Best MTD software for landlords (2026): 12 options compared by price

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Short answer: if you own one to three properties and want the lowest bill, Landlord Studio's free MTD Go plan (£5 per submission) or Hammock Basic (£8 + VAT a month) are the cheapest dedicated landlord apps. If you also have self-employed income, Xero Simple or Sage Sole Trader cover both for around £7 a month before VAT. If you'd rather not touch software at all, ANNA's free bridge lets you keep your spreadsheet for the quarterly updates.

Prices were checked on the vendors' own pricing pages on 4 October 2026. Introductory discounts are noted but we compare the regular price, because you'll be paying it for years.

Who needs this

From 6 April 2027, landlords whose combined gross property and self-employment income was over £30,000 in the 2025–26 tax year must keep digital records and send HMRC quarterly updates using recognised software. The threshold drops to £20,000 from April 2028. (If you were over £50,000, you started in April 2026.) Our April 2027 guide explains the rules in full.

The 12 options at a glance

*QuickBooks shows prices by script and runs heavy launch discounts. Check the live price on their site before deciding.

Quick picks

One property, simple finances: Landlord Studio MTD Go. You pay nothing until you submit. Four quarterly updates at £5 is £20 a year (plus whatever it charges for the year-end return – check before you commit). The catch: no bank feeds on the free plan, so you type in rent and expenses yourself.

Two or three properties, want it to run itself: Hammock Basic. £8 + VAT a month buys unlimited bank feeds and automatic matching of rent to properties, and every plan includes both quarterly updates and the final declaration. Pay yearly and it's £76.80 + VAT (about £92).

Rental income plus freelance or trade income: Xero Simple or Sage Sole Trader. Both handle self-employment and property in one place for about £7 a month before VAT. Sage also has a free tier for very simple records.

Love your spreadsheet: ANNA's free bridge. Bridging software takes the totals from your spreadsheet and sends them to HMRC. ANNA's bridge covers the quarterly updates only; you'll need to file the year-end return another way. More on that trade-off in bridging vs full software.

You bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle: FreeAgent. It's included free with eligible business accounts, which beats every price on this page.

What to check before you pay

1. Does the plan do the final declaration as well as quarterly updates? Some cheap or free plans only do the quarterly part. Look for "final declaration" or "end of year" on the plan.
2. Is it on HMRC's list? Use HMRC's find software tool to confirm the product supports MTD for Income Tax (not just VAT).
3. Joint ownership. If you own a property with a partner, each of you reports your own share. Make sure the app can split income by owner.
4. Bank feeds. If rent lands in a personal account, check the app can connect to it. Feeds save the most time.
5. Price after the promo. Several apps (Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Sage) discount the first months heavily. Budget for the regular price.

Do landlords have to use paid software?

No. HMRC says free products exist for people with simple tax affairs, "but there may be limits on how the product can be used" (GOV.UK). On this list, Landlord Studio MTD Go, Sage's free tier, ANNA's free plan and Tide's free account all cost nothing to start. The limits are usually bank feeds, number of properties, or the year-end return.

What happens if I miss a quarterly update?

Each missed deadline earns one penalty point. At four points you get a £200 fine, and another £200 for each miss after that. HMRC isn't charging penalties for missed quarterly updates in the 2026–27 tax year (GOV.UK); it hasn't said whether the April 2027 group gets the same grace period, so plan as if you won't.

How we chose

We listed every product a UK landlord is likely to come across that is recognised for MTD for Income Tax, then took the cheapest plan that supports MTD submissions from each vendor's own pricing page. We don't accept payment for placement. Where a vendor doesn't say whether VAT is included, we show the price exactly as they state it.

Sources: vendor pricing pages (checked 4 October 2026); GOV.UK: check if you're eligible; GOV.UK: penalties; GOV.UK: find compatible software.

More MTD guides

• Cheapest HMRC-recognised MTD software for sole traders (2026)The lowest-cost ways for a UK sole trader to meet Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, from free business accounts to £5-a-month bookkeeping, with the catches spelled out.
• MTD bridging software vs full bookkeeping software: which do you need?Can you keep your spreadsheet under Making Tax Digital? How bridging software works, what it costs, and when full bookkeeping software is the better buy.
• MTD for Income Tax at £30,000: what changes in April 2027 and what to do nowIf your self-employed and rental income is over £30,000, Making Tax Digital applies to you from 6 April 2027. Here's who's affected, the deadlines, penalties and a six-step plan.
• Do you need a separate bank account for Making Tax Digital?MTD for Income Tax doesn't legally require a business bank account for sole traders or landlords. Here's why most people open one anyway, and the free options with MTD built in.