Payroll can be made a whole lot easier if you have the right software. Automating routine tasks and making payment easier for workers, whatever their working and pay structure, will save you time and energy in your day-to-day.
We’ll be looking at some of the best payroll software for small businesses in the UK, including features and pricing.
Payroll software solution reviews
Employment Hero
Sage UK
Xero
Quickbooks
Moorepay
PayFit
HiBob
Cintra (PSSG)
ACCESS UK LTD
Monday.com
How much should I expect to pay for payroll software?
This will vary between platforms. Some offerings, like the one from Employment Hero, have a free option for the most basic package. Be warned that they are more limited. Others start at a few pounds per user per month (‘per user, per month’ is how these packages are normally priced) but might include extras such as a subscription fee. Be sure to read the terms carefully. If you’re still unsure, many of the following platforms have a free trial period.
As this article was published in January, there will be discounts on some of the products which may have expired by the time you read this.
How we’ve set out these payroll software solutions
Like many other types software, these platforms will offer up largely similar packages. All of the products below are cloud-based and recognised by HMRC, so we’ve tried to pick out some of the more unique features in each. As well as pricing, we’ve focused on integrations (so that you can integrate existing data into your new payroll platform) and Trustpilot reviews. Bear in mind that reviews might be for a broader product – say, HR – rather than payroll specifically. The rating is there to give you an idea of how customers have rated the companies.
Employment Hero
Suitable for any size of business, but a good one if you just need the bare bones.
Features
No limit to how many employees you can have on the system
Auto submits RTI and PAYE after configuring your payroll only once
Be alerted if information is missing
Gross-to-net, run variance and pension contribution reports
Trustpilot rating: 3.9 (374 reviews)
Integrations:
Pricing
Free (doesn’t include integrations and PAYE configuration)
Payroll Premium: £2 per employee per month
Payroll Managed: £12 per employee per month
Sage UK
https://www.sage.com/en-gb/sage-business-cloud/payroll
Good for businesses that have 1-150 employees.
Features
Additional modules for timesheets, shift scheduling, recruitment and expenses
Regular talks and articles from experts around payroll
Take software certifications to bolster your knowledge
Scalable with the size of your business with flexible modules and plans
Trustpilot rating: 3.8 (19,000)
Integrations:
Sage Accounting
Deputy
Stripe
Zapier
Pricing
Payroll Essentials: £2 per month for the first three months; then £20 per month
Payroll Standard: £4 per month for the first three months; then £40 per month
Payroll Premium: £6 per month for the first three months; then £60 per month
Xero
https://www.xero.com/uk/try-now/payroll-software
Suitable for most small businesses.
Features
Built-in timesheets
Payroll tasks and reminders with calendar view of employee leave and birthdays and upcoming HMRC payment dates
Pay different staff at different intervals, such as office workers vs factory workers
Set up for IR35 workers with simplified entry of worker information
Trustpilot review: 4.1 (10,000 reviews)
Integrations
Stripe
Square
HubSpot
Employment Hero
Pricing
Simple: 70p per month (usually £7)
Grow: £3.70 per month (usually £16)
Comprehensive: £5 per month (usually £50)
Ultimate: £6.50 per month (usually £65)
Quickbooks
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/payroll
Suitable for sole traders and small businesses.
Features
No commitment and you can cancel anytime
Automatically calculate contractor/sub-contractor deductions from file construction industry scheme taxes straight to the taxman
Automatically send details to NEST, Smart Pension, People’s Pension, NOW and Aviva
Free onboarding session
Trustpilot review: 4.0 (16,000 reviews)
Integrations
Quickbooks Connector apps (Etsy, Square, PayPal, Amazon)
Stripe
Wise
Pricing
Sole Trader: £1 per month for six months; then £10 per month
Simple Start: £1.60 per month for six months; then £16 per month
Essentials: £3.80 per month for six months; then £38 per month
Plus: £5.60 per month for six months; then £56 per month
Advanced: £12.30 per month for six months; then £123 per month
Moorepay
https://www.moorepay.co.uk/
Suitable for most businesses.
Features
Built on Microsoft Azure technology
Accredited by the CIPP’s Payroll Assurance scheme
Open API infrastructure means you can connect existing software, ensuring more accurate data
Bulk upload timesheets
Trustpilot review: 4.5 (1,800 reviews)
Integrations
Microsoft 365
Sage
People HR
Dropbox
Pricing
Bespoke
PayFit
https://payfit.com/uk
Separate offerings for businesses with under 25 employees and over 25 employees.
Features
Get set up in three steps
Allows employees to scan and upload receipts
Automatic updates for every payroll regulation
Performance review software to help employees work towards their goals
Trustpilot rating: 4.4 (979 reviews)
Integrations
Oracle Netsuite
Smart Pension
Spendesk
Leapsome
Pricing
If you have under 25 employees, there are three packages available:
Light: £5 per employee per month + a £29 monthly subscription fee
Standard: £6 per employee per month + £59 monthly subscription fee
Premium: £7 per employee per month + £119 monthly subscription fee
Bespoke packages for businesses with over 25 employees.
HiBob
https://www.hibob.com/features/payroll-hub
Geared towards larger businesses – Growth (fewer than 200 employees), Scale (200-1,000 employees) and Enterprise (1,000+ employees).
Features
AI-powered platform connects to data to give you more focused insights
Support from CIPP-certified payroll professionals
Automate payroll onboarding and termination of employees
Support for IR-35 contractors and flexible employees like part-time, zero-hour, seasonal and shift workers with different overtime or hourly rates
Trustpilot review: 4.4 (151 reviews)
Integrations
Pricing
Bespoke
Cintra (PSSG)
Different packages for companies under 200 employees and over 200 employees.
Features
Advanced cybersecurity, Cyber Essentials Certified Plus
Scale with your business using flexible modules
Opportunities for customisation
Emergency payroll assistance is available in case BACS fails, for example
Trustpilot rating: 3.5 (50 reviews)
Integrations
Xero
Microsoft 365
Google Workspace
Pricing
Bespoke
ACCESS UK LTD
https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb
Geared more towards medium-large businesses.
Features
AI-enabled software experience
Expense management tool in the app enables employees to upload receipts and file reimbursement claims for
Custom infographics so you can bring your data alive
All-inclusive unlimited training
Trustpilot rating: 4.6 (50 reviews)
Integrations
Microsoft 365
Experian
HMRC Making Tax Digital
Pricing
Bespoke
Monday.com
https://monday.com/w/platform
Suitable for most businesses, but has a greater focus on HR than payroll.
Features
Time Tracking app
Templated checklist for recruitment and onboarding
Automated notifications for HR requests
Competence management models and performance review templates
Trustpilot rating: 2.8 (3,400 reviews)
Integrations
G Suite
Calendly
Tracket
HubSpot
Pricing
Free: £0
Standard: £11 per seat per month
Pro: £17 per seat per month
Enterprise: Bespoke
I’m still not sure about which payroll software to go for
It can be helpful to connect with your network in this case. Your accountant will have a good idea of what’s out there, and your small business network will likely have their own recommendations.
Read more
Hired your first employee? Here’s how to set up payroll – We’ve teamed up with Sage to explain the basics of payroll. Learn what payroll is, how to register and more
How to spend less time on accounting and payroll – Here some helpful accountancy and payroll software and practices can make the process less complicated and less time-consuming
