Why Landlords Look for Hammock Alternatives
Hammock earned its reputation as the first landlord-specific software HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital. It is FCA-registered, Trustpilot users rate it highly, and its real-time bank reconciliation via open banking works well.
But the same focus that makes Hammock good at what it does also creates gaps. Landlords search for alternatives because of these specific limitations, most of which RentalBux addresses:
No sole trader income support
Per HMRC's compatible software register and Hammock's own site, Hammock covers UK and foreign property income only. From 6 April 2026, MTD for Income Tax became mandatory for anyone whose combined sole trader plus property income from 2024/25 exceeded £50,000. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. Landlords who also freelance, consult, run a trade, or subcontract under CIS need either a second piece of MTD software for that stream, or one platform that covers both.
No agent filing on behalf of landlord clients
Accountants and letting agents cannot submit MTD quarterly updates or the Final Declaration through Hammock for their clients.
HMO features only on the Standard plan and above
Per Hammock's own pricing page (verified 2026), HMO functionality is not included on the Basic plan (1-3 properties, £8/month + VAT). HMO landlords need at least the Standard plan (4-10 properties, £15/month + VAT).
No pre-built landlord chart of accounts
Hammock uses cash-basis accounting only. There is no journal entry facility and no formal balance sheet or trial balance.
No OCR receipt scanning or AI expense categorisation
Receipts can be attached to transactions manually, but Hammock does not read them or auto-categorise expenses using AI.
No automatic joint-ownership profit-splitting
Hammock manages joint, partnership, and limited company ownership structures, but does not automatically split income and expenses by ownership percentage.
Paid-only after the 30-day trial
Per Hammock's own pricing page, plans start at £8 + VAT per month (1-3 properties), rising to £15 + VAT (4-10 properties), £25 + VAT (11-20 properties), and £31.50 + VAT (21+ properties). Annual billing carries a 20% discount. There is no permanent free tier, and MTD submission is not available during the trial.
Product-only customer support
Hammock offers live chat (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) and email support. Complex tax questions are typically referred out to an accountant.
Each landlord's "good enough" looks different. The seven alternatives below cover every common gap, and every one is HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA.
At-a-Glance: 7 Hammock Alternatives Compared
Software | Income types supported | Starting price | Free plan | HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RentalBux | UK property, foreign property, self-employment | Free | Free for 1 property/1 business until March 2028 | Yes |
PaTMa Property Manager | UK property | £15/month for 5 units (inc. VAT) | Free for 1 property | MTD-ready per own site; verify HMRC status directly |
Landlord Vision | UK property | £19.97/month + VAT (4 tenancies) | 14-day trial | "In the last stage" per own MTD FAQ; not yet on HMRC list |
Landlord Studio | UK property | GO free (3 units, £5 per MTD submission), PRO from £12/month | GO plan for 3 units | Yes (since 30 March 2026) |
FreeAgent | UK property, self-employment (separate accounts needed) | £10/month + VAT for landlords | Free with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business accounts | Yes |
Coconut | UK property, foreign property, self-employment | +MTD plan £129.99/year inc. VAT | Free for 2 years with Zempler business account | Yes |
Untied | UK property, foreign property, self-employment | "untied Pro" £129.99/year inc. VAT | 30-day trial only | Yes |
For comparison: Hammock starts at £8 + VAT per month (1-3 properties). 30-day trial, no permanent free tier. HMRC-recognised for UK property and foreign property.
All prices verified from provider websites in 2026. Always verify HMRC recognition status at gov.uk before subscribing.
1. RentalBux
The Most Complete Hammock Alternative for the Typical UK Landlord
Best for: The typical UK landlord (one property to a fifty-unit portfolio, UK or foreign, with or without other income, whether self-managing or working with an accountant).
Starting price: Free for 1 property (landlord) or 1 business (sole trader) until March 2028. Paid plans for larger portfolios.
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: Yes, across UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment (confirmed on rentalbux.com).
What RentalBux Does That Hammock Doesn't
RentalBux is the only landlord-first MTD platform in this guide HMRC-recognised across all three qualifying income types within a single subscription. For landlords who also freelance, consult, run a trade, or subcontract under CIS, that means one subscription rather than two.
