Key takeaways
- The main UK alternatives to Xero are Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, Pandle, QuickBooks, Sage and Zoho Books.
- Xero's UK plans cost £18 to £70 a month plus VAT after any introductory offer, checked on 6 November 2026.
- FreeAgent costs £10 to £33 a month plus VAT, and is free while you keep a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank business current account.
- QuickBooks lists Simple Start at £16, Essentials £33, Plus £47 and Advanced £115 a month plus VAT.
- Clear Books, Pandle and Zoho Books all have free plans; Zoho Books Free allows 1 user and 1,000 invoices a year.
- KashFlow Starter is £13.50 a month and Zoho Books Standard £12 a month, or £10 billed annually.
- Sole traders and landlords in Making Tax Digital for Income Tax must use HMRC-compatible software, so check any alternative supports it.
The main Xero alternatives for UK businesses are Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, Pandle, QuickBooks, Sage and Zoho Books. Their plans run from free to £115 a month, against Xero’s £18 to £70. This page lists them alphabetically with prices from each provider’s own pricing page, checked on 6 November 2026, excluding VAT; it is a comparison, not a ranking.
Why look for a Xero alternative?
People usually look elsewhere for price, plan limits or fit. Xero’s UK pricing page shows these regular prices after its 6-month introductory offer.
| Xero plan | Monthly price | Notable limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ignite | £18 | 20 invoices, 10 bills |
| Grow | £39 | Payroll for 1 person |
| Comprehensive | £55 | Payroll for 5, multi-currency |
| Ultimate | £70 | Payroll for 10, projects |
Ignite’s limit of 20 invoices and 10 bills, and multi-currency only from Comprehensive, are common reasons to compare. Our Xero pricing guide covers add-ons and offers in full.
Xero alternatives compared
The table gives each provider’s monthly price range from its own pricing page. Introductory offers are left out.
| Provider | Monthly plans | Free option |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Books | £5 to £44 | Yes, sole traders and landlords |
| FreeAgent | £10 to £33 | Yes, with NatWest, RBS or Ulster |
| KashFlow | £13.50 to £27.50 | No, 14-day trial |
| Pandle | £0 or £5 (Pro) | Yes |
| QuickBooks | £16 to £115 | No, 30-day trial |
| Sage Accounting | Not checked | Not checked |
| Zoho Books | £12 to £199 | Yes, Zoho Books Free |
Clear Books
Clear Books has free plans for sole traders and landlords that cover MTD for Income Tax quarterly updates and year-end filing. Paid plans for limited companies run from Small at £16 to Large at £44 a month, with 10% off for yearly billing. The free plans leave out bank feeds, invoicing and VAT reporting.
FreeAgent
FreeAgent prices by business type: £10 a month for unincorporated landlords, £19 for sole traders, £27 for partnerships and LLPs, and £33 for limited companies. It is free while you keep a business current account with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank. Sole traders and landlords can also qualify through a Mettle account with at least one transaction a month. Compare it directly in FreeAgent vs Xero.
KashFlow
IRIS KashFlow lists Starter at £13.50 a month and Business at £27.50, or £97 and £178 a year plus VAT. Its pricing page offers a 14-day free trial.
Pandle
Pandle says its basic plan “will be free forever”. Pandle Pro costs £5 a month plus VAT, billed monthly with no annual contract. Its pricing page does not clearly separate free and Pro features, so check before relying on the free plan.
QuickBooks
Intuit’s QuickBooks Plus page lists Simple Start at £16, Essentials at £33, Plus at £47 and Advanced at £115 a month. A Sole Trader Plus plan is also sold, but its price was not shown. Payroll is a paid add-on. See our QuickBooks alternatives page for the reverse comparison.
Sage Accounting
Sage’s UK pricing pages blocked our checks on 6 November 2026, so we have not printed prices. Its cloud product for small businesses is Sage Accounting. Check sage.com for current plans before comparing.
Zoho Books
Zoho Books has six plans, from Free to Ultimate.
- Free: 1 user plus your accountant, up to 1,000 invoices and 1,000 expenses a year.
- Standard: £12 a month, or £10 billed annually, for 3 users.
- Professional and Premium: £24 and £30 a month, for 5 and 10 users.
- Elite and Ultimate: £99 and £199 a month.
Which applies to you?
Match your situation to the options below. Each choice depends on your business type and bank, not on any ranking.
- If you bank with NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank: FreeAgent is free while you keep the account.
- If you are a sole trader or landlord on a tight budget: Clear Books, Pandle and Zoho Books all have free plans; check MTD for Income Tax support first.
- If you need multi-currency without paying £55: compare QuickBooks Essentials at £33 and Zoho Books paid plans.
- If you want many users cheaply: Zoho Books Standard covers 3 users for £12 a month.
- If your accountant uses one package for all clients: ask which they support, as it can cut your fees.
Our free accounting software guide covers the free plans in more detail.
How to switch from Xero
- Pick a switch date, ideally the start of a VAT quarter or financial year.
- Export your contacts, chart of accounts, trial balance and open invoices from Xero.
- Set up the new package and import the opening balances.
- Connect your bank feed and check the first reconciliation.
- Keep read-only access to Xero, or export reports, for HMRC’s record-keeping period.
Check MTD compatibility first
Any alternative must work with Making Tax Digital. From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000 must keep digital records and send quarterly updates using compatible software. HMRC’s compatible software guidance points to its software finder. Our MTD checker shows when you join.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest alternative to Xero?
Clear Books, Pandle and Zoho Books all have free plans, and FreeAgent is free with a NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank business account. Check the free plan covers the features you need.
How much does Xero cost in the UK?
Xero’s UK plans cost £18, £39, £55 or £70 a month plus VAT after the introductory offer, checked on 6 November 2026.
Is QuickBooks cheaper than Xero?
It depends on the plan. QuickBooks Simple Start is £16 a month against Xero Ignite at £18, while QuickBooks Advanced is £115 against Xero Ultimate at £70.
Can I move my data from Xero to another package?
Usually, yes. Export your contacts, chart of accounts, trial balance and reports before you cancel, and check the new provider’s import guide for the file formats it accepts.
Do Xero alternatives work with Making Tax Digital?
Most mainstream packages do, but check each one in HMRC’s software finder for VAT or Income Tax before you switch.
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.