Best Accounting Software for UK Businesses in 2024
Choosing your accounting software is as essential as it is a complex process. Businesses in the UK and in most other countries need such solutions to function properly, file taxes efficiently and keep reliable records in place. But many solutions exist, and you wouldn’t be the only one to feel lost in the jungle of offers available on the market.
If you’re on the lookout for your next accounting solution, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place! This article benchmarks the best accounting software available for businesses in the UK by comparing their strengths and weaknesses.
What’s more, you’ll get advice on how to choose the right fit for your business and an overview of what these solutions can actually do for your company. Time to get down to business!
What is accounting software and what can it do for UK businesses?
Accounting is a crucial part of running a business, large or small. All types of organisations are liable to keep good accounting records, manage purchase orders, file tax returns and so forth. The question is less about whether you need accounting software and more about what they can bring to your business.
Their main purpose is to:
- Automate repetitive accounting processes,
- Streamline relationships with external parties like customers and suppliers or the government,
- Help you gain time and reduce errors on tasks such as data entry and bank reconciliation.
Some of the most useful accounting features include:
- Making bookkeeping easier and more reliable by pointing out errors: these solutions facilitate double-entry accounting and connect to your bank accounts to make data entry faster and less prone to errors.
- Sending invoices and making payments more convenient: invoices can be created from templates and sent via email. Some let you accept payments via popular services such as PayPal or Stripe to reduce payment delays.
- Creating real-time financial reports and interactive dashboards: these solutions make it easy to keep track of cash flows, manage budgets and inventory with visual reports and charts.
- Integrating payroll management and more: some accounting software includes payroll services or even billing based on work hours with smart time-tracking features for consultants and freelancers.
But perhaps the most coveted feature of all is tax automation. HMRC has made it mandatory for UK businesses to file taxes online, including VAT returns and sales tax, via its Making Tax Digital (MTD) platform, from 1 April 2022. Ruling for some businesses' income tax, and corporation tax won’t come until later. This means that eventually, adopting accounting software will become the norm, even for small business owners, to comply with government standards.
The top 6 best accounting software for UK businesses
FreeAgent
FreeAgent is a UK-based cloud accounting solution. Designed with small businesses in mind, it boasts a simple and straightforward approach to accounting. The best part? It’s 100% free for NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank current account holders!
- This solution comes complete with a wide range of features to cater to all of your small business needs and more, wrapped in an intuitive interface.
- Its compatibility with a large choice of third-party applications and banks make it easy to integrate with your workflow and save time with automation:
- Most banks are supported via the Open Banking standard, which makes it easy to track expenses and import your bank feed in real-time. This includes newcomers such as Revolut or Monzo.
- This solution integrates with Zapier to automate your workflows and connects to Stripe, PayPal or Shopify to simplify payment processing.
- Your interactive dashboard allows you to track cash flows, invoices and more all in one place. With Radar, you can flag late payments or be notified about legislation changes.
- FreeAgent reminds you of upcoming deadlines for self-assessment and VAT filings. This HMRC-recognised solution generates MTD-compliant reports ready for submission!
❤️ What we like
- You can manage your business on the go thanks to a powerful mobile application that lets you scan receipts, record expenses, track time and even send invoices.
- You can send email invoices using templates or advanced customisation features to let customers pay in one click and remind late payers automatically.
- The Co-Pilot feature allows you to share your financial information securely with your accountant, so you can both find a more convenient way to collaborate.
- All plans include project management features, including task lists and a way to store receipts and invoices all in one place. This lets you track project profitability and work hours easily.
- The built-in payroll management system allows you to generate payslips and P60s automatically, at no extra cost.
🤔 What could be better
- You may need to switch banks or open a current account at one of FreeAgent’s partner institutions to get the best deal.
- If you decide to skip on the free offer, the annual plan offers considerable savings but is a bigger commitment.
💰 How much does FreeAgent cost?
- All plans include the majority of features, including payroll, time-tracking and project management. They are all available for free for customers of participating banks.
