Many autónomos struggle to find accounting software that is both simple and compliant with Spanish tax rules. Quarterly IVA (Modelo 303), personal income tax advances (Modelo 130), and correct invoice formatting are non-negotiable. This guide compares the top tools for autónomos: renn, Xolo, Cuéntica, Holded, and Quipu, scored on price, ease of use, tax features, and Verifactu readiness.
Quick answer
Best for solo freelancers who want free invoicing: renn (free up to 25 invoices/month, Verifactu-certified).
Best if you want an accountant included: Xolo (€75-149/month, accountant on the account).
Best Spanish-only platform for autónomos: Cuéntica (€15/month, full Modelo support).
Best for growing SMEs needing ERP features: Holded (€15-100/month, invoicing + inventory + CRM).
Best for expense capture and gestoría add-on: Quipu (€17-60/month, OCR receipts, optional gestor).
When does Verifactu become mandatory for autónomos? 1 July 2027. Companies from 1 January 2027.
Why IVA and IRPF compliance matters
Missing a quarterly filing or issuing a non-compliant invoice can trigger fines from €150 up to €10,000 per infraction. Spain requires:
Modelo 303: quarterly IVA declaration, filed by 20 April, 20 July, 20 October, and 30 January.
Modelo 130: quarterly IRPF advance, 20% of net profit, same deadlines.
Modelo 036: census registration with the correct IAE epígrafe and IVA regime.
All invoices: twelve mandatory fields including NIF, tax base, IVA rate, and IRPF withholding.
From 1 July 2027, Verifactu compliance becomes mandatory for autónomos (Royal Decree 15/2025). All invoices must be created through certified software that generates a tamper-proof hash and QR code. Platforms that do not meet Verifactu standards cannot be used for invoicing from that date.
renn is a tax assistant built specifically for autónomos. It is the only tool on this list with a genuinely usable free tier that covers Verifactu-certified invoicing.
Pricing
Free: up to 25 invoices/month, Verifactu-certified invoicing, IVA and IRPF calculation.
Paid (from €15/month): unlimited invoices, automated bookkeeping, quarterly Modelo 303 and 130 filing, gestor review on demand.
Key features
Verifactu-certified invoicing with QR and hash chain from day one.
AI expense categorisation from bank feed or uploaded receipts.
Modelo 303, 130, 036, and 349 support.
Spanish IVA rates (21%, 10%, 4%) and IRPF withholding (7% and 15%) built in.
Reverse charge and intra-EU invoicing for VIES-registered clients.
Real accountants reviewing filings before submission.
Pros
Only platform with a free tier that is already Verifactu-certified.
Clean interface, no unnecessary complexity for solo autónomos.
Handles the full compliance stack (invoicing + filings) from one place.
Cons
Newer platform; smaller community and third-party integrations than legacy tools.
No inventory or CRM module; pure accounting and invoicing focus.
Best suited for: freelancers and consultants with straightforward needs who want to avoid complex menus and manual entry.
Holded covers invoicing, accounting, CRM, inventory, and project management in one dashboard. It is aimed at growing SMEs rather than solo freelancers.
Pricing
From €15/month (invoicing only) up to €100+/month for full ERP features.
14-day free trial.
Key features
Full invoicing suite with IVA, IRPF, and Verifactu-ready export.
Inventory management with product catalogue and stock tracking.
CRM and project management modules.
Bank feed and automatic reconciliation.
Multi-user roles for teams.
Integrates with Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, and major Spanish banks.
Pros
All-in-one: replaces separate invoicing, CRM, and inventory tools.
Scales from autónomo to SME without switching platforms.
Strong API and integration ecosystem.
Cons
Overkill and expensive for a solo autónomo with simple invoicing needs.
Steeper learning curve than single-purpose tools.
Full Verifactu certification: confirm on AEAT list before the 2027 deadline.
Best suited for: autónomos growing into small businesses, teams with inventory or project billing, and founders who want one platform as the business scales.
Quipu is a Spanish platform designed for freelancers and small businesses, with strong mobile expense capture and an optional gestoría service.
Pricing
Basic: from €17/month (invoicing + expense tracking).
Advanced: up to €60/month (bank sync, tax models, gestoría add-on).
15-day free trial.
Key features
Mobile OCR: photograph receipts and tickets; data extracted automatically.
Invoicing with IVA and IRPF, recurring invoices, and payment links.
Bank feed and automatic transaction matching.
Modelo 303, 130, and 347 preparation.
Optional gestoría service: a gestor reviews and submits your quarterly filings.
Verifactu-certified invoicing.
Pros
Best-in-class mobile expense capture for autónomos who collect many receipts.
Gestoría add-on means you can delegate filings without switching platforms.
Verifactu-certified, confirmed.
Cons
Full-featured plan is pricier than Cuéntica for equivalent Spanish tax compliance.
Some UI complexity on the web interface.
Gestoría add-on is an extra monthly cost on top of the platform fee.
Best suited for: autónomos who collect lots of physical receipts, those who want an optional gestor within the same platform, and freelancers with moderate complexity.
Head-to-head summary
Cheapest entry: renn (free) then Cuéntica (€15/month flat).
Best Verifactu certainty: renn and Quipu (both confirmed certified); verify others before 1 July 2027.
Accountant included: Xolo only.
Most features: Holded (ERP-level).
Best mobile expense capture: Quipu.
Best for Spain-only autónomos: renn or Cuéntica.
Best for international/EU clients: Xolo or renn.
Bottom line
If you are self-employed and want something simple, renn is the easiest starting point: Verifactu-ready, intuitive, and free for up to 25 invoices. If you need a gestor included, Xolo covers that. For full Spanish compliance at low cost, Cuéntica delivers. For teams growing beyond solo freelancing, Holded and Quipu scale further.
Whatever you choose, confirm Verifactu certification on AEAT's list before 1 July 2027. Switching platforms at a compliance deadline is the worst time to migrate.
