Short answer: if you need software that sends Making Tax Digital (MTD) updates to HMRC yourself, a subscription product such as Hammock, Landlord Studio, Landlord Vision or PaTMa is built for that. If your accountant files for you and you mainly want organised records, tax illustrations, compliance checks and deal calculators, a one-off toolkit like Property Clues usually costs less over a few years.
Cost over three years
Prices below are each provider's own published prices, checked on 18 October 2026. Where a provider says its prices exclude VAT, we have added VAT at 20% in the three-year column so the totals are comparable.
| Option | How you pay | Entry price (as published) | Three years, entry plan | Sends MTD updates to HMRC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Clues | One-off | £199 Founder's Pass (all tools), £89 Core Toolkit, single tools from £19, 12 tools free | £199 (Founder's Pass) | No. Prepares figures by MTD quarter for your accountant or MTD software |
| Hammock | Monthly or annual | £8 a month + VAT for 1–3 properties; £76.80 a year + VAT on annual billing | £276.48 (annual billing, inc VAT) | Yes, Hammock says quarterly updates and the final declaration are included on all plans |
| Landlord Studio | Free plan or monthly | Go plan free for up to 3 properties; Pro from £12 a month | £0 on Go, £432 on Pro at £12 a month (VAT not stated) | Yes on Pro, per Landlord Studio; £5 per submission on the free Go plan |
| Landlord Vision | Monthly or annual | Starter £19.97 a month + VAT (4 tenancies), with an introductory offer of £7.99 a month + VAT for two years shown at the time of checking | £862.70 at £19.97 a month inc VAT (less while the offer applies) | Landlord Vision says MTD submissions are included on every plan |
| PaTMa | Free plan or monthly | Free for 1 rental unit; Pro £15 a month inc VAT for 5 units | £0 on Free, £540 on Pro | PaTMa describes both plans as "MTD ready"; check with PaTMa whether submission is included |
Three-year figures assume the entry plan, no price changes and no extra properties. Higher plans, extra tenancies and add-ons cost more. Check HMRC's own list of recognised software before relying on any product for MTD.
What you get for the money
The products are not identical, so price is only part of the comparison.
- Subscription landlord software (Hammock, Landlord Studio, Landlord Vision, PaTMa) tracks rent and costs, and, depending on the product and plan, can connect to your bank and file MTD updates to HMRC. Some include tenant portals and e-signatures on higher plans. That ongoing service is what the monthly fee pays for.
- Property Clues is a set of 43 browser tools you buy once. It covers tax illustrations (Section 24, limited company vs personal name, incorporation), an expenses tracker sorted into SA105 boxes and MTD quarters, an MTD Quarterly Pack, compliance and Renters' Rights checklists, rent and arrears tracking, and deal calculators (buy to let, BRRR, HMO, rent to rent, development). It exports an accountant-ready Excel file. It does not connect to your bank or submit anything to HMRC.
Which should you choose?
| If you... | Consider |
|---|---|
| Want to file MTD quarterly updates yourself, from bank feeds | A subscription product on HMRC's recognised software list |
| Have an accountant who files for you and just want tidy figures to hand over | A one-off toolkit (Property Clues) or a free plan, plus your accountant's software |
| Have 1–3 properties and a tight budget | Landlord Studio's free Go plan or PaTMa's free plan for records, and free calculators for tax and deals |
| Also analyse deals, HMOs, BRRR or developments | Property Clues covers these in the same toolkit; most bookkeeping products do not |
| Want to stop paying a monthly fee | Property Clues: pay once, free tax-year updates on the Founder's Pass |
Using both together
These are not either-or. Some landlords keep records and work out their tax position in Property Clues, then hand the accountant-ready file to an accountant who submits through their own MTD software. Others use a free MTD plan for submissions and Property Clues for the deal, tax-planning and compliance tools that bookkeeping apps do not include.
Questions people ask
Is there UK landlord software without a monthly subscription?
Yes. Property Clues sells its 43 landlord tools as a one-off purchase: single tools from £19, the Core Toolkit for £89, or every tool on the Founder's Pass for £199 (rising to £249). 12 tools are free. It does not submit MTD updates to HMRC.
What is the cheapest landlord software for MTD submissions?
At the time of checking, Landlord Studio's Go plan is free for up to 3 properties with a £5 charge per MTD submission, and Hammock starts at £8 a month plus VAT. Check HMRC's list of recognised MTD software before choosing.
Does Property Clues replace Hammock or Landlord Vision?
Not for MTD filing or bank feeds. Property Clues organises figures, illustrates tax and analyses deals, and hands your accountant one Excel file. If you need to submit MTD updates yourself, you also need HMRC-recognised software.
How much is Landlord Vision a month?
Landlord Vision's pricing page lists Starter at £19.97 a month plus VAT for 4 tenancies, with an introductory offer of £7.99 a month plus VAT for two years shown on 18 October 2026. Higher plans cost more.