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About Sage 50cloud Accounting
Complete, out-of-the-box-desktop accounting software, with secure cloud and mobile access, for small & medium sized businesses.
Sage has been the bread and butter of accountants across the UK for many years. Once you have learned how to use it, it is easy to use.
Cost: Sage 50cloud Accounting can be expensive, especially for smaller businesses. The cost may be prohibitive for businesses that are just starting out or have limited budgets.
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Filter reviews (405)

A good, robust, accounting package
Pros:
I like the structured way the system is set up, and that it makes it very easy for seasoned accountants to work with the "nitty-gritty".
Cons:
I am not sure I would say there is anything I don't like, perhaps the one thing I find a bit complicated is the import function.
Sage Response
6 months ago
We're thankful for your review, Petter. It's great to hear you appreciate the structured setup and detailed accounting features of Sage 50cloud. We're here to assist with any complexities, including the import function. Your feedback helps us improve. Thank you for your support. I would like to invite you to join our customer advocacy program to connect more on your experience. Plus, you can access exclusive events, content and unlock Sage rewards. Please use this link: https://en.sagechampions.com/join/Gartner to join! Thanks, Bethany McDermott, Sage Customer Marketing Manager - Reviews
Alternatives Considered:
Why I love Sage 50cloud Accounting
Comments: Sage 50cloud Accounting is very user friendly. I really like the look and feel of it and it is easy to navigate the various options.
Pros:
I love Sage 50cloud Accounting because its on the cloud and we can access it anywhere. We are a small business and it provides all the functionality we need to carry out our accounting needs.
Cons:
There is nothing I dislike about Sage 50cloud Accounting
Please stay away for your own sanity.
Comments: Horrific experience. Data integrity is not something they concern themselves with in their software. Our files got corrupted. They couldn't tell us how or why and told us some third party data repair people to contact. I don't believe they have anyone left who actually understands the code of their software. Their data repair team is one person and he could not solve it. I was in utter disbelief that after not being able to fix our data that they told us to try some third parties. So you risk losing your company data using this software. We can't generate legitimate income statements or balance sheets anymore and are having to switch to a new provider.
Pros:
The software is pretty easy and intuitive and would be good if it worked, but it fundamentally does not work. Not like it doesn't work for us, it just doesn't work and they can't tell us why. By not work, I mean scenarios like you enter a purchase invoice for inventory and the inventory number doesn't go up by the amount you bought and then the program adjusts starting inventory values (from 15 years ago) on the fly.
Cons:
It is not remote capable like it says. Our files get corrupted constantly and they blame it on the cloud computing. We have corruptions that no one at sage knows how to fix and they don't continue to fix it. They have no problem leaving a small business dangling and had the audacity to refer us to a third party. They don't have any recommendations or help on how to avoid corruptions. They don't have any utilities to help fix the corruptions we have. Their solution is to usually restore from a backup, but they don't have anyway to download and re-upload transactions from the period between the backup and current so you have to print off all your old transactions and then re-enter them. In the cases where they do manage to fix a corrupted file, they charge you for that "privilege". The software also doesn't necessarily keep debits and credits in balance. They're posted solution for this are some custom admin transactions to force balance, rather than find the source of their own non-double entry errors. If for example the accounts receivable ledger doesn't match the sum of the customer sub-ledgers, they don't have a way to see what their program got wrong, they tell you to do an adjusting force balance entry. Same goes for inventory and accounts payable. It may be related to our unsolvable data corruption issues, but again, they don't have a solution for the underlying missed transaction - they say to ignore it and force the books to balance.
Customer since 1997
Comments: Although we do not utilize a lot of what the program has to offer what we do use is generally easy to navigate.
Pros:
The day to day use of this accounting system is quite easy.
Cons:
Since 2017 the cost has risen approximately 130%. Rather alot of money for a small business.
Sage Response
2 months ago
Hi Samantha, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that you find the day-to-day use of Sage 50cloud Accounting easy. We understand your concerns about the cost increase and appreciate your loyalty since 1997. Your input is valuable to us.
Alternatives Considered:
Fantastic Product
Comments: A great product with a great level of customer service.
Pros:
It's easy to understand and drill down to a transactional level. I'd say it's still built for people who have an understanding of accountancy rather then being built for day to day business user.
Cons:
Has stood still for a period in time but seeing more improvements with each update and new features.
Product Activation
Comments: Support and honesty is not their best asset. They are being dishonest and not honoring their perpetual licensing agreements.
Pros:
Very good Accounting Software at the time of purchase, Not so any longer.
