The AI TillAlternatives
Sage Accounting alternatives
Sage Accounting: UK accounting and payroll software with the Sage Copilot AI assistant included in every plan. Its price when we checked: Start: £20 a month. Standard: £43 a month. All excl. VAT. Offer when checked: 90% off for 6 months. If it isn't right for you, these tools do a similar job.
Prices at a glance
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Sage Accounting | £20 (Start, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| Xero | £18 (Ignite, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| QuickBooks | £10 (entry plan, per month) | No |
| FreeAgent | £33 (standard, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| Zoho Books | £12 (Standard, per month (£10 billed annually)) | Yes |
Our verdict
Free plans: Zoho Books. Priced in pounds (no exchange-rate surprises): Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Zoho Books. Cheapest pound-priced entry plan: QuickBooks at £10 (entry plan, per month). 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 Sage Accounting and Xero side by side
QuickBooks
Cloud accounting with invoicing, expenses and VAT, plus Intuit Intelligence AI features (some in beta).
- Price: UK plans from £10 a month, with others at £16, £38 and £56 a month; introductory discounts are offered. 30-day free trial.
- Free plan: No. No free plan; 30-day free trial.
- Best for: Small businesses wanting invoicing and VAT in one place, with AI help on expenses.
Compare Sage Accounting and QuickBooks 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 Sage Accounting and FreeAgent 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 Sage Accounting and Zoho Books side by side
Sources
- Sage Accounting UK pricing
- Xero UK pricing
- QuickBooks UK pricing
- FreeAgent pricing
- Zoho Books UK pricing
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