Updated on 7 September 2026
Pandle review (2026): free bookkeeping for UK sole traders
Prices and features last verified on 20 September 2026. Sources: Pandle website, HMRC MTD software list.
Pandle (Eazy Software) is HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax. Free for basic bookkeeping, £5/month for Pro with MTD ITSA. Best for very simple sole traders, hobby businesses, or anyone on a zero budget. Rated 3.8/5 for affordability and straightforward bank reconciliation.Launched in 2013 by British developer Eazy Software, Pandle was built for UK small businesses from day one. Its pitch is simple — a genuinely free tier for basic bookkeeping plus a cheap Pro upgrade (£5/month) that unlocks Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA). For sole traders and hobby businesses on a tight budget, that price point is hard to argue with.
Who is Pandle best for?
Very simple sole traders, hobby businesses, anyone on absolute zero budget
Pandle suits very simple sole traders and landlords with a small volume of transactions per month — under ~50 — who want clean, low-friction bookkeeping without paying for features they will not use. Hobby businesses, side hustles, and people just starting out fall firmly in the sweet spot.
Pricing
Free basic tier, or £5/month for Pro (MTD ITSA). The free tier covers bookkeeping, bank feeds, basic invoicing, and MTD VAT submissions (if you are VAT-registered). MTD Income Tax (ITSA) — the quarterly updates for sole traders and landlords — sits behind the £5/month Pro tier. Verify the current price before signing up.
MTD Income Tax status
HMRC-recognised (MTD VAT on free tier; MTD ITSA on Pro). Confirm on the official gov.uk MTD software list before signing up.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Genuinely free tier for basic bookkeeping — no card required
- UK-built by Eazy Software — clean, simple, UK-focused interface
- Cheapest path to MTD compliance: MTD VAT on the free tier, MTD ITSA on the £5/month Pro tier
Cons
- Self Assessment not included on the free tier — paid Pro add-on required
- Reporting is basic — no advanced dashboards like Xero or Sage
- Smaller third-party ecosystem than the big names
Verdict
Pandle is the cheapest path to MTD Income Tax compliance in this comparison (£5/month on Pro), and the free tier is genuinely free — no card details, no time-limited trial. If you are a very simple sole trader who only needs to meet HMRC’s MTD requirements, Pandle is worth a serious look. If you expect to grow into a limited company, take on staff, or want a richer app ecosystem, FreeAgent or Xero remain stronger defaults.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pandle HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax?
Yes. Pandle is HMRC-recognised for MTD Income Tax on its Pro plan (£5/month) and can submit quarterly updates and your End of Period Statement directly to HMRC.
Does Pandle offer a free trial?
It doesn’t need one — there’s a genuinely free tier for basic bookkeeping (no card required). MTD Income Tax is on the £5/month Pro plan.
Can I use Pandle on my phone?
Yes. Pandle has a mobile app, though it’s more basic than mobile-first competitors like Coconut — most bookkeeping still happens in the browser.
What happens if I want to switch later?
You can export your data and switch to another HMRC-recognised provider at any time. Your submission history with HMRC stays intact.