7 providers match this situation. Free options first.
Free with NatWest / Mettle
FreeAgent
Free if you have a NatWest Group business account, otherwise £19–£33/mo.
FreeHMRC-recognised
FreeAgent is a polished UK-built accounting platform owned by NatWest. It's free if you hold a business current account with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank, or a free Mettle business account, and you make at least one transaction a month. Outside that, it's a paid subscription. Strong for sole traders and landlords wanting automation.
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Free tier
QuickFile
UK-built, genuinely free under 1,000 transactions/year.
FreeHMRC-recognised
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.
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Xero
The accountants' favourite. Simple plan is good value.
From £7/moHMRC-recognised
Xero is the most widely used cloud accounting platform among UK accountants. The £7/mo Simple plan is the cheapest entry from a major provider and covers most sole trader or landlord needs for MTD.
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Crunch
Accounting software plus access to real accountants.
From £10/moHMRC-recognised
Crunch combines online accounting software with access to real accountants, aimed at freelancers, contractors and small businesses. HMRC-recognised, with full MTD Income Tax support for the April 2026 rollout.
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QuickBooks
Big US brand with strong UK MTD support.
From £12/moHMRC-recognised
QuickBooks Online is Intuit's cloud accounting product. Regular heavy discounts (often 90% off for 6 months) make it effectively cheap to start. Full MTD VAT and Income Tax support.
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Sage Accounting
Established UK brand, trusted by accountants.
From £15/moHMRC-recognised
Sage's cloud accounting product. Solid, enterprise-backed, wide accountant adoption. Has a dedicated landlord flow.
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Sage 50
Desktop-rooted accounting for established businesses.
From £20/moHMRC-recognised
Sage 50 (formerly Sage 50cloud) is Sage's long-standing desktop-based accounting software with cloud connectivity. MTD Income Tax submission for sole traders is built into version 33.1 and later, on subscription licences. It's a heavier, more expensive product than Sage's cloud-only Sage Accounting.
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