Paying employees’ salaries may be an easy routine, but making accurate tax deductions with benefits can be a real pain. With the best payroll software designed to streamline the payroll processing of businesses in the UK, you can be sure of automated employee wage calculation, tax deduction, benefits, and pensions management with transparency and accessibility on both users’ ends.
We’ve analyzed multiple payroll solutions to present the best ones to you so you can make an informed decision for your business.
The Best Payroll Software UK
- Rippling – Best for Integrated Payroll Solution
- Deel – Best for Global Workforce Payroll Management
- QuickBooks – Best for Small Business Payroll and Accounting Software
- Sage – Best for Built-in HR Features
- Remote – Best for Transparent Workflow Management
- OysterHR – Best for Simplified Payroll Operations
- Pento – Best for UK Businesses with Integration with HMRC
- Moorepay – Best for Complete Payroll Solution
- Bright HR – Best for Managing Employees’ Health & Safety
- ADP – Best for HCM Solutions
- Show Full Guide
The Top Payroll Solutions Software Reviewed
Whether you’re a small business owner seeking payroll software or an HR professional looking for the right payroll management solution, this guide aims to provide valuable insights into the top payroll software companies in the market.
1. Rippling – Best for Integrated Payroll Solution
Best For | Integrated payroll solution |
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Free Trial | Free demo |
Price From | Starting from £7/month/user |
Top 3 Features | Integration with Common Business Tools, Automated Time Tracking, Expense Management |
Pros
- Supports the creation of custom benefit packages
- Wide variety of third-party integrations for business apps
- Detailed UK-specific resource guides and training, including employee management, hiring, and payment
- Global and UK compliance automation
Cons
- Extensive features can be overwhelming
- No free plan or trial
- Lack of detailed pricing transparency
- Some difficulties with reporting tools
- Delayed issue resolution with customer support
Read our full Rippling review
2. Deel – Best for Global Workforce Payroll Management
Best For | Global workforce payroll management |
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Free Trial | Free demo |
Price From | $29 per employee/month (approx. £22.90) |
Top 3 Features | In-House Payroll Experts, Compliance Monitoring, Multiple Currency Support |
Read our full Deel review
Pros
- Offers international payroll with experts’ help
- Pays workers in 150+ countries
- Offers a free plan
- More than 200 localized HR and legal compliance experts
Cons
- Relatively steep learning curve
- Adding features gets expensive
- No mobile app
- Occasional issues with customer support
- Difficulties transferring funds
3. QuickBooks – Best Small Business Payroll and Accounting Software
Best For | Best small business payroll and accounting software |
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Free Trial | Yes, 30 days free trial |
Price From | £0.40 per month for Payroll add-on; must subscribe to QuickBooks Online |
Top 3 Features | HMRC Compliant, Automatic Pension Submission, Synchronization with the QuickBooks Accounting Functionalities |
Pros
- Great software for payroll for small business
- Integrated with QuickBooks accounting functionalities
- Adjustable, easy-to-use automations
- Automatic pension submission
Cons
- More expensive than most competitors
- Too much price options to choose from
- Steep learning curve for a new user
- Few features for larger businesses
- Payroll functionality is dependent on QuickBooks Accounting subscription
Read our full QuickBooks review
4. Sage – Best for Built-in HR Features
Best For | Built-in HR features |
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Free Trial | Yes, 3 month free discount when you subscribe to any plan |
Price From | Starting from £10/month |
Top 3 Features | Shift Scheduling Management, Mobile Device Compatibility, Data Transparency |
Pros
- Very scalable
- HMRC-recognised software
- Fully integrated HR features
- Free three months of access are available on all plans
Cons
- Can get expensive
- UI isn’t up to date
- Sage Payroll only supports up to 150 employees per account
- Limited features for enterprises’ payroll support
- Customer support could be better
Read our full Sage review
5. Remote – Best for Transparent Workflow Management
Best For | Transparent workflow management |
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Free Trial | Free demo |
Price From | Starting from £24/contractor/month |
Top 3 Features | Global Hiring Planner, Unlimited Employee & Contractor Management, Automated Compliance |
Pros
- UK-specific contracts and benefits
- Offers solutions in more than 200 countries
- Helpful document and workflow management features
- Fair & transparent pricing plan
Cons
- Free trial and plan not available
- Limited HMRC compliance support in certain products
- Limited pension management
- Limited customer support options and availability
- System bugs may affect the interface
Read our full Remote review
6. OysterHR – Best for Simplified Payroll Operations
Best For | Simplified payroll operations |
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Free Trial | Free plan |
Price From | Starting from £25/month |
Top 3 Features | Risk Management, Salary Insights, Flexible Payment Methods |
Pros
- Pay in more than 120 currencies
