The best apps for the self employed in the UK combine income and expense tracking, mileage and Self Assessment. QuickBooks Sole Trader (around £10 a month), FreeAgent (free via NatWest, RBS and Mettle) and Coconut lead, with Zoho Books and Xero for those who want fuller accounting. From April 2026 Making Tax Digital for Income Tax reaches higher earning sole traders.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 1 SEPTEMBER 2026
- QuickBooks Sole Trader (around £10/mo) and FreeAgent (free via NatWest) lead for the self employed.
- Good apps track income and expenses, mileage and estimate your Self Assessment tax.
- From April 2026 Making Tax Digital for Income Tax reaches sole traders earning over £50,000.
UK apps for the self employed
| App | Price | Free tier | Best for |
| QuickBooks Sole Trader | from ~£10/mo | No | Self Assessment estimates and mileage |
| FreeAgent | Free via NatWest, RBS, Mettle | Free (qualifying banks) | Contractors and landlords |
| Coconut | from a low monthly fee | No | Simple income, expenses and tax set aside |
| Zoho Books | from around £10/mo | Free under £35k turnover | Fuller accounting at low cost |
| Xero | from £16/mo | No | Growing sole traders wanting an accountant network |
| Sage Accounting | free Sole Trader tier | Free (non VAT) | Simple MTD ready sole trader accounts |
Source: Provider published pricing, mid-2026
KEY FACTS
- QuickBooks Sole Trader costs around £10 a month and estimates Self Assessment tax.
- FreeAgent is free for NatWest, RBS, Ulster and Mettle account holders.
- Good apps track income and expenses, mileage and estimate the tax to set aside.
- Zoho Books is free under £35,000 turnover; Sage offers a free Sole Trader tier.
- From April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax reaches sole traders earning over £50,000.
What a self-employed app should do
| Feature | Why it matters | Apps that do it well |
| Income and expense tracking | The core of Self Assessment | All of the above |
| Mileage tracking | Claim business travel accurately | QuickBooks, FreeAgent |
| Tax estimate and set aside | Avoid a January surprise | QuickBooks, Coconut |
| Making Tax Digital ready | Required from April 2026 over £50k | QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Zoho, Sage |
Source: Provider information and GOV.UK, 2026
What the best self-employed apps do
For a sole trader or freelancer, the job of an app is to make Self Assessment painless: record income and expenses as they happen, track business mileage, and estimate the tax to set aside so January holds no surprise. QuickBooks Sole Trader, at around £10 a month, is built around exactly this, with automatic mileage tracking and a live tax estimate. FreeAgent does the same and is free for NatWest, RBS, Ulster and Mettle account holders. Coconut focuses on simple income, expenses and tax set aside for the smallest businesses.
Free and low cost options
Cost need not be a barrier. FreeAgent is free for life if you bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle, which makes it the default for many contractors. Zoho Books is free for businesses under £35,000 turnover and steps up to fuller accounting as you grow. Sage offers a free Sole Trader tier for non VAT registered traders that is approved for Making Tax Digital quarterly submissions. Between these, most sole traders can run compliant accounts for little or nothing.
When to step up to full accounting
A pure self employed app is enough while you are a sole trader with simple affairs. Once you take on staff, register for VAT, or want an accountant to work in the same system, a fuller package such as Xero, from £16 a month, or QuickBooks Online makes sense. Xero in particular has the largest UK accountant partner network, so if you plan to hand your books to an accountant, starting there avoids a later migration.
Making Tax Digital for the self-employed
The big change is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, which from April 2026 requires sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 to keep digital records and file quarterly summaries using recognised software. QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Zoho Books and Sage are all working to support it. If your income is near or above the threshold, choose a recognised app now and confirm its Making Tax Digital for Income Tax readiness rather than waiting until the deadline.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures were correct at the last review date shown above; verify current rates and rules with the primary sources listed below before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for a self-employed person in the UK
QuickBooks Sole Trader (around £10 a month) and FreeAgent (free via NatWest, RBS and Mettle) lead, with Coconut for simple tracking and Zoho Books or Xero for fuller accounting.
Is there a free app for the self-employed
FreeAgent is free for NatWest, RBS, Ulster and Mettle account holders, Zoho Books is free under £35,000 turnover, and Sage offers a free Sole Trader tier for non VAT traders.
Do these apps help with Self Assessment
Yes. Good apps track income and expenses through the year, record mileage and estimate the tax to set aside, which makes the Self Assessment return far quicker to file.
What is changing for the self-employed in April 2026
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax begins, requiring sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 to keep digital records and file quarterly summaries using recognised software.
When should I move from an app to full accounting software
When you register for VAT, take on staff, or want an accountant in the same system. A fuller package such as Xero or QuickBooks Online then makes sense.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: set up as a sole trader – accessed 1 September 2026
- GOV.UK: MTD-compatible software – accessed 1 September 2026
