HR & payroll · Head to head
BrightPay vs Xero Payroll
The payroll specialist versus the ledger add-on. BrightPay is a favourite of UK payroll bureaus; Xero Payroll wins hearts by already being where the books are.
BrightPay
8.2/10vs
Xero Payroll
8.1/10| BrightPay | Xero Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bureaus and multi-employer payroll; UK & Ireland | Single small employers on Xero |
| Model | Desktop + cloud backup; annual licence | Cloud-native, per-employee monthly |
| Multi-employer | Yes — built for bureaus | No — one organisation per subscription |
| HMRC compliance | Recognised, RTI and auto-enrolment strong | Recognised, fully integrated |
| Ledger link | Journal exports to Xero, Sage, QBO | Native inside Xero |
| Extras | Bureau features, CIS, powerful reporting | Timesheets, leave, employee app |
Where BrightPay wins — and where Xero Payroll wins
BrightPay
- The bureau choice: many employers, one licence structure
- Deep payroll-specific features (CIS, complex scenarios)
- Annual licensing is excellent value at volume
Xero Payroll
- Nothing to reconcile — payroll is in the ledger already
- Cloud-native; no desktop dependency
- Simpler for owners running their own payroll
Our verdict
Accountants and bureaus running payroll for many clients should choose BrightPay — it is built precisely for that. Single small employers on Xero should use Xero Payroll and enjoy never exporting a journal again.
How we compare: assessments draw on vendor documentation, published pricing, product testing where noted, and our published methodology. Prices are indicative entry-level figures — confirm current plans with vendors. We may earn commission from links on this page; it never affects our verdicts.