RentalBux vs. bluQube: Landlord-Built MTD Platform or Enterprise Accounting with an Income Tax Module?
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords and Sole Traders?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the purpose-built choice for UK landlords and sole traders preparing for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA). It combines full HMRC recognition across all three qualifying income types: UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment income with integrated property management, automated bookkeeping, AI-powered expense categorisation, joint ownership profit-splitting, and a genuinely free plan for single-property landlords until March 2028.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and bluQube across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Enterprise cloud accounting software (organisations) |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | SME finance teams, larger organisations |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | No free plan |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | Yes |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | No |
| Tenant Management | Yes | No |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | Yes | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | No |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is bluQube?
What Is RentalBux?
All-in-One MTD Software for Landlords and Sole Traders
RentalBux is an all-in-one property management, accounting, and Making Tax Digital compliance platform built specifically for UK landlords, letting agents, and self-employed individuals. Designed with direct input from accountants who specialise in property and sole trader tax, RentalBux covers everything from tenancy management and rent collection to full bookkeeping with a pre-configured chart of accounts tailored to the property sector.
RentalBux is fully HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax across all three qualifying income categories: UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment. This makes it one of the only landlord-specific MTD software platforms that can handle a landlord who also runs a sole trader business, all from a single subscription.
A major differentiator is RentalBux's pricing model: single-property landlords can use the platform completely free until March 2028, making it one of the most affordable HMRC-approved MTD software options for landlords entering the MTD regime.
What Is bluQube ?
What's Making Tax Digital?
GoSimpleTax is one of the UK's most established Self Assessment software brands with over 20,000 customers in 30 countries file more than 125,000 returns annually using its HMRC-recognised platform (Trustpilot 4.4/5, 2,700+ reviews). It handles all standard Self Assessment forms including SA100, SA102, SA103, SA104, SA105, SA106, SA107, SA108, and SA109 covering sole traders, landlords, non-residents, and those with foreign income.
GoSimpleTax acquired !Coconut in 2023 and the two brands now share the same directors and company. !Coconut (getcoconut.com) is the GoSimpleTax family's HMRC-recognised MTD for Income Tax product, a simplified accounting app designed for sole traders, landlords, and CIS subcontractors. !Coconut is FCA-authorised as an Account Information Services Provider (FRN: 931194), connects to over 25 UK banks via Open Banking, and is available on iOS, Android, and web. Features include automatic bank feed imports, receipt scanning, unlimited professional invoicing, expense categorisation, real-time in-year tax estimates, profit and loss reports, and cash flow summaries.
The MTD and Self Assessment products work together: !Coconut handles quarterly digital record keeping and MTD submissions; GoSimpleTax handles the annual Self Assessment return. The !Coconut Full plan (£159.99/year) bundles both. Landlords with a Zempler business bank account can access !Coconut free for two years. !Coconut is deliberately simplified, it does not offer property portfolio management, tenant management, HMO support, joint ownership automation, a formal chart of accounts, or double-entry bookkeeping. Its philosophy is simplicity and accessibility for landlords and sole traders who find traditional accounting software overly complex.
Strengths
- Free MTD software for single-property landlords until March 2028
- Handles sole trader + UK property + foreign property income in one platform
- Joint ownership with automatic profit-sharing split by ownership percentage
- Pre-built chart of accounts tailored for landlords and sole traders
- AI-powered expense auto-categorisation and OCR receipt capture
- Agent filing on behalf of landlords — ideal for accountants and letting agents
- Supports HMO properties with auto-created units
Strengths
- MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax both included in subscription
- Multi-entity group accounting — core differentiator
- OCR accounts payable automation
- Live real-time Excel reporting integration
- CIS Construction Industry Scheme support
- UK data hosting in military-grade data centres
- Phone support — answers within 3 rings; no resellers
- Employee Ownership Trust; customer-first governance
- Cloud or on-premise deployment options
Limitations
- Newer to market compared to established platforms
- No yield or LTV investment analysis tools
- No MTD for VAT support yet
- Some advanced reporting features still in development
- Limited third-party app integrations
- No offline capability
- No tax liability forecasting feature currently
Limitations
- Not designed for individual landlords or sole traders
- No property portfolio management or rent tracking
- No tenant management
- No joint ownership or profit-sharing automation
- No landlord-tailored chart of accounts or expense categories
- No free plan — custom pricing required
- 4-week minimum guided implementation; not self-serve
- No dedicated accountant filing portal for landlord clients
- Agent filing for MTD ITSA not publicly confirmed
Making Tax Digital Compliance
How RentalBux Handles MTD Compliance
RentalBux supports all three MTD qualifying income categories: sole trader income, UK property income, and foreign property income. This makes it suitable for landlords who also earn self-employment income, eliminating the need for separate software. Most accounts are pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. RentalBux also supports agent filing, allowing accountants or letting agents to submit MTD returns on behalf of their landlord clients.
