Jack Fowler FCCA analyses 5 software products to help you get compliant as Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment comes in.
There are over 20 different software providers on HMRC’s approved MTD list!
But which one is right for you?
If you’re a small business owner, a landlord, freelancer, or side hustler then you may well be trying to get your head around Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA). The last thing you want is a lot of jargon that leads to you selecting software that doesn’t suit your needs.
The first phase of MTD ITSA is due to start in April 2026 which is why we’ve put this guide together. Over the past few months, we’ve been working with clients just like you, people earning over £50,000 per year who now need to file quarterly digital returns. Many were either confused, overwhelmed, or unsure of the features that really mattered, or an element of all 3.
To address this, we’ve done all the digging for you. We’ve evaluated what in our opinion is the top 5 MTD-compatible software options for you. This has included looking at a vast range of important review items including:
- Pricing
- Features
- User feedback
From this we’ve been able to build a comparison table to help get you ready. By reading this you can then pick the right product for your needs, and launch into MTD with as minimal disruption as possible to your day-to-day activities! Click on the relevant blue header link (left column) in the table for more information about each comparison section. You can also access a downloadable PDF of this infographic by clicking here.
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Xero |
FreeAgent |
Dext |
Bridging software |
Hammock |
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| Landlords Sole traders |
Landlords Sole traders |
Landlords Sole traders |
Landlords Sole traders |
Landlords | |
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Simple: £7 Ignite: £16 |
Landlord: £4.17 Sole trader: £7.92 FREE for those banking with Natwest, RBS, or Mettle |
£2.50 But only available through an accountant or bookkeeper
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From £2.50 |
1-3 Properties: 4-10 Properties: £15 11-20 Properties: £25 |
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Invoicing & credit control tools
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⚠️Invoicing with limits 10-20 invoices Basic templates Status tracking Recurring & Mobile & pay Credit limits
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✅Full invoicing suite Unlimited HMRC-compliant Recurring Status tracking Auto reminders Mobile invoicing |
❌No No invoice No credit control Focused on data Supplier invoice |
❌Not for day-to-day invoicing No invoicing or Manual data Designed for final Not a billing |
✅Landlord-specific invoicing Automated rent Arrears Missed payment Built for rental
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✅Bank feeds included Direct open Daily imports Manual uploads Up to 12 months |
✅Bank feeds included Direct open Daily imports Manual uploads Historical data
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✅Direct bank feeds Direct open Real time imports Manual uploads Up to 2 years |
⚠️No live bank feeds Manual Excel No historical data Fully manual
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✅Real-time bank feeds Direct open Real-time No manual No historical data |
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❌Strict invoice caps (plan-based) ❌No foreign currency support ❌Limitations on bills ❌Restricted analytics ❌Higher monthly cost vs ❌Challenges tracking rental properties ❌Xero Simple is a non-VAT tool |
❌Fewer ❌Basic ❌Less modern ❌Requires dual ❌Have to split
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❌No VAT ❌No invoicing ❌Limited ❌Data capture ❌Requires ❌Can’t account for foreign property |
❌Not for daily ❌No direct ❌Lack of app ❌Fully manual ❌Clients ❌Some can’t cover all types of mandated MTD income (such as foreign property) |
❌Only for ❌Limited 3rd ❌No sole trader ❌Costs rise |
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Number of 3rd Party integrations
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1,000+ | 90+ | 11,000+ | N/A (not designed for 3rd party apps) |
Focus on property specific tools |
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Trustpilot rating (as at 31 Jan 2026)
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1 rating from 10,371 reviews |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 rating from 2,740 reviews |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 rating from 1,823 reviews |
N/A |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 rating from 62 reviews |
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📲⚠️Yes, but reduced functionality cited |
📲Full access to raise/send invoices, track expenses, & view bank feeds on the go |
📲Mainly focused on receipt & invoice capture plus data extraction |
❌ Majority are desktop software only | 📲Track rent collection, view property finances, & manage tasks |
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✅Helps with tax compliance & calculations, direct MTD submissions |
✅Automated real-time tax calculations and direct MTD submissions |
✅Prepare data for filing |
❌Can’t calculate or file the tax submission itself |
✅For landlords providing tax statements for self assessment |
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🙏Generally Clean, modern Easy to setup Strong AI driven Learn within 1-2 weeks |
🙏Easy to use Intuitive Quick to setup, High automation Very easy to |
🙏Simplicity Mobile-first Quick setup by High automated Minimal learning |
🙏Functional Less modern Technical setup Manual data Better suited to |
🙏Easy for Clean, intuitive Easy to set up & connect bank accounts High level of Quick to learn |
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Support, resources, & training
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🎗️Strong self-serve support Encouraged to Free, unlimited Onboarding No public phone |
🎗️Accessible Live chat & email Free webinars & weekly ‘Getting Phone support |
🎗️Guided Help Centre with Email and chat Onboarding No standard |
⚠️Practice-led Technical High-touch Minimal general Phone support Accountant |
🎗️Landlord-focused Chat based Property finance Landlord tax No general |
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👮Strong Two-factor Automated data Role based user Machine learning |
👮Strong |
👮Secure data Two-factor Digital receipt & invoice archive Audit trails for Levels for users |
👮Compliance Two-factor Encrypted local User managed Minimal |
👮Bank-grade Two-factor Open Banking Automated Role-based Activity
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MTD compatibility
If your total qualifying income as a sole trader or landlord reaches, or exceeds, £50,000 per year then you’re in phase 1 of MTD ITSA. So, per our guide to MTD, you need to keep digital records of your income and earnings to submit quarterly updates to HMRC. Here’s the thing, not all accounting software is approved for MTD ITSA!
