Sage Sole Trader vs Self Assessment Direct
Both are full cloud accounting tools for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
Sage Sole Trader and Self Assessment Direct start at the same true annual cost (£0, VAT included), so the choice comes down to fit rather than price.
| Sage Sole Trader | Self Assessment Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| True annual cost from | £0 | £0 |
| 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 | 2026-07-02 | 2026-07-02 |
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
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.