QuickBooks Payroll vs Bright

Gusto

Xero

Paychex Flex

RUN Powered by ADP

Sage 50 Accounting

Capium

Compare QuickBooks Payroll and Bright based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

With Gusto, you get modern HR features like payroll, benefits, hiring, management resources, and more — all in one place. Gusto is proud to serve more than 400,000 businesses in the US with a single trusted system, competitive compensation tools, and expert guidance to help you empower your team.

RUN Powered by ADP® helps small businesses automate payroll, file taxes and manage HR with ease. From AI-driven efficiency to expert support, businesses can take care of their teams anytime and anywhere. 

Paychex Flex® simplifies payroll and HR with cloud-based technology, automated taxes, and powerful tools like recruiting, employee engagement, perks, and analytics. Access it from anywhere and empower your team, save time, and get 24/7 support for your growing business.

QuickBooks Payroll is a cloud-based payroll solution for small businesses which offers automatic payroll tax calculations, integrated time tracking, same day direct deposit, real-time data updates, tax form preparation and filing, and an online employee portal to streamline the payroll process

360 Degree Feedback

Accounting

Alerts/Notifications

Applicant Tracking

Approval Process Control

Attendance Tracking

Audit Trail

Benefits Management

Billable & Non-Billable Hours

Check Printing

Compensation Management

Dashboard

Direct Deposit

Employee Management

Employee Portal

Employee Scheduling

For Accountants

Historical Reporting

Learning & Development

Multi-Currency

Multi-State

Onboarding

Online Time Tracking

Payroll Management

Payroll Reporting

Performance Management

QuickBooks Integration

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Updates

Receipt Management

Recruitment Management

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Self Service Portal

Succession Planning

Tax Calculation

Tax Compliance

Tax Filing

Tax Forms

Time & Expense Tracking

Time Off Management

Timesheet Management

Vacation/Leave Tracking

W-2 Preparation

Wage Garnishment

Workflow Management

QuickBooks Payroll

Android

Web-based

iPad

iPhone

My QB consultant warned me that Intuit payroll is screwing everything up and I should switch to ADP. But, no I did not listen and now they did the same mistake this year.

Co-Owner

Using QBO for my business has been extremely helpful and easy to use. I have been very pleased with QuickBooks Payroll service since I started using the product and the cost is well worth it.

Office Manager

I enjoy the excellent customer service provided each time I have called in. Each representative is patient, kind and you can hear the smile on the other end of the phone.

Some of the updates can be frustrating as well as the importing features (lost files, duplicate files, etc).

Owner

Wonderful software especially for start-ups to set up payroll and ensure all proper taxes, commission, and more is done accurately and easily. Gives great confidence payroll is accurate.

President

Very good to outstanding overall. The software itself is very good and keeps improving.

We went through hell last year, getting this resolved and their customer service sucks.

Business Manager

I like the matching feature. I have to call in quite often for assistance and everyone is always super helpful.

Customer Service Associate

This application is wonderful easy way to manage payroll very user friendly.

ACCOUNTANT

Overall QuickBooks Payroll is an awesome tool for small business. It provides a great service, simple to  use and extremely cost efficient.

Hey, mistakes happen lets just get it fixed. Now my employees have not received their pay, and now no one is available to let you know the issue.

Owner/Managing Member

It is easy to learn how to use this, and the customer support is excellent.

Resident

Works great to setting up payroll for employees, very user friendly.

Single member LLC

I like that it is so accessible and easy. Having been a long time customer of Intuit payroll with my desktop quickbooks the integration of both together has made my life easier.

Senior Manager

This is a great tool to use to keep track of large amounts of data. I would recommend it to large companies.

Accountant

If you are on QuickBook Enterprise, you will have a separate account to administer payroll. It is easy to integrate your payroll with your QBO books which is very helpful.

Installer helper 

I like that everything was free and easy to use unlike other payroll providers that over charge  you for barley even using it.

Teaching Assistant

Quick books Payroll is good for small, uprising businesses that want to keep track of their payrolls and for their employees to also keep track of their payroll.

