Free MTD software for landlords (2026)

Searching free MTD software landlords usually means one of two things: you want to try before you pay, or you want to stay on a free tier for as long as HMRC allows. Both are reasonable — just know what "free" can and can't include for MTD. This page explains what HMRC still expects, what to compare between products, and why LandlordSorted is structured so you can start on Free for up to 3 properties, connect HMRC, and actually move money and dates into a quarterly review — not a demo that expires in 14 days.

What HMRC still expects

MTD-compatible software has to meet HMRC's rules for digital records and submissions. A free tier might cap properties, users, or features, but the bits that keep you legal need to be solid — especially quarterly updates and keeping a clear audit trail of income and expenses. If a product cannot submit updates for your situation, it is not “free MTD software” — it is free marketing for something else. LandlordSorted's free tier is intentionally landlord-shaped: rent and expenses categories, rent ledger, compliance certificate tracking, and the quarterly review path that feeds HMRC when you are ready.

What to compare on any landlord MTD product

• Scope: does it cover UK property income and MTD, or is it a general finance suite you'll never fully use?
• Plain English: can you log rent and repairs without learning double-entry bookkeeping first?
• HMRC connection: is OAuth / Government Gateway handled in a way you trust, with clear sandbox vs live labelling?
• Upgrade path: if you outgrow free (more properties, receipts, exports), are prices predictable? LandlordSorted lists current prices on pricing.

LandlordSorted: free tier, then Pro if you need it

LandlordSorted is built only for UK landlords and MTD. You can start on Free for up to 3 properties, run through onboarding, log income and expenses, use the rent ledger so rent does not get typed twice, track compliance certificate expiry, and walk the quarterly review — then upgrade when you need more properties, receipt capture, running tax estimates, or accountant-ready exports. No card required to open an account. If you are not sure you are in scope yet, run the free eligibility check first — it takes about a minute.

When “free” is the wrong goal

Sometimes the cheapest option is expensive in time: you spend evenings translating HMRC jargon into spreadsheet rows, then discover you still cannot submit. LandlordSorted is opinionated about reducing that tax-season panic: categories match landlord life, the review screen is written to be understood without an accounting degree, and Pro adds depth when your portfolio grows — not on day one when you are still deciding if MTD applies.

LandlordSorted vs “I will just use Xero / spreadsheets”

General ledgers assume you think in journals, customers, and suppliers. Landlords think in tenancies, boilers, gas certificates, and mortgage statements. LandlordSorted does not try to run your entire business — it focuses on property income, MTD submissions, and the paperwork that sits next to tax (compliance tracker, rent ledger, quarterly review). That focus is why many landlords switch from “something huge and flexible” to “something small and correct” once the first MTD quarter is on the horizon. If you are comparing tools, read Xero vs landlord-focused MTD tools for a straight comparison — then try LandlordSorted on Free and decide with real data, not marketing screenshots.

If you already know you are in scope for 2026, pair this guide with MTD deadline 2026 — key dates so you are not only choosing software — you are also anchoring the calendar in your head.

Next clicks (so you leave with a plan)

Create a free account · How quarterly updates work · Compare Xero vs landlord-focused MTD tools · MTD deadline 2026 — key dates. If you want the conceptual overview first, read Making Tax Digital landlords explained.