How bluQube Handles MTD Compliance for Landlords and Sole Traders
bluQube supports MTD for Income Tax and MTD for VAT as part of its standard subscription — no extra charge for existing customers. The platform provides digital record keeping, quarterly updates, and year-end submissions directly to HMRC. Its MTD for Income Tax module covers self-employment and UK property income; foreign property income is not explicitly confirmed on bluQube's published product pages. bluQube also supports multi-entity structures, so organisations whose owners have qualifying personal income alongside business income can manage both in one system. Crucially, bluQube does not maintain property-specific records throughout the year. Landlords using it would need to manage property and tenancy records separately and enter aggregated figures into the system.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | Yes |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes | Yes |
| UK Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes | No |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
Winner: RentalBux. RentalBux for landlord-specific MTD compliance; bluQube for VAT-registered businesses needing both VAT and income tax in one subscription. Both platforms meet HMRC's core digital record-keeping and quarterly submission requirements. RentalBux is confirmed HMRC-recognised for all three MTD ITSA income types including foreign property and explicitly supports agent filing. bluQube covers MTD for VAT and Income Tax within its enterprise subscription, but foreign property income and agent filing for ITSA are not confirmed on its published pages.
Property Management
RentalBux: Property Management
RentalBux provides comprehensive property portfolio management with tenant management, rent tracking, property expense allocation, and support for multiple properties. A standout feature is its joint ownership and profit-sharing capability: landlords can define ownership percentages once, and RentalBux automatically splits rental income and expenses. RentalBux also supports HMO properties, automatically creating individual units.
bluQube: No Property-Specific Features
bluQube does not offer any property-specific features. There is no property portfolio dashboard, no tenant management, no rent tracking, no per-property expense allocation, no joint ownership automation, and no HMO support. It is an enterprise accounting platform. Landlords using bluQube for MTD must manage their property records entirely outside the system and enter totals manually.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | No |
| Tenant Management | Yes | No |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | No |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | No |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | No |
| HMO Property Support | Yes (auto-creates units) | No |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | Yes (auto-split by %) | No |
| Maintenance Tracking | No | No |
| Tenant Screening | No | No |
| Compliance Document Alerts | Yes | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No | No |
Winner: RentalBux. bluQube has no property management features. It is a general enterprise accounting platform — landlords managing multiple properties, tenancies, or joint ownership structures will find it entirely unsuited to their operational needs.
Bookkeeping, Accounting & Digital Record Keeping
RentalBux: Structured Accounting
RentalBux includes a pre-built chart of accounts specifically designed for landlords and sole traders, covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, property repairs, professional services, utilities, and tenant deposits. All accounts are pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. The platform supports cash basis accounting, bank reconciliation, and journal entries.
bluQube: Full Enterprise Accounting — Not Structured for Landlord Use
bluQube provides a complete accounting suite including a configurable chart of accounts, journal entries, double-entry bookkeeping, multi-entity intercompany transactions, and real-time Excel reporting integration. It does not offer a landlord-tailored chart of accounts or per-property financial reporting, the system is designed for organisational finance, not individual property portfolios.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | No |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (pre-built + custom) | |
| Journal Entries | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes (Major UK banks) | Yes |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes | No |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | Yes |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | No |
| Xero Integration | No | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | Yes |
| hart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | No |
Winner: Tie. RentalBux for landlords; bluQube for SME finance teams. Both platforms provide year-round digital records, double-entry bookkeeping, and formal financial reports. RentalBux wins on landlord-specific structure: per-property reporting, a pre-built property-sector chart of accounts, and joint ownership reporting. bluQube wins on enterprise features: multi-entity group accounting, live Excel integration, and interoperability with third-party business systems.
