RentalBux vs. Nomi
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 seeking a direct-access, standalone 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 — all accessible directly by the landlord without an accountant intermediary. Nomi (formerly Nomisma) is a powerful, HMRC-recognised, cloud-native accountancy practice management suite serving accountants, bookkeepers, and small businesses in the UK. Its MTD offering covers both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax (ITSA), supports multiple income sources including property and self-employment, and delivers a deeply integrated platform spanning bookkeeping, payroll, self-assessment, final accounts, corporation tax, CRM, payroll, company secretarial, and practice management — all in one system. Nomi also offers direct business owner access with its own bookkeeping and payroll pricing tiers. For landlords seeking a self-serve, property-specific MTD and management platform, RentalBux is the clear choice. For accountants managing landlord and sole trader clients who want a deeply integrated, cost-effective all-in-one practice suite — Nomi is among the most feature-rich and competitively priced options available.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and Nomi across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | All-in-One Practice Accountancy Suite (+ Business Owner Access) |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Accountancy Practices, Bookkeepers, Business Owners |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | Multiple trades + property income (confirmed in FAQs) |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | No free plan; 30-day free trial available |
| 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 | Yes |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | No |
| 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 Nomi?
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 Nomi?
Nomi - for the smart digital practice
Nomi (formerly Nomisma) is a UK-based, cloud-native accountancy practice management platform founded in 2015, headquartered in St Leonards on Sea with AWS cloud infrastructure hosted in London. Described by users as a "cradle to grave" solution for accountancy practices, Nomi provides a fully integrated modular suite spanning Bookkeeping & VAT, Self Assessment & Partnership Tax, Final Accounts & Corporation Tax, Payroll, Pension & CIS, Company Secretarial, CRM & Onboarding, Practice Management, and — critically for 2026 — MTD for Income Tax and MTD for VAT, all in a single interconnected platform.
Nomi's MTD coverage explicitly includes multiple trades and property income, with the platform's FAQs confirming support for "multiple trades, property income, and consolidated reporting." Nomi is HMRC-recognised for both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax (ITSA), and is also recognised by Companies House for accounts and company secretarial submissions. A 30-day free trial is available for all users with no credit card required. Annual subscribers receive a 20% discount.
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 MTD IT and MTD for VAT in one integrated platform
- Dual access: both practices and business owners can subscribe directly
- Supports multiple income sources including property and self-employment for MTD IT
- Unlimited bank feeds included with bookkeeping — no extra cost
- AI OCR receipt capture via mobile app — auto-uploads to bookkeeping
- Full chart of accounts, double-entry bookkeeping, journal entries
- eSignatures built-in (no third-party portal required)
- NomiPay: in-app payment collection via card, Apple Pay, bank transfer, GoCardless
- Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, ZohoBooks one-click trial balance import
- All modules inter-connected: bookkeeping feeds SA, CT600, final accounts automatically
- Pay As You Go option for small practices
- 20% annual payment discount
- AWS London cloud infrastructure — servers and backups in multiple UK locations
- 30-day free trial — no credit card required
- Excellent user support: phone, email, live chat, WhatsApp
- Recognised by HMRC and Companies House
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 property portfolio management, tenancy tracking, or compliance alerts
- No dedicated joint ownership auto-splitting feature confirmed
- No landlord-specific chart of accounts or property expense categories
- No free plan; 30-day trial only
- CRM module charges per user (unlike most other modules)
- Some early user reviews noted initial stability issues — improved over time
- No dedicated landlord-facing property management features
- Foreign property income as a separate MTD category not explicitly confirmed in published documentation
- Modular pricing can require careful planning for total cost
- Lacks RentalBux's property-specific features for landlords
- AWS infrastructure (not a UK bank; no FSCS protection)
- Trust and Estate tax returns not currently supported
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 Nomi Handles MTD Compliance
Nomi is HMRC-recognised for both MTD for Income Tax and MTD for VAT. Its MTD IT page explicitly states that the platform handles "quarterly updates for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 (gross self-employment and property income)." Nomi's FAQs confirm that the platform "supports multiple trades, property income, and consolidated reporting" — making it suitable for landlords with both rental and self-employment income.
