RentalBux vs. Landlord Studio
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the more complete MTD software for landlords and sole traders who need an all-in-one platform. 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. Landlord Studio is a strong, mobile-first property management platform with genuine MTD capability for property income, a generous free tier, and an excellent mobile experience — but it does not support sole trader income under MTD, lacks a landlord-tailored chart of accounts and formal accounting reports, and requires a paid plan to access MTD submissions.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and Landlord Studio across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Property/Landlord Platform |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Landlords, Property Investors |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | UK Property + Foreign Property only |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | Free tier (up to 3 units) — MTD submission requires paid plan |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes (Open Banking / bank feeds) |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | Yes |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant Management | Yes | Yes |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | Yes | Yes (separate MTD submissions per owner) |
| Payroll | No | No |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | Partial |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is Landlord Studio?
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 Landlord Studio?
All-In-One Landlord Software
Landlord Studio is a cloud-based, mobile-first property management and rental accounting platform designed for UK (and international) landlords. Founded in New Zealand and now headquartered in San Francisco with a dedicated UK product, Landlord Studio combines property portfolio management, tenant management, maintenance tracking, real-time bank feeds, receipt scanning, and HMRC-integrated MTD submissions into a single platform. It is HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax covering UK property and foreign property income.
Landlord Studio's greatest strength is its mobile-first design and ease of use. The iOS and Android apps are widely praised by landlords for their intuitive interface, allowing income and expense logging, receipt capture via Smart Scan technology, and rent tracking on the go. The platform supports all major ownership structures including joint ownership, partnerships, and limited companies, with the ability to make separate MTD submissions for each owner from a single account.
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
- HMRC-recognised for UK property, foreign property, and furnished holiday let income
- Excellent mobile-first experience (iOS and Android)
- Smart Scan receipt capture for on-the-go digitisation
- Real-time bank feeds via open banking
- Free tier (GO) for up to 3 units for property management
- Maintenance tracking and repair management included
- Separate MTD submissions per owner under joint ownership
- Tenant screening tools available (PRO plans)
- Xero integration for advanced accounting
- Strong user reviews across Capterra, GetApp, and Xero App Store
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/self-employment income support under MTD
- Free GO tier does not include MTD submission capability
- No agent filing — accountants can view but not submit
- No landlord-tailored chart of accounts
- No invoice creation or branded invoicing
- PRO plan costs scale per unit, which can add up for larger portfolios
- No sole trader income means landlords with mixed income need a second platform
- No formal accounting reports (balance sheet, trial balance)
- Per-unit pricing model less cost-effective at 10+ properties vs flat-fee alternatives
- No phone support — live chat and email only
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 Landlord Studio Handles MTD Compliance
Landlord Studio covers UK property income and foreign property income for MTD purposes, with quarterly updates and a final declaration submitted directly to HMRC via its direct HMRC integration. The platform handles separate MTD submissions for each owner in a jointly owned property, all from a single Landlord Studio account. However, Landlord Studio does not support sole trader income under MTD — landlords who also earn self-employment income would need a second MTD-compliant platform to cover that income stream. Landlord Studio also does not support agent filing; accountants and letting agents can be granted access to view records, but cannot submit MTD updates on a landlord's behalf.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes | No |
| UK Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | No |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
| HMRC Recognised(MTD ITSA) | Yes |
RentalBux wins as Landlord Studio's MTD compliance is solid for property-only landlords, but the absence of sole trader income support and agent filing are significant gaps. For landlords with mixed income or those working with accountants and letting agents, RentalBux has 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.
Landlord Studio: Mobile-First Portfolio and Tenant Management
Landlord Studio provides property portfolio management, tenant management, rent tracking, property expense allocation, and document storage across multiple properties. A standout feature is maintenance tracking: landlords can log repair requests, assign work orders, and track progress from within the app — functionality not currently available in RentalBux. Tenant screening tools are available on paid plans, allowing landlords to run reference checks from within the platform. Landlord Studio supports all ownership structures including joint, partnership, and limited company, and can generate separate MTD submissions per owner from a single account. However, joint ownership profit-splitting is not automated in the same way as RentalBux — each owner must manage their own proportional records.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant Management | Yes | Yes |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | Yes |
| HMO Property Support | Yes (auto-creates units) | Yes |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | Yes (auto-split by %) | Yes (separate submissions per owner) |
| Maintenance Tracking | No | Yes |
| Tenant Screening | No | Yes |
| Compliance Document Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Arrears Tracking | No | Yes |
| Rent Tracking | Yes |
Winner depends on priorities. RentalBux wins on joint ownership automation, HMO setup, and invoice creation. Landlord Studio wins on maintenance tracking, tenant screening, and mobile experience. Choose based on whether property accounting depth or operational management features matter more to you.
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.
Landlord's Studio: Bookkeeping and Accounting Features
Landlord Studio provides a capable rental accounting layer: real-time bank feeds via open banking, receipt capture via Smart Scan, income and expense tracking per property, and exportable profit & loss reports. The platform categorises transactions against rental income and expense headings and supports cash basis accounting. However, Landlord Studio does not offer a dedicated chart of accounts tailored for UK property landlords, journal entries, or double-entry bookkeeping natively. For landlords who require a full accounting structure, Landlord Studio offers a Xero integration — though this requires a separate Xero subscription and adds cost and complexity.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | Yes |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (pre-built + custom) | |
| Journal Entries | Yes | No |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes (Major UK banks) | Yes |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | No |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | Partial |
| Xero Integration | No | |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | Yes |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built) | No |
RentalBux provides a complete, landlord-tailored accounting structure with a pre-built chart of accounts, double-entry bookkeeping, and HMRC box pre-mapping. Landlord Studio's native accounting layer is capable for expense tracking and bank reconciliation, but lacks the formal accounting backbone that landlords need for clean year-end reporting without a supplementary Xero subscription.
