Full Review
Sage has been a cornerstone of UK accounting software for decades. While cloud-native competitors have emerged with slick interfaces, Sage has evolved its offerings to include AI-powered features while maintaining the reliability and comprehensive functionality that British businesses depend on.
UK Accounting Heritage
Sage’s deep roots in the UK market translate to genuine advantages. MTD compliance isn’t an afterthought - it’s built into the core product. Integration with UK banks works reliably. Payroll handles RTI submissions automatically. The software speaks the language of British business.
The Sage Copilot AI Assistant
The introduction of Sage Copilot brings AI capabilities to a traditionally conservative platform. The assistant captures data from receipts and invoices with impressive accuracy, extracting totals, tax amounts, and dates automatically. It’s included in Standard and Plus plans, making AI-assisted bookkeeping accessible without premium pricing.
Pricing Structure
Sage’s three-tier structure is straightforward:
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Accounting Start (£18/month + VAT): Designed for VAT-registered sole traders or micro businesses. One user limit, unlimited invoices, basic bookkeeping features.
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Accounting Standard (£39/month + VAT): For small businesses with suppliers, CIS requirements, or accrual accounting needs. Three users, integrated payroll, Sage Copilot included.
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Accounting Plus (£59/month + VAT): For businesses needing inventory management or multi-currency support. Unlimited users, budget tracking, automatic exchange rates.
Integrated Payroll
Unlike competitors that require separate payroll subscriptions, Sage includes payroll functionality even on lower-tier plans. Automatic RTI submissions to HMRC eliminate manual reporting. For businesses with employees, this integration delivers genuine value.
Considerations
The Standard plan’s three-user limit may constrain growing teams. Some features that feel essential - like Sage Copilot on the Start plan - require additional payment. The interface, while functional, doesn’t match the polish of newer cloud-native alternatives.
Our Recommendation
Sage Accounting is the right choice for UK businesses that prioritise reliability, comprehensive features, and strong local support. The MTD compliance is rock-solid, the integrated payroll saves money, and Sage Copilot brings genuine AI utility. While it may not win design awards, it’s a dependable platform that understands British business requirements. The current 90% discount for new customers makes it an excellent time to try.