Cons:
Peachtree has taken it upon themselves to deactivate perpetual licenses that I have purchased, meaning I have versions 2009, 2011, 2013, 2020 that I use for several different clients. I can no longer use these on my different computer or reactivate them on a new machine. They are trying to force me to upgrade to their cloud accounting system and I do not want my clients information on anyone's cloud. This is the primary reason I purchased Sage accounting to keep data on my own computers. Sage does not have the right to force me to keep my accounting records on a cloud not do they have the right to cancel my perpetual licenses. This action by Sage is nothing less than dishonest and is cheating the customers that the say they value. I have been using Peachtree accounting since their very first version in the early 1990s. now I have to find or write a software to fill my needs.
Sage Response
6 months ago
Dear Carl, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the license activation issues. At Sage, we value our customers and their data privacy. We are committed to resolving your concerns and ensuring your data remains secure on your preferred platforms. Please reach out for assistance. Best, Bethany McDermott Customer Marketing Manager at Sage
Sage50 Accounting
Comments: Sage was a fairly easy program to learn and for the most part efficient.
Pros:
When I used Sage, I liked the line by line transaction flow.
Cons:
I felt like the program, at times, could be quite outdated.
Sage Response
4 months ago
Hi Chelcie, thank you for your feedback on Sage 50cloud Accounting. We're glad you found the transaction flow helpful and the program easy to learn. We appreciate your input on the outdated aspects and are continuously working on improvements. Your insights are valuable to us! I would like to invite you to join our customer advocacy program to connect more on your experience. Plus, you can access exclusive events, content and unlock Sage rewards. Please use this link: https://na.sagechampions.com/join/Gartner to join!
Value for your money
Comments: It is a good buy and good software for bookkeeping and reporting
Pros:
It allows me to upload a file where i have done a classification of transactions
Cons:
Nothing comes to mind as it met all my needs
Sage50 Cloud
Comments: Poor overall, its not a soultion for cloud accounting at all
Pros:
Sage50 is still one of the best accoutning products on the market
Cons:
This is not great for cloud functionallity, too many drop outs or data issues with the connections
Sage Response
2 months ago
Thank you for your feedback, Steven. We're glad to hear that you appreciate the core accounting features of Sage 50cloud Accounting. We understand your concerns about the cloud functionality and connectivity issues. Your input is valuable to us, and we will take it into consideration as we continue to improve our services. If you have any further comments or questions, please let us know.
Elementary product not suitable for business
Pros:
Easy to learn and easy to use as an out of the box system
Cons:
Very limited accounting and treasury functionality. In some respects, you might as well just create your own accounting system using Excel
Alternatives Considered:
On premise title in a world of cloud-based products
Comments: It used to be the only game in town, but nowadays, it needs a true cloud-based version which it doesn't have.As an on-premise software, it worked ok before we moved to work from home as everyone was in the office, so the connection to the server was made over the local LAN. Once WFH started, we had to move and use Sage Drive, an internet-based sharing tool. The data get out of sync fairly quickly. We now moved to a hosted solution but still used Sage50 as it's the only tool that can get the job done for us with our unique setup.
Pros:
That it's the only financial package that can transfer cost codes to our CRM system.
Cons:
The clunky thin server is called SagDrive.SageDrive is a service that allows sharing between a server and terminals via one central point (hosted by Sage). It is slow and gets quickly out of sync with the sage server.
Love Sage Accounting
Comments: It is an easy to understand software, account manger is always there as is the support team if you need them.
Pros:
Easy to use, Logical in the way it works, Great reports and brilliant support.
Cons:
I cant think of anything that would make me use another software
Sage 50cloud Accounting provides for an accurate and customizable accounting solution
Comments: My overall experience of Sage 50cloud Accounting has been positive. To me this software is easy to get into for someone with an accounting background. A lot of the features are intuitive, making the software easy for me to navigate. For small an medium businesses I find this to be an ideal software, that does not overcomplicate accounting processes, and is quite fairly priced.
Pros:
As a user of Sage 50cloud Accounting, where I capture and process accounting information of behalf of my client's business, I do appreciate that there are built in compliance controls that ensure common human errors are prevented. In addition, this software does allow for some customization, such as adding logo or unique design to the invoices.
Cons:
I do not have any complaints of Sage 50cloud Accounting as an accounting software.
Very Familiar
Comments: I prefer sage software as I am more familiar with it.
Pros:
The aesthetics of it and how easy it is to move form one company to another as it was taught in university - has the familiarities of the software
Cons:
It's quite expensive for some small business like ourselves - but can be cheaper
Sage 50cloud Accounting
Comments: I have used Sage for a long number of years and would have no plans on that changing any time soon. I have always had a great experience anytime I needed helped either with a Customer Service Advisor or through the webinars. I have a sense of security in knowing that no matter what I can get help quickly if required.
Pros:
Sage 50cloud Accounting is critical to our Company. We selected Sage because of how easy it was to navigate through the site, the reports we could get from it, having the Customer Service Support and having the Webinars to all fall back on if required. I have availed of quite a few of these and they have been so beneficial to me. Having the telephone support is also advantageous and the security of knowing the customer service consultant will stay on the phone with you until your query is resolved.
