Running payroll properly is one of those small business tasks you can’t really afford to get wrong. Employees need to be paid accurately and on time, while HMRC submissions, pension deductions, tax codes, payslips and year-end reporting all need to be handled correctly.
The right payroll provider can take a lot of that admin off your plate. Some platforms are designed for straightforward UK payroll, while others combine payroll with HR software, managed payroll support or international hiring services.
In this guide, we compare some of the best payroll providers for small businesses, including UK payroll platforms, managed payroll services and global payroll providers for businesses hiring overseas, icnlduing:
Best payroll providers at a glance
| Provider | Best for | Pricing |
| Employment Hero | All-in-one HR and payroll software | From £3.20 per employee/month for Core Payroll |
| PSSG | Outsourced payroll and payroll bureau support | Custom quote |
| Oyster | Global payroll, contractors and EOR | Contractor management from US$29 (£22) per contractor/month; EOR from US$699 (£529) per employee/month |
| Moorepay | Managed UK payroll and HR support | Custom quote |
| Pebl | International payroll and employer of record support | Custom quote |
| Deel | Global payroll, contractors and EOR | Global Payroll from US$29 (£22) per employee/month; Contractor Management from US$49 (£37) per contractor/month |
*We’ve converted USD prices into GBP as a guide only. Exchange rates change, and final pricing may depend on country, plan, contract terms, headcount and payroll requirements.
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is ideal for small businesses that want payroll and HR software in one place. Its UK Core Payroll plan allows you to automate payroll admin, manage employee records, process payslips and handle HMRC submissions from a single platform.
It is particularly useful if you want payroll to connect with wider people management tasks, such as leave, timesheets, onboarding and employee self-service. That makes it a good fit for growing businesses that do not want payroll to sit in a separate spreadsheet or disconnected system.
Employment Hero also offers higher-tier HR tools and add-ons, so you can start with payroll and build out the platform as your team grows.
Key features
- HMRC-recognised payroll
- Automated payroll calculations
- RTI submissions
- Employee self-service
- HR and payroll integration
Employment Hero pricing
| Core Payroll | From £3.20 per employee/month |
| Contract minimums | May apply |
PSSG
PSSG, or Payroll Software & Services Group, provides payroll software and outsourced payroll support for UK and international businesses. It’s less of a simple self-serve payroll app and more of a specialist payroll services group, which makes it a good fit if you want expert help managing payroll complexity.
For small businesses, PSSG may be most useful if you want to outsource payroll rather than run everything in-house. That could include payroll processing, payslips, pension-related tasks, reporting and wider HR or business support, depending on the service you choose.
Because PSSG works through a range of payroll and HR services, pricing is not listed as a simple monthly plan. You will need to speak to the provider for a quote based on your payroll size and requirements.
Key features
- Payroll outsourcing options
- Payroll software and services
- UK and international payroll support
- HR and business support services
- Suitable for more complex payroll needs
PSSG pricing
| Payroll software and services | Custom quote |
| Outsourced payroll | Custom quote |
Oyster
Oyster is a global employment platform built for businesses that hire people in different countries. It is not the simplest choice if you only need to run payroll for a small UK team, but it becomes much more relevant if you work with international contractors or want to employ people overseas without setting up a local entity.
Through Oyster, you can hire and pay contractors, run global payroll in supported countries, and use Employer of Record (EOR) services to employ full-time staff abroad. That makes it particularly useful for remote-first businesses or companies that rely on a global workforce.
The main trade-off is cost and complexity. If you just need UK payroll, Oyster is likely to be more than you need. If international hiring is part of your growth plan, it can help keep payroll, compliance and worker management under one roof.
Key features
- Global contractor management
- Employer of record services
- Global payroll in supported countries
- International onboarding
- Compliance support for overseas hiring
Oyster pricing
| Contractor management | From US$29 (£22) per contractor/month |
| Employer of record | From US$699 (£529) per employee/month |
| Global payroll | Pricing varies |
Moorepay
Moorepay is one of the better-known UK payroll and HR providers, offering payroll software, managed payroll and HR support. It is a good option for small businesses that need more support than a basic payroll tool provides, especially if they would rather have expert help available when something changes.
The service is designed to help businesses manage core payroll tasks such as payslips, deductions, HMRC reporting, pensions and compliance. Moorepay also offers HR services, which may appeal if you want payroll and employment support from the same provider.
It is particularly well-suited to businesses that want a managed or supported payroll service rather than doing everything themselves. Pricing is tailored, so you need to request a quote.
Key features
- Managed payroll services
- Payroll software
- HMRC payroll support
- Pension and deduction handling
- Optional HR support
Moorepay pricing: Custom quote
| Payroll software | Custom quote |
| Managed payroll | Custom quote |
| HR support | Custom quote |
Pebl
Pebl is a global workforce platform focused on international employment, payroll and employer of record services. Like Oyster and Deel, it is best suited to businesses hiring across borders rather than those looking for a basic UK payroll tool.
Pebl can help you hire, pay and manage employees in countries where you don’t have your own legal entity. Its EOR service handles areas such as local payroll, employment compliance, statutory benefits and onboarding, while the business manages the employee’s day-to-day work.
For UK small businesses, Pebl is most relevant if you are expanding internationally, hiring a key person overseas, or want one platform to support global workforce management. If your entire team is UK-based, a domestic payroll provider is likely to be simpler and cheaper.
Key features
- Employer of record services
- Global payroll support
- Hiring in 185+ countries
- Local compliance support
- International onboarding and workforce management
Pebl pricing: Custom quote
| Employer of record | Custom quote |
| Global payroll | Custom quote |
| International workforce support | Custom quote |
Deel
Deel is a global HR and payroll platform aimed at businesses that hire employees and contractors across multiple countries. It offers several different services, including global payroll, contractor management, employer of record support and HR tools.
For small businesses, Deel is most useful if your team is already international or likely to become international. You can use it to pay overseas contractors, run payroll in countries where you have entities, or hire employees through Deel’s EOR service where you do not.
Deel is more transparent on pricing than many global payroll providers, with published starting prices for global payroll and contractor management. However, costs can rise depending on the countries you operate in and the services you need, so it’s worth checking the full quote carefully.
Key features
- Global payroll
- Contractor management
- Employer of record services
- HR tools and employee records
- International compliance support
Deel pricing
| Global Payroll | From US$29 (£22) per employee/month |
| Contractor Management | From US$49 (£37) per contractor/month |
| Employer of Record | Pricing varies by plan and country |
Which payroll provider is right for your business?
If you only need to pay a UK-based team, start with a provider built around UK payroll. Employment Hero is a good option if you want payroll software with connected HR tools, while Moorepay and PSSG are better suited to businesses that want a more managed or outsourced service.
If you are hiring internationally, the decision changes. Oyster, Deel and Velocity Global / Pebl are designed for businesses managing people across borders. They can help with global payroll, contractor payments and employer of record services, but they are likely to be more expensive and more complex than a domestic UK payroll platform.
Before choosing a provider, think about how much support you need, whether you want to run payroll yourself or outsource it, and whether your team is based only in the UK or spread across several countries. It is also worth checking contract terms, minimum monthly fees, HMRC functionality, pension support and whether the system integrates with your accounting or HR software.