Invoicing, Expense Tracking
RentalBux: Expense Management
RentalBux includes OCR receipt capture, structured expense tracking with landlord-specific categories, auto-categorisation, invoice creation with customisable branding, and payment tracking with reminders.
bluQube: Accounts Payable Automation — for Business Invoices, Not Landlord Expenses
bluQube provides OCR-powered accounts payable automation for business invoices: users email, upload, or drag and drop invoices into an approval portal, and the system extracts key information, matches to suppliers and purchase orders, and routes for approval. This is designed for organisational AP workflows, not landlord expense receipts. There is no AI auto-categorisation of personal or property expenses, no landlord-specific expense categories, and no rent invoicing with tenancy branding.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | Yes |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | No |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes | |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | No | No |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | No |
Winner: Tie. RentalBux for landlord expense management; bluQube for organisational accounts payable. RentalBux provides a complete landlord expense toolkit including AI categorisation and property-sector expense categories. bluQube's OCR automation is strong, but it serves a fundamentally different use case: business invoice processing, not landlord receipt management.
Reporting & Tax Forecasting
RentalBux: Formal Accounting Reports
RentalBux produces structured financial reports including profit & loss statements, balance sheets, journal reports, ledger reports, and trial balances. Smart categorisation helps ensure accuracy.
bluQube: Powerful Enterprise Reporting with Live Excel Integration
bluQube's reporting connects live to Excel, providing real-time financial information without manual exports. Dashboards and reporting tools allow finance and non-finance users to analyse trends, track KPIs, and produce group-level or entity-level reports. However, there is no per-property reporting, no landlord-specific P&L breakdown, and no property portfolio dashboard.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | Yes |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | Yes |
| Trial Balance | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | Yes |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | Yes |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | Yes |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | No |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux for landlord-specific reporting; bluQube for enterprise financial reporting. RentalBux wins on per-property visibility. bluQube wins on live Excel integration and consolidated group reporting. Neither currently offers tax liability forecasting.
Collaboration & Mobile Apps
RentalBux's Collaborative Features
RentalBux enables agent filing, which gives accountants and letting agents the ability to submit directly on a landlord's behalf.
bluQube: Enterprise Access with Guided Implementation and Real-Person Support
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | No |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
| Bank Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | iOS, Android | Web; iOS |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux for accountant collaboration and mobile access. RentalBux wins on the accountant portal, confirmed agent filing, and full native mobile apps features that matter most to property accountants and landlords on the go.
Ease of Use, Support & Security
RentalBux: Guided Workflows
RentalBux uses guided workflows, clear dashboards, and no accounting jargon. The platform offers phone support, email/chat support, and a help centre with guides and knowledge base articles.
bluQube's Ease of Use
bluQube emphasises intuitive design for both finance and non-finance staff — clear dashboards, bold graphics, and step-by-step signposting. Phone support answers within three rings, and users always speak to a Symmetry team member rather than a reseller or bot. The platform uses full SSL encryption, penetration testing, monthly health checks, and UK-based military-grade data hosting. A structured onboarding process and fixed-cost implementation reduce risk for organisations migrating from legacy systems.
| Feature | RentalBux | bluQube |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | No |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| Enterprise-Grade Security | Yes | Yes |
RentalBux Features
Sole Trader Income Support for MTD
RentalBux is one of the few landlord-focused MTD software platforms that supports self-employment income alongside UK and foreign property income within a single account. Landlords who also run a trade, consultancy, or freelance business can manage all quarterly submissions from one dashboard. Landlord Studio covers property income only.
Custom Chart of Accounts for Landlords
A property-tailored chart of accounts covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, repairs, utilities, letting agent fees, and more — all pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. No setup required; the system is ready to use from day one. Landlord Studio has no equivalent.
Agent Filing on Behalf of Landlords
Letting agents and accountants can submit MTD quarterly updates and the Final Declaration on behalf of landlord clients directly from the platform. Landlord Studio allows accountant access but does not support submission on the landlord's behalf.