- Built-in risk reduction agreements
- Contractor-friendly pricing and tools
- Intuitive user interface
Cons
- It charges for currency exchange
- Limited information about pension management features
- Limited information about HMRC compliance
- Limited integration options
Read our full OysterHR review
7. Pento – Best for UK Businesses with Integration with HMRC
Best For | UK businesses with HMRC integration |
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Free Trial | Demo |
Price From | Quote-based |
Top 3 Features | Custom Advanced Report, Integration with Accounting & HR Tools, Payment Edit Until Payday |
Pros
- Direct integration with HMRC
- Enhanced paternity/maternity policies
- Access to expert CIPP members
- Specific features for UK businesses
Cons
- No contractor payments
- Lack of transparency with price offer
- Lack of free plan & trial
- Customer support needs improvement in responding promptly
8. Moorepay – Best for Complete Payroll Solutions
Best For | Complete payroll solution |
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Free Trial | N/A |
Price From | Quote-based |
Top 3 Features | Microsoft Azure-Backed Payroll Software, Payroll Advice from Experts, Automation of Complex Payroll Software |
Pros
- In-depth knowledge centre to put businesses up to speed with the platform
- Comprehensive payroll solution that integrates with other tools like HR software
- It automates calculations to ensure compliance with changing UK law
- Cloud-based solution fostering data accessibility
Cons
- Continuous system updates may affect the reporting and other interface
- Lack of price transparency
- No free plan to test the software
- Does not support unlimited payrolls
- A steep learning curve with its usage
9. Bright HR – Best for Managing Employees’ Health & Safety
Best For | Managing employees’ health and safety |
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Free Trial | Demo |
Price From | Quote-based |
Top 3 Features | Advanced HR Solution, Health & Safety Software, Employee Well Being |
Pros
- Comprehensive enough to manage employee
- It offers advanced payroll solution
- Good customer support
- It offers a central storage of employee documentation with easy accessibility
Cons
- Price information is not available to the public
- There is no free plan
- Beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform easily
10. ADP – Best for HCM Solutions
Best For | UK businesses with HMRC integration |
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Free Trial | Demo |
Price From | Quote-based |
Top 3 Features | Global Payroll, Talent Management, Compliance Monitoring |
Pros
- Global payroll with HR solutions
- Intuitive employer and employee-facing mobile app
- Multiple products to support business growth
- It offers customizable HCM solutions for businesses of all sizes
Cons
- Time and attendance tracking are offered as an add-on, which incurs an extra fee
- Lack of transparent pricing options
The Best Payroll Software Solutions UK Compared
Having explored a comprehensive guide about the best payroll solutions, here’s a quick comparison table that summarizes each product’s strengths and features.
Payroll Software | Best For | Free Trial | Starting Price | Top Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rippling | Integrated Payroll Solution | Free demo | £7/month/user | Integration with Common Business Tools, Automated Time Tracking, Expense Management |
Deel | Global Workforce Payroll Management | Free demo | $29 per employee/month (approx. £22.90) | In-House Payroll Experts, Compliance Monitoring, Multiple Currency Support |
QuickBooks | Best Small Business Payroll and Accounting Software | Yes, 30 days free trial | £0.40 per month for Payroll add-on; must subscribe to QuickBooks Online | HMRC Compliant, Automatic Pension Submission, Synchronization with the QuickBooks Accounting Functionalities |
Sage | Built-in HR Features | Yes, 3 months free trial | £10/month | Shift Scheduling Management, Mobile Device Compatibility, Data Transparency |
Remote | Transparent Workflow Management | Free demo | £24/contractor/month | Global Hiring Planner, Unlimited Employee & Contractor Management, Automated Compliance |
OysterHR | Simplified Payroll Operations | Free plan | £25/month | Risk Management, Salary Insights, Flexible Payment Methods |
Gusto | Automation & Full Payroll Service | Yes | $35/month/contractor (Approx. £27.64) | Employee Self-Service Tool, Flexible Payment Schedule, Comprehensive Benefit Options |
Pento | UK Businesses with Integration with HMRC | Free demo | Quote-based | Custom Advanced Report, Integration with Accounting & HR Tools, Payment Edit Until Payday |
Moorepay | Complete Payroll Solutions | N/A | Quote-based | Microsoft Azure-Backed Payroll Software, Payroll Advice from Experts, Automation of Complex Payroll Software |
Bright HR | Managing Employees’ Health and Safety | N/A | Quote-based | Advanced HR Solution, Health & Safety Software, Employee Well Being |
ADP | HCM Solutions | N/A | Quote-based | Global Payroll, Talent Management, Compliance Monitoring |
How We Review And Test Payroll Products
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular payroll products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Features: We examine the features to determine what capabilities are offered, how useful those capabilities will be for the user, and how the variety of features compare to competitor software.
