RentalBux vs. QuickBooks
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords and Sole Traders?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the more suitable platform for landlords and sole traders who need an all-in-one solution. Purpose-built for both property income and self-employment, it covers all three qualifying MTD income categories — UK property, foreign property, and sole trader income — from a single account with no configuration required. It includes native property management, joint ownership profit-splitting, HMO support, and a free plan for single-property landlords until March 2028.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and Quickbooks across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Businesses, Sole Traders, Accountants |
| 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 — 30-day trial; from £10+VAT/month |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | |
| Tenant Management | Yes | |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | Yes | No |
| Payroll | No | Yes |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | No |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Software Type | General Business Accounting |
What Is RentalBux? What Is QuickBooks ?
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 Quickbooks?
Smart Tools. Better Business
QuickBooks is a cloud accounting platform developed by Intuit — one of the world's largest financial software companies, also known for TurboTax and Credit Karma. In the UK market, QuickBooks has grown to become one of the most widely used small business accounting solutions, competing directly with Xero and Sage for the cloud accounting segment and building a strong presence among UK accountants and bookkeepers who recommend and manage client accounts through the platform.
QuickBooks' breadth is its primary strength. The platform covers the full accounting lifecycle for UK businesses: double-entry bookkeeping on both cash and accrual basis, invoicing, expense management with mileage tracking, payroll, bank reconciliation, VAT filing, Self-Assessment, comprehensive reporting including custom reports and cash flow forecasting, multi-currency support, a fixed asset register, and a 750+ app marketplace with open API access. Its AI layer—Intuit Assist—goes beyond basic categorisation to deliver tax insights and optimisation suggestions, making it one of the more sophisticated AI implementations in the UK accounting software market.
QuickBooks offers several pricing tiers: the Sole Trader plan (£10/month) covers basic MTD ITSA and invoicing; Simple Start (£16/month) adds VAT and reporting; Essentials (£38/month) adds bills management and multi-currency; Plus (£56/month) adds project tracking; and Advanced (£123/month) adds dedicated support, batch invoicing, and custom user permissions. There is no free plan — only a 30-day free trial. For landlords who need primarily MTD compliance and property management tools, the entry-level plan omits many accounting features, but the platform as a whole does not include any property-specific functionality at any tier.
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 across all three income types
- Sole Trader plan at £10+VAT/month is a competitive entry point
- Strong full-feature accounting: VAT, payroll, mileage, multi-currency
- 7-day phone and live chat support included on paid plans
- Mobile receipt capture on all plans
- ProAdvisor accountant network for collaboration
- 4.4 stars on Trustpilot from 16,000+ UK reviews
- 30-day free trial on all plans
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 built for landlords — manual property configuration required
- No native property management, tenant management, or HMO support
- Cannot track income at unit level for HMOs
- No landlord-specific SA105 pre-mapping
- Complex setup — tenants as "Customers," properties as "Classes"
- Price increases have been a recurring complaint from users
- Mixed-income landlords need a Hammock integration (second subscription)
- No free plan
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.
QuickBooks's MTD Compliance
QuickBooks is HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA across all three income types and includes quarterly filing and the Final Declaration on all plans. The Sole Trader plan (£10+VAT/month) supports MTD for Income Tax, making it among the lowest-cost paid options from a major provider. For property income, landlords need to correctly configure Classes or Locations to separate income by property and map expenses to SA105 categories — setup that typically requires accountant involvement. In March 2026, Intuit QuickBooks and Hammock launched a formal integration designed to address the complexity facing landlords with both rental and self-employment income, allowing property income to be managed in Hammock and sole trader income in QuickBooks. This integration provides a more complete solution for mixed-income landlords but requires two separate subscriptions.
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | |
| Final Declaration | Yes | |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes | Yes |
| UK Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
| HMRC Recognised | Yes | |
| Quarterly Updates & Final Declaration | Yes | |
| SA105 Property Box Pre-Mapping | No | |
| Multiple Income Streams — Single Account | Yes | |
| Mixed Income — No Second Platform Needed | No |
RentalBux wins on readiness and simplicity. RentalBux is configured for property and sole trader income from day one, while QuickBooks requires manual setup and — for landlords with both income streams — a second paid platform (Hammock) for the cleanest experience.
