Qonto vs Sage Accounting: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Qonto and Sage Accounting to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Qonto
6.4/10
Qonto is a European online business account for freelancers and SMEs, combining a local IBAN, payment cards, transfers, invoicing, and expense tools.
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 | 6.4/10 | 6/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | €9/mo Basic | £20/mo Start |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €49/mo Essential | £59/mo Plus |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Qonto vs Sage Accounting cost by team size
| Team size | Qonto | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €9/moBasic | £20/moStart |
| 5 users | €49/moEssential | £59/moPlus |
| 10 users | €49/moEssential | £59/moPlus |
| 25 users | €49/moEssential | £59/moPlus |
| 50 users | €49/moEssential | £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 Qonto
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for freelancers (9/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Sage Accounting
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Qonto
Pros
- Low entry price: the Basic solo plan costs €9 a month, and every plan has a one-month free trial with no commitment.
- Team plans include unlimited users, so costs do not rise with headcount.
- A large integration directory covers DATEV, Sage, Tiime and Stripe, plus Zapier, Make and a public API.
- Accountants get unlimited access from the Smart plan, which makes bookkeeping handoffs easier.
- Reviewers on G2 and Capterra praise the interface and quick onboarding.
Cons
- Reviewers often report account freezes during compliance checks that hold funds for days.
- Support is described as slow or generic when an issue is complex.
- International transfers cost 0.56% to 1.8% with a €5 minimum, which adds up for businesses that pay in many currencies.
- Qonto is a payment institution, not a full bank, and offers no broad lending products.
- There is no full general ledger or financial statements, so a separate accounting tool is still needed.
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
Qonto scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.4/10 against 6/10 for Sage Accounting. The largest gap is in Compliance: 6/10 for Qonto and 8/10 for Sage Accounting.
No, neither Qonto nor Sage Accounting lists a free plan.
Qonto is the better fit for freelancers: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 7/10 for Sage Accounting.
