We compare pricing, features, and real user ratings for 50+ accounting, payroll, and expense tools — so you don't have to sit through sales demos.
From £14/month. All MTD-compatible.
Unlimited users on all plans
Best for freelancers and growing teams. Intuitive interface with powerful automation.
Cheapest payroll add-on at £1/mo
Best for growing SMEs. Strong reporting and excellent payroll integration.
Free with NatWest Business
Best for sole traders. Payroll included at no extra cost.
Strong automation features
Best for traditional businesses. Industry-leading automation and compliance.
| Feature | Xero Starter | QuickBooks Simple Start | FreeAgent | Sage Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | £14 | £16 | £29 | £18 |
| Users Included | Unlimited | 1 | Unlimited | 1 |
| Bank Feeds | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payroll | Add-on | From £1/mo | Included | Add-on |
| Multi-currency | Premium (£50/mo) | Plus tier | Limited | Standard+ |
| MTD Compatible | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 1 month |
Standalone payroll tools for small teams.
Up to 3 employees
Cheapest per-employee option for small teams. Desktop + cloud.
£2 per additional employee
Seamless integration with Sage accounting. Scalable for growing teams.
HRIS & automation included
Best for automation and HR features. Modern, employee-focused platform.
Track spending and manage company cards.
Up to 3 users
Best free option. Excellent mobile app and real-time expense tracking.
Includes physical cards
Best for card management. Physical and virtual cards with instant controls.
The numbers tell the story.
SMEs in the UK (2025)
Of UK businesses are small or medium-sized
Annual cost of tax compliance for UK SMEs
Average spent on tax admin per year
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Xero vs QuickBooks vs FreeAgent vs Sage — features, pricing, MTD compliance in one table.
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