Key takeaways
- In QuickBooks UK, stock tracking, purchase orders and low-stock alerts start on QuickBooks Plus at £47 a month plus VAT, according to Intuit's Plus page checked on 6 November 2026.
- Sage's own help centre says stock functionality is only available in Sage Accounting Plus; Start and Standard cannot track stock.
- Xero tracks stock quantities and average cost for up to 4,000 finished goods, and points larger or manufacturing businesses to an inventory app.
- Zoho Books includes inventory tracking from its Professional plan at £24 a month billed monthly, or £20 billed annually, with FIFO or weighted average costing.
- In Sage 50 Accounts, stock management, bills of materials and sales and purchase orders are Professional-only features.
- FreeAgent's pricing page does not list stock tracking, and says sole traders on the cash basis lose its stock features.
- HMRC accepts stock valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, or mark to market; all other bases are not acceptable for tax.
Most mainstream UK accounting software can track stock, but often only on a higher plan. QuickBooks needs Plus, Sage Accounting needs Plus, Sage 50 needs Professional and Zoho Books needs Professional, while Xero tracks up to 4,000 items. Prices below come from each provider’s own site, checked on 6 November 2026, and exclude VAT.
Which accounting software includes stock control?
Five widely used packages offer some form of stock tracking, with clear limits on each. This table lists them alphabetically, with the entry plan that includes stock.
| Software | Lowest plan with stock | Price checked |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Plus | £47 a month |
| Sage 50 Accounts | Professional | Not published to us |
| Sage Accounting | Plus | Not published to us |
| Xero | Not stated by plan | Plans from £18 a month |
| Zoho Books | Professional | £24 a month (£20 annual) |
FreeAgent is not in the table. Its pricing page does not list stock tracking, and it says sole traders and partnerships using the cash basis lose its stock features.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks tracks stock from its Plus plan, which costs £47 a month plus VAT for 5 users. Intuit’s QuickBooks Plus page lists stock tracking, purchase orders, low-stock alerts and project profitability.
The page also advertised 90% off for six months for buyers who skip the 30-day free trial. Advanced, the plan above Plus, also includes inventory. Our QuickBooks pricing guide covers user reports of 2026 price rises, so confirm the figure at checkout.
Sage Accounting and Sage 50
Sage splits stock control by product and tier. Sage’s own products and services help page states that “stock functionality is only available in Sage Accounting Plus”. Plus offers stock items, a stock movements report, imported stock adjustments, and opening and closing stock.
For the desktop product, Sage’s Sage 50 upgrade matrix, modified 22 September 2026, lists stock shortfalls, allocations, returns, price lists, bills of materials and sales and purchase orders under Professional only.
Sage’s UK pricing pages returned an access error when we checked, so we have not printed Sage prices. See our Sage Accounting pricing and Sage 50 pricing guides, and get a quote from Sage.
Xero
Xero tracks stock quantities, values and cost of sales for up to 4,000 finished goods. Its inventory page says approved invoices and bills update tracked items, cost of sales uses average cost, and you can adjust quantities after a stocktake.
The page marks these features as included but does not say which plans have them. Xero’s plans run from Ignite at £18 a month to Ultimate at £70, with 90% off for six months for new UK customers. For manufacturing, more items, or FIFO or LIFO costing, Xero tells you to use an app from the Xero App Store. See Xero pricing.
Zoho Books
Zoho Books includes inventory tracking from its Professional plan. The Zoho Books UK pricing page lists Professional at £24 a month billed monthly or £20 billed annually, Premium at £30, and Elite, with advanced inventory control, at £99.
Each tracked item can use FIFO or weighted average costing. Zoho’s reports include inventory summary, valuation, ageing and turnover. Reports with more than 1,000 items must be exported rather than viewed on screen.
Which option fits your business?
Your choice depends on how many items you hold and how complex your stock is.
- If you sell a few hundred finished items: built-in tracking in Xero, QuickBooks Plus, Sage Accounting Plus or Zoho Books Professional is usually enough.
- If you need FIFO costing: Zoho Books offers it natively; Xero needs an app.
- If you assemble or manufacture products: look at Sage 50 Professional for bills of materials, or an inventory app linked to your ledger.
- If you sell online across several channels: read our ecommerce accounting software guide.
- If you hold more than 4,000 items: Xero’s built-in tracking will not cover it.
How stock affects your tax
Your software’s stock value feeds your profit, so the method matters to HMRC. HMRC’s Business Income Manual at BIM33115 accepts two bases: the lower of cost and net realisable value, or mark to market. It says all other bases are not acceptable for tax purposes, and you should keep the same policy from year to year.
What to do before you choose
- Count your stock lines and check them against any item limits.
- Decide whether you need average cost, FIFO, or both.
- Check whether you need purchase orders, bills of materials or multiple locations.
- Price the plan that actually includes stock, not the entry plan.
- Budget for the full price after any introductory discount ends.
For a wider price comparison, see accounting software prices.
Frequently asked questions
Does Xero have stock control?
Yes. Xero tracks quantities, average cost and stock value for up to 4,000 finished goods. For more items or FIFO costing it points you to an inventory app.
Which QuickBooks plan has inventory?
QuickBooks Plus, at £47 a month plus VAT when checked on 6 November 2026, and Advanced. Simple Start and Essentials do not list inventory features.
Can Sage Accounting Standard track stock?
No. Sage’s help centre says stock functionality is only available in Sage Accounting Plus.
Does FreeAgent do stock control?
FreeAgent’s pricing page does not list stock tracking as a feature. It says businesses using the cash basis do not get its stock features.
How should stock be valued for tax?
HMRC accepts the lower of cost and net realisable value, or mark to market. It does not accept other bases.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.