About BrightPay
Payroll software package that supports weekly, fortnightly and monthly payroll.
Another benefit is that it emails PDF payslips all at once. Integrates with HMRC for RTI, and also for coding notices which is great.
I have been caught out a few times by alterations to the pay of an employee in one month/pay period which do not automatically revert to the stated basic pay the following month.
Filter reviews (287)
Usage
Sort by
Filter reviews (287)

Tom
Best way to do your pay!
Pros:
BrightPay makes payroll easy and has a really modern look. I can train clients to use this in no time at all.
Cons:
The windows and mac versions of the software differ in a few areas which is a real shame. It looks like this may be addressed soon though!
Sam
Alternatives Considered:
Wouldn't use anything else
Comments: It's been essential for me to build my payroll bureau
Pros:
I love that the software is user friendly and intuitive, with a pleasant looking interface. The customer support has also been fantastic.
Cons:
I would love it to be cloud based (which is in the pipeline), and also more batch processing features.
Thesaurus Software Response
4 months ago
Thank you for your review Sam. It's great to hear that you find the software so user-friendly and intuitive. Our fully cloud software is on the way! Thanks again.
Mark
Cheap and easy to use. Could do with more customisation options
Comments: It does the job and is straightforward to use.
Pros:
Inexpensive and talks directly to payroll software.
Cons:
Lacking on customisation and some of the more advanced features available in other software
Thesaurus Software Response
last month
Hi Mark, thank you for your review and recommendation. It would be great to hear your customisation suggestions if you could email us at [email protected] and we can add them to the development list.
Youssef
An easy way to payroll, with BrightPay!
Comments: Overall, I've tested a lot of payroll software, and BrightPay is the most user-friendly and addresses practically all payroll-related issues.
Pros:
This program simplifies payroll processing. The UI is simple to use, and entering salary data is a breeze. The program automates regular payrolls by rolling over numbers month after month and generating variation indications.
Cons:
Until you learn how to enter all the necessary information, setting up an employer in the middle of the year might be a bit difficult. Otherwise, it is good.
Thesaurus Software Response
4 months ago
Hi Youssef, thank you for your review of BrightPay. It's great to hear that you find the software so user-friendly, especially compared to our competitors. Take care.
Claire
Brightpay - employee portal winner
Pros:
That employees can access their own payroll portal
Cons:
Hasn't yet adapted for the recent ruling relating to holiday pay
Thesaurus Software Response
2 months ago
Hi Claire, thank you for your review and we are delighted to hear that you are using the BrightPay Connect employee portal. Please ensure you have ran the latest upgrade, which will be prompted on the main BrightPay screen.
Michael
BrightPay brightens up the payroll process!
Comments: Overall I'm really pleased with the software and they are always brining out new functionality.
Pros:
The user interface is great and very intuitive, the help/support section is very good in helping you get up to speed with the software.
Cons:
The way you have to download and install a new version each year - other providers keep all of your data in one place.
Sam
Alternatives Considered:
Excellent Payroll Software
Comments: Using BrightPay has made running payrolls much easier.
Pros:
This software makes running a payroll easy. The interface is very user-friendly and inputting pay figures is a cinch. The software takes the legwork out of running regular payrolls by rolling over figures month-to-month and providing variance indicators
Cons:
Setting up employer mid-year can be a little challenging until you understand how to input all the relevant information.
Verified Reviewer
Fantastic payroll software that has thought of everything
Comments: Great software and functionality. Very feature rich as well as being easy to use. Good value for money and the support is efficient and thorough, both telephone customer service and support bank of self-help tools.
Pros:
The auto-enrolment functionality is a dream, making light of the entire process from identifying staging dates, right through to generating enrolment letters for staff. The user interface is simple yet detailed and easy to navigate and customise.
Cons:
I have been caught out a few times by alterations to the pay of an employee in one month/pay period which do not automatically revert to the stated basic pay the following month. It would be better if it did automatically revert or the system prompted you to choose how many periods/months should reflect that change.
Seejal
Accurate and best payroll manager
Pros:
Holiday/hours tracking, pay rate management, tax compliant
Cons:
Integration with Bizimply was little hard in the beginning but now it’s sorted
Thesaurus Software Response
9 months ago
Thank you for your review Seejal. We appreciate your feedback.

John
Great value easy to use payroll package
Comments: Very happy to use and recommend the package
Pros:
Good value and very easy to use software that meets all the requirements of a payroll bureau and standalone payroll
Cons:
Not much that we can criticise on the package
Thesaurus Software Response
4 months ago
Hi John, thank you for taking the time to review BrightPay. It's great to hear that BrightPay meets all the requirements for your payroll bureau. Thanks for the 5-star ratings!
Rosie
Decent technology, customer-focused
Pros:
I've used this software over two years and while parts of it are clunky, I love the annual updates and ways they continually change the platform to make it user friendly. It really feels like they listen to customer suggestions and make changes. Our employees love the self-serve model whereby they can access all their pay information on their own without going to HR.
Cons:
User customization could use some upgrades. I'd like to be able to change the formatting and most-used columns and set up my dashboard more to my liking. This doesn't mean the software is not usable, it's just a bit clunky and means I do not work as quickly as I'd like.
