In the UK, Sage Accounting suits small businesses that want payroll and an AI assistant included in every plan, while QuickBooks suits those who want HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital software and are happy to add payroll separately. In the US, QuickBooks offers a free tier for solo businesses, and Sage's range leans towards desktop and mid-sized companies.
Sage and QuickBooks look like straight rivals, but the comparison changes depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on. Sage's UK site sells one cloud product, Sage Accounting, to small firms. Its US site points small and mid-sized businesses to Sage 50, Sage Intacct and other products. QuickBooks Online is the same family in both countries, with different plans.
Sage and QuickBooks side by side
| Sage | QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Main small-business product | Sage Accounting (UK); Sage 50 and Sage Intacct (US) | QuickBooks Online (UK and US) |
| Free option | Not offered on the pages I read | US: QuickBooks Free for solo businesses; UK: none listed |
| Free trial | Not stated on the pages I read | US: 30-day free trial on Online plans |
| Payroll | Sage Payroll included in all three UK plans | UK plans don't include payroll; it's an add-on |
| AI assistant | Sage Copilot in all three UK plans | Intuit Intelligence across Online plans |
| VAT and HMRC | Copilot chases VAT tasks and helps file the VAT return | Prepare and submit VAT returns to HMRC on every UK plan |
| Making Tax Digital for Income Tax | Sage Sole Trader, a separate product | HMRC-recognised MTD for Income Tax software |
| Users | Not listed per plan on the UK page | UK: Simple Start 1 user, Essentials 3 users, plus your accountant |
| Access | Online software | Cloud from any device, with mobile apps on Online plans |
What Sage Accounting does for a UK business
Sage's UK page puts its assistant front and centre. Sage Copilot drafts payment reminders in your tone, chases VAT tasks, flags common mistakes that HMRC would care about and helps you file the VAT return. All three plans include Sage Payroll, with PAYE tax and National Insurance calculated and ready to submit.
- Payroll and accounting in one login, from the first plan.
- A cash flow forecast to see what's coming.
- Sage Sole Trader as a separate product for Self Assessment.
What QuickBooks does on both sides of the pond
QuickBooks UK lists Simple Start for 1 user and Essentials for 3 users, both with access for your accountant. Every UK plan can prepare and submit VAT returns to HMRC, and the software is HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. In the US, the plans run from Simple Start to Advanced, all carrying Intuit Intelligence.
- Receipt capture and mileage tracking on the go.
- Bank feeds that import and categorise transactions.
- A US free tier that isn't a trial.
The free tier and payroll detail
QuickBooks' US free page is blunt: "Not a trial. Just free." QuickBooks Free covers 1 user with invoicing, expense tracking and three reports (profit and loss, balance sheet and account quick report), but no accountant access, and the main plans page notes mobile app access and third-party integrations aren't available on it. In the UK, the QuickBooks UK FAQ says plans don't come with payroll and you add it on. Sage's UK page says all three plans include Sage Payroll. For an employer with a small team, that difference is worth more than any feature list.
For more options, see my roundup of bookkeeping software for small business.
Which business suits which
A UK limited company with a few employees will find Sage Accounting tidy, because payroll and VAT sit in one place with an assistant nudging deadlines. A UK sole trader preparing for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax may prefer QuickBooks Simple Start or Sage Sole Trader, and should compare those two directly. A US freelancer can start on QuickBooks Free and move up when they need an accountant inside the books.
If you're shortlisting more than two, my list of accounting software tools covers the wider field.
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My advice on Sage or QuickBooks
Ask your accountant which one they already use, then check the payroll and Making Tax Digital rows against your own business. Switching later means moving years of records, so a ten-minute conversation now saves a lot of hassle. Don't let a trial or a free tier make the decision for you.
Do you make accounting or bookkeeping software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Does Sage Accounting include payroll?
Yes, in the UK. Sage's page says all three Sage Accounting plans include Sage Payroll and Sage Copilot.
Does QuickBooks include payroll in the UK?
No. The QuickBooks UK FAQ says plans don't come with payroll, but you can add it to Simple Start, Essentials, Plus or Advanced.
Is there a free version of QuickBooks?
In the US, yes. QuickBooks Free covers 1 user with invoicing, expense tracking and three core reports, without accountant access, mobile app access or third-party integrations.
Is QuickBooks ready for Making Tax Digital?
QuickBooks UK describes its software as HMRC-recognised MTD for Income Tax software, and every UK plan can submit VAT returns to HMRC.
