Sage Accounting wins on more features overall (5 vs 0, 14 tied). Below is the full feature-by-feature breakdown.
| Feature | Clear Books | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan |
✗ No
30-day trial
|
✗ No
30-day trial
|
| Entry paid plan |
— Paid add-on
From ~AU$15/mo
|
— Paid add-on
From AU$22/mo
|
| Download PDF without signup |
✗ No
|
✗ No
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited invoices |
— Limited
|
— Limited
|
| Custom logo & branding |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Recurring invoices |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Email invoices to clients |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Multi-currency |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Client management |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| ATO-compliant GST invoices |
— Limited
UK VAT focused
|
✓ Yes
|
| ABN field built in |
— Limited
Custom field workaround
|
✓ Yes
|
| Australian-focused support |
✗ No
|
— Limited
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Bank reconciliation |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Expense tracking |
— Limited
|
✓ Yes
|
| Payroll |
✗ No
|
— Paid add-on
|
| Inventory tracking |
✗ No
|
✗ No
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe payments |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Mobile app |
— Limited
|
— Limited
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Sage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time |
— Limited
Account signup required
|
— Limited
Account signup required
|
Sage Accounting matched or beat Clear Books across every category.
Neither tool fits your invoicing-only workflow? Try InvoiceSonic — free for unlimited ATO-compliant tax invoices, no signup required.
Create a free invoice now →Clear Books starts at From ~AU$15/mo; Sage Accounting starts at From AU$22/mo. Clear Books offers 30-day trial. Sage Accounting offers 30-day trial.
For ATO-compliant GST: Clear Books = limited, Sage Accounting = yes. For native ABN field: Clear Books = limited, Sage Accounting = yes. If you operate in Australia and either tool falls short here, InvoiceSonic handles both natively — and it's free.
Most freelancers want fast invoicing without paying for full accounting. Between these two, Sage Accounting wins more categories overall. But if you're a freelancer who just wants ATO-compliant tax invoices for free, InvoiceSonic is purpose-built for that workflow.
Do not assume a one-click migration. Confirm each product's current export and import formats, then test contacts, opening balances, unpaid invoices, tax codes, attachments and reconciliations before cancelling the old account. Keep statutory records outside both systems.
Both tools include more than invoicing. If invoicing is your only need, a dedicated generator can be faster and more focused than a full accounting subscription.
Yes — InvoiceSonic lets you create and download an invoice without signup. Its account plans have separate limits and pricing, so compare current official plans before deciding.