Payroll software automates PAYE calculations, RTI submissions to HMRC, auto-enrolment, and statutory payments. Our top picks for UK businesses in 2026.
Best payroll software UK 2026
Top-rated payroll platforms for UK businesses.
Payroll software and guides
Payroll software and employer guides for UK businesses
From the best payroll platforms to PAYE, RTI, and auto-enrolment explained. Everything UK employers need to run payroll correctly.
All payroll articles
13 payroll software reviews and guides
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Best payroll software UK 2026 Top-rated payroll platforms for UK businesses. Review Xero Payroll review How Xero handles payroll for UK businesses. Review QuickBooks Payroll review QuickBooks payroll features for UK businesses. Review Sage Payroll review Sage payroll software options for UK businesses. Review BrightPay review Desktop payroll software for UK accountants and businesses. Review Moneysoft Payroll Manager review Budget payroll software for small UK businesses. Review PAYE explained: how employer payroll works A complete guide to PAYE for UK employers. Guide Real Time Information (RTI): a guide for employers How RTI works and what you need to submit. Guide Auto-enrolment guide for UK employers Everything you need to know about workplace pension auto-enrolment. Guide Statutory payments: SSP, SMP, SPP and more Guide to statutory sick pay, maternity pay, and other statutory payments. Guide How to run payroll as a limited company director Director salary, dividends, and payroll for owner-managers. Guide The true cost of employing someone in the UK Employer's NI, pension contributions, and other payroll costs. Guide Should you outsource payroll? When to bring in a payroll bureau or accountant. Guide
Xero Payroll review
How Xero handles payroll for UK businesses.
Xero Payroll is included in Xero's Premium plan and available as an add-on for other plans. It handles PAYE, RTI, auto-enrolment, and most statutory payment types.
QuickBooks Payroll review
QuickBooks payroll features for UK businesses.
QuickBooks Payroll integrates with QuickBooks Online to deliver end-to-end payroll processing with RTI filing and auto-enrolment support.
Sage Payroll review
Sage payroll software options for UK businesses.
Sage offers several payroll solutions including Sage Payroll (cloud), Sage 50 Payroll (desktop), and Sage HR. This review covers the cloud-based Sage Payroll.
BrightPay review
Desktop payroll software for UK accountants and businesses.
BrightPay is a widely used desktop payroll solution for UK accountants and payroll bureaux. Its bureau-friendly features and competitive pricing make it popular with accounting firms managing multiple clients.
Moneysoft Payroll Manager review
Budget payroll software for small UK businesses.
Moneysoft Payroll Manager is a low-cost desktop payroll solution popular with very small businesses and sole traders who want simple PAYE processing without a monthly subscription.
PAYE explained: how employer payroll works
A complete guide to PAYE for UK employers.
Pay As You Earn (PAYE) is HMRC's system for collecting Income Tax and National Insurance from employees at source. Employers must deduct the correct amounts and submit RTI returns to HMRC each pay period.
Real Time Information (RTI): a guide for employers
How RTI works and what you need to submit.
Real Time Information (RTI) requires employers to report payroll information to HMRC on or before each payday. This guide explains what you need to submit and how to do it.
Auto-enrolment guide for UK employers
Everything you need to know about workplace pension auto-enrolment.
Auto-enrolment requires most UK employers to enrol eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension and contribute a minimum percentage of earnings.
Statutory payments: SSP, SMP, SPP and more
Guide to statutory sick pay, maternity pay, and other statutory payments.
UK employers must pay statutory sick pay (SSP), statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory paternity pay (SPP), and other statutory payments when applicable. This guide covers rates and rules for 2026/27.
How to run payroll as a limited company director
Director salary, dividends, and payroll for owner-managers.
Limited company directors can pay themselves through a combination of salary and dividends to minimise tax. This guide covers the optimal director salary strategy for 2026/27.
The true cost of employing someone in the UK
Employer's NI, pension contributions, and other payroll costs.
When hiring an employee, the salary is only part of the cost. Employer's National Insurance, auto-enrolment pension contributions, and employer liability insurance all add to the total cost of employment.
Should you outsource payroll?
When to bring in a payroll bureau or accountant.
Payroll processing is time-consuming and error-prone. This guide covers when it makes sense to outsource to a payroll bureau or accountant, and what to look for in a payroll service.