UK · Payroll & compliance
Payroll Software
This section covers the full UK payroll software market for domestic employers. It includes independent reviews of every major platform, ranked best-of guides organised by buyer situation, head-to-head comparisons, pricing breakdowns, and compliance guides. Use the links below to find the right starting point for your search.
Best-of guides
- Best Payroll Software UK 2026: cross-provider ranked picks by buyer situation, with verified pricing and honest limitations
- Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses: for under-50-employee businesses where per-employee cost is the deciding factor
- Best Free Payroll Software UK: full HMRC compliance at zero upfront cost
- Best Payroll Software for Limited Companies: director payroll, dividend planning, and limited-company-specific compliance
- Best Cloud Payroll Software UK: browser-native platforms for businesses that have ruled out desktop tools
Reviews
- BrightPay Review: best value for UK SMBs; unlimited employees from £139/year; cloud migration required 2026/27
- Xero Payroll Review: built into Xero Standard; 200-employee cap; no payroll-only plan
- Sage Payroll Review: strong for Sage accounting users; pricing increases sharply at renewal
- Employment Hero Payroll Review: genuinely free for unlimited employees; HR-first architecture
- Pento Review: real-time cloud payroll for 50–500 employees; quote-based pricing
- Moorepay Review: CIPP-accredited managed payroll for 50–500 employees; multi-year contracts standard
- Payfit Review: payroll and HR in one platform for 10–100 employees
- ADP (UK) Review: enterprise and multinational deployments; 8–16 week implementation
- IRIS Payroll Review: four distinct products under one brand; strongest for payroll bureaus
- Cintra Payroll Review: mid-market with named specialist support; now IRIS-owned
Head-to-head comparisons
- Xero vs Sage Payroll
- Xero vs BrightPay
- Sage vs BrightPay
- Employment Hero vs Xero Payroll
- Pento vs Xero Payroll
- ADP vs Sage Payroll
- BrightPay vs IRIS Payroll
- Xero vs QuickBooks Payroll
- Moorepay vs ADP
- Payfit vs Xero Payroll
Pricing guides
- BrightPay Pricing
- Xero Payroll Pricing
- Sage Payroll Pricing
- Employment Hero Payroll Pricing
- Pento Pricing
Alternatives
- BrightPay Alternatives
- Xero Payroll Alternatives
- Sage Payroll Alternatives
- ADP Payroll Alternatives
- Employment Hero Payroll Alternatives
Guides and compliance resources
- How to Choose Payroll Software
- Switching Payroll Software: Migration Checklist and Risks
- How to Run Payroll in the UK: Step-by-Step
- What Is Real Time Information (RTI)?
- Pension Auto-Enrolment Guide
- P11D: Benefits-in-Kind Reporting Guide
- HMRC Payroll Submissions: FPS, EPS and Filing Deadlines
- Payroll Year-End Guide
- IR35 and Off-Payroll Rules: What Employers Need to Know
- Employer National Insurance Contributions Guide
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Guide
- Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Guide
- Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) Payroll Guide
- Director Payroll: Salary and Dividend Guide
- Employee vs Contractor: UK Status Determination
- PAYE for International Employees
- UK Payroll Compliance Checklist
- UK Payroll Glossary: Terms A–Z