Branded Invoice Creation
Invoice creation with customisable branding for service charges and commercial landlords. Not available in Landlord Studio.
AI-Powered OCR Receipt Capture with Auto-Categorisation (Coming soon)
RentalBux's AI will read uploaded receipts and categorise the expense automatically against the pre-built chart of accounts. Landlord Studio's Smart Scan extracts dates and amounts but does not include AI-driven expense categorisation.
Formal Accounting Reports
Balance sheet, trial balance, ledger reports, and journal reports. Landlord Studio does not produce these natively.
Free Plan Including MTD Submissions Until March 2028
RentalBux's free single-property plan includes MTD quarterly submissions. Landlord Studio's free GO plan covers property management for up to three units but requires a paid PRO plan (from £12/month) to access MTD submission functionality.
Unique Features Only bluQube Offers
MTD for VAT — direct submission and built-in bridging
bluQube supports MTD for VAT with direct HMRC submission and built-in bridging for VAT-registered businesses, included in the standard subscription.
True multi-entity group accounting
bluQube manages multiple legal entities — different VAT environments, fiscal calendars, and charts of accounts — within one system, with intercompany transaction automation and group-level consolidated reporting.
Live Excel reporting integration
Financial data from bluQube feeds directly into Excel in real time. Reports are always current without manual exports, re-keying, or file transfers.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) support
bluQube includes CIS support for contractors and subcontractors. Relevant for landlords who also run construction or property development businesses.
Real-time third-party system interoperability
bluQube integrates in real time with HR, CRM, payroll, and other business systems — allowing each department to use the best tool for its function while sharing financial data accurately across the organisation.
On-premise deployment option
bluQube can be deployed on a customer's own servers as well as on the cloud, giving IT-governed organisations full control over their infrastructure.
Fixed-cost guided implementation with a dedicated team
bluQube provides a structured implementation from four weeks at an agreed fixed cost. For organisations migrating from legacy systems like Dynamics GP, Navision, or Sage 50, this reduces implementation risk.
Who Should Choose RentalBux?
RentalBux is a strong fit if you:
Landlords with Mixed Income Streams
If you earn from both property and self-employment, RentalBux handles sole trader income alongside UK and foreign property income in a single MTD-compliant platform.
Joint Owners and Family Portfolios
The automated profit-sharing split is a standout feature. Define ownership percentages once and RentalBux calculates each owner's share automatically.
Budget-Conscious Landlords Entering MTD
Free MTD software for single-property landlords until March 2028, with no upfront commitment.
Landlords Who Want Proper Accounting Structure
Chart of accounts, journal entries, profit & loss, balance sheet, and trial balance give RentalBux a structured accounting foundation.
Accountants and Letting Agents
Agent filing on behalf, multi-user access, and spreadsheet import make RentalBux practical for professionals managing multiple landlord portfolios.
Commercial Landlords and HMO Owners
Invoice creation with branding for service charges, plus automatic HMO unit creation and tenant management.
Who should choose bluQube?
bluQube is the better choice for:
SME finance teams that need enterprise accounting plus MTD in one subscription
If your organisation is already evaluating bluQube for multi-entity accounting, accounts payable automation, CIS, or live Excel reporting, the MTD for Income Tax module is included at no extra cost. There is no need for a separate landlord tool if your property income arises within an existing organisational structure.
VAT-registered businesses needing MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax in one system
bluQube covers both within one subscription, with direct HMRC submission and built-in bridging for VAT.
Organisations with complex multi-entity or corporate property group structures
bluQube's multi-entity architecture — different VAT environments, calendars, and charts of accounts per entity, with consolidated group reporting suits property groups or mixed trading structures operating at corporate level, not individual landlords.
Businesses migrating from Dynamics GP, Navision, or Sage 50
bluQube offers structured migration paths from legacy systems, with fixed-cost implementations and a direct team who built the software. For organisations carrying legacy data, this reduces risk considerably.
Organisations wanting on-premise deployment
bluQube supports both cloud and on-premise deployment. For organisations with IT governance requirements that prevent cloud-only solutions, this is a meaningful differentiator. RentalBux is cloud-only.