Manager.io vs Sage Accounting Comparison
Compare Manager.io vs Sage Accounting features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Manager.io
5.6/10
Double-entry accounting software for small businesses and accountants. It offers a free desktop edition and a flat-priced cloud edition with unlimited users and businesses.
Sage Accounting
6/10
Cloud accounting software from Sage for UK sole traders and small businesses, covering invoicing, bank feeds, VAT returns, payroll and reporting.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.6/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $59/mo Cloud Edition | £20/mo Start |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $59/mo Cloud Edition | £59/mo Plus |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Financial Reporting | ||
| General Ledger | ||
| Inventory Accounting | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
Manager.io vs Sage Accounting cost by team size
| Team size | Manager.io | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeDesktop Edition | £20/moStart |
| 5 users | $59/moCloud Edition | £59/moPlus |
| 10 users | $59/moCloud Edition | £59/moPlus |
| 25 users | $59/moCloud Edition | £59/moPlus |
| 50 users | $59/moCloud Edition | £59/moPlus |
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 Manager.io
- Has a free plan (Sage Accounting does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Customization score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for accountants and bookkeepers (8/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Sage Accounting
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Manager.io
Pros
- The Desktop Edition is free with no feature, time or usage caps.
- The Cloud Edition has one flat price that covers unlimited users and businesses, so there are no per-seat fees.
- Accountants can host many client businesses under one subscription and restrict which businesses each user can see.
- The chart of accounts is customisable, and the software has custom fields and country tax localisations.
- You can downgrade from Cloud to Desktop and keep your data through a backup.
Cons
- There are no native iOS or Android apps, so mobile use is through the browser.
- Users in the forum call bank feed setup technical and poorly documented, and they report broken feeds.
- There is no third-party app marketplace for CRM or payment integrations.
- Some reviewers find reporting limited, the interface dated, and custom reports poorly documented.
- Payroll mainly records wages in the ledger rather than offering a full payroll service.
Sage Accounting
Pros
- Payroll is bundled into every plan, so very small employers do not need a separate payroll subscription.
- Built-in Making Tax Digital VAT filing, plus CIS submissions on Standard and Plus, cover UK compliance needs.
- Monthly billing with no commitment, and introductory discounts that often run for six months.
- Reviewers praise the customisable invoices and the bank and HR integrations.
- Plus allows unlimited users, which reviewers single out.
Cons
- Reviewers report yearly price rises and say support can be slow or unhelpful.
- Users report bank-feed connection problems and occasional lag with large data sets.
- Budgeting, multi-currency and stock management are only on the top Plus tier.
- There are no employee expense claims or time tracking, and receipt capture is capped with per-receipt charges above the cap.
- Role permissions are limited, so duties cannot be cleanly separated between staff.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Sage Accounting scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6/10 against 5.6/10 for Manager.io. The largest gap is in Cost: 9/10 for Manager.io and 6/10 for Sage Accounting.
Manager.io has a free plan; Sage Accounting does not list one.
Manager.io is the better fit for accountants and bookkeepers: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 6/10 for Sage Accounting.
