QuickBooks vs Sage for Sole Traders: MTD Software Compared (2025)
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Reviewed by SoleTraderGuide Editorial TeamMTD Software AnalystLast reviewed 1 March 2025
In a nutshell
QuickBooks
- Cheaper entry point with the Self-Employed plan (£8/month)
- Better mobile app and 650+ integrations
- Mileage tracking and receipt capture built in
Sage
- UK-headquartered with UK-based phone support
- Strong compliance focus — closely tracks UK tax rule changes
- Trusted brand with decades of UK accounting expertise
Who Each Tool is Best For
Choose QuickBooks if you...
- →Want the cheapest entry-level MTD plan (Self-Employed, £8/month)
- →Drive for work and want automatic mileage tracking
- →Need lots of third-party integrations
- →Primarily use accounting software on your phone
Choose Sage if you...
- →Want to speak to a UK-based accountant or support agent by phone
- →Value working with an established, UK-native brand
- →Have an accountant who recommends or uses Sage
- →May need to add payroll as your business grows
Full Feature Comparison
| Feature |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| MTD compatible HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax | ||
| Starting price | £8/month | £15/month |
| Free plan available | ||
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Supports sole traders | ||
| Supports landlords | ||
| Mobile app quality | Good | Basic |
| Ease of use (1–5) | 3.5 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| UK customer support | Chat + phone | Phone + chat (UK-based) |
| Integrations | 650+ apps | 100+ apps |
| Self-assessment filing | Via accountant | Via accountant |
Pros and Cons
QuickBooks
What we like
- HMRC-recognised
- Feature-rich platform
- Good reporting and dashboards
- Strong accountant ecosystem
- Self-employed plan available
Watch out for
- No free plan
- Can be pricey at higher tiers
- Interface can feel busy
Sage
What we like
- Genuinely free HMRC-recognised tier for sole traders
- UK company with UK-based phone and chat support
- No bank account required to access free plan
- Good invoicing and cash flow tools
- Strong compliance focus, fast to update for HMRC changes
Watch out for
- Free tier has limited features vs paid
- Less intuitive than Xero or FreeAgent for beginners
- Fewer third-party integrations than competitors
- Mobile app less polished than competitors
Key Differences Explained
UK Support and Heritage
Sage is a UK company — founded in Newcastle in 1981 and headquartered in the UK today. This matters for sole traders who want genuine local expertise. Sage's support team understands UK payroll, UK VAT, and MTD nuances from first principles. QuickBooks is developed by Intuit, an American company with a strong UK operation but a global product roadmap. Both offer phone support, but Sage's team is explicitly UK-based.
Mobile Experience
QuickBooks has the better mobile app — both in terms of features and user ratings in app stores. The mileage tracking feature is particularly useful for sole traders who use their car for business and want to claim mileage as an expense. Sage's mobile app is more limited, making it less suitable for sole traders who manage their accounts primarily on a phone.
Integrations
QuickBooks has over 650 third-party app integrations; Sage has around 100. If you rely on specific tools — e-commerce platforms, payment processors, CRM systems — QuickBooks is more likely to have a native integration. For most straightforward sole trader businesses, Sage's available integrations are sufficient.
MTD Compliance
Both QuickBooks and Sage are fully HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Both can submit all four quarterly updates and the End of Period Statement directly to HMRC. There is no meaningful difference in MTD compliance between the two — your choice should be based on the other factors in this comparison.
The Verdict
On features and mobile experience: QuickBooks wins. It has a better mobile app, more integrations, and the Self-Employed plan at £8/month is a genuinely good deal for sole traders with simple finances.
On UK support and compliance confidence: Sage wins. If picking up the phone and speaking to someone in the UK about your tax question is important to you, Sage is worth the slightly higher entry price.
Overall:For most sole traders, QuickBooks offers more value. But the “right” choice ultimately depends on whether you prioritise features (QuickBooks) or UK-based support and heritage (Sage). Both are solid, reliable, HMRC-recognised platforms.
Alternative Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to choose between QuickBooks and Sage?
Both offer 30-day free trials. Test both with your real business data before committing.