- Accounting software for the self-employed compared
- Eleven accounting options for the self-employed
- How long you need to keep your records
- Accounting app or bank account with bookkeeping?
- Getting your books in order this week
- Questions to ask before you choose accounting software
- Signs your bookkeeping needs software
- My plain advice on choosing accounting software when you're self-employed
- Frequently asked questions
The best accounting software for self-employed people tracks income and expenses, keeps receipts and helps with your tax return without needing an accountant's training. Some are full accounting apps, others are business bank accounts with bookkeeping built in. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Being self-employed means you're the sales team, the delivery team and the finance department. The finance part is often the one that gets left until the night before the deadline.
The eleven options below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the provider's own website, read this week. Several are UK-focused and some are US-focused, so check where each one works. My tax tips for the self-employed are a good companion read.
Accounting software for the self-employed compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free account, a free allowance or open source software. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akaunting | Free accounting software for small businesses | Free, open accounting basics | Yes |
| ANNA | Business account that does your taxes | A bank account with tax help built in | Yes |
| Coconut | Self employed accounting software | UK sole traders and landlords | Trial only |
| Countingup | Business bank account with built-in accounting | Bookkeeping that happens as you spend | Trial only |
| Crunch | Online accountants with software | An app plus an accountant | Not stated |
| FreeAgent | Accounting software for small businesses | Freelancers working with an accountant | Trial only |
| Hurdlr | Expense and mileage tracker for freelancers | Tracking mileage automatically | Not stated |
| Kashoo | Simple online accounting | Very simple bookkeeping | Not stated |
| Keeper | Tax filing and write-off tracking | US filers with complex returns | Not stated |
| Pandle | Free accounting software for small businesses | Free UK bookkeeping | Yes |
| QuickBooks Solopreneur | Self-employed accounting from QuickBooks | US solopreneurs tracking income | Not stated |
Eleven accounting options for the self-employed
Akaunting
Best for: Sole traders who want free invoicing, expense tracking and simple reports without paying for a monthly subscription.
ANNA
Best for: UK sole traders and freelancers who want a business account that helps with their Self Assessment.
Coconut
Best for: Self-employed people in the UK who want expenses, tax estimates and MTD-ready records in one simple app.
Countingup
Best for: Busy sole traders who want their bookkeeping done automatically from the transactions in their business bank account.
Crunch
Best for: Freelancers and contractors who want online accounting software backed by accountants they can ask for advice.
FreeAgent
Best for: Contractors and freelancers whose accountant already uses FreeAgent and wants clean, shared books all year.
Hurdlr
Best for: US freelancers and gig workers who drive for work and want expenses and mileage tracked automatically.
Kashoo
Best for: Self-employed people who find full accounting software too much and want simple online books.
Keeper
Best for: American freelancers and gig workers who want help finding write-offs and filing more complex tax returns.
Pandle
Best for: UK sole traders who want free bookkeeping software with bank feeds and simple reports.
QuickBooks Solopreneur
Best for: US solopreneurs who want income, expenses and estimated tax tracked by a well-known accounting brand.
How long you need to keep your records
Longer than most people expect. GOV.UK says self-employed people must keep their records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year, and HMRC may check them.
That's why software that stores receipts and statements is worth having. A photo of a receipt in an app is far easier to find in four years' time than a faded slip in a shoebox. Just check you can export everything if you ever switch.
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Accounting app or bank account with bookkeeping?
Accounting apps connect to your bank and help you categorise transactions, send invoices and get ready for your tax return. Business bank accounts with bookkeeping built in do much of that automatically as you spend.
If you want everything in one place, a bank account with bookkeeping is simple. If your accountant has a preferred tool, use theirs, because you'll share the same books all year.
Getting your books in order this week
Open a separate account for business money if you haven't already. Mixing personal and business spending is the single biggest cause of bookkeeping headaches for sole traders.
Then spend ten minutes a week categorising transactions and snapping receipts. It's dull, but ten minutes a week beats a whole lost weekend in January. My guide comparing sole trader and limited company setups helps if you're thinking about the next step.
If you're not sure which tool fits, ask two or three self-employed friends what they use and what they'd change. You'll learn more from their honest grumbles than from any feature page, and you'll avoid the tools nobody sticks with.
Questions to ask before you choose accounting software
- Does it work in my country and for my tax rules?
- Does it connect to my bank automatically?
- Can I snap and store receipts on my phone?
- Does it estimate the tax I'll owe?
- Can I send invoices from it?
- Will my accountant be happy to use it?
Signs your bookkeeping needs software
- Receipts live in a shoebox. Snap them instead.
- Tax time is a panic. Do ten minutes weekly.
- Business and personal mix. Separate the accounts.
- You guess your tax bill. Use an estimate.
Do you make accounting software for the self-employed? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing accounting software when you're self-employed
Pick the tool you'll open every week, not the most powerful one. Simple software used regularly will keep you calmer at tax time than a clever system you avoid.
And separate business and personal money from day one. Whatever software you choose, that one habit makes everything else easier.
Landlords with several units have different needs, and our guide to accounting software for property management covers them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best accounting software for self employed people?
It depends on your country and how you like to work. The list above is in no particular order.
Is there free accounting software for sole traders?
Some tools say they're free or have free plans. The free plan column shows what each provider's own site says.
How long should I keep my records?
GOV.UK says at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year.
Do I need a separate business bank account?
It's not always required for sole traders, but it makes bookkeeping far simpler.
Can accounting software file my tax return?
Some tools help prepare or submit returns. Check what each tool supports in your country.
Should I use the same software as my accountant?
If you can, yes. Sharing the same books saves time and avoids mistakes.