QuickBooks Payroll screenshot: Multiple payment options are supported by QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll screenshot: All federal and state tax information can be managed using QuickBooks Payroll 

QuickBooks Payroll screenshot: QuickBooks Payroll electronic signature allows users to securely sign tax documents

QuickBooks Payroll screenshot: QuickBooks Payroll users can control the frequency at which payroll is run, employee salaries and hourly wages

QuickBooks Payroll screenshot: QuickBooks Payroll payroll costs and payment types are visualized before payroll is submitted

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

Sage 50 Accounting is an online accounting solution for SMBs with Office 365 integration that helps manage accounting, invoicing, cash flow, inventory, taxes, and more.

Capium is a tax-compliant cloud-based accounting solution with data entry and corporate tax filing capabilities for filing UK taxes. It is a fully integrated suite of core accounting services, including bookkeeping, payroll, accounts production, corporation tax, self-assessment, practice management, anti-money laundering, and more.

Xero is an award-winning online accounting software designed for small business owners and accountants, available on any computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Simplify business admin and get a range of financial insights to help you make better decisions for your business.

Bright offers a suite of industry-leading software solutions for accountants, bookkeepers and SMEs across the UK and Ireland.

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting Integration

Accounts Receivable

Activity Dashboard

Approval Workflow

Audit Management

Bank Reconciliation

Billing & Invoicing

Budgeting/Forecasting

Client Management

Client Portal

Compliance Management

Customizable Branding

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Document Management

Document Storage

Due Date Tracking

Email Management

Employee Database

Employee Profiles

Employee Self Service

Expense Tracking

Financial Analysis

Financial Management

Financial Reporting

For Small Businesses

General Ledger

HR Management

Invoice Management

Invoice Processing

Messaging

Mobile App

Payment Reconciliation

Profit/Loss Statement

Progress Tracking

Project Management

Recurring/Subscription Billing

Reporting & Statistics

Search/Filter

Sick Leave Tracking

Status Tracking

Task Management

Third-Party Integrations

Transaction History

Bright

Windows

Director

It was really easy to set up. BrightPay is an absolute pleasure to use and every time I do the payroll I marvel at how quick and easy it now is.

Warehouse Manager

This is a great help in doing payroll system. It is great in functionality because you can able to track all your employees with a single click and view their work, time and information.

Managing Director

Lovely interface, very easy to navigate, much better than any other system I've used. It's great value for money too.

Process Engineer

Its really amazing since brightpay covers all the aspect of a really great payroll system, easy to use and very effective.

Trustee

Value for money, customer service staff are supportive and helpful, as a charity we have benefitted alot and saved alot of money.

Love the software, love the kind people at technical support and love the vibe that Thesaurus Software are in business to help others do business well.

Found it to be a really excellent system, and with only three employees - free. Had I realised how easy it could be, I would have used it when I was employing 20 people (and saved a fortune).

Senior Partner

The staff members we talk to are very pleasant and helpful and we could not wish for a better service.

director

I looked at the HMRC tools and felt that it was still confusing and I was nervous about being fined for getting anything wrong.

Payroll Manager

I am not a computer buff but this works for me and I can understand it very easily. The price is amazing we have several companies under one umbrella and usually this would cost a great deal more.

Bookkeeper

Very easy to pick up and use with help screens that do just that. So much better than Quick Books (desk top) and half the price for more functionality.

Senior Consultant

On the one occasion I needed support, this was available immediately by telephone. The resolution was immediate and all the more impressive as it was free - really free, no strings attached.

Accounts assistant

I love working with Bright pay. It is so simple and easy to use and is the best payroll software i have used in 5 years.

admin assistant

I love BrightPays ability to be integrated into other CRM platforms.

Another benefit is that it emails PDF payslips all at once. Integrates with HMRC for RTI, and also for coding notices which is great.

Having used HMRC's own system for a number of years (and I found it absolutely dreadful), I decided to bit the bullet and make the switch.

If you do try the trial software. Be warned, it will take your data and then lock it and not give you access once the trial is over.

Very few problems - it just does what it says on the can. Prints and emails payslips - including logo on printed payslips, and sends RTI information to HMRC.

QuickBooks Payroll vs Bright Comparison (2026)

QuickBooks Payroll

Bright

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives