When it is time to set up payroll for your business, you need reliable software to help you. There are many UK-based software companies offering reputable solutions to help you with your payroll needs. From cloud-based platforms to plug-ins suited particularly for accountants, there is a lot of choices out there on the market.
Payroll software can be installed either on a server within your company or a cloud-based solution. Cloud-based payroll software is hosted on the system of your payroll provider and allows you to access the payroll software through an internet browser. The cloud-based solution means your payroll will always be available 24/7, which is great if you want to update information in your payroll software at any time.
It’s common to often wonder who the best payroll software providers in the market are. Payroll is, without a doubt, one of the most important things your company must get right. It can be hard, however, to find reliable payroll software providers to work with, especially if you’re a small business owner or accountant.
Ceridian
- Type: Global Payroll Software
- Pricing: Contact sales
- Available software: Payroll software
Ceridian is a global payroll service and software provider, with a high rating on trusted review sites such as TrustRadius, and a wide range of solutions on offer to suit your company’s needs.
Their payroll management solution with Dayforce means that you can benefit from having constant access to your payroll information, allowing you to continuously calculate your data, and giving you accurate pay and records.
Advanced
- Type: Payroll software
- Pricing: Bespoke
- Available software and services: Payroll, finance, HR, accounting, legal +
Advanced offers its customers a comprehensive range of services including payroll, finance, HR, and legal services, as well as legal and specialized options for public and private companies.
Their software could be a good fit for SMEs who want to be able to get their software and services from the same company, with all of their business needs ready to be met in one place.
HMRC Basic PAYE Tools
HMRC Basic PAYE Tools is a free payroll software for UK organizations from HMRC. This solution’s features include National Insurance number verification, full payment summary, employer payment summary, amongst others.
- Free tool
- HMRC compliant
- Calculates apprenticeship levy
IRIS Payroll
IRIS payroll for business is perfect for you if you want to reduce your administration time. This software automates your payments so that you can always pay your workforce on your time. Some IRIS features include payslip printing, HMRC compliance, job retention scheme, absence holiday diary, and auto-enrolment.
- Plenty of options
- Easy to use
- Excellent telephone support
Moneysoft
Moneysoft is one of the best payroll software in the UK if you’re looking for a platform that offers the best value for money. Some of this software’s features include HMRC and RTI compliance, automatic enrolment, holiday pay, flexible payslips, and online filing.
- Flexible payslips
- User-friendly
- Multiple employers
QuickBooks
QuickBooks is an accounting software package developed and marketed by Intuit. QuickBooks products are geared mainly toward small and medium-sized businesses managing payslips, pensions, and statutory pay, then making real-time submissions to HMRC. Your payroll data is connected to your other accounts, so you get the complete picture of your business – anytime, anywhere. There is one interface to understand and pay just one bill. QuickBooks has three payroll products: Simple, Essentials & Plus with prices currently ranging from £6-15 per month.
QuickBooks has a remarkably wide range of functions, such as extensive pay schedules and the ability to run international payments in multi-currency formats and even make payments in overseas currencies using services like TransferWise.
Xero
Xero, our second contender and probably the best-known supplier in our list has been around since 2006 and its SaaS accounting software has over 2 million subscribers. Like QuickBooks, you can subscribe to a Xero payroll-only plan if you are using different accounting software.
Xero allows you to enter a pay run, make bulk payments, and email or print payslips for employees in line with government legislation. Web access (or via the Xero Me mobile app) gives employees self-service options, making their life and yours, so much easier.
Xero has three different plans to choose from starter, standard, or premium with prices currently ranging from £10 – £30 per month
Xero payroll also boasts a stunning array of tools that only a few years ago would have been the preserve of ultra-expensive top-of-the-range software. Including flexible payment calendars, multiple pay rates, and built-in timesheets, the software is set up as a real employment solution for small to medium companies.
FreeAgent payroll
FreeAgent payroll is our third option. Its easy-to-use HMRC-recognised payroll software allows you to run your monthly payroll and file the PAYE and National Insurance contributions that have also been calculated directly to HMRC.
FreeAgent automatically generates payslips for all your employees each month which you can view and edit online and print them off as PDFs. At the end of the tax year, you can generate P60s for all your staff members too.
The Freeagent subscription package is totally different from our first two contenders in that its charges are based on the type of business you run (i.e.: Limited Company, Partnership/LLP, or Sole Trader) rather than the services you use and includes payroll as standard.
Their monthly pricing starts from £9.50 for Sole Traders, £12 for Partnerships & £14.50 for Limited Companies. If you are a NatWest or RBS business current account holder you can get full access for free, as long as you retain your bank account.
FreeAgent suffers a little on the functionality scores but for understandable reasons. The software is specifically aimed at smaller businesses that may only have a few employees and that will not need the vast functionality of BrightPay. Consequently, functionality is sacrificed to make the UI more intuitive and the price cheaper.
Brightpay
Brightpay is our final contender and is the only service that offers an optional cloud add-on to your desktop payroll software that includes an automated cloud backup, online employer dashboards, annual leave management, client payroll entry and approval, and an employee self-service portal.
BrightPay includes payroll journal API integration with several accounting packages, including Xero, Sage One, QuickBooks Online, FreeAgent, Kashflow, AccountsIQ, and Twinfield. This allows users to send the payroll journal directly to the account’s software from within BrightPay. They process payroll for over 250,000 businesses in the UK & Ireland.
Given that BrightPay is a professional software solution you would expect it to have many more features available to the user. With the option of extending the software to include Bureau functionality, several payrolls can be run from the one program at the same time and BrightPay has superb functionality for more advanced elements such as pensions, payments, and deductions.
Conclusion
The right payroll software can be the difference between a smooth functioning company and a company that struggles with HR tasks. As your business grows, you have more and more employees and need to do more to stay in compliance with employment law. The best payroll software for you will be based on your needs as an entrepreneur, including if you want matched savings schemes and skill set development training or not.