UK accounting software compared
Current list prices for Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent, recorded on a date and kept rather than overwritten. The number that matters is what you pay once the introductory discount ends, and that is the number shown here.
Prices checked 10 September 2026 · Per month, excluding VAT
FreeAgent
Can cost
£0
Free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle account. Otherwise from £10.
QuickBooks
From
£10
Up to £56 on the top plan. Per month, excluding VAT.
Xero
From
£18
Up to £70 on the top plan. Per month, excluding VAT.
Every plan, every price #
| Product | Plan | List price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | Ignite | £18 | Up to 20 invoices and 10 bills a month |
| Grow | £39 | Unlimited invoicing, payroll for 1 | |
| Comprehensive | £55 | Payroll for 5, multi-currency | |
| Ultimate | £70 | Payroll for 10, project tracking | |
| QuickBooks | Sole Trader | £10 | Handles CIS on invoicing |
| Essentials | £38 | 3 users, VAT, CIS and payroll | |
| Plus | £56 | 5 users, projects and stock | |
| FreeAgent | Landlord | £10 | Property income only |
| Sole Trader | £19 | Self Assessment filing included | |
| Partnership/LLP | £27 | Partnership tax return | |
| Limited Company | £33 | Corporation Tax and payroll |
Introductory offers, and why to ignore them #
| Product | Current offer |
|---|---|
| Xero | 90% off for the first 6 months for new customers |
| QuickBooks | Discounts of 50% to 90% for the first 3 to 6 months are frequent |
| FreeAgent | 50% off for 6 months, and free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle account |
All three discount heavily for new customers. A plan advertised at £1.80 is £18 in month seven, and you will be on it for years. Compare the list prices in the first table, then treat the discount as a bonus rather than a reason to choose.
Head to head #
Accounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
The two most widely used. Price, invoice limits, CIS and payroll compared.
CompareAccounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
What it costs, and the exact terms of the free offer with NatWest, RBS and Mettle.
CompareAccounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
All three together, and which Sage product you are actually being quoted.
CompareAccounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
Unlimited users against invoice caps and payroll tiers. Two different pricing logics.
CompareAccounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
Accounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
Priced by business type against priced by feature tier, and the free bank account route.
CompareAccounting software for sole traders
The entry plans, what they cost a year rather than a month, and when a spreadsheet is still enough.
The free options, what the accounting packages charge, and which handle CIS and the reverse charge.
Free with the right bank account, against CIS included at the entry price.
CompareHow we source these prices #
Each figure is a list price read from the vendor's own pricing page where possible, and the date it was read is shown. Where a vendor loads prices dynamically and they cannot be read directly, the page says so and points you at the source rather than presenting a secondary figure as if it were confirmed.
Old snapshots are kept rather than overwritten, so over time this becomes a price history rather than a snapshot. That is more useful than it sounds when a vendor raises prices and you want to know by how much.
Common questions #
What is the best accounting software for a UK small business?
There is no single answer, but the cheapest route is usually FreeAgent if you bank with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank or Mettle, because it costs nothing. Otherwise QuickBooks starts lowest on list price and Xero scales furthest.
What is the cheapest accounting software in the UK?
FreeAgent at £0 if you hold one of the qualifying bank accounts. On paid list prices, QuickBooks Sole Trader at £10 a month is the lowest of the three compared here.
Which accounting software handles CIS?
All three support the Construction Industry Scheme to some degree. QuickBooks includes it from the Sole Trader plan, Xero treats it as an add-on, and FreeAgent supports it for construction businesses.