MTD IT quarterly updates and the final declaration are managed through Nomi's Self Assessment module, which pre-populates from live bookkeeping data — eliminating manual data re-entry. Practices can manage all client MTD submissions from a central practice dashboard. Real-time tax calculations provide continuous tax liability visibility.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Partial |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux on property income breadth; RentalBux confirms all three income categories including foreign property.
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.
Nomi: No Property Management Features
Nomi does not include property portfolio management, tenant management, rent tracking, compliance document reminders, HMO support, or any landlord-specific property administration tools. It is an accountancy suite. Property management must be handled separately.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — decisively Nomi has no landlord or property management features. Landlords who need tenancy tracking, rent management, multi-property allocation, HMO support, or joint ownership automation must use RentalBux or a separate property management tool alongside Nomi.
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.
Nomi: Deeply Integrated, Practice-Grade Bookkeeping
Nomi's bookkeeping module is a full double-entry cloud accounting system with unlimited bank feeds (at no additional cost), automated bank reconciliation, automated categorisation with bank rules, full chart of accounts (confirmed in user reviews as a standout feature), journal entries, and real-time financial reporting. Crucially, data entered in Nomi's bookkeeping module automatically populates the Self Assessment, Final Accounts, and CT600 modules — eliminating re-keying and the "bad data" problem that comes with using multiple disconnected tools.
Nomi integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and ZohoBooks for trial balance imports in one click — useful for accountants whose bookkeeping clients use external software but whose tax work is done in Nomi.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | Yes |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (pre-built + custom) | Yes |
| Journal Entries | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes (Major UK banks) | Yes |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | Yes |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | Partial |
| Xero Integration | No | Yes |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Nomi on accounting depth and breadth; RentalBux on landlord-specific structure — Nomi's fully integrated bookkeeping-to-accounts-to-tax pipeline is one of the deepest in the practice software market, with data flowing automatically across all modules. RentalBux wins on landlord-specific chart of accounts pre-mapping and property expense categorisation. For accountants managing diverse client bases, Nomi's breadth is its defining advantage.
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.
Nomi: OCR Receipt Capture with NomiPay In-App Payments
Nomi's mobile app provides OCR receipt capture that auto-uploads to the bookkeeping system. The app is available for iOS, Android, and iPad. Nomi's invoicing includes unlimited invoices with the business owner tier, and NomiPay — Nomi's proprietary payment collection system — allows clients to pay invoices via debit/credit card, Apple Pay, bank transfer, or Direct Debit. Payment is automatically reconciled in the bookkeeping once received. Auto-reminder emails for outstanding invoices and recurring invoice functionality are both included.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | No | No |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | Partial |
Winner: Nomi on payment collection and eSignatures. NomiPay gives Nomi a genuine in-app payment collection advantage . Nomi's built-in eSignatures — requiring no third-party portal — are also a practical differentiator.
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.
Nomi: Fully Integrated Practice and Financial Reporting
Nomi provides real-time financial reporting across all modules, with data flowing automatically from bookkeeping into self-assessment, final accounts, and CT600. Practice reporting covers task management, staff assignments, deadline dashboards, client work status, and billing — all within the Practice Management module. The CRM module supports client onboarding with automated KYC, engagement letters, quotes and contracts, eSignatures, and lead management.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | Partial |
Winner: RentalBux for direct landlord reports; Nomi for practice and statutory reporting — Nomi's full practice management suite, data auto-population across compliance modules, and statutory reporting capability go far beyond what a landlord platform can or needs to match. RentalBux provides direct, self-serve financial statements for landlords without requiring practice infrastructure.
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.
Nomi's Collaborative Features
he collaboration model in Nomi reflects its dual-market positioning. For practices, Nomi provides a full multi-client dashboard, staff task assignments, CRM, and the ability to manage all landlord and sole trader clients' MTD compliance from one platform. For individual business owners who access Nomi directly, the platform provides mobile app access, real-time financial data, and the ability to work seamlessly alongside their accountant — with data auto-syncing between client and practice.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Nomi on practice collaboration tools; RentalBux on direct landlord self-service — Nomi's multi-client practice dashboard, built-in eSignatures, NomiPay, accounting software integrations, and WhatsApp support give it a wider collaboration toolkit. RentalBux wins for landlords who want direct, independent self-serve access without requiring a practice infrastructure around them.
