QuickBooks is one of the most well-known names in accounting software. Millions of businesses use it worldwide, and it supports Making Tax Digital for Income Tax in the UK. But for many sole traders and landlords, QuickBooks is more than they need — and more than they want to pay for.
ClearMTD is in development and has not received HMRC production approval. Public registration and live submissions are unavailable. Its current scope is owner-operated digital records and in-year quarterly updates for self-employment, UK property and foreign property. Final Declaration and agent filing are not supported.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
Why People Look for QuickBooks Alternatives
1. Rising Costs
QuickBooks has steadily increased its pricing over the years. What started as an affordable option for sole traders has become a significant monthly expense. By 2026, even the basic self-employed plan costs more than many sole traders want to spend on software they use for a few hours a month.
When your only legal requirement is to submit four quarterly updates and an annual declaration to HMRC, paying a premium for invoicing, project tracking, payroll, and dozens of other features you never use feels wasteful.
2. Feature Overload
QuickBooks is built for businesses of all sizes. That means it includes features designed for companies with employees, multiple departments, inventory, and complex multi-currency operations. For a sole trader who needs to record income and expenses and file quarterly updates, this creates unnecessary clutter.
Every feature you do not use is a distraction. More menus, more settings, more options — all of which make the software harder to learn and slower to navigate.
3. Complexity for Simple Needs
MTD for Income Tax, at its core, requires three things:
- Keep digital records of income and expenses
- Submit quarterly summaries to HMRC
- File an annual Final Declaration
This is not complicated. But QuickBooks treats it as one feature among many, buried within a comprehensive accounting platform. For sole traders with straightforward affairs, the complexity is disproportionate to the task.
4. Learning Curve
QuickBooks uses proper accounting terminology and concepts — chart of accounts, journal entries, bank reconciliation. If you are a plumber, a freelance writer, or a landlord with two rental properties, you should not need to understand double-entry bookkeeping just to stay on the right side of HMRC.
5. Customer Support
Support quality at large software companies can be inconsistent. When you are a sole trader with a simple question about a quarterly submission, waiting in a queue designed for businesses of all sizes is frustrating.
What Makes a Good QuickBooks Alternative?
If you are looking for an alternative, here is what matters:
- MTD compliance — it must be HMRC-recognised and handle quarterly submissions and the Final Declaration
- Simplicity — if you can use online banking, you should be able to use your MTD software
- Affordability — the price should reflect what a sole trader actually needs
- Fast setup — you should be recording transactions within minutes, not hours
- UK focus — software designed for the UK tax system, not adapted from a US product
ClearMTD availability
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
QuickBooks Desktop and MTD for Income Tax
If you are using QuickBooks Desktop (the installed version rather than QuickBooks Online), there is an important distinction: QuickBooks Desktop supports MTD for VAT but does not support MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment.
This means QuickBooks Desktop users who are self-employed or landlords above the income threshold cannot use their existing software to comply with MTD ITSA. You will need to either:
- Upgrade to QuickBooks Online — which supports MTD for Income Tax but comes with a monthly subscription and a learning curve as the interface is quite different from Desktop
- Switch to dedicated MTD software — a simpler option if your main need is MTD compliance rather than full accounting
Intuit (the company behind QuickBooks) discontinued QuickBooks Desktop for new UK customers in 2023, though existing users can continue to use it. However, without MTD ITSA support, Desktop users will need to move to an alternative before their first quarterly update deadline.
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
When QuickBooks Might Still Be the Right Choice
To be fair, QuickBooks is not the wrong choice for everyone. You might want to stick with QuickBooks if:
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
But if none of those apply — if you are a sole trader or landlord with straightforward finances who just needs to stay compliant — then a dedicated tool makes more sense.
ClearMTD availability
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
What About Other Alternatives?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
HMRC does not provide its own MTD for Income Tax software. Free products are available from commercial providers; check their eligibility, limits and supported income sources in the official software finder.
Each has strengths and weaknesses depending on your situation. For a side-by-side comparison, see our MTD software comparison 2026, or read our alternatives pages for FreeAgent, Xero, and Sage. But if your main frustration with QuickBooks is that it does too much for too high a price, a focused MTD tool is the logical direction.
For more on what MTD for Income Tax actually requires, read our guide on MTD ITSA explained in plain English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my data if I switch from QuickBooks?
No. Your QuickBooks account and data remain accessible even after you stop your subscription (for a limited period). You should export your records before cancelling, as you are required to keep tax records for at least five years.
Can I use ClearMTD alongside QuickBooks?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Is ClearMTD HMRC-recognised?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
What if I need invoicing?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
Join the free ClearMTD waitlist for launch updates. No launch date is confirmed.
Can my accountant access my ClearMTD account?
ClearMTD is awaiting HMRC production approval and is not available for live filing. Its current scope excludes Final Declaration and agent filing.
