How to Run Payroll for the First Time in the UK: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Editorial Team·3 Mar 2026·13 min read



We compare the 5 best UK payroll platforms in 2026 — Sage, BrightPay, Xero, QuickBooks, and Moorepay — with real monthly costs at 5, 10, 25, and 50 employees so you can see what you'll actually pay.

Sage Payroll vs BrightPay — we compare pricing at 5, 10, 25, and 50 employees, features, cloud access, CIS, pensions, accounting integration, and which platform fits your UK business best in 2026.