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Free comes with limits. Growth comes with costs.

Bokio: Free to start.
But will you outgrow it?

Bokio is popular with startups for a reason: it's free to start. But “free” means 50 transactions/month, manual categorization, and Swedish software adapted for UK use.

When your business grows, will your accounting keep up?

Bokio is free to start, with a paid plan at £15/month once you exceed 50 transactions. AccountsOS is £20/month (14-day free trial) and includes AI chat, voice commands, proactive tax advice, and UK Ltd-specific features including salary and dividend optimisation that Bokio does not offer. For directors who want their accounting to actually advise them, not just record transactions, AccountsOS is the more capable choice.

Try AI-powered accounting See Full Comparison

Built for Sweden. Adapted for UK.

Bokio was founded in Gothenburg in 2015 for Swedish small businesses. UK features came later. This matters for your Ltd company.

Swedish-first design

Core features built for Swedish tax rules and accounting standards. UK compliance added as an expansion market.

Limited UK expertise

Support and documentation stretched across multiple countries. Deep HMRC knowledge isn't their core strength.

Missing Ltd features

No salary/dividend optimization. No director loan tracking. No section 455 warnings. Features UK directors actually need.

Signs You've Outgrown Bokio

Bokio works for simple bookkeeping. But growing Ltd companies hit these walls:

Your business is growing

Bokio's free tier caps at 50 transactions. Their paid plan (£15/month) is still basic software. As you scale, you'll need proper advice - not just data entry.

You need actual guidance

Bokio tells you your profit was £4,230. AccountsOS tells you: 'Your profit is £4,230. Take £12,570 salary and £30k dividends to save £2,847 in tax.' That's real advice.

You're spending hours on bookkeeping

Manual categorization, manual reconciliation, manual everything. Bokio is cheap software that costs you expensive time. Your hourly rate matters.

UK tax questions go unanswered

Bokio was built in Sweden. Their UK support and documentation is limited. When you ask about section 455 tax or optimal director salary, you won't get clear answers.

Feature Comparison

Feature	AccountsOS	Bokio
AI-powered chat interface Ask questions in plain English. Bokio is menus and manual entry.
Voice commands Dictate expenses while driving. Bokio needs your hands and eyes.
AI auto-categorization Our AI learns your business. Bokio needs you to categorize manually.
Proactive tax optimization AI spots savings automatically. Bokio just records transactions.
UK-first design Built for UK Ltd directors. Bokio was built for Sweden, adapted for UK.		partial
Bank feeds Both connect to UK banks
Invoicing Both can create and send invoices
MTD for VAT Both are MTD-compliant AccountsOS is on HMRC's list of MTD VAT software (opens gov.uk in a new tab)
Receipt scanning AccountsOS extracts and files automatically. Bokio needs review.	4 seconds	Manual
Salary/dividend optimization We calculate your optimal split. Bokio doesn't.
UK-specific support HMRC expertise built-in. Bokio support is stretched across countries.		Limited
Advanced Ltd company features Director loan accounts, CT planning. Bokio covers basics only.
Learning curve If you can text, you can use AccountsOS.	Zero	Low-medium

Pricing: Free vs Paid vs AI

Bokio Free

£0/month

Limited to 50 transactions

- 50 transactions/month cap
- Manual categorization
- Basic invoicing
- No AI features
- Limited support

Bokio Paid

£15/month

Unlimited transactions

- Unlimited transactions
- Still manual categorization
- Still no AI
- Still basic features
- Swedish-origin support

AccountsOS

£20/month

£4 more than Bokio paid. Infinitely smarter.

+ AI chat interface (no menus)
+ Voice commands
+ Auto-categorization
+ Proactive tax guidance
+ Built for UK Ltd companies

When Bokio makes sense

-You're just starting and have < 50 transactions/month
-Your bookkeeping is extremely simple (one income source, few expenses)
-You have plenty of time for manual data entry
-You already have an accountant for all tax questions
-Price is the only thing that matters right now

When you'll outgrow Bokio

-Your transaction volume exceeds the free tier limits
-You're asking 'am I paying myself optimally?' (Bokio can't answer)
-You're spending hours on manual categorization
-You need UK-specific guidance on director tax planning
-You want AI to actually do the work, not just store data

Basic Software vs AI Advisor

Bokio is a filing cabinet. AccountsOS is an advisor who knows UK tax law.

Bokio tells you:

“Your profit this month is £4,230”

Cool. Now what? Google what to do with it. Ask a friend. Pay an accountant.

AccountsOS tells you:

“Your profit is £4,230. I notice you haven't claimed home office costs. At £6/week, that's £312/year tax-free. Want me to add it?”

Say yes. That's 16 months of subscription paid for with one tip.

Proactive advice

AI spots savings automatically

Voice-first

Talk while multitasking

4-second receipts

Snap, upload, done

Frequently asked questions

Is Bokio really free?

Bokio offers a free tier, but it's limited to 50 transactions per month. Most active Ltd companies exceed this quickly. Their paid plan is £15/month, but still lacks AI features, proactive advice, and advanced Ltd company tools. AccountsOS (free for 14 days, then £20/month) includes AI-powered categorization, voice commands, and tax optimization that typically saves directors thousands per year.

Is Bokio good for UK limited companies?

Bokio works for basic UK bookkeeping but has limitations. It was originally built for the Swedish market and adapted for the UK later. It lacks features UK directors need: salary/dividend optimization, director loan account tracking, and proactive Corporation Tax planning. For simple bookkeeping it's adequate; for running a growing Ltd company, you'll likely outgrow it.

What's the difference between Bokio and AccountsOS?

Bokio is traditional accounting software - you manually enter data, categorize transactions, and generate reports. AccountsOS is AI-native: you chat in plain English, voice commands work while you multitask, and AI proactively identifies tax savings. Bokio records your data. AccountsOS actually advises you on what to do with it.

Should I start with Bokio free and switch later?

You could, but there's a hidden cost: time spent learning software you'll outgrow, and tax savings missed while using basic tools. Directors who start with AccountsOS typically find £2,000+ in missed deductions in their first month - that's over 8 years of subscription value. Starting with AI-powered tools means you're optimizing from day one.

Can I migrate from Bokio to AccountsOS?

Yes. Export your transactions from Bokio as CSV files and upload them to AccountsOS. Our AI will automatically categorize and reconcile everything. Most users complete the migration within an hour. We also connect to the same UK banks, so new transactions flow in automatically.

Does Bokio have AI features?

Bokio has basic automation but no conversational AI. You can't ask questions in plain English, use voice commands, or get proactive tax optimization. AccountsOS was built AI-first - the interface is conversation, not menus. It's the difference between filing cabinet software and having an actual advisor.

I love the innovative approach to accounting

I love the innovative approach to accounting, which can often be quite dull. I particularly appreciate how interactive it is, including the emails, reminders, and the ability to anticipate the next step.

Ksenija · SI

Great UI, fast response

Great UI, very quick at fixing any errors/bugs.

Mitch Edwards · GB

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The average Ltd director finds £2,000+ in missed deductions in their first month. That's 8 years of subscription value, immediately.

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