QuickFile vs Clear Books Free
Side-by-side comparison for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
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QuickFile
UK-built, genuinely free under 1,000 transactions/year.
QuickFile is a UK cloud accounting platform with a generous free tier, free for small businesses with fewer than 1,000 nominal transactions in a year. Full MTD support for VAT and Income Tax.
Visit QuickFileClear Books Free
Free tier from an established UK accounting brand.
Clear Books offers a free tier aimed at small sole traders and landlords. HMRC-recognised for both MTD VAT and MTD Income Tax.
Visit Clear Books FreeFull feature comparison
| QuickFile | Clear Books Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & compliance | ||
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| HMRC-recognised | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Bank feeds | ✓ | – |
| Mobile app | – | – |
| Receipt scanning | – | – |
| CIS support | – | – |
| Furnished holiday let support | – | – |
| VAT submission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bridging software | – | – |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple properties | – | – |
| Accountant access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best suited to | ||
| Sole Traders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landlords | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbnb / Short-let Hosts | – | – |
| CIS Subcontractors | – | – |
| Uber & Gig Drivers | – | – |
| Freelancers | ✓ | – |
| Spreadsheet Users | – | – |
| Simple Affairs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accountants | – | – |
| VAT-Registered | ✓ | – |
✓ = supported. Based on each provider's published plans; check their site for the latest details.
QuickFile verdict
The best free option for sole traders who've outgrown HMRC's basic tool.
Clear Books Free verdict
A solid free alternative to HMRC's barebones tool.
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