Quotation Expert vs Sage
Sage is built for accountants. If you just want to run your business without a finance degree, here's why Quotation Expert is simpler and cheaper.
Sage Accounting is a long-established accounting platform, popular with UK and South African businesses. But it's designed with accountants in mind — not business owners. There's no free plan, the interface is complex, the mobile app is limited, and payroll is an extra add-on. Quotation Expert covers everything a small business needs — invoicing, delivery notes, payroll, purchase orders, and bank reconciliation — at a lower price, with a free plan and a full offline Android app.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Quotation Expert | Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — 50 entries/mo forever | No — starts at $10/mo |
| Starting paid price | $9.99/mo | $10/mo (Accounting Start) |
| Offline Android app | Yes — full features offline | No — internet required |
| Quotations | Yes | Basic estimates only |
| Delivery notes | Yes | No |
| Purchase orders | Yes | Yes (Standard plan+) |
| Payroll | Yes (Pro+) | Add-on (extra cost) |
| Bank reconciliation | Yes (Pro+) | Yes |
| Inventory tracking | Yes | Limited |
| Ease of use | Designed for business owners | Designed for accountants |
| PDF export | Yes — all plans | Yes |
| 135+ currencies | Yes | Limited (country-specific) |
The Verdict
Quotation Expert wins for simplicity, price, and mobile. It's ideal for small business owners who want to run their business without an accounting background. Sage wins if you're a UK or South African business with a dedicated accountant who already uses the Sage ecosystem and needs the specific compliance features Sage provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sage free?
No. Sage Accounting does not have a free plan. Sage Accounting Start begins at $10/month with very limited features. The Standard plan is $25/month and adds cash flow forecasting and invoicing automation. The Plus plan ($33/mo) adds inventory and purchase orders. Payroll is an additional add-on on all plans.
Does Sage have an Android app?
Sage has a mobile app, but it is limited compared to the full web version and requires an internet connection. You can capture expenses and view basic data, but you cannot create the full range of documents on mobile. Quotation Expert's Android app is a complete business management tool that works fully offline.
Is Sage suitable for small businesses?
Sage was designed primarily for accountants and medium-sized businesses. Many small business owners find the interface complex and hard to navigate without accounting knowledge. Quotation Expert is specifically designed to be intuitive for business owners — you can create a professional invoice in under 2 minutes with no accounting background.
Does Sage have quotations and delivery notes?
Sage has basic estimate/quotation functionality, but delivery notes are not a native document type. Quotation Expert includes quotations, invoices, delivery notes, purchase orders, and receipts on all plans — including the free plan.