The AI TillAlternatives
Xero alternatives
Xero: Cloud accounting for invoices, bank feeds, VAT and payroll, with AI-assisted features. Its price when we checked: 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. If it isn't right for you, these tools do a similar job.
Prices at a glance
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Xero | £18 (Ignite, per month excl. VAT) | No |
| QuickBooks | £10 (entry plan, per month) | 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): QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Tide, Sage Accounting, 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.
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 Xero 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 Xero 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 Xero 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 Xero and Zoho Books side by side
Sources
- Xero UK pricing
- QuickBooks UK pricing
- FreeAgent pricing
- Tide pricing
- Sage Accounting UK pricing
- Zoho Books UK pricing
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