QuickBooks vs Sage: which is better for sole traders?
Quick answer
Sage Sole Trader is the better pick for non-VAT sole traders and landlords, with a free plan or £7 a month and support for several properties. QuickBooks (from £10 a month) is better if you drive a lot, are a CIS subcontractor or are VAT registered, because its VAT plan costs £16 against £20 for Sage Accounting.
QuickBooks and Sage are both big, trusted brands, and both work with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. But they suit different people. Sage Sole Trader is a simple, low-cost app with a free plan. QuickBooks is a fuller accounting package built around your phone. We compared them based on our review of features, pricing and user ratings, with every price checked in October 2026.
In this comparison, "Sage" means Sage Sole Trader, Sage's product for sole traders and landlords. Where VAT or CIS comes up, we also mention Sage Accounting, its separate range for growing businesses.
QuickBooks vs Sage at a glance
| Software | Price (checked October 2026) | MTD for Income Tax | Free tier | Landlord features | VAT returns | CIS | Bank feeds | App rating | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | From £10/month (Sole Trader Plus) | Yes | No (30-day trial) | Single property only on Sole Trader Plus | Yes (not on Sole Trader Plus) | Subcontractors on Sole Trader; full CIS on higher plans | Yes | 4.7 iOS / 4.6 Android | Sole traders who want strong mobile receipt capture and mileage tracking | Visit site |
| Sage Sole Trader | Free plan, or £7/month | Yes | Yes (with limits) | Yes (Sage Sole Trader and Landlord) | On Sage Accounting plans | Sage Accounting Standard | Yes | 4.7 iOS / 4.7 Android | Non-VAT sole traders who want a free, well-known brand | Visit site |
Prices exclude VAT unless stated and were checked on each provider's website in October 2026. Introductory offers change often, so always confirm the live price. App ratings are from the UK App Store and Google Play in October 2026.
QuickBooks vs Sage head to head
| Feature | QuickBooks | Sage Sole Trader | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From £10 a month | Free, or £7 a month | Sage |
| Free option | No, 30-day trial | Yes, with limits | Sage |
| MTD for Income Tax | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Landlords | Single property only on Sole Trader Plus | Yes | Sage |
| VAT returns | From Simple Start (£16) | Sage Accounting only (from £20) | QuickBooks |
| CIS | Subcontractors on Sole Trader; full CIS on higher plans | Sage Accounting Standard (£43) | QuickBooks |
| Bank feeds | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Mobile app rating | 4.7 iOS / 4.6 Android | 4.7 iOS / 4.8 Android | Tie |
| Accountant familiarity | Widely known | Widely known brand | Tie |
| Our score | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 | Tie |
Prices are monthly, ex VAT, checked in October 2026. Accountant familiarity is our general view, not survey data.
Is Sage cheaper than QuickBooks?
For a simple sole trader, yes. Sage Sole Trader has a free plan, and the paid plan is £7 a month. QuickBooks starts at £10 a month for Sole Trader Plus, with no free plan.
- QuickBooks: Sole Trader Plus £10, Simple Start £16, Essentials £38 a month, ex VAT. Intro offers apply to new customers only. Check the live price on the QuickBooks site.
- Sage: Sage Sole Trader Free £0 (limits on invoices and auto-categorised transactions), Sage Sole Trader £7 a month. Sage Accounting Start £20, Standard £43 a month ex VAT.
Sage's free plan has limits on invoices and on transactions it sorts automatically each month. If you send lots of invoices, budget for the £7 plan.
The order flips if you need VAT returns. QuickBooks Simple Start does VAT for £16. With Sage you would move to Sage Accounting Start at £20. CIS is a bigger gap: QuickBooks covers subcontractors from £10, while Sage puts CIS on Sage Accounting Standard at £43. Both brands run intro offers, so check live prices.
Which is better for MTD and landlords?
Both are on HMRC's list of compatible software. Both send quarterly updates, due by 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May (GOV.UK).
For landlords, Sage is the clear winner on the cheap plans. Sage Sole Trader covers property income on both its free and paid plans. QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus only covers one property.
An example. Karen (an illustration, not a real customer) is a self-employed dog groomer. In 2025 to 2026 she takes £22,000 from grooming and £10,000 in rent from two houses. Her qualifying income is £32,000, because it is gross income from self-employment and property before expenses (GOV.UK). She joins MTD from 6 April 2027. She is not VAT registered, so Sage Sole Trader covers her for free or £7. QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus would not cover her second house.
Landlords with bigger portfolios should read our best landlord software guide.
Is QuickBooks or Sage easier to use?
We base this on features and ratings, not hands-on testing. Both have highly rated apps. Sage's Sole Trader app scores 4.7 on iOS and 4.8 on Android. QuickBooks scores 4.7 and 4.6.
Sage Sole Trader is deliberately simple, which suits people who just want to record income and expenses and file. QuickBooks does more. You can snap receipts, track mileage with GPS and see a live tax estimate. That extra power suits busy tradespeople, but it is more than some people need.
Choose QuickBooks if
- you drive for work and want GPS mileage tracking
- you are a CIS subcontractor
- you are VAT registered and want the cheaper VAT plan
- you want receipt capture and a live tax estimate on your phone
Read our full QuickBooks review.
Try QuickBooks free for 30 days
Choose Sage if
- you are not VAT registered and want a free or £7 plan
- you let out one or more properties
- you want a simple app from a well-known UK brand
- you do not need CIS
Read our full Sage review.
Who should choose neither?
Who should not choose QuickBooks or Sage
- NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle customers, who can get FreeAgent free. See FreeAgent vs QuickBooks.
- People planning to grow fast or hire, who may prefer Xero. See Xero vs Sage.
- Anyone with qualifying income of £20,000 or less, who is currently exempt. Check with our MTD checker.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sage or QuickBooks better for MTD?
Both work with MTD for Income Tax. Sage Sole Trader is better value for simple, non-VAT sole traders and landlords because it has a free plan. QuickBooks is better for people who need mileage tracking, CIS on a cheap plan or VAT returns.
Is Sage MTD software free?
Sage Sole Trader has a free plan that covers MTD for Income Tax, with limits on invoices and automatically categorised transactions. The paid plan is £7 a month ex VAT and removes those limits. Read our Sage review.
Does Sage Sole Trader do VAT?
No. VAT returns are on Sage Accounting, Sage's separate range for businesses. Sage Accounting Start costs £20 a month and Standard £43 a month, both ex VAT, checked in October 2026.
Which is better for CIS, QuickBooks or Sage?
QuickBooks includes CIS for subcontractors on its sole trader plan, from £10 a month. With Sage, CIS is on Sage Accounting Standard at £43 a month. Your software should record CIS deductions, so check details with the provider, HMRC or an accountant.
Can landlords use QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus?
Only if they have a single property. That is the limit on the Sole Trader Plus plan. Sage Sole Trader covers landlords on both its free and paid plans, so it is the better fit for small portfolios.
When do I need MTD software?
From 6 April 2027 if your qualifying income in 2025 to 2026 is over £30,000, and from 6 April 2028 if it is over £20,000. Check yours with our Do I need MTD? checker.
This page is general information, not personal tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules can change and your situation may differ. For advice on your own affairs, speak to a qualified accountant or tax adviser, or check GOV.UK.