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.
Nomi's Ease of Use
Nomi has an excellent support reputation. Trustpilot reviews praise the team's responsiveness — with multiple users noting WhatsApp availability, after-hours response, and direct access to senior team members including the CEO and CTO. The video library and YouTube tutorials are consistently cited as invaluable onboarding resources. User reviews note some early stability issues that have been resolved over time, with the platform now rated 95% satisfaction across major review platforms.
| Feature | RentalBux | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Nomi Offers
MTD for VAT (9-Box, Direct HMRC Submission)
Nomi is HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT with automated 9-box calculations and direct submission — critical for VAT-registered commercial landlords.
Full Integrated Accountancy Suite in One Platform
Nomi uniquely integrates Bookkeeping & VAT, Self Assessment, Final Accounts & CT600, Payroll & CIS, Company Secretarial, CRM & Onboarding, and Practice Management in one inter-connected cloud platform — with data flowing automatically between modules.
NomiPay — In-App Payment Collection
NomiPay enables clients to pay invoices via debit/credit card, Apple Pay, bank transfer (Open Banking), and GoCardless Direct Debit — all within the Nomi app. Payment is automatically reconciled in bookkeeping once received.
Built-In eSignatures (No Third-Party Portal Required
Nomi's eSignature capability is built directly into the platform for signing final accounts, tax returns, engagement letters, and documents — with no need for a separate portal.
Data Auto-Population Across All Compliance Modules
Data entered once in bookkeeping automatically updates self-assessment, final accounts, and CT600 in real time. This cross-module data flow is Nomi's most cited productivity advantage and fundamentally reduces the risk of transcription errors across the compliance cycle.
Real-Time Tax Calculations
Nomi provides a continuous view of tax liabilities — updating automatically as transactions are recorded. This means no year-end surprises for clients, and real-time visibility of tax position throughout the year.
Payroll, CIS, and Auto-Enrolment
Full payroll module covering RTI, CIS subcontractor verification, auto-enrolment, employee self-service portal, bulk payroll/pension submissions, and annual leave management.
Pay As You Go Option
Nomi offers a Pay As You Go pricing option, specifically noted as a differentiating benefit for small practice owners. This provides maximum flexibility without committing to a monthly subscription.
20% Annual Payment Discount
Customers who pay annually receive a 20% discount compared to monthly billing — a straightforward saving for practices and business owners who commit to the platform.
Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, ZohoBooks Integration
One-click trial balance import from all major cloud accounting platforms allows accountants to use Nomi for compliance work (SA, accounts, CT) even when clients use external bookkeeping tools.
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 Nomi?
Nomi is the better choice for:
Accountancy Practices Managing Multiple Landlord and Sole Trader Clients
Nomi's fully integrated bookkeeping-to-SA-to-accounts-to-CT pipeline, with data auto-population, unlimited bank feeds, NomiPay, built-in eSignatures, CRM, and practice management, makes it one of the most cost-effective full-suite platforms available for UK accounting practices managing MTD IT clients.
VAT-Registered Commercial Landlords or Those with Mixed VAT and Income Tax Obligations
Nomi is one of the few platforms in this series to cover both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax in a single integrated system. For commercial landlords who are VAT-registered, this single-platform compliance is a significant operational simplification.
Sole Traders and Business Owners Who Want a "Cradle to Grave" Accounting Tool
Nomi's business owner pricing tier makes it accessible without going through an accountant — providing bookkeeping, VAT, self-assessment, payroll, and final accounts in one interconnected platform.
Practices Seeking Maximum Value Relative to Compliance Breadth
User reviews consistently note that Nomi's pricing is a fraction of Xero or QuickBooks for comparable compliance functionality. The Pay As You Go option and 20% annual discount add further flexibility.
Practices That Need Built-In eSignatures, CRM, and Onboarding
Nomi's end-to-end client onboarding — with KYC, quotes, engagement letters, and eSignatures — all built in without third-party tools, is a material time-saver for practices scaling their client base under MTD.