A three-way comparison of the leading UK payroll platforms for accounting firms, with honest recommendations for bureaus, tech-forward practices, and Sage users.
Feature-rich payroll software trusted by thousands of UK bureaus, now transitioning to cloud.
Best for: Payroll bureaus and firms processing payroll for multiple clients
Pricing: BrightPay Connect from around £7/month per employer. Bureau pricing available.
API-first cloud payroll built for integration and automation.
Best for: Tech-savvy firms wanting payroll that integrates deeply with other systems
Pricing: From around £1/employee/month. Bureau and volume pricing available.
Established UK payroll solution from the trusted Sage brand.
Best for: Firms already in the Sage ecosystem wanting integrated payroll
Pricing: Sage Payroll from around £7/month plus per-employee costs. Contact for practice pricing.
How BrightPay, Staffology, and Sage Payroll compare across the features that matter most for UK payroll.
| Feature | BrightPay | Staffology | Sage Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTI Submissions | Full RTI with real-time validation | Automated RTI via API | Reliable HMRC submissions |
| Auto-Enrolment | Built-in assessment and communications | Automated pension management | Comprehensive pension compliance |
| Multi-Employer Management | Excellent bureau-style multi-company handling | Multi-employer via API | Basic multi-company support |
| Cloud Access | Desktop-first with cloud add-on | Fully cloud-native platform | Cloud-based with Sage ecosystem |
| API & Integrations | Limited third-party integrations | Extensive RESTful API for developers | Integrates within Sage ecosystem |
| Employee Portal | BrightPay Connect self-service portal | Employee self-service dashboard | Sage employee self-service |
| User Interface | Clean, intuitive desktop interface | Modern but developer-oriented | Functional but dated in places |
| Pricing | Competitive annual licence per employer | Per-employee monthly pricing | Higher cost, bundled with Sage suite |
| Bureau Features | Purpose-built bureau edition with batch processing | Bureau tools available via API | Limited bureau-specific features |
| Payslip Distribution | Email and portal distribution | Email and portal delivery | Email and portal payslips |
| Complex Payroll | Handles most UK payroll scenarios | Good coverage of complex rules | Strong support for complex pay structures and CIS |
| Support | Email and phone support | Email support, developer docs | Dedicated account management and phone support |
The right choice depends on your practice type, technical needs, and existing software ecosystem.
BrightPay
BrightPay is the standout choice for payroll bureaus. Its purpose-built bureau edition, batch processing, competitive pricing per employer, and intuitive interface make it the most practical option for firms managing payroll across multiple clients.
Read full BrightPay review →Staffology
If your firm builds custom integrations or wants a fully cloud-native payroll engine, Staffology delivers. Its extensive API and modern architecture make it ideal for practices that want to automate payroll workflows programmatically.
Read full Staffology review →Sage Payroll
If your practice already runs on Sage for accounts and bookkeeping, Sage Payroll slots in seamlessly. It handles complex pay structures well and offers strong support, though the higher price point means it suits firms already committed to the Sage platform.
Read full Sage Payroll review →Book a free discovery call and we will help you choose the right payroll setup for your practice.
Book a Free Call →