Alternatives guide
Invoicing
QuickBooks alternatives for small business: cheaper and free options
QuickBooks alternatives for small business compared: Xero, Zoho Books, Wave and Sage prices, free plans, payroll by country and how to move your data.
Tool profile · Invoicing
Sage Accounting
Sage Accounting is cloud accounting software for small businesses with Start, Standard and Plus plans; UK plans include payroll for a set number of employees.
Who it suits
A good fit for
- UK small businesses that want payroll for 1 to 5 employees included in the plan
- UK businesses that need VAT, Making Tax Digital and CIS features (listed on UK plans)
- Canadian teams that want unlimited users from the Standard plan
Consider something else if
- US businesses looking for Sage Accounting (the US pricing page we checked showed Sage 50 and Sage Intacct instead)
- Buyers comparing one global price (plans and inclusions differ between the UK and Canada)
Key features
- Payroll in UK plans
- UK Start and Standard include payroll for 1 employee, Plus for 5, then £1.85 per extra employee a month.
- UK tax features
- The UK page lists VAT compliance and Making Tax Digital readiness on Start, and CIS filing on Standard.
- Inventory and multi-currency
- Listed on the UK Plus plan.
Sage Accounting pricing
UK: Start £20, Standard £43, Plus £59 a month ex VAT (regular). Canada prices are in regional notes.
| Plan | Price | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Start (UK) | £20 / month ex VAT regular price | 1 user; payroll for 1 employee; 30 receipt captures |
| Standard (UK) | £43 / month ex VAT regular price | 3 users; payroll for 1 employee; CIS filing |
| Plus (UK) | £59 / month ex VAT regular price | Unlimited users; payroll for 5 employees; inventory; multi-currency |
- UK: 1 month free as an alternative to the promotional price. Canada: 30-day free trial.
- UK prices in GBP excluding 20% VAT. At the time of checking the UK page offered 90% off for 6 months (for example £2 a month on Start); regular prices are listed here. Extra payroll employees £1.85 a month each.
- Canada (CAD, regular monthly): Accounting Start $23 (1 user), Standard $50 (unlimited users), Plus $72 (unlimited users); 75% off for 6 months at the time of checking; payroll described as an extension, price not listed. United States: the en-us pricing page showed Sage 50 and Sage Intacct, not Sage Accounting, and listed no prices.
Evidence and scope
This profile summarizes Sage’s UK, Canadian and US pricing pages, checked on 6 October 2026. We have not tested Sage Accounting hands-on.
Before you decide
If you are in the UK and employ a few people, compare the plan price with payroll included against an accounting plan plus a separate payroll product. In Canada, ask Sage for the payroll price before you compare totals.
Our coverage of Sage Accounting
Sources
- Sage Accounting pricing (United Kingdom) (opens in a new tab), Sage (accessed )
- Sage Accounting pricing (Canada) (opens in a new tab), Sage (accessed )
- Sage accounting pricing (United States) (opens in a new tab), Sage (accessed )