC correspondence handled on your behalf
VAT returns, payroll, and director self assessment are charged extra. The standard package covers the business filings only.
What Crunch Includes
- Full access to Crunch accounting software
- Bank feeds and transaction categorisation tools
- Year-end accounts and corporation tax return (CT600)
- Self assessment return for the director (included in the limited company package)
- Confirmation statement filing
- Unlimited support via email and phone
VAT returns and payroll are add-ons. Company secretarial services (like filing changes to directors or share structure) are also extra.
Key difference: Mazuma does the bookkeeping for you. Crunch gives you the tools to do it yourself, then checks your work at year end. If you hate data entry, Mazuma wins. If you want control and lower cost, Crunch wins.
Who Is Each One For?
Mazuma Suits You If:
- You hate bookkeeping and want someone else to do it
- You have a high volume of small receipts (tradespeople, freelancers with lots of expenses)
- You want a simple app, not full accounting software
- You are a sole trader or a one-person limited company
- You do not need detailed management reporting mid-year
Crunch Suits You If:
- You are comfortable categorising your own transactions
- You want full accounting software with bank feeds and invoicing
- You are a limited company director who wants director self assessment included
- You want to keep your monthly cost lower
- You are happy to use Crunch's own software rather than Xero or FreeAgent
Neither firm is ideal for a business with complex stock, multiple employees, or international transactions. If you run a manufacturing business or a retail operation with significant inventory, you are better off with a traditional firm that uses Xero or Sage 50, or a firm like ours that provides a more tailored service.
What About the Alternatives?
Mazuma and Crunch are not the only options. Our services page covers the full range of what a traditional ICAEW qualified firm can offer, which often works out better for growing businesses that need more than just compliance.
Other online accountants worth looking at include:
- FreeAgent (software plus accountant, often bundled with business bank accounts)
- Xero (software only, you supply your own accountant)
- QuickBooks (same model as Xero)
- Aardvark (similar to Mazuma, receipt-scanning model)
If you are considering incorporating a new company, check our incorporation guide for the full picture on what you need to set up.
Our Verdict on Mazuma vs Crunch
If you want to outsource everything and barely think about bookkeeping, Mazuma is the better choice. You pay more, but you get genuine hands-off service. It works well for sole traders and contractors who have straightforward finances and want to save time.
If you are comfortable with a bit of data entry and want to keep costs down, Crunch gives you a solid package. The included director self assessment is a genuine benefit for limited company owners. The software is not the best on the market, but it is good enough for most small businesses.
For businesses that have outgrown either model, or that need specialist advice on areas like R&D tax credits, complex VAT, or exit planning, a traditional firm is usually a better fit. The flat-fee online accountants work well up to a certain point, but they are not built for complexity.
If your turnover is above £250,000 or you have multiple directors, employees, or associated companies, speak to a qualified accountant who can assess your situation properly. Contact us if you want to talk through your options.