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.
QuickBooks: No Native Property Management
QuickBooks has no tenant management, no rent tracking, no HMO unit-level tracking, no compliance document alerts, and no joint ownership automation. To track property income in QuickBooks, landlords must use the Classes or Locations feature — a business accounting workaround in which each property is assigned as a class or location tag. Tenants are entered as "Customers" and owners as "Vendors." This setup allows basic per-property P&L reporting but cannot track at unit level for HMOs, generates no tenancy records, and produces no compliance reminders. QuickBooks' own community forum reflects the confusion this setup causes, with users regularly requiring complex multi-file or multi-account configurations to manage property portfolios correctly. Independent analysis notes that 72% of investors find ROI tracking challenging with QuickBooks, and 57% struggle to track profitability accurately.
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | |
| Tenant Management | Yes | |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | |
| HMO Property Support | Yes (auto-creates units) | |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | Yes (auto-split by %) | |
| Maintenance Tracking | No | |
| Tenant Screening | No | |
| Compliance Document Alerts | Yes | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No | |
| Property Portfolio Management | No | |
| Tenant Management | No | |
| Rent Tracking | No (manual) | |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | No | |
| Joint Ownership Auto-Split | No | |
| SA105 Category Pre-Mapping | No | |
| Third-Party Property App Needed | Yes |
RentalBux wins comprehensively. QuickBooks has no property management capability natively. Every landlord-specific need requires either a manual workaround or a paid integration. For sole traders with no rental income, this section is less relevant — both platforms handle sole trader bookkeeping well.
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.
QuickBooks: Comprehensive General Accounting
QuickBooks provides a full general ledger, customisable chart of accounts (importable from Excel), journal entries, automated bank feeds, bank reconciliation, and receipt capture via its mobile app on all plans. VAT returns are supported on Simple Start and above. Multi-currency is available on Essentials and above. Payroll is an optional add-on. Cash flow forecasting, advanced budgeting, and inventory tracking are available on higher plans. For property income, the chart of accounts and categories require manual
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | |
| 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 | |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | Yes |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | |
| Xero Integration | No | |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | |
| Chart of Accounts | No (only generic) | |
| VAT Returns | Yes | |
| Payroll | Yes | |
| Mileage Tracking | Yes | |
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes |
QuickBooks' feature set — VAT, payroll, mileage, multi-currency — exceeds RentalBux for general business use. For landlords and sole traders managing property income, RentalBux's pre-configured structure means accurate records from day one without accountancy knowledge.
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.
QuickBooks: Strong Invoicing with Business-Oriented Automation
QuickBooks provides unlimited invoicing on all plans, automated payment reminders, online payment collection, and mobile receipt capture on all plans. Mileage tracking is available on the iOS and Android apps — a useful feature for landlords visiting properties. Bank transaction rules automate categorisation of recurring expenses. However, QuickBooks' categorisation rules are generic and are not pre-configured with landlord-specific expense categories or SA105 mapping. Employee expense claims are available on Essentials and above.
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes | |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes | |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes | |
| Mileage Tracking | No | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | |
| Landlord-Specific Expense Categories | No | |
| Employee Expense Claims | Yes |
QuickBooks wins for business expense breadth; Both platforms offer strong invoicing and receipt capture. QuickBooks adds mileage tracking and employee expenses for business users.
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.
QuickBooks: Comprehensive Business Reporting Suite
QuickBooks delivers one of the most extensive reporting suites in cloud accounting: P&L, balance sheet, trial balance, cash flow reports, budget management, and advanced analytics on higher plans. VAT reporting is available on Simple Start and above. Tax liability estimates — giving users a running view of what they owe — are included across plans, a practical feature that helps sole traders and landlords avoid year-end surprises. For landlords, property-level reports require correct Classes or Locations setup to be accurate.
