Clear Books vs Monzo Business: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Clear Books and Monzo Business to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Clear Books
5.9/10
UK cloud accounting software for sole traders, landlords, small companies and accountants, with HMRC Making Tax Digital filing, bank feeds, invoicing and payroll.
Monzo Business
6.5/10
Monzo Business is an app-based UK business bank account for sole traders and limited companies. It includes invoicing, Tax Pots, expense cards and accounting software bank feeds.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.9/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £5/mo Property | £9/mo Pro |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Property Free | £25/mo Team |
| Features | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Audit Trail | Not listed | |
| Bank Reconciliation | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
Clear Books vs Monzo Business cost by team size
Clear Books costs less up to 10 users; Clear Books and Monzo Business cost the same from 25 users.
| Team size | Clear Books | Monzo Business |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeProperty Free | £9/moPro |
| 5 users | FreeProperty Free | £25/moTeam |
| 10 users | FreeProperty Free | £25/moTeam |
| 25 users | FreeProperty Free | FreeLite |
| 50 users | FreeProperty Free | FreeLite |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Clear Books
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs £25/mo
- Higher Analytics score (5/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
- Includes Financial Reporting, which Monzo Business lacks
- Includes General Ledger, which Monzo Business lacks
Why choose Monzo Business
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Security score (7/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
Clear Books
Pros
- Free MTD Income Tax plans for sole traders and landlords have no transaction limits.
- It is on HMRC's list of MTD-compatible software for both VAT and Income Tax Self Assessment.
- CIS reporting is built in, which suits UK construction contractors and subcontractors.
- Company plans cost £16 to £44 a month, with up to 20% off for two-year billing and no setup or per-invoice fees.
- Trustpilot reviewers rate it 4.3 out of 5 from 477 reviews and often praise quick, friendly support.
Cons
- It follows UK tax rules only, so it does not suit businesses outside the UK.
- Multi-currency, expense claims and project accounting require the top £44 Large plan.
- Users report that editing or deleting entries is awkward and that voiding is the workaround.
- Its integration ecosystem is small compared with Xero or QuickBooks.
- Some reviewers say email support replies can be slow.
Monzo Business
Pros
- The Lite plan is free and includes Making Tax Digital software
- Pro adds invoicing, Tax Pots and live feeds to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage for £9 a month
- The Team plan adds expense cards, payment approvals and bulk payments for up to 15 users
- 24/7 in-app support on every plan
- Licensed UK bank with FSCS deposit protection
Cons
- Holds GBP only, and incoming foreign currency is converted at a 1% fee
- No general ledger or financial statements, so you still need separate accounting software
- Partnerships, LLPs, charities and non-UK businesses cannot open an account
- Cash deposits cost £1 each and are capped
- Reviews report frozen accounts and slow resolution, and there is no dedicated account manager
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Monzo Business scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.5/10 against 5.9/10 for Clear Books. The largest gap is in Ease of Use: 7/10 for Clear Books and 9/10 for Monzo Business.
Clear Books costs less for 10 users: free on its Property Free plan, against about £25/mo on its Team plan for Monzo Business, billed monthly.
Yes, both Clear Books and Monzo Business have a free plan.
Clear Books has Financial Reporting, General Ledger, Multi-currency and 1 more feature that Monzo Business lacks.
