How Does Simply Accounts Compare?
See why hundreds of UK sole traders, directors, and micro-entities have switched away from costly cloud subscriptions.
| Feature / Metric | Simply Accounts | Xero | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Annual Cost | £30 – £60 / year + VAT | £360 – £588+ / year | £336 – £576+ / year |
| Billing Model | Fixed annual license (No direct debits) | Monthly direct debit with annual price hikes | Monthly direct debit with steep promo expirations |
| HMRC MTD VAT Submissions | ✓ Included (Desktop & Web Bridge) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Excel / Spreadsheet Bridging | ✓ Full digital bridging tool | ✗ Forces manual entry or complete switch | ✗ Forces manual entry or complete switch |
| CT600 Corporation Tax Filing | ✓ Included in Final Accounts (£60/yr) | ✗ Requires separate add-on / third-party | ✗ Requires separate accountant software |
| Companies House Accounts & CS01 | ✓ Direct electronic filing included | ✗ Third-party add-on or accountant only | ✗ Third-party add-on or accountant only |
| Data Storage & Privacy | 100% on your local PC (Desktop editions) | Stored on multi-tenant cloud servers | Stored on multi-tenant cloud servers |
| Free Trial Period | 14-day full featured trial | 30 days | 30 days |
Stop Paying for Features You Never Use
Cloud accounting giants design their platforms for larger corporate teams with complex inventory, multi-currency hedging, and multi-user permissions — and they price their software accordingly.
If you are a UK sole trader, contractor, landlord, or small limited company director, all you really need is:
- Accurate bookkeeping and bank reconciliation.
- Direct Making Tax Digital (MTD) VAT submissions to HMRC.
- The ability to calculate corporation tax and file your CT600 return.
- Filing statutory micro-entity accounts to Companies House.
Simply Accounts gives you precisely what you need at an honest price. No bloatware, no relentless price escalation, and no locking your books behind a recurring monthly paywall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Simply Accounts so much cheaper than Xero or QuickBooks?
Unlike giant multinational cloud platforms that spend hundreds of millions on TV advertising and corporate overheads, Simply Accounts focuses purely on lean, dependable UK software. We charge a fair annual price (£30-£60/year) rather than charging you £30-£50+ every single month.
Where is my business accounting data stored?
With our Windows desktop editions, your company database is stored safely on your own computer or local backup drive. You maintain 100% privacy and full ownership of your financial records.
Can Simply Accounts file CT600 returns and Companies House accounts?
Yes! Standard subscriptions for QuickBooks and Xero typically do NOT include CT600 Corporation Tax filings or Companies House micro-entity statutory accounts without paying expensive third-party add-ons. Simply Accounts Final Accounts edition handles both out of the box.
Can I import existing data from QuickBooks, Xero, or bank statements?
Yes. You can import bank CSV statements directly into our Cash Book and import customer and supplier balance records seamlessly.
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