Sage 50 Accounts: Understanding Sage 50 and Its Evolution

Is Sage 50 Accounts – Cloud or Desktop software?

Which version will best suit your business?

Sage 50 Accounts, one of the most trusted and used accounts packages for small to medium-sized businesses, has evolved significantly over the decades it’s been around. From the early days as Sage Sterling and Line 50, to the more recent Sage 50cloud, and now simplified as Sage 50 Accounts. 
With all these changes, we can understand that many users are unsure about what Sage 50 actually is today, what features are available, and how it compares to cloud-based alternatives. 

Here we’ll cover:  

  1. The evolution of Sage 50 in the UK 
  2. The recent rebranding to Sage 50 Accounts 
  3. The differences between “desktop” and “cloud-connected” setups 
  4. The benefits of each option 
  5. Which version will suit your business best 

A history of UK Sage versions 

Sage has been around in the UK for over 40 years: .

– Sage Sterling (1980s): One of the first accounts packages developed for small businesses in the UK. .

– Sage Line 50 (1990s–2000s): The successor to Sterling – this was the go-to accounts software for a generation of British SMEs.

– Sage 50c / Sage 50cloud (2017–2023): Added cloud-connected features like Microsoft 365 integration and remote data access – this new name is to reflect those improvements. 

– Sage 50 Accounts (Now): Sage has now retired the “cloud” branding. All modern features are integrated into the core product.. 

What is Sage 50 Accounts today? 

Sage 50 is still a desktop product, meaning the application and data are installed locally. Despite this, there are still many cloud-connected features that you’re able to opt in to: 

– Remote access to data 
– Cloud backups via Microsoft OneDrive 
– Microsoft 365 integration (Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams) 
– Mobile expense capture (via Sage mobile apps) 

So, rather than having separate “desktop” and “cloud” versions, everything falls under the single Sage 50 Accounts product. The “cloud” aspects are features you choose to enable, rather than relating to a separate version. 

Sage 50 Desktop vs. Cloud-Connected Features  

Below we outline the difference between a basic desktop setup, and one fully utilising the cloud-connected features: .

Feature 
Desktop-Only Setup  
Sage 50 Accounts with Cloud Features 

Installation 

Installed locally on PC or server  

Same, but with cloud services enabled 

Remote Access  

Not available 

Yes, via Remote Data Access 

Cloud Backup 

Manual/local backup 

Automated via OneDrive or Sage Drive 

Microsoft 365 Integration 

No

Yes – Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams 

Mobile Access

No

Yes – via Sage mobile apps

Data Sharing with Accountants 

File transfer needed 

Secure cloud access possible 

Internet Required

No (except for updates)

Required for cloud features

Benefits of a desktop-only setup  

Speed: All data is stored locally for faster access. 

Offline Access: Works without an internet connection. 

Familiar Interface: Great for traditional office setups that are already used to the feel of Sage 50. 

Benefits of a desktop-only setup  

Work Remotely: RDA allows you to access the data from any machine that has Sage installed. 

Seamless Collaboration: Much easier access for your accountants through remote data access. 

Peace of Mind: Automated cloud backups to prevent potential data loss. 

Microsoft 365 Integration: Helps massively for document storage. 

Mobile Capture: Take pictures of receipts and record expenses on the go 

You don’t need to choose between desktop or cloud – Sage 50 Accounts lets you combine both.  

Why the recent name change?  

Sage decided to drop the “cloud” branding just to simplify things (and avoid any confusion). Rather than maintaining two product lines, they instead opted to unify everything under one name: 

“Sage 50 Accounts is the official product name in the UK. All cloud functionality that was part of Sage 50cloud is now built in as optional features.”  

This change reflects the reality that many businesses want the familiarity of desktop software with the flexibility of the cloud – not two separate products. 

Remote access before cloud-connected features   

Before the introduction of Sage’s official cloud solutions (such as RDA), many businesses that needed to work with Sage 50 remotely relied on third-party solutions such as RDP, VPNs, or terminal servers. These setups allowed users to log in to a central office machine or server that had Sage 50 installed, effectively “streaming” the desktop environment across the internet.  

While this approach worked, it often required: 

  • A stable and fast internet connection for smooth performance – not as common back then! 
  • Additional IT setup and ongoing maintenance (servers, VPNs, firewalls)
  • Extra licensing costs for remote desktop software 
  • Strict attention to data security and backups

These solutions gave businesses flexibility at the time, but they were more complex and less seamless compared to the integrated cloud-connected features now built directly into Sage 50 Accounts. 

How can 50 In The Cloud help you?  

At 50 in the Cloud, we specialise in hosting Sage 50 Accounts for businesses that want the benefits of true cloud access without the technical headaches. Instead of managing your own remote desktop servers or relying on VPNs, we provide a fully managed cloud-connected environment designed specifically for Sage 50.

With 50 in the Cloud you get: 

– Secure remote desktop access to Sage 50 from anywhere, on any device

– Hosting optimised for Sage 50 performance 

– No need to manage on-premise servers or complex IT infrastructure 

– Both off-site and on-site full system backups 

– Two-factor authentication  

– A simple monthly cost model instead of multiple licensing and support fees   

This approach means you can keep the full desktop version of Sage 50 that your team already knows, while still gaining the flexibility of working from the cloud. For many businesses, especially those with hybrid or remote teams, this can be the best of both worlds. 

Start your cloud migration

Business Needs  

Recommended Setup

Office-based, no remote staff 

Sage 50 Accounts – Desktop-only setup 

Remote team or hybrid working 

Sage 50 Accounts with Remote Desktop or Remote Data Access 

Mobile expense capture or cloud backups 

Sage 50 Accounts with Microsoft 365 integration 

Prefer fully browser-based software 

Consider Sage Accounting (a different cloud-native product) 

Conclusion 

Sage 50 Accounts continues to be a great desktop-based accounts package for small to medium businesses – with the upside of the many cloud-connected features we’ve discussed. The name change doesn’t point to fewer features, instead it’s now easier than ever to get exactly the setup your business needs: 

Sage 50 Accounts continues to be a great desktop-based accounts package for small to medium businesses – with the upside of the many cloud-connected features we’ve discussed. The name change doesn’t point to fewer features, instead it’s now easier than ever to get exactly the setup your business needs: 

  • Desktop reliability  
  • Cloud flexibility  
  • Trusted UK support  

If you’re still on an older version, or unsure how to get the most from the cloud-connected features, it may be time to review your setup.