We’ve made sure the software being compared is compatible, meaning:
- Digital records are stored in the correct format
- There’s the capability to submit the required quarterly updates to HMRC
- End-of-year declarations are MTD compliant
Tools that aren’t MTD compliant may be useful for bookkeeping but they won’t meet the requisite filing requirements. Of note, MTD compatibility status is based on HMRC’s approved published list at the time of writing and this may change as providers update their software.
Bridging software
Bridging software (see column 5 of 6 in the table) connects your existing records, such as Excel spreadsheets or older accounting tools, directly to HMRC’s systems. To put it in simple terms, this lets you stay compliant with Making Tax Digital without having to switch accounting software right away.
It does this by creating the required digital link so your VAT or Income Tax submissions can be sent to HMRC automatically, removing the need for manual entry and thereby reducing the risk for potential errors.
1. Best for (as in who is it for as a product)?
Not every MTD tool is built for everyone. Some products work best for landlords with multiple rental properties. Others are less complex and designed for developing side hustles or those operating as freelancers. So we have specified who each software product is designed for, and well suited to. Make sure you don’t waste your time or money on something that’s the wrong fit!
2. What is the price per month – costs and comparisons?
How much will you have to pay each month compared to what you’ve budgeted for? Some products have free initial versions, or pay-per-return pricing. Others charge monthly with the amount of expense based on tiers, think level of functionality and reporting requirements. This can all vary according to the sector you’re in.
Be sure to understand your reporting requirements and what you need from the software prior to any purchase decision. After all this decision is likely to be about more than just compliance with MTD. We’ve removed VAT for a cleaner comparison.
3. Are there invoicing and credit control tools?
Do you send invoices? Do you need help with credit control and chasing late payments? This is where software can help make your life a bit easier. We’ve reviewed whether each option can create, send, and follow up on professional invoices. There’s also the question of if they enable reminders and notifications about overdue payments.
4. Is there a link to business banking?
This is about whether the software can connect to your bank account and then automatically match to what’s coming in and going out. If this isn’t feasible then you’ll have to manually upload and adjust for your bank statements which could take up valuable time.
5. What are the common problems and issues?
Nothing is perfect! Every product has some kind of fault or issue, maybe it’s a complex interface, perhaps it doesn’t support certain types of users, or lacks specific features. We’ve pulled together the common frustrations, gaps, and known issues. That way you’re not caught off guard after you’ve made an investment decision.
6. How many other software products does it integrate with?
You’ll want to know if it can plug in, and work with, other tools you already use. Maybe it’s a payment platform, your CRM, or a productivity tool. We’ve listed how many each software product connects with and linked to their integration page where available.
7. Trustpilot customer support rating?
See what real users have to say about each product. We’ve provided the current Trustpilot rating at the time of producing this post, along with how many reviews it’s based on. You’ll then have a useful snapshot of overall user satisfaction and how responsive support tends to be.
8. Mobile app capability?
So much business these days is conducted on the go. This is a case of logging expenses, sending invoices, or checking tax estimates while out of the office. What’s available through iOS and Android and what can you actually do through those apps?
9. Can the software provide tax estimates and projections?
Does the software help you understand how much tax you owe given your income and expenses so far? Some can even offer you a live tax forecast! Others don’t provide this service at all.
10. How easy to use is it? Is it intuitive?
If you’re not an accountant then ease of use if likely to be essential. That’s why we’ve looked at how intuitive each tool is. How clear and easy to use each dashboard feels, and how quickly a new user can commence recording income and filing their tax details.
11. What support, resources, and training is available?
The age old problem of what happens when you get stuck? When you can’t figure out what to do, or if you go wrong! Some platforms provide a live chat, other phone calls with customer support, some deliver video tutorials and even host webinars. We’ve highlighted what kind of help you can expect, and when.
12. How secure and protected is my data?
Remember you’re entering sensitive personal, financial data into this software. You’re trusting the provider to store it and keep it safe from prying eyes! So, in this case security really matters! We’ve highlighted for you where the provider uses encryption, where the data is stored, and the level of transparency regarding their security set up.
Still not entirely sure?
If the above question applies to you, don’t worry, it’s normal in our experience. The truth is the right MTD ITSA software depends on your setup, how tech confident you are, and how hands on you want to be.
If you want to skip any potential trial and error, we’re here to help with straight answers and no pressure.
This post was created on 03/02/2026 and updated on 19/03/2026.
Please be aware that information provided by this blog is subject to regular legal and regulatory change. We recommend that you do not take any information held within our website or guides (eBooks) as a definitive guide to the law on the relevant matter being discussed. We suggest your course of action should be to seek legal or professional advice where necessary rather than relying on the content supplied by the author(s) of this blog.
