Software profile

Sage Accounting

Sage's cloud accounting for UK small businesses, with Start, Standard and Plus plans from £20 a month, payroll included and Sage Copilot AI.

  • Free trial
  • Monthly subscription
  • Cloud
  • AI features
  • Independent sources

by Sage GroupAccounting SoftwareCloud accounting software (SaaS)

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  • Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
  • 1 sourceLinked, typed and dated
  • Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
  • Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
Quick answer

What is Sage Accounting?

Sage Accounting is cloud accounting software from Sage for small businesses, sold in the UK as Start, Standard and Plus plans with Making Tax Digital support and payroll included.

  • Best forUK small businesses that need Making Tax Digital-ready accounting
  • Team size fitSmall teams
  • PricingUK plans reported from £20 per month ex VAT (Start); free Sole Trader tier for non-VAT traders.
  • Main limitationPrices rose in 2026, and sources quote different figures.
  • AlternativesXero, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, FreshBooks · compare all

Reviewed by the Stack18 editorial team · Verified 10 Nov 2026 · 1 source

Overview

Sage Accounting overview: who it is for and what it does.

Sage Accounting is Sage's cloud product for small businesses, distinct from desktop Sage 50 and the mid-market Sage Intacct. In the UK it is built around Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT, CIS and payroll.

A September 2026 guide lists Start at £20, Standard at £43 and Plus at £59 a month ex VAT, with 90% off the first six months as a promotion. Start is for one user, Standard three and Plus unlimited. All plans include Sage Copilot and payroll for at least one employee.

Standard adds quotes, cash flow projection, AI invoice capture and CIS; Plus adds budgets, multi-currency and stock management. A free Sole Trader tier covers non-VAT-registered sole traders with five invoices a month.

Main problem it solves

Keeps UK small-business books, VAT, CIS and payroll compliant with HMRC in one cloud tool.

Typical customer segment

UK sole traders, micro-businesses and companies with up to 49 employees.

Target users

  • VAT-registered sole traders and micro-businesses
  • Limited companies and construction firms that file CIS
  • Small firms that need multi-currency and stock on Plus

Primary use cases

  • Invoicing and MTD VAT returns
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Payroll and pension auto-enrolment
  • CIS submissions (Standard and above)
  • Stock management (Plus)

What makes it distinct

  • Payroll included on every plan.
  • Making Tax Digital and CIS support for UK compliance.
  • Sage Copilot AI on all plans.
Key features

Sage Accounting features explained.

Start

Unlimited sales invoices
Included.
Making Tax Digital
MTD-ready VAT.
Automated bank reconciliation
Included.

Standard

Quotes and cash flow projection
Standard and Plus.
AI invoice capture
30 captures included, then £0.20 each.
CIS submissions
To HMRC from Standard.

Plus and payroll

Budgets and multi-currency
Plus only.
Stock and inventory with reorder alerts
Plus only.
Payroll
1 employee included on Start and Standard, 5 on Plus, then £1.50 per employee a month.
Pricing

Sage Accounting pricing and plans.

Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 10 Nov 2026 against Startups.co.uk.

Pricing model

Monthly subscription in GBP ex VAT by plan, no contract; extra payroll employees and captures charged per unit.

Free plan

Sole Trader Free only

Free trial

Yes (1 month)

Sage Accounting plans and prices (GBP)

  • Start

    £20 per month ex VAT

    Monthly, no contract

    1 user; MTD, bank reconciliation.

  • Standard

    £43 per month ex VAT

    Monthly, no contract

    3 users; quotes, CIS, cash flow.

  • Plus

    £59 per month ex VAT

    Monthly, no contract

    Unlimited users; multi-currency, stock, budgets.

The same guide quotes lower older prices (£18 and £39) in places and says prices rose in 2026, so confirm with Sage. US Sage Accounting pricing was not reviewed.

Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.

Visit official website (external) ↗See alternatives
Integrations and compatibility

Sage Accounting integrations, API and platforms.

Important integrations

  • Payroll (included)
  • HMRC Making Tax Digital and CIS
  • Sage Copilot AI

Supported platforms

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android

API

Not reviewed for this profile.

Data import and export

Not reviewed for this profile.

Integration coverage was not assessed in full. Check Sage Accounting's integrations directory and documentation for your tools.

Strengths, limitations and best fit

Sage Accounting pros and cons.

Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.

Strengths

  • Payroll and pension auto-enrolment are included on every plan. [1]
  • Plus allows unlimited users with multi-currency and stock management. [1]
  • There is no contract, so you can cancel at any time. [1]

Limitations

  • Prices rose in 2026, and sources quote different figures. [1]
  • Start has no receipt capture allowance. [1]
  • There is no built-in time tracking. [1]
  • The paid Sole Trader tier cannot be upgraded directly to Accounting. [1]

Best for

  • UK small businesses that need Making Tax Digital-ready accounting
  • Construction firms that file CIS
  • Small UK firms that want payroll included

May be less suited to

  • Businesses outside the UK, where plans differ
  • Firms that need time tracking
How it compares

Sage Accounting compared with similar accounting software.

Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.

ProductPricing modelFree planUsers includedInventoryMulti-currency
Sage AccountingMonthly by plan (GBP), no contractSole Trader Free only1, 3 or unlimitedPlus onlyPlus only
FreshBooksMonthly by plan; limited by billable clientsNo; 30-day trialOwner; $11 per extra memberNot offeredNot reviewed
Odoo AccountingPer user per month, or free for one appYes (one app, unlimited users)Unlimited on One App Free; paid per userYes (Inventory app)Not reviewed
Oracle NetSuiteAnnual quote: base, users, modulesNoBy licence; Standard edition caps at 30Yes (modules)Yes (OneWorld)
QuickBooks OnlineMonthly by plan; add-ons extraLimited free tier only1, 3, 5 or 25 by planFrom PlusFrom Essentials (reported)
Sage IntacctAnnual quote; modules extraNoBy licenceOptional moduleYes, with multi-entity

Browse all Accounting Software →

Comparisons

Sage Accounting vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.

No head-to-head comparison involving Sage Accounting is published yet. The Sage Accounting alternatives guide compares it with Xero, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books and FreshBooks in one table.

Discussions

Sage Accounting discussions and buying questions.

No published discussions mention this product yet.

FAQ

Sage Accounting questions and answers

What is Sage Accounting used for?

Sage Accounting is cloud accounting software from Sage for small businesses, sold in the UK as Start, Standard and Plus plans with Making Tax Digital support and payroll included. Typical uses include invoicing and MTD VAT returns, bank reconciliation, payroll and pension auto-enrolment, cIS submissions (Standard and above).

How much does Sage Accounting cost?

A September 2026 UK guide lists Start at £20, Standard at £43 and Plus at £59 a month ex VAT, with 90% off the first six months as a promotion.

Is Sage Accounting the same as Sage 50?

No. Sage Accounting is Sage's cloud product for small businesses; Sage 50 is a separate desktop-based product.

Does Sage Accounting include payroll?

Yes, payroll is included on every plan, with extra employees at £1.50 each a month.

What are the main alternatives to Sage Accounting?

The main alternatives to Sage Accounting covered on Stack18 are Xero, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books and FreshBooks. Xero may suit small businesses and accountants that want clean, collaborative cloud books. QuickBooks Online may suit US small businesses that want the most widely used cloud accounting tool. Zoho Books may suit small businesses that want low-cost accounting inside the Zoho ecosystem. See the Sage Accounting alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.

What are the pros and cons of Sage Accounting?

Strengths: Payroll and pension auto-enrolment are included on every plan. Plus allows unlimited users with multi-currency and stock management. Limitations: Prices rose in 2026, and sources quote different figures. Start has no receipt capture allowance.

Who is Sage Accounting best for?

Sage Accounting may suit UK small businesses that need Making Tax Digital-ready accounting; construction firms that file CIS; small UK firms that want payroll included. It may be less suited to businesses outside the UK, where plans differ; firms that need time tracking.

What integrations does Sage Accounting support?

Documented integrations and ecosystem items include Payroll (included), HMRC Making Tax Digital and CIS, Sage Copilot AI. API: Not reviewed for this profile.

When was the Sage Accounting profile last verified?

Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 10 Nov 2026. 1 source is listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.

Sources and freshness

Where this information comes from.

  1. How much does Sage Accounting software cost in 2026? Startups.co.uk Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026

Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are taken from independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.

Prices come from a UK guide updated 1 September 2026, which itself quotes inconsistent older figures in places. Capabilities were not tested.

Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.

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