QuickBooks alternatives UK 2026: options compared

The main QuickBooks alternatives for UK small businesses are Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, Pandle, Sage, Xero and Zoho Books. Prices run from free to £70 a month for a mainstream plan. This page lists them alphabetically with prices from each provider’s own pricing page, checked on 6 November 2026; it is a comparison, not a ranking.

Why look for a QuickBooks alternative?

People usually switch for price, features or fit, such as an introductory offer ending or an accountant who uses different software. When we checked on 6 November 2026, the QuickBooks UK pricing page showed placeholders instead of prices, so compare a written quote against the figures below. The UK plans listed were Sole Trader Plus, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced. See QuickBooks pricing.

QuickBooks alternatives compared

Prices are standard monthly list prices after any introductory offer, excluding VAT unless stated.

Clear Books

Clear Books has separate plans for sole traders, landlords and organisations. Sole Trader Free costs nothing, Sole Trader is £5 a month for businesses that are not VAT-registered, and Sole Trader Plus is £15 with MTD VAT returns. Company plans are Small £16, Medium £34 (adds VAT and CIS) and Large £44, all plus VAT. New subscribers get 50% off the first three months if they buy within 30 days of registering. See our Clear Books review.

FreeAgent

FreeAgent charges by business type, all plus 20% VAT:

• sole trader £19 a month
• partnership or LLP £27
• limited company £33
• unincorporated landlord £10

It is free for as long as you keep a business current account with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank. Sole traders, companies and landlords can also get it free with a Mettle account used at least once a month. Paying customers get 50% off for six months. See FreeAgent vs QuickBooks.

KashFlow

IRIS KashFlow has two plans. Starter is £13.50 a month for one user, 10 invoices and up to 25 reconciled bank transactions. Business is £27.50 a month with unlimited invoices and multiple users. Both include payroll for up to five employees. New customers get 90% off for six months. The page shows annual prices plus VAT but does not say whether monthly prices include VAT.

Pandle

Pandle says its basic plan “will be free forever”. Pandle Pro costs £5 a month plus VAT on a rolling monthly plan with no contract, and includes VAT returns and MTD Income Tax submissions. There is a 14-day free trial with no card details needed.

Sage Accounting

Sage’s UK pricing pages blocked our checks on 6 November 2026, so we have not printed prices. Its small business cloud product is Sage Accounting. Check sage.com for current plans and compare Sage Accounting vs Xero.

Xero

Xero UK has four plans, all excluding VAT:

New UK customers buying direct can get 90% off for six months. See QuickBooks Online vs Xero.

Zoho Books

Zoho Books prices are per organisation and exclude local taxes. Monthly billing is Standard £12 (3 users), Professional £24 (5 users), Premium £30 (10 users), Elite £99 and Ultimate £199 (15 users). Annual billing is cheaper, for example £10 a month for Standard. The free plan covers 1 user plus an accountant, 1,000 invoices and 1,000 expenses a year.

Which applies to you?

• If you want to pay nothing: look at Clear Books Sole Trader Free, Pandle or Zoho Books Free.
• If you bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle: FreeAgent may cost nothing.
• If you need payroll inside the software: Xero Grow includes 1 person, Comprehensive 5, and both KashFlow plans up to 5 employees.
• If you need lots of users cheaply: Zoho Books Premium allows 10 users for £30 a month.
• If you do CIS returns: Clear Books Medium covers VAT and CIS at £34 a month.
• If you are a landlord: FreeAgent’s landlord plan is £10 and Clear Books Property is £5.

How to switch from QuickBooks

1. Export your chart of accounts, customers, suppliers and open invoices.
2. Pick a switchover date, ideally the start of a VAT quarter or financial year.
3. Bring in opening balances from a trial balance at that date.
4. Reconnect bank feeds and check they start on the right day.
5. Export and keep your QuickBooks records for as long as you must keep them (six years for a company).

Our guide to switching accounting software covers each step.

Check MTD compatibility first

From 6 April 2026 some sole traders and landlords must use software compatible with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. HMRC’s software guidance, updated 13 July 2026, says to choose software before you sign up, and to check it supports all your income sources and your accounting period. HMRC does not recommend any product.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest alternative to QuickBooks in the UK?

Clear Books, Pandle and Zoho Books all have free plans. Among paid plans, Clear Books Sole Trader and Pandle Pro cost £5 a month plus VAT.

Is Xero cheaper than QuickBooks?

We could not compare directly because QuickBooks UK showed no prices on 6 November 2026. Xero’s plans cost £18 to £70 a month plus VAT.

Is there a free alternative to QuickBooks?

Yes. Pandle has a free plan, Zoho Books Free covers 1 user and 1,000 invoices a year, and FreeAgent is free with a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or qualifying Mettle account.

Can I move my data from QuickBooks to another provider?

Yes. You can export lists and reports from QuickBooks and import them into the new software, then enter opening balances at your switchover date. Keep your old records for as long as the law requires.

Do QuickBooks alternatives work with Making Tax Digital?

Check each product. Clear Books Sole Trader Plus includes MTD VAT returns and Pandle Pro includes MTD Income Tax submissions; for other plans, use HMRC’s software finder before you sign up.