Beyond broader income coverage, RentalBux includes capabilities Hammock does not:
Automatic joint-ownership profit-splitting. Define ownership percentages once and RentalBux divides income and expenses across owners automatically at every submission.
Automatic HMO unit creation. Add an HMO property and RentalBux creates individual units for each room.
Letting agent statement import. Upload agent statements and RentalBux extracts rent received, management fees, and other charges automatically.
Branded invoice creation for commercial landlords and service-charge billing.
Pre-built chart of accounts for landlords and sole traders, pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes.
Journal entries and double-entry bookkeeping for audit-ready records.
Formal financial reports (profit and loss, balance sheet, trial balance, journal reports, ledger reports).
Support from a qualified UK accountancy team. RentalBux's support includes qualified accountants who can answer MTD compliance questions, tax treatment queries, and complex situations. Hammock's live chat (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) is product-focused.
Built by UK Property Accountants. RentalBux was created by specialists who prepare tax returns for over 1,000 landlords (per rentalbux.com/pricing).
Agent filing on behalf. Accountants and letting agents can submit MTD quarterly updates and the Final Declaration directly for their landlord clients.
Where Hammock Still Has an Edge
To be honest about the comparison, these are the areas where Hammock leads:
Buy-to-let investment analytics. Hammock provides real-time loan-to-value ratios, rental yields, occupancy rates, and per-tenant arrears balances. For portfolio-focused investors monitoring performance across many properties, this dashboard has no direct equivalent in RentalBux.
Running tax bill estimate with savings feature. Hammock's tax forecast updates in real time and offers a "set aside" savings tool. RentalBux focuses on structured accounting reports rather than progressive tax forecasting.
Longer live-filing track record. Hammock was the first landlord software HMRC-recognised for MTD and has more years of live submission history than any landlord-specific alternative.
RentalBux's Minor Gaps
RentalBux is honest about the areas it does not currently cover:
No built-in GPS mileage tracking. Landlords who drive frequently between properties may prefer Landlord Studio or Coconut, both of which include mileage tracking on their mobile apps. Mileage can be logged manually in RentalBux.
No MTD for VAT support. RentalBux is HMRC-recognised for MTD for Income Tax only. Commercial landlords who have opted into VAT need separate VAT software.
AI expense auto-categorisation still in development. OCR receipt capture works today; the AI layer that automatically categorises captured receipts is on the roadmap.
Limited third-party integrations compared to established generalist platforms like Xero or QuickBooks.
Newer to market than Hammock. RentalBux has less accumulated live MTD submission history simply because it launched more recently.
For most UK landlords, none of these gaps affect the day-to-day workflow. But they are real and worth naming.
RentalBux is the strongest all-round Hammock alternative for the typical UK landlord in 2026. The free single-property tier until March 2028 removes the cost of trying it, the combination of broader MTD coverage, structured accounting, and property-specific automation covers the vast majority of landlord workflows Hammock cannot, and the qualified UK accountancy team on support means landlords entering MTD for the first time get real tax guidance, not just product help.
→ Compare RentalBux vs Hammock in full → See RentalBux pricing
2. PaTMa Property Manager
Landlord-Specific UK Property Management with MTD Preparation
Best for: Self-managing UK landlords who want landlord-specific compliance tools and are preparing for MTD.
Starting price: Free for 1 property. Pro plan £15/month inc. VAT for 5 units, then £1.50 per additional unit inc. VAT (£1.20 per unit for 101+ units).
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: PaTMa's own site describes the product as "MTD ready" rather than making an explicit HMRC-recognised claim. Their dedicated MTD page states "Making Tax Digital (MTD) is coming soon." Confirm current MTD submission status directly with PaTMa before relying on the software for HMRC quarterly filings.
Where PaTMa Fits
PaTMa is landlord-built software with a focus on UK compliance. It combines tenancy tracking, mortgage management, HMO licensing compliance (England only), fire regulation tracking, and Open Banking integration on the Pro plan. The Xero integration allows landlords who use Xero elsewhere to pass records across.
