Payslip software for small UK employers
Small UK employers have three options: full payroll software, which works out pay and reports to HMRC and may or may not produce payslips; HMRC's free Basic PAYE Tools, for fewer than 10 employees; and payslip tools, which only make the payslip. If your payroll software already reports to HMRC but can't produce payslips, GOV.UK says you can use different software for them.
Make a payslip from your payroll figures in six layouts, free to preview. £3.99 for the finished PDF.
Try the payslip generatorThe three kinds
| Kind | Works out PAYE and NI | Reports to HMRC | Makes payslips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full payroll software | Yes | Yes | Depends on the product |
| HMRC Basic PAYE Tools (free, under 10 employees) | Yes | Yes | Check before relying on it |
| Payslip tools | Some do | No | Yes |
Payslip tools compared
| Tool | Price | Calculates PAYE and NI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayDocs | £3.99 per payslip; 4 for £11.99; free to preview | Yes, 2026/27, HMRC's method | Six layouts, free corrections for 30 days, also makes US pay stubs |
| makepayslip.co.uk | £6.93 per payslip; 3 for £18.93; unlimited £29.93 | Yes | P60s available; no refunds once downloaded |
| Paysliper | $2.99–$6.99 a month | — | Subscription for 30–120 employees; no refund policy |
Prices change. Check each provider's own site before you buy.
Which to choose
- You need to report to HMRC: use payroll software, including HMRC's free Basic PAYE Tools if you have fewer than 10 employees.
- Your payroll software reports to HMRC but its payslips are missing or poor: add a payslip tool for the document.
- You pay one or two people, such as a nanny or a director: a payslip tool that calculates PAYE and NI covers the payslip, with payroll software or Basic PAYE Tools for HMRC reporting.
Questions
What is the best payslip software for a small business?
It depends on what your payroll software already does. If it reports to HMRC but doesn't make good payslips, a payslip tool is the cheapest fix; if you need HMRC reporting, start with payroll software.
Is there free payslip software?
Many tools let you create and preview for free. PayDocs is free to create and preview; the finished PDF is £3.99.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Find payroll software
- GOV.UK — Running payroll
- makepayslip.co.uk — Pricing
- Paysliper — Pricing
Official sources checked 25 September 2026. This guide explains how pay documents work; it is not tax or legal advice.