RentalBux vs. Hammock
All-in-One Property Management or Finance-First Accounting?
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords and Sole Traders?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the more complete MTD software for landlords and sole traders. It combines full Making Tax Digital compliance across UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment income with comprehensive property management, automated bookkeeping, AI-driven expense categorisation, joint ownership profit-splitting, and a free plan for single-property landlords until March 2028. Hammock is a strong alternative for buy-to-let investors who want automated real-time transaction matching and investment analytics, but its narrower feature set and paid-only model make it less versatile.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison for Landlords
Key differences between RentalBux and Hammock across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | Hammock |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Property Platform |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Landlords, Property Investors |
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | Yes |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | UK Property + Foreign Property only |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | 30-day free trial only |
| Starting Price | Free (paid plans for larger portfolios) | From £5/month (1–3 properties) |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes (Major UK banks) | Yes (Open Banking, FCA-registered) |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes (with branding) | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes (AI-powered) | No |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Yes (AI) | Yes |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant Management | Yes | Yes |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | Yes (auto-split by ownership %) | Yes |
| Sole Trader Income Support | Yes | No |
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes | Per-property via Insights |
| Chart of Accounts (Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (Pre-Built + Custom) | Yes (Pre-Built) |
| Yield & Investment Analysis | No | Yes (LTV, yields, arrears) |
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is Hammock ?
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 Hammock?
Automated MTD Bookkeeping Software for Property Investors
Hammock is a UK-based fintech platform that provides automated bookkeeping, property tax statements, and investment insights specifically for landlords. Founded in 2019 and backed by $5.5m in funding, Hammock positions itself as the first landlord software recognised by HMRC as compatible with Making Tax Digital.
Hammock's core strength lies in automation: once a landlord adds their properties and tenancies, the system automatically identifies recurring rent payments, categorises expenses against HMRC SA105 categories, and generates a running property tax statement.
Where Hammock distinguishes itself from RentalBux is in investment analytics: it provides real-time metrics including loan-to-value ratios, rental yields, occupancy rates, and per-tenant arrears balances.
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
- First landlord software HMRC-recognised for MTD
- Real-time automated bank reconciliation via open banking
- Strong buy-to-let investment analytics (yields, LTV, arrears)
- FCA-registered for secure open banking connections
- Excellent Trustpilot reviews (5 stars, 64+ reviews)
- Dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Compliance document alerts (gas safety, insurance, EPC)
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
- No sole trader income support — property income only
- No chart of accounts, journal entries, or formal P&L
- No AI-powered features or OCR receipt scanning
- No MTD submission during your trial
- Paid-only from £5/month after 30-day trial
- No agent filing on behalf of landlords
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 Hammock Handles MTD
Hammock covers UK property and foreign property income for MTD purposes, with quarterly updates and final declarations supported. Its property tax statement maps transactions against SA105 categories in real time. However, Hammock does not support sole trader income or agent filing.
Broader income type coverage including sole trader and foreign property, plus agent filing capability gives RentalBux a decisive advantage.
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.
Hammock: Property Tracking & Investment Insights
Hammock provides property portfolio management, tenant management, rent tracking, and property expense allocation. Where Hammock excels is investment analytics: it delivers real-time yield calculations, loan-to-value ratios, occupancy rates, and per-tenant arrears balances.
RentalBux wins on joint ownership automation and HMO setup. Hammock wins on investment analytics.
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.
Hammock: Automated Transaction Matching
Hammock takes a lighter bookkeeping approach: it supports cash basis accounting and automated bank feeds via FCA-regulated open banking, with real-time reconciliation. Transactions are automatically categorised against SA105 categories. However, Hammock does not offer a chart of accounts, journal entries, or accruals basis accounting.
The pre-built chart of accounts, journal entries, and double-entry bookkeeping give RentalBux proper accounting structure essential for audit-ready records under MTD.
Invoicing, Expense Tracking
RentalBux: AI-Powered Expense Management
RentalBux includes OCR receipt capture, structured expense tracking with landlord-specific categories, AI-driven auto-categorisation, invoice creation with customisable branding, and payment tracking with reminders.
Hammock: Real-Time Transaction Matching
Hammock's expense management is powered by real-time automated transaction matching. Once bank feeds are connected, Hammock automatically identifies recurring transactions and matches them to the correct property and tenant. Receipts can be attached manually but there is no OCR or AI categorisation.
AI-powered OCR receipt capture, automatic expense categorisation, and branded invoicing give RentalBux the edge.
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. AI-powered smart categorisation helps ensure accuracy. However, RentalBux does not currently offer tax liability forecasting.
Hammock: Buy-to-Let Investment Analytics
Hammock's insights dashboard delivers real-time buy-to-let metrics: per-property profit & loss, loan-to-value ratios, rental yields, occupancy rates, and per-tenant arrears balances. The platform provides a running tax estimate so landlords can save for their tax bill throughout the year.
