Disclosure: This page is written by TaskDrop. QuickBooks pricing and features are based on publicly available information from xero.com/uk as of May 2026. Prices exclude VAT. Verify current pricing at Xero before making a decision.
The Honest Summary First
TaskDrop doesn't replace QuickBooks. QuickBooks is a full accounting platform — bank reconciliation, P&L reports, payroll, corporation tax, multi-user access. If you need those things, QuickBooks (or Xero) is the right tool.
But most self-employed UK tradespeople use QuickBooks for one thing: sending invoices. If that's you, TaskDrop does the invoicing part better, faster, and for free — and you keep your accountant and your existing accounting setup alongside it.
Better for on-site invoicing
Free forever. Send invoices from WhatsApp before you've left the driveway. CIS and VAT automatic. Voice note input. Card payments at 1%. direct MTD ITSA submission to HMRC for your accountant. No learning curve.
Better for full accounting
£29/month + VAT (Starter), £50/month + VAT (Standard). Full P&L reporting, bank reconciliation, VAT submission to HMRC, payroll add-on, unlimited users. Starter plan capped at 20 invoices/month. Not WhatsApp native.
Xero Pricing for UK Sole Traders in 2026
Xero has no free tier. For a self-employed tradesperson, the relevant plans are:
| Plan | Monthly cost (+ VAT) | Invoice limit | VAT submission | CIS support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £29/month | 20/month cap | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Standard | £50/month | Unlimited | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| TaskDrop | £0 forever | Unlimited | ✓ direct MTD ITSA submission | ✓ Automatic |
| Photo invoicing | ✓ Snap job sheet, AI extracts details | ✗ Not available | ||
| Facebook & Instagram leads | ✓ Messenger, Instagram DMs, Lead Ads → WhatsApp | ✗ Not available | ||
| Pay by Bank (Open Banking) | ✓ 0.5% fee, money in minutes, no chargebacks | ✗ Not available |
Xero prices exclude VAT. TaskDrop doesn't submit VAT returns directly to HMRC — it produces direct MTD ITSA submission your accountant submits. If you need direct VAT submission, you'll need accounting software or an accountant.
Where TaskDrop Wins Over Xero
| Feature | TaskDrop | Xero Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | £0 — free forever | £16/month + VAT |
| Invoice from your phone | ✓ WhatsApp — 60 seconds on site | ✓ Mobile app — more steps |
| Voice note invoicing | ✓ Describe job by voice | ✗ Not available |
| CIS invoices | ✓ Automatic deduction calculation | ✓ Included on Simple Start+ |
| Auto payment reminders | ✓ 7, 14, 21 days — free | ✓ Included |
| Card payments | ✓ 0.5% bank / 1% card via TaskDrop Pay | ✓ Via Xero/GoCardless (% + monthly) |
| HMRC deadline reminders | ✓ WhatsApp alerts — free | ✗ Not available |
| Letter before action | ✓ Auto-generated — free | ✗ Not available |
| Learning curve | Tap a button in WhatsApp | Significant setup required |
| Bank reconciliation | ✗ Not included | ✓ Full bank feeds |
| P&L reports | ✗ Not included | ✓ Full reporting |
| VAT submission to HMRC | direct MTD ITSA submission (accountant submits) | ✓ Direct submission |
| ICO registered | ✓ ZC122710 | ✓ Yes (Intuit) |
The 20-Invoice Problem
Xero's Starter plan caps you at 20 invoices per month. A sole trader doing 5 jobs a week hits that in a month easily. The moment you exceed 20 invoices you're forced to upgrade to Standard at £50/month — £600/year.
Most sole traders also aren't using Xero's full feature set. Bank reconciliation is something your accountant does. P&L reporting is something you look at once a year. Payroll doesn't apply if you work alone. What you're using Xero for is invoicing — and you're paying £348–£600/year for that.
TaskDrop does the invoicing part for free. Voice note or tap a menu in WhatsApp, get a branded PDF in 60 seconds, send it before you've left the driveway. No invoice cap, ever. CIS automatic. VAT automatic. Payment reminders automatic. Your accountant gets a clean CSV at year end. £0/month.
Using TaskDrop Alongside Your Accountant (Who Uses Xero)
If your accountant uses Xero, you don't have to choose. The best setup for most sole traders is:
- TaskDrop — send invoices and quotes on site, collect card payments, track expenses and mileage, chase late payers automatically
- Your accountant — receives a clean CSV from TaskDrop's dashboard, handles VAT returns, Self Assessment, anything requiring full accounting software
You save £348–£600/year on software. Your accountant still has everything they need. You spend less time on admin and more time on jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the invoicing part — yes. TaskDrop sends professional, HMRC-compliant invoices and quotes from WhatsApp in 60 seconds, handles CIS and VAT automatically, tracks expenses and mileage, and has direct MTD ITSA submission built and sandbox-tested (production credentials pending). What TaskDrop doesn't do is full accounting — bank reconciliation, P&L reports, payroll. Many UK sole traders don't need those features. If that's you, TaskDrop does the job for free — with no invoice cap.
Xero has no free plan and no sole-trader-specific entry tier. The Starter plan costs £29/month + VAT but caps you at 20 invoices per month. For unlimited invoices you need Standard at £50/month + VAT — that's £600/year before VAT. Xero also raised prices in 2026.
Yes — and this is often the best approach. Use TaskDrop on site to send invoices instantly from WhatsApp. Export a CSV from TaskDrop's dashboard and hand it to your accountant, who can import it into Xero or work directly from the records. You get the speed of WhatsApp invoicing without losing your existing accounting setup.
Yes. TaskDrop invoices are HMRC-compliant with sequential reference numbers, correct VAT treatment, and CIS deduction calculations. TaskDrop is MTD-ready and ICO registered (ZC122710). Your accountant can work directly from TaskDrop's CSV exports.
TaskDrop is free forever. Send professional invoices from WhatsApp in 60 seconds. Your accountant still gets everything they need.
Start free, forever