Trade-offs to Know About
Covers UK property income only. No sole trader or foreign property support.
MTD submission via PaTMa itself is described by PaTMa as "coming soon"; landlords needing to file MTD from April 2026 should verify the current filing capability before subscribing.
No pre-built landlord chart of accounts.
No formal accounting reports (balance sheet, trial balance, ledger reports).
Open Banking is on the Pro plan only.
Xero integration requires an assisted setup.
No branded invoicing.
Support is by email (within one working day) or scheduled phone/video call.
PaTMa is a credible landlord-management tool for UK-only landlords who want compliance depth (HMO licensing, fire regulations, safety certificate reminders). Landlords who need MTD submission today should verify PaTMa's current HMRC submission capability directly with the provider before choosing.
3. Landlord Vision
Full UK Landlord Portfolio Management
Best for: Landlords who want deep tenancy management, portfolio accounting, and compliance tools in one platform.
Starting price: Starter £19.97/month + VAT (currently £7.99/month + VAT promotional), 4 tenancies included, billed annually. Standard £34.97/month + VAT (10 tenancies). Premium £39.97/month + VAT. Enterprise plan for larger organisations.
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: Not yet. Per Landlord Vision's own Making Tax Digital FAQ (verified 2026): "Are you on HMRC's recognised/approved software list? We're in the last stage of that process. We'll update customers as soon as HMRC recognition is confirmed, which should be any day now."
Where Landlord Vision Fits
Landlord Vision is a well-established UK-based property management platform with over 15 years of history and a stated 2-year price guarantee on new plans. It handles tenant portals, gas safety and EPC storage, tenancy agreement generation, automated rent reminders, and per-property accounting.
Trade-offs to Know About
Not currently HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA per their own MTD FAQ. Landlords needing to file MTD from April 2026 should confirm status directly before subscribing.
UK property income only. No sole trader or foreign property support.
90-day money-back guarantee. Starter plan billed annually.
No integration with Xero (Landlord Vision has its own integrated accounting engine).
Investment analytics (yield, LTV, occupancy) are not as prominent as Hammock's.
FCA-registered under FRN 918962 (confirmed on their own pricing page).
Landlord Vision has the deepest tenancy and portfolio management features in this guide, backed by a long UK track record and UK-based phone/email support. The critical caveat is that HMRC recognition for MTD is still in progress at the time of writing; landlords needing MTD submission from April 2026 need to confirm current status directly with Landlord Vision before subscribing.
4. Landlord Studio
Mobile-First with Xero Sync and Mileage Tracking
Best for: Landlords who prefer a mobile-first workflow, need GPS mileage tracking, or want Xero sync for accountant workflows.
Starting price: GO plan free (up to 3 units, £5 per MTD submission). PRO plan from £12/month.
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: Yes, since 30 March 2026 (confirmed on Landlord Studio's own site).
Where Landlord Studio Fits
Landlord Studio has a polished mobile app used by over 80,000 landlords globally. It offers GPS mileage tracking, Smart Scan receipt OCR, direct Xero integration, and an Accountant Partner Program for accountants supporting landlord clients.
Trade-offs to Know About
UK property income only. No sole trader or foreign property support.
MTD recognition is very recent (30 March 2026). The live-filing track record is short compared to platforms recognised earlier.
Free GO plan does NOT include free MTD submissions; MTD submissions are £5 each on the GO plan.
Bank feeds and Open Banking are on the PRO plan only, not the free tier.
Landlord Studio is a New Zealand-founded product with a global user base. Independent UK reviewers have noted some UK-tax-specific edges could be sharper.
No pre-built landlord chart of accounts.
No formal accounting reports (balance sheet, trial balance, ledger reports).
No branded invoicing for service charges.
No automatic joint-ownership profit-splitting.
Landlord Studio is a strong pick for mobile-first landlords, those who need GPS mileage tracking, or landlords whose accountant works in Xero. UK landlords with mixed income, joint ownership, or an accountant filing on their behalf will find the platform's residential-single-owner focus limits its usefulness for more complex situations.
