Coconut vs QuickBooks
Both are full cloud accounting tools for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
QuickBooks is the cheaper starting point at from £129.60/yr (VAT included) versus from £129.99/yr for Coconut — but the cheapest plan only wins if it covers the income types you actually have.
| Coconut | QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| True annual cost from | from £129.99/yr | from £129.60/yr |
| Self-employment | Yes | Yes |
| Property / rent | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps your spreadsheet | No | No |
| Accountant access | Yes | Yes |
| Type | full cloud accounting | full cloud accounting |
| HMRC status | Recognised | Recognised |
| Price verified | 2026-08-10 | 2026-08-10 |
Coconut
Built from the ground up for sole traders and landlords under MTD — simple categorisation, no accounting jargon. Often supplied free through partner accountants.
- First-timers who find accounting apps overwhelming
- Landlords with a side trade
QuickBooks
Widely used cloud accounting. The Sole Trader Plus plan covers self-employment and a single rental property if you're not VAT-registered; Simple Start adds VAT.
- Sole traders and single-property landlords on a budget
- People who want a big app ecosystem
Not sure either is right? Use the finder to get a recommendation ranked by what it will actually cost you.
Prices are each tool's cheapest plan, VAT included, last verified 10 August 2026 (catalogue reconciled 10 August 2026). Links are affiliate links and never affect ranking. Not affiliated with HMRC; not tax advice.