- Scalability: We look at how many users can be added to a platform, and how easy it is to do so, to ensure companies can bring more employees on payroll with ease as they scale their operations.
- Error Handling: Errors in payroll can be disastrous for a company, so it’s critical payroll software safeguards against them. We evaluate how quickly each software can adjust and fix errors to ensure there are no interruptions in payroll operations.
- Price and Value for Money: We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers a free trial, and if it is transparent about its pricing plans.
- Integrations: We evaluate the integrations of each piece of software to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack, and whether its functionality can be expanded as required.
- User Experience: We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain understanding if the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Security: We dig into the security policies of each company, interrogating the safeguards they have in place to ensure the software protects user data properly.
- Compliance: We evaluate payroll software based on whether it offers local compliance when it comes to accounting, taxes, documentation, and more.
How Does Payroll Software Work in the UK?
Payroll systems are designed to streamline the process of managing payroll, which involves paying your employees accurately and on time. There are a number of steps included, so let’s take a deeper look at exactly how these systems work.
- Depending on the system you use, input your approved company’s data, such as company policy information, pay policy, leave and benefits policy, and attendance policy, into the software or integrate your HR with the payroll software to automatically generate this information.
- Capture your employee’s information. This typically includes personal details, tax-related information, salary or hourly rates, and any other information like deductions or additional compensation. If an employee is paid an hourly rate, then you can add time, projects, and attendance metrics.
- Once all this has been collected, you can start what is known as payroll processing. This is where the software calculates gross pay based on the information stated above. Tax deductions, retirement contributions, and any other payroll-related deductions are also factored into the calculations.
- Your payroll software should then provide you with different payment options – either a direct deposit, where the employee receives net pay directly into their bank account, or cheque printing, which generates a printable cheque with all the necessary payment details.
As a bonus, payroll solutions should create reports and offer automatic tax filing based on the latest tax laws.
Benefits of Using UK Payroll Software
Below are the benefits of using UK payroll software for managing employee wages, benefits, and taxes.
Free vs Paid Payroll Solutions in the UK
There is usually a significant difference between using free and paid software. Free payroll software is ideal for startups or small enterprises that want to test a payroll system’s basic functionalities without incurring any additional costs. While free payroll software may be a good option, it has limits such as the number of employees, international payment management, and lack of add-ons; paid payroll software provides the flexibility you desire.
Furthermore, many free payroll software may not provide robust data privacy and security to free users, which is an important factor in securing your company’s financial information. To determine which of the best free payroll software is right for you, you need to understand their working process.
How to Choose UK Payroll Software Solutions
These are some important factors every business owner and employers in the UK needs to consider when choosing payroll software:
Understand your business size and complexity so you can map out critical features to look out for in payroll software. Larger companies with more employees have different payroll requirements when compared to smaller companies. You also want to ensure you choose a solution that is scalable so it can accommodate a growing business.
Consider your business’ continuous spending capacity on payroll tools to determine which one offers the features you need within your budget.
Look for tools that will be easy to set up and use on an ongoing basis for your payroll and HR professionals. If possible, complete a trial or demo to determine a tool’s usability.
Regardless of your business’s current size, look for solutions that have multiple pricing tiers and features geared toward both SMBs and enterprises.
Prioritize solutions with both self-service and guided customer support resources. Pay close attention to providers’ support hours and any limitations in your time zone.
Regulations differ depending on your location, so, as a UK business, it’s important to ensure the solution you choose is compliant and up-to-date with UK tax laws. This is important so that accurate deductions can be made to save you from any potential penalties.
The payroll solution you choose should be able to integrate with your existing business tools, like HR and accounting software. The more a payroll solution can integrate with other systems, the easier it will be to consolidate employee data as well as reduce any potential errors.