5. FreeAgent
Free MTD for NatWest Group Banking Customers
Best for: Landlords who already hold a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or Mettle business banking account, and want free HMRC-recognised MTD software as part of that banking package.
Starting price: £10/month + VAT for landlords; £19/month + VAT for sole traders. Free with qualifying NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, or Mettle business banking accounts.
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: Yes, and also HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT.
Where FreeAgent Fits
FreeAgent is a general-purpose UK accounting platform with over 200,000 customers. It supports double-entry bookkeeping, formal financial reports, invoicing, and includes Smart Capture for receipt data extraction. Since 2018, FreeAgent has been free for NatWest Group business banking customers.
Trade-offs to Know About
Landlord and Sole Trader are separate plans requiring separate accounts. Per FreeAgent's own support documentation: "If you have a self-employed business and also rent out properties, you'll need a separate FreeAgent account for each income stream." Users with both income types need to manage two accounts.
Not landlord-specific. Landlords have to configure property accounts and expense categories manually.
No landlord-specific investment metrics (no yield, LTV, or occupancy tracking).
No HMO auto-unit creation or per-tenant arrears tracking.
No automatic joint-ownership profit-splitting for hybrid income users.
The free tier requires a specific bank account. Landlords who bank elsewhere pay standard subscription pricing.
More accounting jargon than a landlord-focused tool. FreeAgent was designed for freelancers and small businesses, not landlords.
FreeAgent is a strong choice for landlords who already bank with NatWest Group and want free HMRC-recognised MTD software as part of that banking relationship. Landlords outside that banking relationship, or those with both self-employment and property income who don't want to manage two separate accounts, will find a landlord-first platform simpler to work with.
6. Coconut
Mobile-First MTD for Sole Traders and Small Landlords
Best for: Freelancers, sole traders, and CIS subcontractors who also have a small rental property, and want a mobile-first app for both income streams.
Starting price: +MTD plan £129.99/year inc. VAT. +Self Assessment plan £129.99/year inc. VAT. Full plan £159.99/year inc. VAT (both MTD and Self Assessment). Free for 2 years with a Zempler business banking account.
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: Yes, for UK property, foreign property, and self-employment
Where Coconut Fits
Coconut is a UK-built, mobile-first bookkeeping and tax app aimed at sole traders, freelancers, CIS subcontractors, and individual landlords. Coconut's support team includes ex-HMRC staff and tax experts with 30+ years' experience. The platform is FCA-authorised as an Account Information Services Provider.
Trade-offs to Know About
Designed for freelancers and individual landlords rather than landlord professionals. No HMO management, no compliance certificate alerts, no landlord-specific investment metrics.
No pre-built landlord chart of accounts.
Not designed for scaling portfolios. Per their own documentation, Coconut is "not for" multi-property landlord portfolios inside a company or businesses that need payroll.
Free Zempler tier requires opening a separate business bank account.
MTD Year-End Declaration is a £45-49.99 add-on on the +MTD plan alone (included in the Full plan).
Joint ownership: spouses need two separate Coconut accounts to see individual shares.
Coconut is a good pick for freelancers with a single small let who want lightweight, mobile-first software for both income streams. Dedicated landlords (particularly anyone with more than one property, joint ownership, or an accountant filing on their behalf) will find Coconut's freelancer-first design is not built to grow with a property portfolio.
7. Untied
Mobile-First End-to-End Tax Filing App
Best for: Landlords with multiple income streams who want a mobile-first app that handles quarterly MTD updates and the full Self Assessment tax return in one workflow.
Starting price: "untied Lite" £64.99/year inc. VAT. "untied Pro" £129.99/year inc. VAT (Pro is the MTD-suitable plan for landlords with property income). Prices include VAT. 30-day free trial, paid plan required for filing.
HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA: Yes, for UK property, foreign property, and self-employment. Untied's own site links directly to its listing on HMRC's compatible software register at tax.service.gov.uk.
Where Untied Fits
Untied is HMRC-recognised, FCA-regulated, and supervised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation. It launched in 2018, filed the UK's first fully mobile tax return, and its London/Dorset/Surrey team has handled over 50,000 support requests. Untied Pro includes automatic mileage tracking, foreign property support, and accountant/adviser access.
