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Sage provides cloud-based business accounting software for sole traders, freelancers, start ups, growing small businesses and established organisations.
The price of your Sage accounting plan will be based on the number and complexity of features you want to access. There are three Sage plans on offer: Start, Standard and Plus. Every plan is Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliant and comes with 24/7 customer support.
The Standard and Plus plans allow for unlimited users and cash-flow forecasts, while Plus also includes multi-currency banking. If you want to run payroll through your Sage account, it starts at £10 (pre-VAT) per month for one to five employees.
» MORE: Best accounting software for small businesses
Key features
Key features
- Making Tax Digital-compliantAll Sage accounts are MTD-compliant, and allow you to submit VAT returns directly to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
- PayrollYou can run payroll through your Sage account, starting at £10 a month for one to five employees.
- 24/7 customer supportWith your Sage accounting software plan, you can access 24/7 customer support online.
- Cloud-basedAlongside its mobile app, Sage Business Cloud accounting software is designed for browser use on desktop. You can use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge.
Sage accounting software pros & cons
Pros
- Every Sage account is Making Tax Digital-compliant.
- You can submit MTD-compliant VAT returns directly to HMRC.
- Sage offers 24/7 online customer support as part of all its accounting software plans.
- The Standard and Plus Sage plans allow for unlimited users.
Cons
- Sage provides limited free customer service, with telephone assistance potentially requiring an extra subscription to Sage Cover.
- Cash-flow forecasting is only available for Standard and Plus plan members.
- Multi-currency accounting is only available for Plus plan members.
- The Sage accounting app on Google Play has below average reviews.
The pros and cons featured here are chosen by us based on our expert, research-based opinions. They are unlikely to be the only product features and restrictions that you should consider. Pros and cons are subjective and you should align them to your own personal and business circumstances. Information was correct at the time of publication but may have changed since.
Sage accounting software full review
Founded in 1981, and based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Sage accounting software is just one offering from Sage Group PLC, one of the largest technology companies in the UK by market cap.
Alongside accounting and payroll software, Sage also offers separate apps for HR systems, solutions for accountants and bookkeepers, and business management software for larger organisations.
All Sage accounting plans are compliant with Making Tax Digital. It is now required by the UK government that you use MTD-compatible software when submitting returns as a VAT-registered business. Further MTD rules will be introduced around income tax returns in April 2026 and 2027.
Sage currently offers three different plans (pre-VAT and any discounts):
- Start: This plan, which costs £15 a month, allows you to create and send invoices; track how much money you are owed; automatically reconcile your transactions so they match your bank statements; and calculate and submit your VAT returns.
- Standard: This plan costs £30 a month. Alongside everything included with the Start plan, it allows you to manage and submit Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) payments; run advanced reports; send quotes and estimates to clients; forecast cash flow; manage purchase invoices; and automatically capture receipts.
- Plus: This plan costs £39 a month and includes everything from the Standard plan, alongside multi-currency banking and invoicing, and inventory management.
You can also add-on Sage’s payroll service to any of its plans. Payroll starts at £10 a month for one to five employees, but expect to pay more for more employees or to access more advanced payroll features.
Sage accounting software features: at a glance
| Monthly fee (pre-discounts, pre-VAT) | £15 (Start) £30 (Standard) £39 (Plus) |
| Free trial | One month |
| Making Tax Digital compliant | Yes |
| Submit VAT to HMRC | Yes |
| Payroll costs per month (for five employees, pre-discounts, pre-VAT) | £10 |
| Multi-user access | Yes (unlimited for Standard and Plus plans) |
| Multi-currency accounting | Yes (Plus plan) |
| Customer service | Live chat Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, and Saturday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm. 0191 479 5955 (8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) |
Where Sage stands out
Free trial and introductory offers: Sage normally offers a one-month free trial when you first sign up for a new account with the platform. At the time of writing, Sage is offering accounting software users their first three months free of charge. This is a limited-time offer, however, and may be replaced by another offer or discount when it expires.
Making Tax Digital-compliant VAT returns: All Sage accounting plans are MTD-compliant and allow you to submit VAT returns directly to HMRC.
Unlimited users for Standard and Plus: If you pay for the Standard or Plus plans, you can have unlimited users linked to your account. However, the Start plan, designed for sole traders and freelancers, is single user only.
24/7 customer service: With your Sage accounting software, you can access 24/7 customer service online.
Where Sage falls short
Monthly fee: At £15 a month (pre-VAT), Sage’s Start plan is more expensive than comparable options at many other accounting software providers.
Cash-flow forecasting: You are only able to forecast your cash flow with the Standard and Plus plans.
Multi-currency accounting: You can only access accounting in multiple currencies if you pay for the most expensive Plus plan.
Android app: While the reviews for Sage’s iOS app are very positive on the App Store, it has a below average score on Google Play. It is important to note, however, there are fewer reviews on Google Play than the App Store.
Sage Accounting customer reviews
Sage’s customers have left reviews on a range of sites. These reviews range from mixed to very positive.
- App Store: 4.5 out of 5, based on over 1,600 reviews
- Google Play: 3 out of 5, based on over 320 reviews
- Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5, based on over 18,300 reviews
This information is correct as of 10 October 2024.
Review methodology
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