Pandle vs Self Assessment Direct
Both are full cloud accounting tools for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
Pandle and Self Assessment Direct start at the same true annual cost (£0, VAT included), so the choice comes down to fit rather than price.
| Pandle | Self Assessment Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| True annual cost from | £0 | £0 |
| Self-employment | Yes | Yes |
| Property / rent | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps your spreadsheet | No | No |
| Accountant access | No | Yes |
| Type | full cloud accounting | full cloud accounting |
| HMRC status | Recognised | Recognised |
| Price verified | 2026-07-02 | 2026-07-02 |
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
Self Assessment Direct
A genuinely free, HMRC-recognised tool from Cirrostratus (the VAT Direct platform): a simple cloud cashbook plus spreadsheet bridging that files MTD for Income Tax for sole traders and landlords — including foreign property — at no cost.
- Anyone who wants to file for £0
- Sole traders and landlords, including those with foreign property
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.