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Both Xero and FreeAgent are HMRC-recognised for MTD for Income Tax. Both submit quarterly updates and the Final Declaration directly to HMRC. The genuine decision between them in 2026 is not which one has better features. It is which price route fits your situation. Xero Simple at £7 plus VAT a month is the cheapest standard-priced route to MTD from a major UK provider, available to anyone. FreeAgent is free for as long as you hold a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, or Mettle business current account. This article works through that decision honestly, with three pricing profiles, a quarterly filing walkthrough, and answers to the questions most landlords and sole traders are actually asking in May 2026.

Xero offers one cloud-first MTD product across its plans, with Xero Simple at £7 plus VAT a month as the entry tier. Sage offers three: Sage Individual (free, sole traders only, no property income), Sage Sole Trader (£7 plus VAT a month with three months free), and Sage 50 Accounts (desktop-anchored, from £65 a month per user, with MTD ITSA features added in v33.1 in April 2026 for sole traders, landlord support pending). The right choice depends on whether you want one cloud route or pick from Sage's three; whether you have property income today; and whether desktop-anchored architecture fits how you work.

RentalBux is exhibiting at Accountex London 2026, showcasing its HMRC-recognised MTD software built for UK landlords. Manage rental, self-employment, and foreign income in one place with automated compliance. Visit Stand 991 to see it in action.

For MTD for Income Tax, Xero Simple at £7 plus VAT a month is the cheapest full-platform option that handles property income, self-employment income, and quarterly filings from one organisation.

Hammock simplifies property accounting and Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliance with automation, real-time Open Banking feeds, and a clean mobile-first experience for landlords who want their finances handled effortlessly. Landlord Vision takes a broader approach, helping you run rentals like a structured business with tools for tenancy management, document signing, and compliance alongside accounting.

Hammock vs Landlord Studio isn’t a like-for-like comparison, it’s accounting-first vs all-in-one property management. Hammock excels in automated bookkeeping, real-time analytics, and MTD compliance. Landlord Studio wins for landlords who want tenant management, listings, and accounting in one place.