- For sole traders, the dedicated plan starts at £19 per month + VAT and adds self assessment features.
- Partnerships and LLPs can expect to pay £24 a month + VAT.
- The plan for limited companies is priced at £29 a month + VAT and adds end of year filing as well as self assessment.
Price reductions are offered for annual subscriptions and for the first 6 or 12 months depending on your plan. A 30-day trial is available and there are no cancellation fees.
FreeAgent
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a cloud-based solution made for all kinds of business owners, from freelancers and self-employed workers to small businesses dealing with lots of clients and contractors.
- Create professional invoices with an advanced invoice generator to get paid faster and gain more visibility on your cash flow. It supports deposits, integrates with time-tracking and allows clients to use credit cards or Apple Pay.
- Import expenses automatically from your bank account and sort them into categories. You can even mark an expense as billable to create an invoice on the fly.
- Generate MTD-compliant reports and get useful insights into your accounts with advanced filtering options and interactive dashboards.
- Invite your accountant in one click and spend less time on data entry thanks to a flexible, open accounting system.
❤️ What we like
- You can send quotes by creating custom estimates and project proposals, gathering feedback and transforming them into invoices easily.
- Boost productivity with a unified project management system to store files, collaborate, chat and bill work hours from anywhere.
- Stay in sync even away from the office thanks to the iOS and Android mobile apps: scan receipts, track time and mileage, chat and send invoices to clients anywhere, anytime.
- Integrate with your favourite solutions, including HubSpot, Squarespace or GSuite, with a wide range of options from the marketplace.
- The software is also HRMC Approved
🤔 What could be better
- The Lite option only allows you to add up to 5 billable clients.
- Removing the FreshBooks branding on your communications requires the more expensive custom plan.
- There is no FreshBooks specific payroll management add-on available, although for an extra cost there are integration possibilities with Gusto Payroll.
💰 How much does FreshBooks cost?
- The Lite plan starts at £11 per month. It lacks bank reconciliation and only allows you to bill up to 5 clients.
- The Plus option starts at £19 a month for 50 billable clients. It adds project proposals, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
- The Premium plan is priced at £30 per month with unlimited clients and project profitability tracking.
- For businesses with more complex needs, the Select plan is a custom option with advanced features such as custom branding, subscription payments and a dedicated account manager.
You get 70% off for the first 3 months and extra savings for a yearly subscription. A one-month trial is available to try the software before signing up.
FreshBooks
Odoo Accounting
Odoo Accounting is an open-source cloud-based business application made for all kinds of businesses to help manage daily accounting easily. The software is especially useful for those who want more flexibility by integrating with other business tools such as a CRM, E-commerce, and more.
- This solution is HMRC compatible, to fulfil compliance with MTD requirements, there is a separate module that can be installed to comply with necessary tax regulations.
- As mentioned above, Odoo software can integrate with other business applications, allowing your company to manage other aspects beyond finance, such as HR, sales, marketing, website builders, inventory management, and more.
- Your business will be able to easily manage bills and expenses with supplier invoice management, expense forecasts, employee expenses, and bill digitalisation.
- Sync bank statements automatically with support for major banks as well as major payment gateways like Paypal, Authorize.net, Ayden and more
- Improve payment time with AI invoice automation and automated follow-ups.
❤️ What we like
- Multiple support options including multi-currency support, multiple users with access rights, and multi company integration if your company has various subsidiaries
- High levels of customisation when it comes to dashboards and KPIs that allow for more precise business insights and decision-making
- The vast list of legal statements that are available (Profit & Loss, General Ledger, Tax Reports, Cash flow statements, Country-specific statements, and more)
🤔 What could be better
- Although there is extensive integration with other modules and applications, it can be pricey to add
- Data migration can be slightly tricky and may require some extra support
💰 How much does Odoo Accounting cost?
The Odoo accounting business application is free for unlimited users including hosting and support as long as it is your first application. If your business wants to install other applications, module pricing will be taken into account depending on the module (anywhere from €10 to €60 per user with discounts for annual billing and new customers).
