Clear Books vs Qonto: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Clear Books and Qonto to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Clear Books
5.9/10
UK cloud accounting software for sole traders, landlords, small companies and accountants, with HMRC Making Tax Digital filing, bank feeds, invoicing and payroll.
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.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.9/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | £5/mo Property | €9/mo Basic |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Property Free | €49/mo Essential |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Accounts Payable | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Audit Trail | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Clear Books vs Qonto cost by team size
| Team size | Clear Books | Qonto |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeProperty Free | €9/moBasic |
| 5 users | FreeProperty Free | €49/moEssential |
| 10 users | FreeProperty Free | €49/moEssential |
| 25 users | FreeProperty Free | €49/moEssential |
| 50 users | FreeProperty Free | €49/moEssential |
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 Clear Books
- Has a free plan (Qonto does not)
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Qonto
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 3/10)
Pros & Cons
Clear Books
Pros
- Free MTD Income Tax plans for sole traders and landlords have no transaction limits.
- It is on HMRC's list of MTD-compatible software for both VAT and Income Tax Self Assessment.
- CIS reporting is built in, which suits UK construction contractors and subcontractors.
- Company plans cost £16 to £44 a month, with up to 20% off for two-year billing and no setup or per-invoice fees.
- Trustpilot reviewers rate it 4.3 out of 5 from 477 reviews and often praise quick, friendly support.
Cons
- It follows UK tax rules only, so it does not suit businesses outside the UK.
- Multi-currency, expense claims and project accounting require the top £44 Large plan.
- Users report that editing or deleting entries is awkward and that voiding is the workaround.
- Its integration ecosystem is small compared with Xero or QuickBooks.
- Some reviewers say email support replies can be slow.
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.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Qonto scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.4/10 against 5.9/10 for Clear Books. The largest gap is in Integration: 4/10 for Clear Books and 8/10 for Qonto.
Clear Books has a free plan; Qonto does not list one.
