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Bright Logo

Brilliant people use Bright software

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Bright - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

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All user reviews are verified by in-house moderators and provider data by our software research team.  Learn more

Last updated: August 2025

Bright overview

What is Bright?

Bright provides a suite of industry-leading software solutions for accountants, bookkeepers and SMEs across the UK and Ireland. Our multi-award-winning, user-friendly and innovative products allow users to support clients while profitably running their practices, with the backing of exceptional support. Our product suite includes: • BrightPay (Payroll software) • BrightManager (Practice management software) • BrightPropose (Proposal and pricing software) • BrightTax (Tax and accounts software for the UK only) • BrightCosec (Company secretarial software for the UK only) • BrightAccountsProduction (Accounts production software for IE only) • BrightBooks (Bookkeeping software for IE only)

Who uses Bright?

By industry, Bright reviewers are most commonly professionals in accounting (26%). The most frequent use case for Bright cited by reviewers is accounting practice management (46% of reviewers).

What do users say about Bright pricing?

Most reviewers indicate that Bright delivers excellent value for money, especially for small businesses, and they appreciate the fully functional free version with helpful features. Some users report concerns about paid version costs and client limitations for larger practices.

Starting price

279 /
per year

Bright pros, cons and reviews insights

To determine these pros and cons insights, we analyzed responses from 

Overall rating

Reviews sentiment

 
 
3-4(41)
5(302)

What do users say about Bright?

Reviewers indicate Bright is highly valued for its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and comprehensive payroll features, especially for small businesses. They appreciate its seamless HMRC compliance, quick RTI submissions, and the ability to generate clear payslips and reports. Many find setup straightforward and customer support responsive, with frequent updates resolving most issues promptly.

They report that Bright offers a free version for up to three employees, making it financially attractive for startups and charities. Some mention minor limitations in customization and occasional navigation challenges, but overall, they find it reliable and efficient for payroll management.

Select to learn more


Who uses Bright?

Based on 343 verified user reviews.

Company size

Small Businesses

Enterprises

Midsize Businesses

Top industries

Accounting
Management Consulting
Computer Software
Retail
Others

Use cases

Payroll
Accounting Practice Management
Payroll Software for Accountants
Employee Vacation & PTO Tracking
Human Resource Apps

Bright's key features

Most critical features, based on insights from Bright users:

Document management
Payroll management
Staff management
Client portal
Client management
Due date tracking

All Bright features

Features rating:

Vacation/Leave tracking
Data import/export
Payroll reporting
Third-Party integrations
Tax compliance
Employee management
Employee portal
Employee self service
Self service portal
API
Approval workflow
Project management
Billing & invoicing
Progress tracking
Profit/Loss statement
Payment reconciliation
Onboarding
Mobile app
Messaging
Invoice processing
Invoice management
HR management
Access controls/permissions
Recurring/Subscription billing
Reminders
Reporting & statistics
Reporting/Analytics
Search/Filter
Sick leave tracking
Status tracking
Task management
Time & expense tracking
Time off management
Transaction history
Wage garnishment
Workflow management
Accounting
Accounting integration
Accounts receivable
Activity dashboard
Alerts/Notifications
Approval process control
Audit management
Audit trail
Bank reconciliation
Benefits management
Budgeting/Forecasting
Compliance management
Customizable branding
Customizable reports
Customizable templates
Dashboard
Direct deposit
Document storage
Email management
Employee database
Employee profiles
Expense tracking
Financial analysis
Financial management
Financial reporting
For accountants
For small businesses
General ledger

Bright alternatives

Bright logo

Starting from

279

Per year

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
Paycor logo
visit website

Starting from

Empty state illustration for "No pricing info"

No pricing info

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
Xero logo
visit website

Starting from

25

Per month

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
Paycom logo
visit website

Starting from

Empty state illustration for "No pricing info"

No pricing info

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support

Bright pricing

Pricing plans

Pricing details:

Free plan
Free trial
Subscription

Bureau

279

Per year

Features included:

  • Automatic Enrolment in Brightpay
  • Batch Processing Payroll
  • CIS in Brightpay
  • Integration With Accounting Software
  • Ip35/ Off-Payroll With Brightpay

Copy of Bureau 1

279

Per year

Features included:

  • Automatic Enrolment in Brightpay
  • Batch Processing Payroll
  • CIS in Brightpay
  • Integration With Accounting Software
  • Ip35/ Off-Payroll With Brightpay

User opinions about Bright price and value

Value for money rating:

Of 74 reviews that provide robust commentary on Bright's price and value, 93% mention it in a positive light.

Most reviewers indicate that Bright offers excellent value for money, especially for small businesses and micro-enterprises. They appreciate that the software is completely free for companies with up to three employees, which significantly reduces costs for small employers. Users find the free version to be fully functional, with no hidden catches, and they value the included features such as free online training, video help files, and telephone support. Reviewers also highlight the cost savings on dedicated stationery, as everything can be produced on plain paper. Some users report saving hundreds of pounds annually due to Bright's affordability compared to other payroll software like Sage. However, a few users feel that the free version's limitation to one client is not cost-effective for larger practices, and some express concerns about the cost of the paid version, comparing it unfavorably to other software's monthly charges. Despite these concerns, most users consider Bright to be a cost-effective solution that meets their payroll needs efficiently.

, and

To see what individual users think of Bright's cost and value, check out the review excerpts below.

“We are a small business with under 3 employees but this package will work with much larger enterprises than us but for us it is free to use which is excellent. ”
JT

James T.

Managing Director & Head of Training

“Better yet, if your company only has 3 employees or less, the program is completely free! And even when you exceed that limit, the price is very reasonable.”
AS

Aaron S.

Managing Director

“I needed to renew my Sagecover and they wanted to put me onto a monthly subscription, the amount they wanted just did not represent good value for money to me so I started to look at other options which was a big decision after using the same software for so long and having to learn another product from scratch .”
JK

James K.

Payroll Clerk

Bright integrations (12)

Integrations rated by users

We looked at 343 user reviews to identify which products are mentioned as Bright integrations and how users feel about them.

Xero logo
Xero

Integration rating: 4.0 (3)

FreeAgent logo
FreeAgent

Integration rating: 5.0 (2)

Bright support options

Typical customers

Freelancers
Small businesses
Mid size businesses
Large enterprises

Platforms supported

Web
Android
iPhone/iPad

Support options

Email/Help Desk
FAQs/Forum
Phone Support
Chat
Knowledge Base

Training options

Webinars
Documentation
Videos

Bright FAQs

Q. What type of pricing plans does Bright offer?

Bright has the following pricing plans:
Starting from: £279.00/year
Pricing model: Subscription
Free Trial: Available | (No Credit Card required)


Q. Who are the typical users of Bright?

Bright has the following typical customers:
Freelancers, Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Non Profit, Small Business


Q. What languages does Bright support?

Bright supports the following languages:
English


Q. Does Bright support mobile devices?

Bright supports the following devices:
Android, iPad, iPhone


Q. Does Bright offer an API?

No, Bright does not have an API available.


Q. What other apps does Bright integrate with?

Bright integrates with the following applications:
AccountsIQ, Twinfield, QuickBooks Online Advanced, FreshBooks, Clear Books, FreeAgent, Xero


Q. What level of support does Bright offer?

Bright offers the following support options:
Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Phone Support, Chat, Knowledge Base

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