For UK sole traders comparing Cuppa vs Untied, the practical difference is breadth.
Cuppa is built around one workflow: record income and expenses as a sole trader, track your tax estimate, submit quarterly to HMRC. Untied supports that, but also landlord income, PAYE, mixed-income scenarios, pensions, capital gains, and accountant-managed filing.
If your business is straightforward self-employment, that extra breadth adds complexity without adding value. If your income picture is more complicated, Untied is built for it.
Key Takeaways
- Cuppa is designed exclusively for sole traders. Untied is designed for multiple income types including landlord, PAYE, and mixed scenarios.
- Cuppa is significantly cheaper: free plan at £0, Pro at £45/year. Untied costs £129.99/year.
- Both are HMRC-recognised and support MTD quarterly submissions.
- Untied offers a 30-day free trial; Cuppa offers a 14-day free trial on its Pro plan.
Choose Cuppa or Untied?
Choose Cuppa if:
- You are a sole trader with straightforward self-employment income only
- You want the lowest possible cost for reliable MTD compliance
- You prefer a focused workflow with minimal accounting decisions
- You are switching from spreadsheets and want a clean, fast setup
Choose Untied if:
- You have both self-employment and rental (landlord) income
- You receive PAYE income alongside self-employment income
- You want a single platform for all income types and your final tax return
- You prefer a 30-day trial before committing
Neither is ideal if:
- You run a limited company (neither covers company accounts)
- You need invoicing, payroll, or multi-user accountant access built in
Cuppa vs Untied at a Glance
| Criteria | Cuppa | Untied |
|---|---|---|
| Product style | Sole-trader-focused MTD app | All-income MTD and self-assessment app |
| Target user | UK sole traders (self-employment income) | Self-employed, landlords, mixed-income earners |
| Setup effort | Very low | Low to medium |
| Pricing | Free (£0) or Pro (£45/year) | £129.99/year |
| HMRC / MTD fit | HMRC-recognised, sole-trader MTD | HMRC-recognised, all income types |
| Landlord / rental income | No | Yes |
| PAYE income support | No | Yes |
| Bank feeds | Yes | Yes (unlimited) |
| Mobile app | No | Yes (iOS and Android) |
| Accountant access | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 14-day (Pro) | 30-day |
| Best fit | Simple sole-trader MTD compliance | Mixed-income users, landlords, complex tax picture |
Pricing and Value
Advertised UK pricing (last checked: 6 March 2026):
| Plan | Cuppa | Untied |
|---|---|---|
| Free / entry plan | Free: £0/forever | No free plan |
| Paid plan (annual) | Pro: £45/year | £129.99/year |
| Paid plan (monthly) | Pro: £4.50/month | No monthly option listed |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial on Pro | 30-day free trial (no card) |
Notes:
- Cuppa's free plan includes HMRC MTD quarterly submissions. Untied has no free tier.
- Untied's single flat-rate pricing covers all income types including landlord and PAYE.
- Always verify before purchasing: Cuppa pricing and Untied pricing.
For a sole trader with simple self-employment income only, paying more than twice as much annually for features you do not need is rarely worthwhile. For users with multiple income streams, Untied's flat rate covers everything in one place.
MTD Workflow Fit
Both tools meet HMRC's MTD requirements for Income Tax: digital records, quarterly updates, and annual submissions.
The practical difference is in what they cover:
- Cuppa maps directly to the sole-trader MTD workflow. Income, expenses, tax estimate, quarterly submission, and amendment support. That is the complete flow.
- Untied covers the same workflow plus additional income types. Useful if your tax picture includes property income, employment income, or other sources that also fall under MTD from April 2026 onwards.
If your self-employment is your only qualifying income source, the additional income support in Untied adds menu depth without adding relevant functionality.
Reference: HMRC MTD for Income Tax guidance.
Setup and Learning Curve
Cuppa is designed to be set up in a single session. Add your business details, record your first transaction, and you immediately see a tax estimate. Most users are ready to submit their first quarterly update on the same day.
Untied offers more onboarding options, including automatic and manual income tracking, bank connections, and support for multiple income types. This is a strength if you need it, but it means more initial decisions for users with simple setups.
If you have a straightforward sole-trader business, the simpler the tool, the more consistently you will use it.
Switching From Spreadsheets
Cuppa:
- Enter opening year-to-date totals (or import via CSV)
- Start recording new transactions from the current date
- Confirm business details and tax settings
- Ready to submit at the end of the first full quarter
Untied:
- Connect bank accounts (automatic tracking option)
- Confirm income sources and relevant tax categories
- Verify opening balances if mid-year switch
- More initial configuration for mixed-income users
Both tools work best when started at the beginning of a new tax quarter. For sole traders switching from spreadsheets, Cuppa's setup requires fewer decisions.
Pros and Cons
Cuppa
Pros
- HMRC submissions included in the free plan (£0)
- Lowest cost for sole-trader MTD compliance
- Designed exclusively for sole traders
- Very quick setup, minimal learning curve
- AI assistant integration on Pro plan
Cons
- Only covers self-employment income (no landlord, PAYE, or mixed income)
- No mobile app currently
- No accountant portal
Untied
Pros
- Covers all personal income types in one platform
- Mobile app (iOS and Android)
- Unlimited bank connections
- 30-day free trial
- FCA-regulated, CIOT-supervised
- Accountant and agent access
Cons
- More expensive (£129.99/year with no free tier)
- More complex for users with simple sole-trader income only
- No monthly pricing option
See the Difference
A side-by-side look at the dashboards says more than any comparison table.
Cuppa's dashboard:
Untied's dashboard:
Cuppa's dashboard gives you what you need in seconds: total income, total expenses, net profit, and a live tax estimate with a full breakdown. The design is clean, modern, and built to feel effortless.
Untied's dashboard shows transaction counts, tagging percentages, MTD threshold information, profile completion warnings, upcoming deadlines, and a "hints and tips" carousel. There is a lot of useful information, but it is spread across many panels and visual styles.
If you want bookkeeping software that feels simple, accessible, and genuinely pleasant to use, Cuppa is designed with that as the priority. No warning banners, no onboarding checklists, no information overload. Open the app, see your numbers, get on with your day.
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
For a UK sole trader with straightforward self-employment income, Cuppa is the cleaner and cheaper choice. The free plan covers all the MTD compliance you need. The Pro plan at £45/year adds invoicing, bank integration, and amendment support.
Untied is the better choice if your income picture is more complex: rental income alongside self-employment, PAYE on top of your business income, or a mix of sources you want to manage in a single platform. Its breadth is genuinely useful in those cases.
One-line rule: If sole-trader self-employment is your only income source, choose Cuppa. If your tax picture involves multiple income types, Untied is built for that.
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