QuickBooks alternative
Looking for a QuickBooks alternative?
QuickBooks is capable UK accounting software that files your tax straight to HMRC. If you want ready-made UK contract templates and a simpler setup for your first years freelancing, here's how TrustSolo compares — honestly, including where QuickBooks is the better fit.
Who QuickBooks is built for
- Sole traders and small businesses that want full bookkeeping — bank feeds, expenses, receipts — in one place.
- Freelancers who want their Making Tax Digital and Self Assessment actually filed to HMRC, not just estimated.
- VAT-registered freelancers who need to submit VAT returns.
- Anyone working with an accountant who uses QuickBooks.
At a glance
| Dimension | QuickBooks | TrustSolo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Sole Trader Plus £10/mo + VAT (non-VAT); Simple Start £16/mo + VAT (adds VAT returns); 90% off for the first 6 months; all prices + VAT; 30-day free trial | £14/mo (Solo), everything included; 30 days free, no card |
| Built for the UK | Yes — HMRC filing built in (MTD for Income Tax and VAT) | Yes — built for UK freelancers |
| Contracts included | No ready-made contract templates — accounting and invoicing focus | Yes — discipline-specific UK templates you send and e-sign |
| Tax help | Files MTD for Income Tax and VAT directly to HMRC | Plain-English estimate (Income Tax + Class 4 NI) — not a filing tool |
| Accounting & bookkeeping | Full accounting — bank feeds, expenses, receipts, VAT, reports | Tracks income from paid invoices and estimates the tax to set aside — not full bookkeeping (no bank feeds, expenses or VAT) |
QuickBooks is full accounting software that files your tax to HMRC, so it does more overall than TrustSolo. The comparison above focuses on what matters most when you're starting out.
Prices and features verified as of July 2026 — check QuickBooks's site for the latest.
Sources: QuickBooks UK pricing; QuickBooks Sole Trader pricing; QuickBooks Online Sole Trader plan; QuickBooks UK sole trader software; Set up MTD for Income Tax in QuickBooks (sole trader)
Where TrustSolo differs
- Ready-made UK contract templates, organised by discipline — send and e-sign — where QuickBooks doesn't provide contract templates.
- Pared back to your first years: contracts, invoicing, payment links and a tax estimate, without a full accounting suite you may not need yet.
- Set up and send your first invoice in minutes, with no accounting background.
Everything you get with TrustSolo
- Customisable UK contract templates — you can send and sign online
- A lightweight client CRM — contacts, notes, contracts and invoices linked in one place
- Invoices with automatic payment reminders
- Stripe-powered card payment links — with your bank details included as a backup
- Income tracking and a plain-English tax estimate — (Income Tax + Class 4 NI)
Stay with QuickBooks if…
- You want your Making Tax Digital and Self Assessment returns actually filed to HMRC, not just estimated.
- You're VAT-registered and need to submit VAT returns.
- You want full bookkeeping — bank feeds, expenses, receipt capture — in one place.
- You work with an accountant who uses QuickBooks.
Who TrustSolo suits
- UK freelancers in their first years who want to set up properly — a contract, an invoice with a payment link, and an idea of the tax to set aside — without an accounting degree.
- People who value ready-made contracts and simplicity over a full bookkeeping suite.
Frequently asked questions
- Is TrustSolo cheaper than QuickBooks?
- It depends on the plan. QuickBooks' non-VAT Sole Trader Plus plan is £10/month plus VAT — around £12, which undercuts TrustSolo's £14 — while its VAT plan, Simple Start, is £16/month plus VAT (about £19), so TrustSolo works out cheaper there; both run a 90%-off introductory offer for six months. Either way, TrustSolo's difference is ready-made UK contract templates and a tool pared back to what you need in your first years.
- Does QuickBooks include contracts?
- It doesn't provide ready-made contract templates. QuickBooks is accounting software built around bookkeeping and filing your tax to HMRC, so you'd bring your own contract. TrustSolo includes discipline-specific UK contract templates you can send and e-sign. (Templates are starting points, not solicitor-reviewed.)
- Can TrustSolo file my Self Assessment like QuickBooks?
- No. QuickBooks is HMRC-recognised software that files your Making Tax Digital and VAT returns. TrustSolo gives you a plain-English estimate of your Income Tax and Class 4 NI so you know what to set aside — it doesn't file your return, and it isn't MTD-filing software.
- Can I try TrustSolo alongside QuickBooks?
- Yes. TrustSolo has 30 days free and no card required, so you can see whether it fits before moving anything.
Explore more
Set up properly, from day one
Contracts, invoices and payment links built for UK freelancers in their first years.