Viaqo

Best Accounting Software for Tradespeople in the UK

Compare accounting software for tradespeople, sole traders and small trade businesses in the UK. We look at ease of use, pricing, bookkeeping features, Making Tax Digital support and the tools that matter when you’re managing a busy trade business.

Quick answer

Best overall: Xero
A solid choice for tradespeople who want simple accounting, MTD support and links to other business tools.

Best for sole traders: FreeAgent
Simple to use and particularly well suited to self-employed tradespeople who want to keep their accounts straightforward.

Best for CIS and growing trade businesses: Sage Accounting
A good choice for trade businesses that need stronger CIS features and expect to grow.

Compare our top picks

SoftwareViaqo scoreKey checksPrice
Xero90/100MTD ✓ · CIS ✓* · 4.4/5
From £7/mo
FreeAgent88/100MTD ✓ · CIS Partial* · 4.5/5£19/mo
Sage 85/100MTD ✓ · CIS ✓ · 4.1/5£43/mo

User ratings shown are from Capterra. Prices exclude VAT and may change. Xero Simple starts at £7/month for non-VAT registered businesses. Promotional prices may apply.

Last checked: 30 August 2026
Last updated: 30 August 2026

*Xero: CIS features are available, but filing contractor CIS returns may require an extra £5/month add-on.
*FreeAgent: CIS is supported, but contractor CIS300 returns cannot currently be filed directly from FreeAgent.

How we scored them

30% — User reviews
What do real customers say, and are there enough recent reviews?

25% — Fit for tradespeople
Is it genuinely useful for the way tradespeople work?

20% — UK essentials
Does it cover things like MTD, VAT and CIS where needed?

10% — Ease of use & mobile
Is it straightforward to use, including on a phone?

10% — Works with other tools
Does it connect easily to job management, invoicing and other useful software?

5% — Price & value
Is it worth what it costs?

Affiliate commissions do not affect our scores or rankings.

Xero — Best overall

Xero is our top pick because it is easy to use, works with Making Tax Digital, supports CIS and connects with useful trade software. It also has a strong track record with users.

Why we like it

  • Easy to use — Capterra users rate ease of use at 4.4/5.
  • MTD ready — works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
  • Good for CIS — handles subcontractor CIS calculations and reports.
  • Works with trade software — including job management tools such as Fergus.
  • Low-cost entry plan — from £7/month excluding VAT.

Things to know

  • The £7 plan is very basic — it is for non-VAT-registered businesses and includes only 10 invoices and quotes.
  • VAT and contractor CIS may cost more — VAT returns start with Ignite, and submitting contractor CIS returns is available as an optional £5/month add-on on that plan.
  • Support is not its strongest point — Capterra rates Xero’s customer service at 4.0/5, and some reviews mention slow support and technical glitches.

Who should choose Xero?

Xero is a strong choice if you want simple accounting, MTD support and software that can grow with your trade business.

Who may prefer something else?

If you want the simplest option as a sole trader, FreeAgent may be easier. If CIS is a major part of your business, Sage may be worth a closer look.

FreeAgent — Best for sole traders

FreeAgent is a strong choice for self-employed tradespeople who want to keep their accounts simple. It works with Making Tax Digital, has an easy-to-use mobile app and gets very good feedback from users.

Why we like it

  • Easy to use — Capterra users rate ease of use at 4.4/5.
  • Strong user feedback — 4.5/5 on Capterra.
  • MTD ready — sole traders can send MTD for Income Tax updates to HMRC through FreeAgent.
  • Good on mobile — useful when you need to manage accounts away from a desk.
  • Simple sole trader pricing — £19/month excluding VAT at the normal monthly price.

Things to know

  • CIS has a limitation — contractors cannot currently file their monthly CIS300 return directly from FreeAgent; it has to be filed separately.
  • Lots of receipts can cost extra — FreeAgent includes up to 10 Smart Capture receipts/bills per month; unlimited use costs £5/month extra.
  • Best suited to smaller businesses — strongest for sole traders who want straightforward accounting rather than a more complex setup.

Who should choose FreeAgent?

FreeAgent is a great fit if you work for yourself and want simple accounting, good MTD support and an easy way to keep on top of your finances.

Who may prefer something else?

If you run a larger trade business or regularly deal with subcontractors under CIS, Xero or Sage may suit you better.

Sage — Best for CIS & growing trade businesses

Sage is a strong choice for trade businesses that need solid CIS tools and expect their accounting needs to grow. Its Standard plan supports CIS, VAT and more advanced accounting than many basic sole trader plans.

Why we like it

  • Good for CIS — Sage Standard is built for businesses working with suppliers and CIS.
  • MTD ready — Sage supports Making Tax Digital and digital record keeping.
  • Suitable as you grow — Standard includes more advanced accounting features than basic sole trader plans.
  • Solid user feedback — 4.1/5 from 651 Capterra reviews.
  • Payroll included — useful if your trade business starts employing people.

Things to know

  • It costs more — the normal Sage Standard price is £43/month excluding VAT.
  • Support gets mixed feedback — Capterra rates customer service at 3.8/5.
  • It may be more than a sole trader needs — if your accounts are very simple, FreeAgent may feel easier.

Who should choose Sage?

Sage is a good fit if CIS is important to your business, you work with subcontractors or suppliers, or you expect your accounting needs to become more complex.

Who may prefer something else?

If you work alone and want the simplest possible setup, FreeAgent may suit you better. If you want accounting software that works with more trade tools, Xero may be the better option.

Also considered

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online has plenty of useful accounting features and works with MTD and CIS. It also has a large number of customer reviews. However, feedback is less consistent across review sites than for our top picks, so it falls just outside our top three.

Worth considering if: you already use QuickBooks, want strong accounting features or prefer its interface.

Why it missed our top three: customer feedback is less consistent across the review sites we checked.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Xero if you want the best all-round option and software that works with plenty of other trade tools.

Choose FreeAgent if you work for yourself and want to keep your accounting as simple as possible.

Choose Sage if CIS is important to your business or you expect your accounting needs to become more complex.

For most tradespeople, Xero is our top pick. FreeAgent is the easier choice for many sole traders, while Sage makes more sense for businesses with heavier CIS needs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best accounting software for a sole trader?

FreeAgent is our top choice for many sole traders because it is simple to use and built with small businesses in mind. Xero may be a better choice if you want more connections to other business tools or expect your business to grow.

Do tradespeople need MTD software?

If Making Tax Digital applies to you, you need compatible software to keep the required digital records and send information to HMRC. Not every tradesperson is covered by the same rules, so check what applies to your business.

Which accounting software is best for CIS?

Sage is our top choice if CIS is a major part of your business. Xero is also a strong option. FreeAgent supports CIS, but contractors cannot currently file their monthly CIS300 return directly from FreeAgent.

Is Xero or FreeAgent better for tradespeople?

Xero is the better all-round choice for most trade businesses. FreeAgent is often easier for sole traders who want to keep their accounting simple.

Can I change accounting software later?

Yes. Most accounting software lets you move your business data, although switching can take some work. It is usually easier to change at a natural point in your accounting year and to keep copies of your old records.

Sources checked