The AI TillAlternatives
Tide alternatives
Tide: A business account app with invoicing, expense cards and accounting integrations. Its price when we checked: Free plan with no plan fee. Smart: £12.49 a month. Pro: £27.49 a month. Max: £69.99 a month. If it isn't right for you, these tools do a similar job.
Prices at a glance
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Tide | £12.49 (Smart, per month) | Yes |
| Xero | £18 (Ignite, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| FreeAgent | £33 (standard, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| QuickBooks | £10 (entry plan, per month) | No |
Our verdict
Priced in pounds (no exchange-rate surprises): Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks. 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.
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.
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.
Sources
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