Clear Books vs Pilot

Clear Books is browser-based accounting software for UK businesses, sole traders, and landlords, with Android and iOS mobile apps. Its listed capabilities include bank feeds, automated reconciliation, invoice creation, receipt capture, inventory tracking, and accountant access. Users can send branded invoices, schedule recurring invoices, and automate late-payment reminders. Tax tools include VAT submissions, MTD Income Tax, and quarterly updates; Clear Books describes itself as HMRC recognised and MTD-ready. Sole Trader Free and Property Free are ongoing free plans that require no card and have no transaction limits. Property Free covers one property or grouped properties, while Foreign Property Free is for one overseas property. Paid plans start at £5 per month plus VAT, and include a full-access 30-day trial that can be cancelled without payment. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. Paid plans include unlimited users and accountant tools. Small, Medium, and Large include integrations and an API, with Stripe and GoCardless built in. Support options range from self-service and email to phone support, with UK-based support.

Pilot is web-based accounting software with bank feeds, automated reconciliation, and accountant access. It does not provide inventory tracking, and web is the only listed platform. The free Core plan is listed at free, billed annually, with $0 in monthly expenses and up to 10 vendor bills per month. Essentials costs $99 a month, billed monthly, and supports up to $100,000 in monthly expenses. A Custom plan has no listed price and is described for complex business structures, custom workflows and reporting, full accounts receivable, full accounts payable, payroll administration, and CFO advisory. Pilot’s pricing note states that a 15-day trial is available and paid plans start from $99/mo. The maker is Pilot, founded in 2017, with headquarters in San Francisco, California, and Nashville, Tennessee. Access is through a browser rather than a listed mobile application.