QuickFile
UK-built, genuinely free under 1,000 transactions/year.
by QuickFile
The best free option for sole traders who've outgrown HMRC's basic tool.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Overview
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.
QuickFile at a glance
How QuickFile stacks up on the dimensions that matter when picking MTD software.
Full MTD coverage for VAT and Income Tax, HMRC-recognised, with quarterly updates supported on the free plan. No artificial gating of MTD features behind a paywall.
Good for the price, P&L, balance sheet, trial balance, aged debtors/creditors, and a project tracker all available on the free tier. Visuals are utilitarian rather than polished.
Full double-entry bookkeeping on the free tier, chart of accounts, bank feeds, journal entries. Probably the most capable free bookkeeping tool available in the UK.
Basic stock control included, track items, quantities, and cost. Not as polished as QuickBooks Plus or Xero Standard, but unusually generous given it's free.
A project tracker is included on the free tier. Not as deep as FreeAgent's, but it covers per-project income and expenses for most small businesses.
Workable, expenses tracked via the web UI and a mobile app with receipt capture. Receipt OCR is less polished than QuickBooks but functional.
Useable for funding applications, but less recognised than Xero or QuickBooks. Most lenders will accept QuickFile exports, but a small minority may push for one of the bigger brands.
Among the best free choices for new businesses. Zero cost while you're under 1,000 transactions/yr, no upsell pressure, and HMRC-recognised from day one. £60/yr if you outgrow the free tier.
Functional UK-built UI, clear menus, no upsells, light learning curve. Mobile app exists but is weaker than the major rivals.
Free tier
Free for businesses with fewer than 1,000 nominal ledger entries per year.
+Pros
- ✓Genuinely free for small businesses
- ✓UK-built with MTD support
- ✓No upsell pressure
−Cons
- ✕UI is functional rather than beautiful
- ✕Mobile app weaker than bigger rivals
QuickFile, frequently asked questions
Is QuickFile free?+
Yes, for most small businesses. QuickFile is free if you post fewer than 1,000 nominal ledger entries in a year. Above that threshold it costs £60 a year.
What counts towards QuickFile's free 1,000-transaction limit?+
The limit is based on nominal ledger entries created in a rolling 12-month period, broadly, the bookkeeping entries behind your invoices, purchases and bank transactions. Most sole traders and landlords with straightforward affairs stay comfortably under 1,000.
Is QuickFile HMRC-recognised for MTD?+
Yes. QuickFile is HMRC-recognised and supports MTD for both VAT and Income Tax, digital records and quarterly updates included.
What are the alternatives to QuickFile?+
Pandle is the closest match, another UK-built tool with a strong free tier. Clear Books also has a free tier, and HMRC's own free tool covers the basics. For paid software, Xero's £7/mo Simple plan is the cheapest major-platform option.