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | |
| Trial Balance | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | |
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes | |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | |
| Cash Flow Forecasting | Yes | |
| Budget Management | Yes | |
| VAT Reporting | Yes | |
| Landlord-Level Property Reports | Only with manual Classes/Locations setup |
QuickBooks wins for reporting breadth. QuickBooks' reporting suite exceeds RentalBux — particularly its tax estimate feature and cash flow forecasting, which are absent from RentalBux. For landlords, property-level reports in QuickBooks are only accurate after correct configuration — which is not needed in RentalBux.
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.
QuickBooks's Collaboration & Integrations
QuickBooks covers the same core accountant collaboration features — portal, multi-user access, and agent filing — and extends further with API access and 750+ third-party app integrations. The app marketplace covers a wide range of business tools: payment processors, CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, inventory management, project management, and sector-specific tools for landlords and tradespeople. The open API allows custom integrations for businesses with bespoke software needs or accountants who want to build workflow tools on top of QuickBooks' data.
| Feature | RentalBux | Quickbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | |
| Bank Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | iOS, Android | |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Accountant / Advisor Portal | Yes | |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | |
| Phone Support | Yes |
Tie due to different strengths. QuickBooks offers 7-day phone support and a mature ProAdvisor network, making it well-suited for those who work closely with accountants already in its ecosystem. RentalBux's agent filing workflow is more directly suited to letting agents and property-specialist accountants managing multiple landlord clients under MTD.
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.
Features Only QuickBooks Offers
7-Day Phone and Live Chat Support
QuickBooks offers phone support Monday to Friday, 8am–7pm, and live message support 7 days a week — available to all paid subscribers. This human support availability is a genuine practical advantage over platforms with chat-only or no phone support.
Tax Liability Estimate
QuickBooks provides a running estimate of tax owed, helping sole traders and landlords plan for their year-end bill.
VAT Returns
VAT support is included from the Simple Start plan (£16+VAT/month) — essential for landlords with commercial properties or VAT-registered businesses.
Payroll
Payroll is available as an add-on on all plans — useful for landlords or sole traders who employ staff. QuickBooks Core Payroll and Advanced Payroll are available separately.
Mileage Tracking
Mileage is tracked automatically via the iOS and Android apps — a useful allowable expense for landlords who visit properties.
Multi-Currency
Available from the Essentials plan (£33+VAT/month), multi-currency supports overseas income in non-GBP currencies.
ProAdvisor Accountant Network
QuickBooks' ProAdvisor programme certifies accountants and bookkeepers in QuickBooks. If your accountant is a ProAdvisor, collaboration and year-end reporting are streamlined directly within the 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 QuickBooks?
QuickBooks is one of the most widely recognised accounting platforms in the UK, with a large ecosystem of accountants, bookkeepers, and third-party integrations built around it. It is a mature, full-featured platform covering invoicing, VAT, payroll, MTD compliance, and bank feeds — but it comes at a premium price and has no landlord-specific or property management functionality. For small businesses and sole traders who need a well-supported, deeply integrated accounting platform with strong accountant familiarity, it remains a serious contender. If any of the following profiles describe your situation, QuickBooks is worth considering.
Sole traders without rental income who want a low-cost, full-featured MTD solution
The Sole Trader plan at £10+VAT/month is among the most affordable paid options from a major provider, and is well-suited to straightforward self-employment income.
Landlords running VAT-registered businesses
QuickBooks supports both MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax from one subscription.
Landlords and sole traders who want 7-day phone support
QuickBooks' phone and live chat support seven days a week is a genuine differentiator for those who value human assistance.
Landlords whose accountant is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor
If your accountant works primarily in QuickBooks, the collaboration model is seamless and may come with discounted access.
Landlords who need payroll
For those employing a property manager or other staff alongside their property business.
Landlords who want a tax liability estimate
QuickBooks' running tax estimate helps sole traders and landlords plan for their tax bill throughout the year.