6 best payroll software and services for the UK market, make choosing the best payroll, simple

The bedrock of any business is an effective payroll system, one that ensures employees are paid accurately and on time. But today, modern payroll needs to be much more than that. It has to handle the complexity of UK legislation, including HMRC and GDPR laws, while having the capability to expand as your business grows.

So how do you choose the right payroll system and software for your business?

Making the right choice for your payroll provider raises many questions. Which system is best? What software do you need?

Navigating these options can feel overwhelming. A good place to start is with a checklist. To help you, we’ve put together a comprehensive list so you can evaluate potential providers and choose the right payroll software solution for your business.

Decision checklist:

• Is it the right size for your business?
  Whilst small businesses need something simple and easy to implement, medium to large businesses may be looking for a solution which has more advanced features and is scalable for future growth.
• Is the software within budget?
  Compare different pricing for each model and evaluate it against implementation, training and additional costs for on-going support.
• Do the HR functions meet your needs?
  Look for features that can support HR including time-tracking and employee self-service options.
• Does it keep up with the latest compliance and regulations?
  Ensure the payroll software can automatically update to the latest laws and other relevant regulations.

Must-have features to look out for

Payroll software solutions have a lot of features to consider. Here are some of the key ones you should look out for when choosing the best payroll software for your business.

• Integration — make sure the software integrates well with your HR functions to avoid duplicate data entry and conflicting information
• Compliance monitoring — stay compliant with the latest HMRC and GDPR legislation
• Accessibility — ensure cloud-based software compatibility and mobile-friendly availability to allow employers to run payroll from anywhere, anytime
• Scalability — it should have the ability to evolve as your business grows
• Automation — look for software which automates labour-intensive parts of payroll like calculations, deductions and payments

See how the best payroll software & services compares

Based on the checklist and must have features, we have compared the best payroll software and services in the market so you can make the right decision for your business.

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The pros and cons of each provider

It’s important to consider the needs for your business. What functionality does your payroll software need to support you now, and into the future as you grow? We’ve taken a deep dive into the pros and cons of each provider.

ADP Payroll UK — best for growing businesses and global compliance

Pros:

• Strong HR integration that seamlessly links payroll with HR systems
• Advanced reporting with robust tools for more informed decision-making
• Trusted brand with over 75 years’ experience and a reputation for reliability
• Scalable pricing options to suit growing businesses.

 

“ I've worked with ADP for around 2 years and have found the system easy to use, and straightforward."

Moorepay — basic payroll software for small UK businesses

Pros: Easy to use solution for small businesses

Cons:

• Difficult system to navigate and not very user friendly
• Limited customer support and scalability issues

 

“ Moorepay has a mixed bag of experiences. The payroll setup process hasn't been seamless for all."

Sage payroll — suitable for small businesses already using Sage accounting

Pros: Integrates well with other Sage accounting tools

Cons:

• Limited flexibility and scalability
• Unlikely to meet advanced requirements including International Compliance or payroll solutions

 

“ It's okay once you get the hang of it but it's certainly not straightforward.”

Staffology — lightweight payroll for startups and micro-businesses

Pros:

• Easy-to-use modern interface
• Cloud-native payroll solution

Cons: Lacks advanced features for growing businesses

 

“ We were basically forced into this system when our old provider migrated over, it was supposed to be seamless, it wasn't.”

Employment Hero — HR and Payroll bundle for small teams

Pros: Includes employee perks and engagement features

Cons:

• Payroll capabilities are secondary to HR functions
• Limitations in delivering robust, compliant payroll for complex or growing businesses

 

“While Employment Hero offers some useful features, I found that the other product I compared it to had a more intuitive interface and better overall functionality for my needs.”

IRIS — traditional payroll software with limited capabilities

Pros: Established business with easy-to-understand payroll functions

Cons:

• Legacy technology that hinders scaling
• Limited functionality for businesses with international ambitions

 

“The software is adequate for our needs. There are still too many unexpected glitches. Communication about forthcoming changes to the software could be much, much better.”

What are the most frequently asked questions you need to keep in mind when making the decision?

What is the best payroll software in the UK?

ADP is considered one of the top solutions due to its range of features and the ability to scale up as your business grows.

What features should I look for in a payroll software?

Key features to look out for include HR integration, compliance tools and automation.

Is cloud-based payroll software safe?

Yes. For example, ADP uses robust security measures to ensure your data is safe.

Can payroll software integrate with my existing HR systems?

Modern payroll software should seamlessly link with your HR system, helping to unify employee-related information. This saves you time, resources and errors, while increasing the quality of data.

How do you start choosing the right payroll software?

Start by looking at how well it integrates with HR systems, it’s compliant monitoring capabilities and cloud-based accessibility. It’s also worth checking its ability to adapt as your business grows plus its automation features that help you deal with labour-intensive tasks (e.g. calculations, payments etc.).

Can payroll software scale up with my business growth?

Yes. Modern solutions are designed to be scalable, supporting your business as it grows. For example, ADP offer cloud-based payroll solutions that can adapt to various business sizes and needs, as well as those with complex global payroll requirements.

Conclusion

Choosing the right payroll software solution¹ is an important decision for your business. By reading this guide you should hopefully understand which one ticks all your boxes.

Whatever the size of your business, it’s vital to choose a provider that can help meet your needs today and tomorrow.

ADP’s scalable and integrated payroll solution is a top choice for many businesses wanting to save time, reduce errors, help maintain compliance and be prepared for future growth.

Book a call with our team of experts today

ADP Editorial Team The ADP editorial team is comprised of human resource professionals with extensive experience solving complex HR challenges for businesses of all sizes.

^{1 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-payroll-software-that-is-recognised-by-hmrc}