Save Time with BrightPay: Top Tips & Hidden Features

BrightPay Review 2025 — Features, Pricing, and Pros & ConsBrightPay is a desktop-based payroll software widely used by accountants and small-to-medium employers in the UK and Ireland. In 2025 it remains a prominent choice for organisations that prefer a locally installed application with cloud-linked options. This review covers core features, pricing, integrations, strengths, weaknesses, and who it’s best for.

What BrightPay is and who it’s for

BrightPay is payroll software that runs on Windows and macOS (via supported methods) and handles payroll processing, RTI submissions (UK), PAYE, pensions integration, and statutory payments. It targets:

• Small and medium-sized employers managing payroll in-house
• Accountants and payroll bureaus who process multiple clients’ payrolls
• Organisations wanting a desktop-first solution with optional cloud sync and employee self-service

Key features (2025)

• Payroll processing engine: Handles single or multi-pay frequencies, variable pay, bonuses, starters/leavers, attachments to earnings, SSP/SMP/SSP calculations, and statutory payments with up-to-date legislation.
• RTI and HMRC compliance: Full support for Real Time Information (RTI) submissions, automated year-end processes and forms.
• BrightPay Connect (cloud add-on): Optional cloud sync for automatic backups, multi-user access, online payslips, employee leave tracking, and secure document sharing.
• Auto-enrolment & pensions: Automatic enrolment calculations, staging date management, pension contributions for multiple providers and integration with major pension schemes (including NEST and others).
• Employee self-service: Through BrightPay Connect employees can view payslips, submit leave requests, and update basic personal details.
• Integration & exports: Export to accounts packages and payroll bureaus, CSV/Excel export, and API connectors for select third-party services.
• Reporting & analytics: Built-in reports (payroll journals, NI summaries, employer liabilities), ad-hoc reporting and exportable data for further analysis.
• Multi-employer / multi-client mode: Useful for payroll bureaus and accountants managing many clients from one installation.
• Support & updates: Regular software updates to reflect legislative changes and access to technical support via email/phone/web resources.

Pricing (2025)

BrightPay’s pricing model typically includes:

• One-time licence per payroll file/per user for the desktop software (often annually renewed for updates/support). Pricing varies by country and reseller promotions.
• BrightPay Connect subscription: optional cloud service billed per employee per year or as a tiered subscription — used for online payslips, backups, and mobile access.
• Add-on fees: payroll bureau features or third-party integrations may carry additional costs.

Typical indicators:

• Desktop licence: modest one-off/per-year fee per payroll file (often cost-effective for single employers).
• Connect: commonly charged per employee per year (check current rates with the vendor or reseller).

Because prices change and resellers may offer promotions, confirm exact costs on BrightPay’s site or authorised resellers before purchase.

Pros

• Desktop-first reliability: Fast local processing and secure local data storage, preferred by users uneasy about cloud-only solutions.
• Comprehensive UK/Ireland payroll compliance: Regular legislative updates and robust handling of statutory payments, RTI, and auto-enrolment.
• Strong options for bureaus: Multi-company management and client tools make it a practical choice for accountants.
• BrightPay Connect adds cloud convenience without forcing a fully cloud-native workflow.
• Ease of use: Intuitive interface for payroll administrators with guided processes for common tasks.
• Good value for small employers: One-off licence structure can be cheaper than per-user SaaS subscriptions for small payroll sizes.

Cons

• Not fully cloud-native: While Connect provides cloud features, core software is desktop-based, which may not suit companies wanting a pure web app.
• Learning curve for advanced features: Some advanced reporting, integrations, or batch operations can take time to master.
• Additional costs: Connect, certain integrations, or bureau features may raise the overall cost compared with all-in-one cloud SaaS alternatives.
• macOS limitations: Native macOS support is limited (often requiring virtualization or Wine-like solutions), which can inconvenience Mac-first environments.
• Third-party integrations: Less extensive app ecosystem compared with major cloud payroll providers that offer broad API marketplaces.

Alternatives to consider

• Cloud-native payrolls (for comparison): Xero Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Sage Business Cloud Payroll — more fully cloud-integrated, often with broader app ecosystems.
• Bureau-focused: IRIS, Moorepay — heavier focus on payroll bureaus and HR integrations.
• Simple/low-cost options: Smaller-scale SaaS payrolls that may offer simpler pricing or fully cloud operations.

Comparison table (high-level)

Who should choose BrightPay?

Choose BrightPay if you:

• Prefer local data control with optional cloud features.
• Run a small-to-medium payroll or operate a payroll bureau.
• Need strong UK/Ireland statutory compliance and frequent legislative updates.
• Want potentially lower long-term cost for small employers compared with per-user SaaS pricing.

Consider alternatives if you:

• Require a fully cloud-native workflow with broad third-party integrations.
• Need native macOS-only deployment without workaround tools.
• Prefer an all-inclusive monthly subscription with bundled HR modules.

Final verdict

BrightPay in 2025 remains a solid, reliable payroll solution for UK and Ireland organisations that value desktop performance, detailed payroll features and strong compliance. The optional BrightPay Connect adds modern cloud conveniences without abandoning a desktop-first approach. For bureaus and privacy-conscious employers it’s especially attractive; organisations seeking fully cloud-native ecosystems and wider integrations may prefer SaaS competitors.

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