Simple MTD vs QuickBooks
QuickBooks is a full small business accounting platform. If your only real need is Making Tax Digital quarterly updates, here's what that extra breadth actually costs you.
| Feature | Simple MTD | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £79/year (landlords), £99/year (sole traders) | From ~£16/month (~£192/year) and up |
| Built for | MTD quarterly updates for landlords & sole traders | General small business accounting |
| Invoicing, inventory, multi-user | Not included, not needed for MTD updates | Included on most plans |
| MTD quarterly updates | Core feature, built around it | Supported, as one feature among many |
| Setup for a first-time user | Minutes: add records, categories suggested automatically | Full chart of accounts and bookkeeping setup |
Where QuickBooks makes sense
If you run a business that needs invoicing, inventory tracking, or multiple staff accounts alongside your tax obligations, QuickBooks' wider feature set is a legitimate reason to choose it over a narrower tool.
Where Simple MTD makes sense
If you're a sole trader or landlord whose need starts and ends at "keep digital records and file quarterly updates without a learning curve," Simple MTD is built for exactly that, at a lower price point than a full accounting suite.
Pricing shown is approximate at time of writing and changes, check QuickBooks' own pricing page for current figures.