UK accounting software, actually tested
Independent comparisons of Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent — written by someone who uses this software for a living, not by the companies selling it.
Start here
Xero vs Sage
The comparison most UK small businesses are actually making. I use Sage 50 daily, so this one is written from the inside rather than off a feature list.
Software by sector
The right answer depends on what kind of business you run. Separate guides for sole traders, landlords, charities and construction.
Individual reviews
One product at a time, trialled properly, with the annoying parts left in.
Why this site exists
Search for accounting software and almost everything on the first page is written by someone selling it — the vendors themselves, or accountancy firms hoping you will hire them instead. The most useful answer is usually a forum thread where somebody who has actually used both products says what they think.
That is the gap this fills. I work in finance and administration for a manufacturing business, use Sage 50 Accounts every working day, and handle the bookkeeping, procurement and reporting that this software is supposed to make easier.
So when I compare two products, I have signed up for both, done real work in them, and hit the parts that do not work properly. Every review says how long I used it and what I disliked.
More about who writes this and how it is funded
Making Tax Digital
If you are self-employed or a landlord, the thresholds are dropping: £30,000 of qualifying income from April 2027, and £20,000 from April 2028. That will pull roughly two million more people into needing compatible software.
Plain-English guides to what that actually means are coming, without the scaremongering that usually accompanies a compliance deadline.