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.
Landlord Studio: Smart Scan Receipt Capture and Automated Tracking
Landlord Studio's expense management is centred on its Smart Scan technology: landlords photograph receipts on their mobile device, and the platform extracts dates and amounts automatically. Transactions are categorised against property income and expense headings. Bank feed integration allows real-time reconciliation of transactions. However, Landlord Studio does not offer invoice creation or branded invoicing — the platform is focused on expense capture and tracking rather than billing. There is no AI-driven expense categorisation equivalent to RentalBux's automated system.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | No |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | Pro andNo |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes | No |
| Mileage Tracking | No | Yes |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | No |
Both platforms offer receipt capture, but RentalBux adds AI-powered auto-categorisation and branded invoice creation that Landlord Studio does not. For commercial landlords managing service charges or letting agents creating formal invoices, RentalBux is the stronger platform. Landlord Studio's mileage tracking is a useful addition not found in RentalBux.
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.
Landlord Studio: Rental Reports and Portfolio Dashboard
Landlord Studio provides a real-time portfolio dashboard, per-property profit & loss reports, income and expense summaries, and cash flow reporting. These reports are exportable and designed to give landlords a clear view of portfolio performance. The platform does not produce formal balance sheets or trial balances natively. A running tax estimate is not currently listed as a feature. For landlords requiring more advanced financial reporting, the Xero integration provides access to a wider accounting report suite.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | Yes |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | No |
| Trial Balance | Yes | No |
| 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 |
RentalBux wins for formal accounting; Landlord Studio wins for portfolio dashboards and cash flow. RentalBux leads on formal accounting reports (balance sheet, trial balance) essential for year-end tax compliance. Landlord Studio leads on cash flow reporting and visual portfolio dashboards. For most UK landlords needing MTD-compliant accounting records, RentalBux's formal report suite is the more important advantage.
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.
Landlord Studio's Collaborative Features
Landlord Studio is designed to be accessible to landlords working with accountants or letting agents, but their collaboration capabilities differ significantly — and this matters greatly under Making Tax Digital, where quarterly submissions must be timely and accurate. Landlord Studio also has a dedicated Accountants partner programme (landlordstudio.com/uk/partners/accountants) for practices managing multiple landlord clients.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes (role-based) |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
| Bank Integration | Yes | Yes (Open Banking) |
| Platform | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Both platforms provide accountant access, but only RentalBux supports agent filing on behalf of landlords. For accountancy practices managing multiple landlord clients under MTD, or letting agents filing on behalf of their landlords, this is a critical distinction. Landlord Studio's mobile experience is class-leading, but it cannot substitute for the ability to delegate actual submissions.
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.
Landlord Studio: Ease of Use, Customer Support, and Security
Landlord Studio is praised extensively by users for its clean, intuitive mobile experience and responsive customer support. The platform offers live chat support during US and UK business hours and email support. No phone support is listed. Based on over 450 verified user reviews across Capterra, GetApp, Software Advice, and the Xero App Store, Landlord Studio receives consistently strong ratings for ease of use and customer service quality.
| Feature | RentalBux | Landlord Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Chat Support | Yes | Yes (US & UK business hours) |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Landlord Studio Offers
Maintenance Tracking and Work Order Management
Landlord Studio includes a full maintenance module: log repair requests, assign work orders to contractors, track progress, and store documentation. This operational capability makes Landlord Studio a more complete day-to-day portfolio management tool for landlords who handle their own maintenance coordination.
Tenant Screening Tools
Tenant credit and reference checks are available within the Landlord Studio platform on paid plans, reducing the need for third-party screening services.
Mileage Tracking
Landlord Studio includes mileage tracking for landlords who visit properties — an allowable expense that is often missed.
Mobile-First, Award-Winning App Design
Landlord Studio consistently receives top marks for its iOS and Android apps, with users citing ease of use as a primary reason for choosing the platform. The app is designed to make income and expense logging, receipt capture, and rent tracking genuinely fast from a mobile device.
Xero Integration for Advanced Accounting
For landlords who already use Xero or whose accountant works within the Xero ecosystem, Landlord Studio's native Xero integration allows seamless data transfer to a full accounting platform.
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 Landlord Studio?
Landlord Studio is the better MTD software choice for:
Landlords Who Want the Best Mobile Experience
Landlord Studio's iOS and Android apps are widely regarded as among the best in the UK landlord software market. If managing your portfolio from your phone — logging receipts, tracking rent, managing maintenance — is a priority, Landlord Studio's mobile-first design gives it a clear edge.
Property-Only Landlords with No Self-Employment Income
If your qualifying income is entirely from UK or foreign property with no sole trader income, Landlord Studio covers your MTD requirements fully. The absence of sole trader support is only a limitation for landlords with mixed income.
Landlords Who Also Need Maintenance Management
Landlord Studio's maintenance tracking, work order management, and vendor coordination tools give it a meaningful operational advantage for landlords who manage repairs and contractors directly.
Landlords Whose Accountant Uses Xero
You self-manage your properties and want built-in property listing syndication and tenant application management with pre-screening tools --- features that help fill vacancies without using a separate lettings platform.
Small Portfolio Landlords (Up to 3 Units) Wanting Free Property Management
The GO free plan covers up to three units with property management, tenant tools, and receipt scanning — a strong free offering for landlords who do not yet need MTD submissions (i.e., below the £50,000 threshold).