RentalBux leads on formal accounting reports. Hammock leads on investment analytics and tax forecasting.
Ease of Use, Support & Security
RentalBux: Guided Workflows
RentalBux uses guided workflows, clear dashboards, and no accounting jargon. Phone support, email/chat support, and a help centre with guides. Enterprise-grade cloud security.
Hammock: Mobile-First Design
Hammock emphasises mobile-first design and real-time push notifications. Excellent 5-star Trustpilot rating (64+ reviews). Live chat support (9am–5pm) and email support. FCA-registered (No. 911254).
RentalBux Features
Sole Trader Income Support for MTD
Supports self-employment income alongside property income within a single MTD-compliant platform. Manage all quarterly submissions from one dashboard.
Custom Chart of Accounts for Landlords
A property-tailored chart of accounts covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, repairs, utilities, letting agent fees — all pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes.
AI-Powered OCR Receipt Capture
Snap a photo of any bill or receipt. RentalBux's AI reads the document, extracts key details, and categorises the expense automatically.
Agent Filing on Behalf of Landlords
Letting agents or accountants can submit MTD quarterly updates and the final declaration on behalf of landlord clients directly from the platform.
Hammock Features
Buy-to-Let Investment Analytics Dashboard
Real-time loan-to-value ratios, rental yields, occupancy rates, and per-tenant arrears balances per property.
Real-Time Automated Transaction Matching
Automatically identifies recurring transactions via open banking and matches them to the correct property and tenant in real time.
Tax Bill Estimation & Savings Feature
Provides a running estimate of the landlord's total expected tax bill throughout the year, with an option to set aside funds progressively.
Who RentalBux Is Best For
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 Hammock Is Best For
Hammock is a strong fit if you:
Buy-to-Let Investors Focused on Returns
Yield analysis, LTV ratios, occupancy rates, and arrears tracking are unmatched among landlord MTD software.
Landlords Who Want Minimal Manual Input
Hammock's fully automated real-time transaction matching via open banking means very little hands-on bookkeeping.
Property-Only Income Landlords
If you only earn from UK and/or foreign property and don't need sole trader support, Hammock is perfectly focused.
Landlords Who Want Tax Bill Planning
Hammock's running tax estimate and savings feature helps you set aside funds throughout the year.
Final Verdict: RentalBux vs. Hammock
| Category | RentalBux | Hammock |
|---|---|---|
| MTD Compliance Breadth | WINNER (all 3 income types) | Good (property only) |
| Sole Trader Support | WINNER | Not available |
| Bookkeeping & Accounting | WINNER (chart of accounts, journals) | Basic (cash basis only) |
| Property Management | Strong | Strong |
| Joint Ownership Automation | WINNER | Limited |
| Invoicing & Expenses | WINNER (OCR, AI, branding) | Good |
| Investment Analytics | Not available | WINNER (yields, LTV, arrears) |
| Tax Forecasting | Not available | WINNER (running estimate) |
| Automation | Good (AI categorisation) | Strong (real-time matching) |
| Pricing & Free Plan | WINNER (free until 2028) | Competitive (£5.99/mo start) |
| Customer Support | Good (phone + chat) | WINNER (5-star Trustpilot) |
| Collaboration & Multi-User | WINNER (agent filing) | Limited |
RentalBux emerges as the more complete MTD software for UK landlords and sole traders preparing for Making Tax Digital in 2026. Its combination of comprehensive MTD compliance across all qualifying income types, structured accounting, automated joint ownership profit-splitting, AI-powered expense management, and a free pricing tier makes it the stronger all-round choice.
Hammock is far from a weak competitor. Its real-time automated bookkeeping via open banking, buy-to-let investment analytics, tax bill estimation, and polished mobile experience make it the superior option for property investors who want minimal admin and maximum insight into portfolio performance.
The right choice depends on your situation. If you need a single platform to handle mixed income, complex ownership, invoicing, and formal accounting under MTD — choose RentalBux. If you want the simplest possible path to MTD compliance with strong investment metrics and you only have property income — Hammock is an excellent choice.
Other MTD Software Alternatives
Coconut
App-based accounting for sole traders and landlords with allowable expense guidance.
FreeAgent for Landlords
Free with qualifying bank accounts (NatWest, RBS, Mettle); broader accounting features.
untied
End-to-end MTD app with self-assessment filing and multiple income source support.
PaTMa Property Manager
Dedicated property management with free tier for one property.
Landlord Vision / Landlord Studio
All-in-one landlord platforms with MTD integration in development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start your MTD journey with RentalBux
Free for single-property landlords until March 2028. HMRC-recognised. No credit card needed.
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