Find the most cost-effective UK accounting software for your business. Compare Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent, and more — with payroll, MTD VAT, and inventory add-ons included.
This calculator estimates the annual cost of accounting software for your business based on the number of users, required features, and business size. It compares costs across the major UK platforms to help you find the best value.
Note: Prices are based on standard published UK pricing as of April 2026 and may not reflect promotional offers. Most providers offer significant introductory discounts — check our comparison table for current deals.
Prices shown are indicative monthly costs excluding VAT (2026/27). Many providers offer introductory discounts of up to 50% for the first 6 months. Always check the provider's website for current pricing.
| Software | Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave FreeBest | £0.00 | £0.00 | Compare |
| Zoho Books Standard | £12.00 | £144.00 | Compare |
| Xero Starter | £15.00 | £180.00 | Compare |
| QuickBooks Simple Start | £17.00 | £204.00 | Compare |
| Sage Accounting Start | £18.00 | £216.00 | Compare |
| FreeAgent | £19.00 | £228.00 | Compare |
| Software | Base/mo | MTD VAT | Payroll | Inventory | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero Starter | £15 | Yes | £1.50/user | Yes | 1 |
| Xero Standard | £30 | Yes | £1.50/user | Yes | Up to 5 |
| QuickBooks Simple Start | £17 | Yes | £5 + £1.30/user | No | 1 |
| QuickBooks Essentials | £30 | Yes | £5 + £1.30/user | No | Up to 3 |
| Sage Accounting Start | £18 | Yes | £1.50/user | No | 1 |
| FreeAgent | £19 | Yes | Included (1 emp) | Yes | 1 |
| Wave Free | Free | No | 3rd-party needed | No | 1 |
| Zoho Books Standard | £12 | Yes | £5 + £2/user | No | Up to 3 |