Cons:
The thing I like least about Sage is probably Report Designer. This I think is partially my own fault as I need to maybe learn more about the intricacies of it. A webinar is probably in my near future for this.
This is a great accounting tool
Comments: This system is very easy to use with lots of option for reporting on accounts
Pros:
This system is easy to learn and use, with additional options to learn more
Cons:
Sometimes the system can be a little slow on processing changes
Review on Sage 50cloud Accounting
Pros:
I enjoy using sage 50cloud because of its very easy to use interface. For accounting, you can perform all basic tasks to enable you prepare a financial report.Also it is built in such a way that there is some form of control to the activities users can perform simultaneously on the application.I recommend it 100%.
Cons:
The interface does not have a friendly look so if you are not familiar with it, you may believe it won't be easy to use.
A Frustrating Experience with Sales Malpractice: A Warning to Consumers
Comments: My experience with Sage has been extremely disturbing. My company had used their most basic product for a couple years. This product had no recurring fee.A year ago, I discovered an unauthorized charge of nearly $1,000 on my credit card from Sage for a new product that we never ordered. Contacting their customer service immediately, I hoped for a prompt resolution. However, what followed were empty promises, apologies, and a lack of progress, leaving me utterly frustrated.Numerous calls and efforts to escalate the issue proved fruitless. The sales agent responsible for the mistake, [sensitive content hidden], assured me of a swift resolution, but these assurances never materialized, exacerbating the situation further.My experience serves as a broader indictment of their integrity and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Pros:
I never had the chance to use this product myself. My review touches on customer service.
Cons:
Their sales agents are charging for products that were never ordered and their customer service is completely clueless and are incapable of escalating the issue the proper level.
SME accounting buddy
Pros:
I would say sage50 it's a very easy to use and easy to work with accounting solution for small business who doesn’t need so much overhead when it comes to keeping their books good and nice.
Cons:
It's a good tool for small businesses and there's little to nothing not to like about it.
Not very reliable
Comments: Customer support is lacking in understanding how their own program works. Does not understand accounting basics when calling in a problem.
Pros:
The product is easy to use. Reports and integrations are easy to complete and change.
Cons:
To easy to manipulate past data. Import system is broken and allows for errors without indication.
A very happy customer
Comments: Our overall experience with Sage50 Cloud Accounting is very good. We have been using this software for many years and have never considered changing to an alternative. The software meets our companies needs and we are a happy customer.
Pros:
The product is very easy and straightforward to use and meets all our business needs.
Cons:
The overall visual look of the software changed several years ago, with the headers etc. changed to a basic grey colour. I personally found this extremely difficult on my eyes, especially when working on the software for several hours a day. This was definitely not an improvement in my opinion.
Day to Day Use of Sage
Comments: Sage is allowing us to produce up to date cash flow forecasts enabling us to better manage the business.
Pros:
The desktop is easy to navigate. The personalisation of invoices and reports allows you to put your own stamp on the produc.
Cons:
Sage has a tendenc=y to get 'clogged' up at times and can freeze which irritating.
Sage 50cloud Accounting
Comments: Very positive overall experience. The product allows me to be fully compliant for Payroll (RTI Reporting) and for VAT (MTD). I have found it very helpful to be able to cross check postings by simply creating a monthly P&L that I use as the reference point when reconciling the bank account.
Pros:
As a complete novice setting up my own consultancy business as a 60 year old I found the software very simple to use and with all the functionality I need.
Cons:
I have not been able to work out how to change an Employee over from fortnightly to monthly pay runs and so I am having to run parallel fortnightly "nil" Payroll runs and the new "live" monthly payroll.
Convenient albeit sometimes a little overcomplicated
Comments: Reliable and ever present as Sage products are, you may pay more for the name but you know that with Sage products you will get the familiar feel and functionalities and not have to worry about outdated software or major bugs causing you problems.
Pros:
Sage 50cloud preforms consistently and reliably as you would expect from any product produced by Sage. The familiarity is there if you have ever used Sage products which is always a bonus.
Cons:
We used this product for a smaller entity and there were far too many functionalities for a small entity which did confuse some users from time to time
My favourite accounting software by a clear mile - Sage is in its own league
Comments: I love using sage, i use daily in our business, if ever i need assistance from a Sage expert they are available by phone, online chat, or you can jump in daily webinars that run all day for a quick bit of help/ advice. I would never use a different accounts programme, sage has no limitations.
Pros:
Its so user friendly, its so easy to teach people how to use it when they are new to sage. It has an incredible amount of detail in its reporting features - it is very clever, it links with outlook - you can get very inexpensive add ons to aide with credit control. Its so cheap compared to other systems yet so much more efficient. Sage will always be in its own league when compared to others.
Cons:
I have no cons to report, I have found zero issues/ cons whilst working with it for over 10 years.