The AI TillAlternatives
QuickBooks alternatives
QuickBooks: Cloud accounting with invoicing, expenses and VAT, plus Intuit Intelligence AI features (some in beta). Its price when we checked: UK plans from £10 a month, with others at £16, £38 and £56 a month; introductory discounts are offered. 30-day free trial. If it isn't right for you, these tools do a similar job.
Prices at a glance
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | £10 (entry plan, per month) | No |
| Xero | £18 (Ignite, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| FreeAgent | £33 (standard, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| Tide | £12.49 (Smart, per month) | Yes |
| Sage Accounting | £20 (Start, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| Zoho Books | £12 (Standard, per month (£10 billed annually)) | Yes |
Our verdict
Free plans: Tide, Zoho Books. Priced in pounds (no exchange-rate surprises): Xero, FreeAgent, Tide, Sage Accounting, Zoho Books. Cheapest pound-priced entry plan: Zoho Books at £12 (Standard, per month (£10 billed annually)). Choose by the job you need doing: each entry says who it suits best.
Xero
Cloud accounting for invoices, bank feeds, VAT and payroll, with AI-assisted features.
- Price: Ignite: £18 a month. Grow: £39. Comprehensive: £55. Ultimate: £70 (all excl. VAT). Intro offers run on the pricing page. Payroll £1.50 per person.
- Free plan: No. No free plan; a free trial and introductory discounts are offered.
- Best for: Limited companies and VAT-registered businesses that want an accountant-friendly system.
Compare QuickBooks and Xero side by side
FreeAgent
UK accounting software for sole traders, partnerships and small companies.
- Price: £33 a month or £330 a year (excl. VAT), with introductory discounts. Free if you keep a business account with NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank, or use Mettle (conditions apply).
- Free plan: No. Free for eligible NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and Mettle customers; otherwise a 30-day free trial.
- Best for: Sole traders and freelancers, especially with an eligible bank account.
Compare QuickBooks and FreeAgent side by side
Tide
A business account app with invoicing, expense cards and accounting integrations.
- Price: Free plan with no plan fee. Smart: £12.49 a month. Pro: £27.49 a month. Max: £69.99 a month.
- Free plan: Yes. Essential tools for getting started with no monthly plan fee (transaction limits vary by plan).
- Best for: Sole traders and small companies wanting a simple business account linked to their accounts software.
Sage Accounting
UK accounting and payroll software with the Sage Copilot AI assistant included in every plan.
- Price: Start: £20 a month. Standard: £43 a month. All excl. VAT. Offer when checked: 90% off for 6 months.
- Free plan: No. No free plan; introductory discount instead.
- Best for: VAT-registered sole traders and small firms wanting payroll and CIS in one place.
Compare QuickBooks and Sage Accounting side by side
Zoho Books
Accounting software with a free plan for very small businesses and paid UK plans.
- Price: Free: £0. Standard: £12 a month (£10 billed annually). Professional: £24 (£20). Premium: £30 (£25). Per organisation.
- Free plan: Yes. Free plan for sole traders and micro businesses.
- Best for: Sole traders who want free accounts software in pounds.
Compare QuickBooks and Zoho Books side by side
Sources
- QuickBooks UK pricing
- Xero UK pricing
- FreeAgent pricing
- Tide pricing
- Sage Accounting UK pricing
- Zoho Books UK pricing
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