Pulse vs QuickBooks for sole traders

QuickBooks is one of the best known names in accounting software, and its Sole Trader Plus plan is for sole traders who aren’t VAT registered. Pulse is built for sole traders too. Here’s an honest side by side, so you can pick the one that fits how you work.

  • Every price includes VAT, because most sole traders can’t claim it back
  • We link to QuickBooks’ own pages, so you can check anything for yourself
  • Where QuickBooks is the better choice, we say so
See the comparison View small business pricing
pulse dashboard laptop

Pulse and QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus at a glance

We’ve compared Small Business + MTD, our closest match, with QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus, QuickBooks’ plan for sole traders who aren’t VAT registered. Both are built around Making Tax Digital quarterly updates.

What you get Pulse Small Business + MTD QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus
Price a month, including VAT £10.99The same price every month £12Shown as £10 plus VAT. 90% off for the first 6 months, so £1.20 a month to start
Invoices UnlimitedPlus quotes that turn into invoices in one click, and recurring invoices YesPlus estimates. Recurring invoices are listed from the Essentials plan
Customers paying online YesA Pay online button using your own Stripe, SumUp or PayPal.Me link YesCards and bank transfers through QuickBooks Payments
Mileage YesLog journeys in the app by postcode or location YesTracked in the iOS and Android apps only
Receipt scanning Yes25 scans a month, unlimited on Small Business Complete YesListed as receipt capture
Making Tax Digital quarterly updates YesSent straight to HMRC, or let Auto MTD send them for you YesListed as “MTD for Income Tax ready”
Your tax return On + Tax Return and CompleteSmall Business Complete is £16.99 a month with MTD and your tax return together Listed as “Prepare for Self-Assessment”Check with QuickBooks that you can send your return from this plan
VAT returns Our VAT ServiceFor VAT registered members Not includedVAT returns to HMRC start on Simple Start, £19.20 a month after the offer
Support EmailA reply within 48 hours, or 24 hours on Complete YesListed as free, 7 days a week

QuickBooks’ prices and features are taken from QuickBooks’ pricing page and sole trader page on 27 October 2026. Prices and plans can change, so please check them before you choose.

When Pulse is the better fit

  • You’d rather not see the price jump. Small Business + MTD is £10.99 a month from day one. QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus is £1.20 a month for six months, then £12 a month.
  • You bill the same clients every month. A cleaner with regular houses or a tutor with weekly lessons can set up recurring invoices on any Pulse package. QuickBooks lists recurring invoices from its Essentials plan, which is £45.60 a month after the offer.
  • You’d like your updates sent for you. Turn on Auto MTD and Pulse sends your quarterly updates to HMRC, so a busy week doesn’t mean a missed deadline.
  • You already take payments with Stripe, SumUp or PayPal. Add your own link and every Pulse invoice gets a Pay online button, with part payments tracked for you.

When QuickBooks may suit you better

  • You want the lowest cost for your first six months. With 90% off for new customers, Sole Trader Plus is £1.20 a month for six months.
  • You want your bookkeeping done against your bank. QuickBooks lists automated bank feeds and automated bookkeeping on Sole Trader Plus.
  • You expect to register for VAT or take on staff. Simple Start adds VAT returns to HMRC, and payroll is a paid add-on, so you can move up without changing software.

If you’re not sure which suits you, ask us. We’ll tell you honestly, even if the answer is QuickBooks.

The Pulse mobile app on three phones, showing the dashboard, income and expenses

Access your accounts on your mobile

Designed for iPhone and Android phones, so you can add a payment, log a journey or scan a receipt between jobs, and check your reports and tax as you go.

See the mobile app

Switching to Pulse partway through the financial year

You don’t have to wait for April. When you join, you can add the earlier months of the tax year, so the whole year sits in Pulse ready for your updates and tax return.

If you’re already in Making Tax Digital, each quarterly update is a running total from 6 April. So once your records are in Pulse, your next update covers the year so far, whichever software sent the earlier ones.

Not sure where you stand? Our guide on when Making Tax Digital starts for you explains the dates.

Switching in three steps

Any time of year

  1. Join PulsePick a small business package. No contract, cancel any time.
  2. Add the earlier monthsIncome, expenses and mileage from 6 April, so the whole year is in one place.
  3. Send your next updateIt covers the year so far, whichever software sent the earlier ones.

Bookkeeping and Making Tax Digital in one package

There are no invoice limits, and you can start partway through the year and add the months you've missed.

MalgraBooks is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital. HMRC reference D5P1NR.

Small Business + MTD

£10.99 a month, including VAT
  • Bookkeeping, invoicing and mileage in Pulse
  • 25 receipt scans a month
  • Making Tax Digital quarterly updates
Compare small business packages

Questions about Pulse and QuickBooks

Why do you show QuickBooks’ price with VAT added?
QuickBooks shows its prices without VAT. If you’re a sole trader who isn’t VAT registered, you can’t claim that VAT back, so £10 plus VAT costs you £12 a month, and the £1 offer price costs you £1.20. Our prices already include VAT, so we’ve put both on the same footing.
Is Pulse recognised by HMRC?
Yes. Pulse is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, and our HMRC reference is D5P1NR. More about our HMRC recognition
Am I tied into a contract?
No. Small business packages are paid monthly and you can cancel at any time.
Does Pulse work for my trade?
Pulse works for most sole traders, from cleaners and hairdressers to plumbers and online sellers. Find your trade to see what you can claim and how Pulse helps.
How up to date is this comparison?
We checked QuickBooks’ website on 27 October 2026 and link to the pages we used. We review our comparisons regularly, but if you spot something that’s changed, let us know and we’ll put it right.

Got a question that isn't here? Send us a message and the team will get back to you.

This comparison was correct on 27 October 2026, based on the information on QuickBooks’ website that day. QuickBooks is a trade mark of Intuit Inc. MalgraBooks isn’t connected with QuickBooks.

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