Odoo Accounting
Sage 50cloud
Sage 50cloud is an accounting solution designed for the Cloud by Sage, one of the most well-known enterprise accounting software vendors. This solution, however, is aimed at small to medium-sized UK businesses.
- It gives you easy access to and complete visibility over your cash flows. Sync your bank accounts and see what you owe and what payments are due at any time.
- Create quotes and invoices easily, give a more professional image with user-friendly templates and get paid in seconds via PayPal, Stripe and Sage Pay.
- Calculate and file VAT returns directly to HMRC thanks to MTD compliance that allows you to know you’re up-to-date with the latest regulation.
- Get valuable insights with custom reports that allow you to analyse your finances more effectively.
- Manage your inventory to keep an eye on your stocks and quickly reorder any needed supplies with automated purchase orders.
❤️ What we like
- Sage 50cloud works hand-in-hand with Microsoft Office 365 to present, analyse and sort all your data with familiar apps.
- It supports CIS for construction workers and offers a mobile app on Android and iOS.
- It offers both desktop and cloud versions if you have specific requirements.
🤔 What could be better
- The marketplace doesn’t offer many integration possibilities.
- Sage edits a diverse range of professional accounting software, meaning it can be hard to navigate all the options on offer.
💰 How much does Sage 50cloud cost?
- Sage Business Cloud Accounting starts at £12 per month and offers multiple currency invoicing and unlimited users.
- The Sage 50cloud Standard version starts at £72 per month, and the Professional version starts from £145 for advanced reporting features and more.
The Sage Business Cloud Accounting plan is free for 3 months. For other plans, businesses have access to a 30-day trial period and discounts apply for first subscriptions from time to time.
Sage 50
Xero
Xero is one of the most popular options for growing businesses to manage their accounting processes thanks to its modular, all-in-one approach. This is the go-to solution for a versatile online platform.
- Create quotes and purchase orders on the fly with a large choice of enticing templates.
- Send invoices with easy direct payment options such as Stripe, credit or debit cards and get timely reminders instead of spending time tracking down late payments.
- Track bills, approve or deny expenses and connect to your bank account for a 360° view of your cash flows.
- Store important documents on a safe online filing system with easy data capture by scanning or taking a picture of receipts.
- Of course, this solution is HMRC MTD-enabled and allows you to submit your VAT tax returns seamlessly and with no errors.
❤️ What we like
- Xero supports project management features such as time and cost tracking, quote management and powerful dashboards to keep track of your profit margin.
- It provides flexibility with useful modules such as support for CIS returns, payment via Wise or payroll management.
- It makes it really easy to reconcile offline transactions. Its mobile apps (Android and iOS) allow you to simply capture and match receipts, bills or even emails.
🤔 What could be better
- The Starter plan may be cheap, but it comes with severe limitations: only 20 invoices, 5 bills and no support for bulk reconciliation transactions.
- Support for multiple currencies is only available on the Premium plan.
💰 How much does Xero cost?
- The limited Starter plan costs £12 per month for sole traders, new businesses, and self-employed individuals.
- The Standard option adds bulk bank reconciliation for £26 per month.
- The Premium plan adds multi-currency accounting and invoicing for £33 per month.
- There is even an Ultimate plan for larger employees that can handle payroll, expenses, and project for a certain amount of people for £49 per month.
All plans offer extras that cost between £2.50 and £5 per month, including payroll, expense claims, project tracking, Wise payments, CIS returns, and Analytics. For 30 days you can access all Xero features and cancel any time so that you can decide which plan works best for you.
Xero
Zoho Books
Zoho Books is an affordable option for small businesses looking to streamline their accounting processes without breaking the bank. It offers a versatile platform with flexible pricing options, including a free version to cater to basic accounting needs.
- Send enticing invoices and customise them to reflect your brand. These allow you to accept a wide range of payment options, including PayPal and Stripe, but also traditional options like cash and cheques.
