MTD Software Finder

Pandle vs Sage Sole Trader

Both are full cloud accounting tools for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

Pandle and Sage Sole Trader start at the same true annual cost (£0, VAT included), so the choice comes down to fit rather than price.

PandleSage Sole Trader
True annual cost from£0£0
Self-employmentYesYes
Property / rentYesYes
Keeps your spreadsheetNoNo
Accountant accessNoYes
Typefull cloud accountingfull cloud accounting
HMRC statusRecognisedRecognised
Price verified2026-07-022026-07-02

Pandle

Free, HMRC-recognised cloud bookkeeping. The free version covers MTD for Income Tax quarterly updates for sole traders and UK landlords, with an optional paid Pro tier for more automation.

  • People who want free cloud bookkeeping that also files MTD
  • Sole traders and UK landlords on a budget

Sage Sole Trader

Sage's genuinely free MTD for Income Tax app for sole traders and landlords (formerly Sage Individual). Digital records, bank feeds, quarterly updates and the final declaration at no cost — from one of the biggest names in UK accounting.

  • Sole traders and landlords who want a free tool from a major brand
  • Non-VAT-registered people who want zero-cost compliance

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 2 July 2026 (catalogue reconciled 2 July 2026). Links are affiliate links and never affect ranking. Not affiliated with HMRC; not tax advice.