MTD software for landlords and sole traders, compared
Every HMRC-recognised option that fits landlords and the self-employed, with the columns that actually decide it — including how each one handles jointly owned property. Not sure where to start? Use the two-minute picker.
Independent comparison. These “Visit” links earn us nothing — there are no affiliate relationships in place. How this site is funded.
| Tool | From | Free tier | Joint splits | Bank feeds | Quarterly | Final decl. | Agent access | Platform | Best for | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero Simple plan HMRC-recognised | £7 / month +VAT | — | Partial | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web + app | Landlords whose accountant already works in Xero — the most widely used platform in UK practices. | Visit |
| QuickBooks Sole Trader plan HMRC-recognised | £10 / month +VAT | — | Partial | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web + app | Phone-first bookkeeping with strong automation and AI categorisation. | Visit |
| FreeAgent Free via NatWest / Mettle HMRC-recognised | £0–£19.50 / month +VAT | Yes | Built-in | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web + app | Co-owning couples who bank with NatWest, RBS or Mettle — automatic ownership splitting from one free account. | Visit |
| Landlord Studio GO free / Pro HMRC-recognised | £0–£12 / month +VAT | Yes | Yes | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web + app | Self-managing landlords who want property-specific tools and strong iOS/Android apps. | Visit |
| RentalBux Free for 1 property HMRC-recognised | £0–£4.50 / month +VAT | Yes | Built-in | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web + app | Co-owning couples who want property and self-employment income handled together in one filing. | Visit |
| Hammock Basic plan, 1–3 properties HMRC-recognised | £8 / month +VAT | — | Built-in | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web + app | Landlords who want real-time, per-property tracking with an accountant portal — and co-owners who want each owner's share split and filed automatically. | Visit |
| ApariPro Whole tax return in one place HMRC-recognised | £12 / month | — | Check | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web | Landlords with messy, multi-source income who want the whole Self Assessment handled in one place — APARI was the first vendor ever to file an MTD Income Tax return to HMRC. | Visit |
| Bridging software 123 Sheets / VitalTax — keep your spreadsheet HMRC-recognised | ~£30–£36 / year | Yes | Manual | Bank feeds | Quarterly updates | Final declaration | Agent access | Web | Confident spreadsheet users who want the cheapest compliant route and don't want to learn new software. | Visit |
Prices are “from” figures and exclude VAT unless noted; free tiers and prices change often — always reconfirm on the provider’s site. Joint-split ratings: Built-in / Yes handle co-owners, Partial / Manual need more work. Last verified 16 July 2026.
What the joint-ownership ratings mean
- Built
- Designed around co-owners: records each owner's share automatically and lets each file their own MTD from one shared account
- Yes
- Supported: can produce separate submissions per owner
- Partial
- Possible but more manual — usually via tracking categories or a higher plan
- Manual
- You split the figures yourself (e.g. in a spreadsheet)
- Check
- Not confirmed from a reliable source — verify with the provider before relying on it
- No
- Not supported
How we keep this honest
- Every factual claim is checked against the provider’s own site or docs — feature claims are never assumed.
- Prices exclude VAT unless noted and change often; the “last verified” date is our forcing function.
- Some links are affiliate links — it never changes the ranking, and we include the free options that pay us nothing.
Last verified 16 July 2026.
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