Sage Accounting vs Xero
Both are full cloud accounting tools for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
Xero is the cheaper starting point at from £100.80/yr (VAT included) versus from £288/yr for Sage Accounting — but the cheapest plan only wins if it covers the income types you actually have.
| Sage Accounting | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| True annual cost from | from £288/yr | from £100.80/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 |
Sage Accounting
Established accounting software with strong accountant support and phone help. Pricier than most here, no surprises.
- People who want UK phone support
- Those whose accountant uses Sage
Xero
Full cloud accounting. The Simple plan is purpose-built for MTD for Income Tax with bank-feed automation, so you do less typing.
- Sole traders who want proper bookkeeping
- People who want bank feeds to do the work
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.