- Track your expenses easily with support for recurring expenses and a way to store relevant documents such as receipts and notes directly within the transaction.
- Create bills from purchase orders and add an approval step to avoid mistakes. You can even process returns and refunds easily.
- Manage your inventory with all your product details and stock information stored in one place. You get reminded when you run low on certain items and incoming purchase orders update your inventory automatically.
❤️ What we like
- Bank reconciliation also works with PayPal accounts to import, sort and process all your transactions automatically.
- Communicate with customers and suppliers easily thanks to dedicated client and vendor portals. These let them access updates and take action themselves.
- Track time and collaborate on multiple projects thanks to a simple project management system.
- Store documents easily: capture receipts with a simple scan and convert them into bills, invoices and more. You can then match them with a specific transaction as attachments.
🤔 What could be better
- The free version of Zoho Books doesn’t let you manage bills and purchase or sales orders and is limited to 1000 invoices per year.
- The Standard version mainly consists of the free version with additional payment options flexibility, invoice, and recurring expenses, among other options which may make it worth it.
💰 How much does Zoho books cost?
- The Free version lets you collaborate with an accountant and offers invoicing features with support for PayPal, Stripe and PayTabs (available for businesses with less than 35K GBP revenue per year).
- The Standard plan starts at £10 per month and adds support for 2 more users, 5000 invoices a year, basic project management and a wide range of payment options.
- The Professional plan is £20 a month and supports 5 users, unlimited invoices, bills, inventory, multi-currency management and more.
- The Premium plan is priced at £25 per month for 10 users and has advanced features such as custom domain names, the vendor portal and workflow automation rules.
All plans except for the free version are billed annually. You may also purchase add-ons for plans other than the free one that add additional users, branches support, and advanced auto scan for a monthly fee.
Zoho Books
How to choose the right accounting solution?
Thus, if you must equip yourself with accounting software, which one should you go for? While there is no definite answer to this question, as all businesses are different, you should follow these steps when choosing your accounting solution:
- Consider your specific needs. Think about the functionalities your business requires, which features would be the most important. To do so, ask yourself questions such as:
- Do you need foreign currency transactions?
- How many people will use this software?
- Think about your limitations and constraints. How much can you afford to pay for the solution?
- Take it a step further and imagine the future of your company. As your business grows, will you need features such as payroll management, or advanced financial reporting?
This should in turn give you a direction to follow when browsing and comparing accounting software.
Desktop or Cloud accounting software?
You will also discover that these can be sorted into two different categories:
- Desktop accounting software
- Cloud accounting software
The latter, also called SaaS accounting software, offers several advantages compared to its more traditional counterparts. Cloud-based software is hosted online, meaning it can be accessed remotely from any device connected with an Internet connection, including PC, Mac and mobile devices.
It is also more flexible, as maintenance and updates are done seamlessly by the software vendor, saving on IT costs. The SaaS model turns a one time purchase into a subscription service, meaning that customer support is there to lend a helping hand when needed. What’s more, you can switch plans when needed to get a more complete package when your company outgrows lighter versions of the app.
Recap table: accounting software comparison
1 of 6
| FreeAgent | FreshBooks | Odoo Accounting | Sage 50 | Xero | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For companies with 1 to 50 employees | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about FreeAgent | Learn more about FreshBooks | Learn more about Odoo Accounting | Learn more about Sage 50 | Learn more about Xero | Learn more about Zoho Books |
Run your business more efficiently with the best accounting software
Rather than seeing accounting software as just another compliance problem or a strict business necessity, it would be wiser to consider all the benefits they can bring to your company.
UK businesses can enjoy simplified tax reports and gain much needed time to focus on growing their activity. Finding the best accounting software can be tedious, but is well worth the reward if you take sufficient time to assess your needs.
Have you found the solution you were looking for? If not, be sure to check our full list of accounting software!
Are you ready to undertake the transition to digital accounting? Feel free to share your experience with such solutions below!