Trade-offs to Know About
Not landlord-specific. No per-property yield or LTV dashboard, no HMO unit tracking, no compliance certificate alerts, no automatic joint-ownership profit-splitting.
No pre-built landlord chart of accounts.
No branded invoicing or service-charge billing.
No permanent free tier; 30-day trial only, paid plan required for filing.
Not designed for letting agents managing multiple landlord client portfolios at scale.
Advanced or more complex parts of certain Self Assessment forms may not be supported (per Untied's own footnote); contact them for details.
Untied is a credible choice for landlords with mixed income who want a single mobile-first app for MTD quarterly updates and full Self Assessment filing. Landlords whose day-to-day workflow revolves around property management (joint ownership, HMOs, service-charge billing, agent filing) will find Untied's tax-filing focus leaves landlord-specific depth to be desired.
What About Other Popular Names?
You may see these platforms in other Hammock comparison articles. We have deliberately excluded them from the main list because they are not currently strong Hammock alternatives for UK landlords entering MTD:
Property Hawk is free and well-established but does not currently appear on HMRC's MTD ITSA compatible software register. From April 2026, that makes it unsuitable for any landlord above the qualifying income threshold.
Arthur Online is a strong property management platform for very large or commercial portfolios, but does not offer native MTD submission. MTD readiness must be achieved via a separate accounting integration such as Xero or QuickBooks, which adds cost and complexity.
Rentila has a low-cost pricing model. Confirm its current MTD ITSA status directly with the provider before relying on it for HMRC submissions.
QuickBooks and Xero are capable general-purpose accounting platforms HMRC-recognised for MTD, but neither is landlord-specific. Both require manual configuration to map property income correctly, and QuickBooks has published guidance recommending running Hammock alongside QuickBooks for landlords with mixed income (i.e. two subscriptions).
How to Choose the Right Hammock Alternative
Work through these questions in order. The first "yes" is your shortlist.
1. Do you have sole trader or self-employment income alongside rental income?
→ You need MTD software HMRC-recognised across both income types in one platform. RentalBux (landlord-first, includes joint ownership and agent filing), FreeAgent (general accounting, free with NatWest banking, but separate accounts for landlord vs sole trader income), Coconut (freelancer-first, mobile), or Untied (mobile-first end-to-end tax filing).
2. Are you an accountant or letting agent filing on behalf of landlord clients?
→ You need agent filing on behalf. RentalBux supports this directly. Coconut and Untied offer accountant portals. Landlord Studio has an Accountant Partner Program.
3. Do you own jointly held properties and want automatic profit-splitting?
→ RentalBux automates this by ownership percentage.
4. Do you want free HMRC-recognised MTD software?
→ RentalBux (free for 1 property/business until March 2028, full MTD submission included), FreeAgent (free with NatWest Group banking), or Coconut (free for 2 years with Zempler bank account).
5. Do you want polished mobile apps with GPS mileage tracking?
→ Landlord Studio (PRO plan) or Coconut (mobile-first). Untied also has automatic mileage tracking on Pro.
6. Does your accountant specifically require Xero sync?
→ Landlord Studio offers direct Xero integration.
7. Do you only own UK property, want automated bookkeeping, and value investment metrics above all else?
→ Staying on Hammock may be the right answer.
8. Anything else?
→ RentalBux covers the typical UK landlord workflow (one property or fifty, UK or foreign, with or without other income, self-managed or accountant-filed).
Conclusion
Hammock earned its position as a UK landlord software leader by being the first landlord-specific tool HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital and by executing well on a focused brief. That focus is also its limitation.
Landlords who need broader MTD coverage (sole trader income, foreign property together with self-employment, agent filing), proper accounting structure (chart of accounts, journals, formal reports), automatic joint-ownership profit-splitting, or a genuinely free entry path into MTD have stronger options than Hammock in 2026.
For the typical UK landlord, RentalBux is the fastest and lowest-risk switch to test. The free single-property tier until March 2028 means you can migrate your records, run parallel with Hammock for a quarter, and decide based on your own experience, with no cost and no card required.
