Choose cloud accounting software by the cost you will live with.
Not the promo price.
Every pricing page shows the promotional monthly rate. We show what you will actually pay in year 3 — including payroll add-ons, per-user inflation, and the migration cost nobody mentions.
The pricing trap nobody discloses
QuickBooks Online's base plan is $30/month. If you have employees (73% of small businesses do), payroll adds $45-125/month. Real cost: $75-155/month — not the $30 in the ad. Xero's payroll is £40/month additional. Wave's is $20/month (US only). The "cheapest" option in search results is almost never cheapest once you add payroll.
Find your real cost →Software reviews
Tested under real business registrations. Real bank feeds. Real pricing data.
Best for: Freelancers billing 5-15 clients who prioritise polished invoicing and client portal
Skip if: Freelancers with 15+ active clients — per-client billing makes it expensive fast
Best for: US small businesses with employees, bookkeeper-managed accounts
Skip if: UK sole traders on MTD — payroll add-on inflates cost dramatically
Best for: US freelancers and micro-businesses wanting genuinely free accounting and invoicing
Skip if: UK businesses (no UK bank feed, not MTD ITSA), businesses needing payroll outside US/Canada
Best for: UK freelancers, small businesses needing MTD ITSA compliance, multi-currency businesses
Skip if: US businesses without a UK connection — QBO has better US payroll integration
Best for: SMBs and freelancers already in the Zoho ecosystem, or anyone wanting best feature-per-dollar
Skip if: Businesses needing deep QuickBooks ecosystem integration or US-focused payroll
Not sure which to choose?
Answer 5 questions. Get personalised picks with real pricing — including payroll.
60-Second Software Finder
Answer 5 questions. Get 2-3 personalised picks with real pricing.
Affiliate links are disclosed. Rankings are based on testing, not payments.
What best describes you?
Head-to-head comparisons
UK Making Tax Digital (MTD ITSA)
From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with combined income above £50,000 must submit quarterly digital updates using HMRC-recognised software. Xero and FreeAgent are on the recognised list. QuickBooks Online, Wave, and FreshBooks are not confirmed for MTD ITSA as of April 2026.