Payroll software · South Africa · Head-to-head
Deel Local Payroll (formerly PaySpace) vs SimplePay
Two South Africa payroll software options, compared side by side for South Africa trades.
Which should you choose?
Deel Local Payroll (formerly PaySpace) and SimplePay are both Tier A. Compare the typical pricing shown for each below. The tier is not a quality ranking: weigh the pros, cons, pricing and South Africa-specific notes below against your trade and region.
Deel Local Payroll (formerly PaySpace)
Tier A · ListedSouth African-built payroll, now sold as Deel Local Payroll after Deel bought PaySpace
PaySpace was founded in South Africa in 2001; Deel announced it was acquiring the company in March 2024 and now sells the product as Deel Local Payroll. The South African edition automates PAYE, UIF, SDL and COIDA and produces IRP5, EMP201, EMP501 and EEA2 and EEA4 employment-equity reports. It comes in Lite (1-50 employees), Premier (51-500) and Master (enterprise) editions plus a fully managed outsourcing service, and Deel says it has more than 20,000 customers.
Pros
- + PAYE, UIF, SDL and COIDA handled in one system
- + Produces IRP5, EMP201, EMP501 and EEA2 and EEA4 reports
- + Editions from 1-50 employees up to enterprise, plus managed payroll
- + EMP501 support: assisted sessions, an eLearning course or a DIY guide
Cons
- − No public prices; pricing depends on edition and employee count
- − Pricing needs a conversation with Deel's sales team
- − The site mixes the PaySpace and Deel Local Payroll names during the rebrand
South Africa note
SARS's interim EMP501 reconciliation for 2026 runs from 21 September to 31 October. Deel Local Payroll offers three ways through it: sessions with its payroll specialists, an eLearning course on PaySpace University, or a do-it-yourself guide.
SimplePay
Tier A · ListedSouth African cloud payroll priced per active employee, with leave and self-service included
SimplePay is South African cloud payroll software; its terms name Orange Thunder Technologies Proprietary Limited, trading as SimplePay, in Roodepoort, Gauteng. It calculates PAYE, UIF and SDL, generates the EMP201 for submission on eFiling, submits UIF declarations to the Department of Labour and exports the bi-annual tax certificate file for eFiling or e@syFile. One plan includes leave management, an employee self-service app and sync with Xero and QuickBooks.
Pros
- + One plan with every feature; SimplePay says there are no extra fees for features
- + Generates the EMP201, UIF declarations and bi-annual tax certificate exports
- + Leave management and employee self-service app included
- + Syncs with Xero and QuickBooks
Cons
- − Prices appear only through the calculator on the pricing page
- − The EMP201 is generated for you but still submitted on SARS eFiling
- − Businesses with more than 500 employees must contact SimplePay
- − Terms allow fee increases on one month's written notice
South Africa note
SARS requires PAYE declared on the EMP201 to be paid within seven days after the end of the month, and the interim EMP501 reconciliation runs from 21 September to 31 October. SimplePay generates the EMP201, the bi-annual tax certificate export and the Return of Earnings report for the Compensation Fund (COIDA).
More South Africa options
See all South Africa payroll software vendors and the rest of the South Africa directory.