Payroll software · United Kingdom
BrightPay
Most-loved UK + Ireland payroll software — HMRC-recognized, RTI + auto-enrolment native
Market position
BrightPay is the most-recommended UK payroll software for small businesses — strongest forum sentiment in UK accountancy and trades-business communities. HMRC-recognized, native RTI submissions, auto-enrolment (workplace pension) handling, CIS for construction sub-contractors. £79+VAT/month entry tier. Cross-market with BrightPay Ireland.
United Kingdom-specific note
RTI (Real Time Information) submissions are legally required for UK employers — BrightPay handles automatically. Auto-enrolment (workplace pension scheme) compliance built in. Free for single-employee businesses — useful for sole traders.
Pros
- + Most-loved UK payroll software by SMB sentiment
- + HMRC-recognized with native RTI submissions
- + Auto-enrolment (workplace pension) handled natively
- + Free for single-employee businesses (sole traders)
- + CIS for construction sub-contractors handled cleanly
- + Cross-market with BrightPay Ireland
Cons
- − Desktop-software model (with cloud add-on) — not pure-SaaS like Gusto US
- − £79+VAT/month entry tier higher than free competitors (Moneysoft)
- − Annual licensing rather than monthly subscription
Typical United Kingdom pricing
Free for 1 employee; £79+VAT/year up to 10 employees; scales from there
Why this matters for United Kingdom trades
Gas Safe Register (gas), NICEIC (electrical / Part P), and OFTEC (oil heating) are legal requirements — unlicensed work is a criminal offense, and software/insurance must handle RTI, CIS, and VAT natively.
UK trades vendor selection is shaped by mandatory certification (Gas Safe, NICEIC, OFTEC), compressed compliance (HMRC RTI, CIS deductions, auto-enrolment pensions, VAT), and directory-led consumer behavior (Checkatrade, MyBuilder).
Frequently asked
Is BrightPay a good fit for United Kingdom trades?
BrightPay is the most-recommended UK payroll software for small businesses — strongest forum sentiment in UK accountancy and trades-business communities. HMRC-recognized, native RTI submissions, auto-enrolment (workplace pension) handling, CIS for construction sub-contractors. £79+VAT/month entry tier. Cross-market with BrightPay Ireland. RTI (Real Time Information) submissions are legally required for UK employers — BrightPay handles automatically. Auto-enrolment (workplace pension scheme) compliance built in. Free for single-employee businesses — useful for sole traders.
What does BrightPay cost in United Kingdom?
Free for 1 employee; £79+VAT/year up to 10 employees; scales from there. Pricing and availability can change by region — confirm current United Kingdom pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Is BrightPay recommended?
Yes — it is a Tier S (Recommended) pick in our United Kingdom directory for payroll software, based on market fit and reputation. Still compare it against the alternatives for your specific trade and region.