QuickBooks Alternatives for MTD for Income Tax (2026)
Looking for a QuickBooks alternative for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax? Here's why people switch, the types of alternatives — from bridging tools to purpose-built MTD apps — and how to choose the right one.
The short answer
QuickBooks is a full cloud accounting suite that also handles MTD. People look for alternatives when they want something simpler or cheaper, prefer a desktop or privacy-first app, or only need MTD for Income Tax rather than full accounting. Alternatives range from bridging tools that keep your spreadsheet to purpose-built MTD apps like ThisQuarter — choose based on how much accounting you actually need.
QuickBooks is a capable, full-featured accounting platform — but it's not the only way to meet Making Tax Digital, and for many sole traders and landlords it's more than they need. Here's how to think about alternatives.
Why people look for an alternative
QuickBooks does a lot: bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll add-ons, reporting — and MTD. People seek alternatives when:
- they want something simpler — a full suite can be overkill for one sole trade or a couple of rental properties;
- they want to spend less on software they don't fully use;
- they prefer a desktop or privacy-first app over cloud;
- they mainly need MTD for Income Tax filing, not complete accounting.
None of this is a knock on QuickBooks — it's about fit.
The three types of alternative
| Type | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Bridging software | Keep your spreadsheet, just file to HMRC | You maintain the spreadsheet yourself |
| Other cloud suites (Xero, FreeAgent, Sage) | Want full accounting in the cloud | Similar breadth and cost to QuickBooks |
| Purpose-built MTD apps | Mainly need MTD compliance, simply | Fewer general accounting extras |
Questions to decide by
- How much accounting do you actually do? Invoicing, payroll and stock push you toward a full suite; simple income and expenses don't.
- Cloud or desktop? If you value your data staying on your own machine, a desktop app matters.
- How many income sources? Self-employment, property and CIS should all be handled — check any alternative covers yours.
- What's the real annual cost once you strip out features you won't use?
Where ThisQuarter fits
ThisQuarter is a purpose-built MTD for Income Tax app, not a full accounting suite — so it stays focused on digital records, quarterly updates, annual adjustments, the final declaration and CIS, for sole traders, landlords and accountants. It runs as a secure desktop app with your data encrypted on your own device, can import a spreadsheet, and the first two quarterly cycles are free on the Solo plan. If you want full cloud bookkeeping with payroll and inventory, a suite may suit you better; if you want MTD done simply and privately, that's exactly what it's for.
Key takeaways
- QuickBooks works for MTD — the question is whether you need everything it does.
- Alternatives fall into bridging, other cloud suites, and purpose-built MTD apps.
- Choose by how much accounting you actually need, cloud vs desktop, and real annual cost.
- For MTD-focused, private, desktop filing, a dedicated app like ThisQuarter is worth a look.
This article is general information, not tax advice, and mentions of other products are for comparison only. Check HMRC's compatible software list at gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Why look for a QuickBooks alternative?
Common reasons are cost, wanting something simpler than a full accounting suite, preferring a desktop or privacy-first app over cloud, or only needing MTD for Income Tax filing rather than complete bookkeeping, payroll and invoicing.
Does QuickBooks do MTD for Income Tax?
QuickBooks is a full accounting platform that supports Making Tax Digital. The question isn't whether it works, but whether you need everything it does — if you only need digital records and MTD filing, a lighter, cheaper tool may fit better.
What are the main types of alternatives?
Broadly three: bridging software that keeps your spreadsheet and files to HMRC; other full cloud suites (like Xero, FreeAgent or Sage); and purpose-built MTD for Income Tax apps that focus on quarterly updates and the final declaration without the full accounting overhead.
How do I choose the right alternative?
Match the tool to how much accounting you actually need. If you want full bookkeeping, invoicing and payroll, a suite makes sense. If you mainly need MTD compliance, a focused MTD app or bridging tool is usually simpler and cheaper.
Related reading
Best MTD Bridging Software in 2026: What to Look For
A guide to choosing MTD bridging software in 2026 — how bridging works, who it suits, the features that matter, pricing to expect, and how to keep your spreadsheet while still filing digitally to HMRC.
Best MTD Software for Landlords in 2026: What to Look For
How landlords should choose MTD software in 2026 — handling UK and foreign property, joint ownership, finance-cost relief, multiple properties, and filing quarterly updates and the final declaration to HMRC.
Best MTD Software for Accountants in 2026: What to Look For
How accountancy practices should choose MTD for Income Tax software in 2026 — multi-client workflow, Agent Services Account integration, client authorisations, bulk filing, pricing per client and data security.