Sophie
Best payroll software
Comments: I love working with Bright pay. It is so simple and easy to use and is the best payroll software i have used in 5 years.
Pros:
Is easy to use, the best payroll software i have used. I have been doing payroll for 5 years and this is by far my favourite.
Cons:
Sometimes it freezes and it disconnects from the cloud.
Daryl
Brightpay Review
Comments: We've been using BrightPay for over 2 years now for our 30+ employee payroll, having switched from Sage Payroll which we'd been using for 10-15 years. We have had no reason whatsoever to rethink that decision and have been really impressed with BrightPay.
Pros:
- pensions included as standard - cost - look and feel - multiple users included - online employee portal add-on
PENELOPE
BRIGHTPAY IS THE RIGHTWAY
Pros:
Free for small businesses with 3 or less employees. User friendly. Telephone helpline with very knowledgeable assistance when advice required. Also looks as though they have Automatic Pension Enrolment well covered for the future. Easy to print Payslips, email them to employees whether direct from BP or exporting them so you can file them in your own system.
Cons:
Because of the flexible hours I work I would like the helpline to be available for some period of the evenings and week ends
Philip
Small business feedback using free version
Pros:
It is free for small business users with only a couple of employees It is easy to use and conforms to the HMRC requirements, providing exactly the submissions that they require
Cons:
You need to download a new program each year rather than be able to continue using the same program and just close out the tax year.
Andrea
very good payroll program for small companies
Pros:
very easy to use, no experience needed. I've got only one sometimes two employees at any one time but the customer service is out of this world. They reply to emails are very quickly, although I am using the free version. Very good company/software.
Cons:
not available, there is nothing I like the least.
Alex
Excellent piece of software, and free for micro businessness
Comments: When I started my company 2 years ago, I had a long list of things to get to grips with, many of which I knew eff-all about. Running payroll was high up there. I chose BrightPay because of its good reviews and fact that it was free for micro businesses. Despite knowing literally nothing about what I was supposed to be doing with regards to payroll (back when I had a 'proper' job I basically didn't know why I was getting payslips) the software was ridiculously easy to use and I wasted no time at all in getting up and going. On the few occasions I've used customer support, I've got straight through to a real person who solved my problems instantly. I highly recommend this product for small businesses.
Pros:
Ease of use Cost Customer service
Cons:
For, I suspect, very sensible reasons, BrightPay doesn't offer advice regarding stuff that should be given by a trained accountant. Consequently I went through time time without checking the box that gives you "Employment Allowance" - money back off your employer's NI. Most companies that don't really directly or indirectly on public sector funding are eligible for this, but if you don't know about it you're unlikely to tick the box. This isn't BrightPay's fault - it's not their job to be giving accountancy advice, but it's worth to bare in mind that though the software is easy to use you may still need a few extra pointers from a professional when you start out.
Yusuf
Review from and NGO [Non Governmental Organisation]
Comments: Definitely recommend to other organisations and NGOs
Pros:
Easy to use. Value for money, customer service staff are supportive and helpful, as a charity we have benefitted alot and saved alot of money. Thank you.
David
Best value Payroll Software we have had in 20 years of practice
Comments: Simple and straightforward to install and use [unlike many of the larger competitors] it contains the majority of functions required by most payroll departments. It is so easy to add extra payments or deductions without lots of messing and links. There are so many facilities It would take a week to list them all. A brilliant top value pack.
Pros:
Everything is built in - it is so easy to use There is no charge for charities and super small businesses that wish to run their own payroll.
Cons:
I can't think of any problems - they have all been ironed out over the past few years.
Tony
Simple but fully-featured payroll
Pros:
Full featured payroll software that is completely free for small companies. Easy to learn. Good support from the company, though I've only had to contact them for advice with one problem.
Cons:
Nothing - I like it!
Richard
BrightPay Review
Comments: This is an attractive, easy to use, piece of Payroll software.
Pros:
It's free, ability to see and save RTI message in XML, neat GUI, easy backup, automatic updates.
Cons:
None that I can think of.
Graham
Its so easy.. Dont pay for an bureau!
Pros:
Super easy to use and a very professional looking package. RTI and pension requirements not a problem as all completely automated, Bright Pay does all the hard stuff for you. I still seriously cant believe the annual cost - which is certain other packages monthly license charge!!!
Cons:
The only thing i would like is in 'Additions' for mileage element i would like to put a set unit amount (21ppm) and then on the payslip state how many miles the individual has traveled.
abdullah
Amazing product for employees
Pros:
I have never been so impressed before by a POS system, especially the thought put into employee care as well as making it easier for employers to organize their workforce’s savings, pensions, benefits etc. Very HR friendly.
Cons:
My only issue was that I am a US business and I believe this is meant more for UK businesses. It was very compatible with windows and not so much for macs.
Trevor
Best payroll package on the market
Pros:
Easy to use and help at the end of a phone if you get in trouble
Cons:
nothing to criticize any faults have been my own making
Wendy
User friendly payroll
Pros:
It is very easy and quick to use. I am a very small employer. Up to now only 2 employees. It is easier to use than my last payroll but as far as I am aware provides everything I need. I find it easier to understand than my previous one and my version is absolutely free. What more could you want.
Cons:
I have only been using brightpay for 6 months and have not found anything I don't like about it.