Dext Review: Is Receipt Scanning Worth Paying For?
Dext captures receipts and feeds them into your books for Making Tax Digital. What it does that a phone photo and a spreadsheet do not — and who needs it.
Accounting Software
Accounting software is the one recurring cost most sole traders take on, and the one where the headline price is least likely to be what you pay.
If you are not sure you need it at all, start with whether a sole trader actually needs accounting software — plenty do not, yet — and what the genuinely free options do and do not cover. Making Tax Digital changes that calculation for many people, so check which software HMRC actually recognises before paying for anything.
If you have decided to pay, the full comparison is the starting point, and FreeAgent against Xero is the choice most people end up making. Two things worth knowing before you commit: Xero’s UK prices went up on 1 September 2026 — Ignite is now £18 a month, up from £16, and the Simple plan is the only one that does not move — and if you bank with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank or Mettle, FreeAgent comes free with the account. New to Xero specifically? What Xero is and how it works day to day.
Individual reviews cover QuickBooks, Sage and Zoho Books. And if you already have software and want to leave, switching without losing your records is the one to read first.
Prices checked 26 August 2026. Providers change pricing between updates — confirm on the provider’s own page.
FreeAgent Review 2026: Worth It for Sole Traders?
FreeAgent is £19 a month for sole traders — or free if you bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster or Mettle. What the free route requires, and where it falls short.
Cloud vs Desktop Accounting Software: The Real Cost
Cloud vs desktop accounting software: HMRC never says which. VT Transaction+ is £90 a year, not a one-off, and FreeAgent is £0 with the right bank.
Is FreeAgent Free for UK Freelancers? What You Actually Get
FreeAgent is genuinely free with NatWest, RBS, Ulster or Mettle — one transaction a month keeps it alive. Everyone else: £19, and a closer call.
Receipt-Scanning Apps: Will HMRC Accept a Photo?
Does HMRC accept photos of receipts? Yes, with conditions. What counts as an acceptable copy, the batching mistake to avoid, and how long to keep them.
Free Accounting Software for Sole Traders in 2026
Free accounting software for sole traders is real, but almost every free tier shares one catch: no MTD submissions. What is genuinely free in 2026.
Switching Accounting Software Without Losing Records
HMRC expects six years of VAT records. Here is how to switch accounting software without losing the history you are still legally required to produce.
Linking Your Bank to Accounting Software: Is It Safe?
Connecting a business bank account to accounting software takes two minutes. Here is what the connection can actually see, and how Open Banking protects it.
Zoho Books Free Plan Review 2026: What You Actually Get
Zoho Books offers a genuinely free UK accounting plan with MTD and SA100 support. Here’s exactly what’s included, what’s missing, and who it suits.
Do You Need Accounting Software as a Sole Trader?
Not automatically. Plenty of sole traders stay compliant on a spreadsheet — until VAT, MTD mandation or sheer transaction volume changes the answer.
Sage Accounting Review 2026: The Best Fit for Sole Traders?
Sage Accounting’s UK pricing and features for sole traders — what the Start plan includes, and what it costs once the intro offer ends.
QuickBooks Self-Employed UK 2026: It No Longer Exists
QuickBooks UK review for sole traders: Sole Trader Plus vs Simple Start, MTD readiness, and whether it beats free alternatives like Zoho Books.