Best Payroll Software in the UK today

Payroll Software Reviews

Sage Payroll

quickbooks payroll

QuickBooks Payroll

Independent Reviews of the Best UK Payroll Software

Choosing the right payroll software is a critical decision for UK businesses. Payroll systems are responsible for accurate salary calculations, PAYE submissions, National Insurance contributions, pension auto-enrolment, and full compliance with HMRC regulations. A mistake in payroll can lead to penalties, employee dissatisfaction, and unnecessary administrative burden.

This Payroll Software Reviews hub page is designed to help UK employers, accountants, and payroll professionals navigate the market with confidence. Here you’ll find independent, in-depth reviews of leading UK payroll software, each analysed for compliance, features, pricing, ease of use, and real-world suitability.

Rather than offering superficial comparisons, this page serves as a central gateway to detailed, standalone payroll software reviews, allowing you to explore each solution individually and choose the one that best fits your business needs.

What Are Payroll Software Reviews?

Payroll software reviews are structured, professional evaluations of payroll systems used by UK businesses to manage employee pay and statutory reporting.

A high-quality payroll software review typically assesses:

  • HMRC compliance and RTI submissions;
  • Accuracy of payroll calculations;
  • Pension auto-enrolment capabilities;
  • Ease of use for employers and payroll teams;
  • Integration with accounting software;
  • Pricing transparency and scalability;
  • Suitability for different business sizes.

On this page, we collect and organise expert payroll software reviews, each linking to a dedicated page with a full breakdown of the platform.

How Our Payroll Software Reviews Are Structured

Each payroll software listed below has its own dedicated review page. These reviews follow a consistent, transparent framework to ensure fairness and comparability.

Our review methodology includes:

  • Overview of the payroll software and provider;
  • Core payroll and HMRC features;
  • Compliance with UK legislation;
  • Strengths and limitations;
  • Ideal business use cases;
  • Final expert verdict.

This hub page exists purely to guide you to the most relevant reviews, not to replace them.

Who Should Use Payroll Software Reviews?

Payroll software reviews are especially valuable for:

  • Small and medium-sized UK businesses managing PAYE in-house;
  • Startups and new employers setting up payroll for the first time;
  • Accountants and payroll bureaus managing multiple clients;
  • HR professionals responsible for payroll accuracy and compliance;
  • Directors and business owners comparing payroll solutions before switching.

If your business processes payroll in the UK, understanding the differences between payroll platforms is essential.

Key Factors Covered in Our Reviews

While each payroll system is different, our reviews consistently examine the following UK-specific factors:

  • HMRC Compliance

All reviewed payroll software is evaluated for Real Time Information (RTI) submissions, PAYE calculations, and alignment with HMRC requirements.

  • Pension Auto-Enrolment

We assess how well each platform handles workplace pensions, including integrations with providers like NEST, The People’s Pension, and NOW: Pensions.

  • Usability and Automation

Ease of use matters. Reviews analyse setup time, payroll runs, error prevention, and automation features.

  • Pricing and Scalability

Payroll costs can grow as your business scales. Our reviews highlight pricing structures, employee limits, and hidden costs.

  • Integrations

We examine compatibility with accounting systems, HR tools, and reporting workflows.

Why Use a Payroll Software Review Hub?

Many comparison pages oversimplify payroll software by assigning scores or rankings without context. This hub approach is different.

Benefits of using this Payroll Software Reviews page include:

  • Neutral, structured access to individual reviews;
  • No forced “top pick” bias;
  • Easier comparison between similar solutions;
  • Clear navigation to detailed analysis;
  • Better decision-making for compliance-critical software.

This page acts as a central reference point rather than a sales-driven comparison table.

How to Choose the Right Payroll Software

Before selecting payroll software, consider:

  • Number of employees;
  • Payroll frequency (weekly, monthly);
  • PAYE complexity (directors, contractors, benefits);
  • Pension scheme requirements;
  • Internal payroll expertise;
  • Budget and long-term scalability.

We recommend reading at least two or three individual payroll software reviews before making a final decision.

Payroll software is not one-size-fits-all. The “best” payroll system depends on your business structure, compliance needs, and operational priorities.

This Payroll Software Reviews hub page exists to give you clear, unbiased access to detailed payroll software evaluations, helping you make informed decisions with confidence.

Use the links above to explore each review in depth and choose payroll software that aligns with your UK business requirements.