# Page 2 | Bright Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 2 - Is Bright the right Payroll solution for you? Explore 347 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/126242/BrightPay/reviews --- Bright 4.9 (347) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/126242/BrightPay/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated May 15th, 2026 # Page 2 - Reviews of Bright ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 26-50 of 347 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use LAV LESLEY ANN V. Accountant Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Second to None, simply the best." April 20, 2026 5.0 It's made the management of running the payroll for all my clients so much easier. I love the layout, it's not complicated and so easy to navigate. I wouldn't change to anyone else. Pros I've used Bright Payroll and CIS software for quite a few years now and it is trouble free, easy to use, easy to navigate and the help section is second to none. The support is excellent and quick and the employee management is very easy to keep up to date. It's excellent value and I qould recommend this software without hesitation. I love the layout, which makes so easy to use. Cons I've just moved over to the cloud and I didn't think I would like it but I love it. I was dreading it thinking it would be so different but they have made it so easy to change over and the support was second to none. Switched from [Sage Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/215768/Sage-Business-Cloud-Payroll/) Sage backup was becoming tiresome and lengthy. The product was overpriced and much more complicated to navigate. Pricing structure was rediculous for a very small company. Review Source EG Emily G. Bookkeeper Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best payroll software" April 28, 2026 5.0 Always happy to use Bright and when we get new payroll clients we will put them on Bright for ease. Client support is also quick and readily available. Pros Brightpay is so simple to use and figure out where features are. The navigation is clear, and takes some of the stress out of payroll. Staff also like the ease of the employee portal, as well as being able to see their holiday allowance. The ability to link to HMRC and Nest is helpful too. Cons I like the new cloud software but it seems to have a lot of bugs. They look to be resolved quickly but when submitting time sensitive information it can add to the pressure. Switched from [Xero](https://www.capterra.com/p/120109/Xero/) Xero payroll is not as developed as Bright and it's more difficult to make changes to payroll. We mostly use Brightpay now but are trying to switch Xero payroll customers to bright Review Source FS Faizan S. Payroll Manager Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "10/10 amazing software" August 20, 2025 5.0 Amazing software, the best payroll software i have ever used and i have numerous clients who also love the employer portal side of things too. Pros Very easy to use and user-friendly, can be utilised by novices or experienced professionals relatively easily. Cons The change to a cloud version - i preferred the desktop version, however this isn't a deal breaker at all. Alternatives considered [QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reason for choosing Bright Seemed more user friendly during our demo Switched from [Sage Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/215768/Sage-Business-Cloud-Payroll/) We were not enjoying our experience as a firm with sage, luckily this was recommended to me by a friend. Review Source DF Darren F. Managing Director Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 2+ years ### "BrightPay - Best Payroll software we have used" February 21, 2025 5.0 We have been using BrightPay for the last 4 years. We moved over from Sage due to them increasing their prices. We are so glad we made the move, not only have we saved money, but the software is excellent. We have never had any issues and it integrates faultlessly with Xero accounts. We use it for 2 payrolls and have the bureau version. We would not hesitate to recommend BrightPay and have already done so to many of our business friends. We also take advantabe of BrightPay connect to allow our staff to view their payslips on the BrightPay app. We also use the app for bookig and monitoriin of holidays. Pros Simple, easy to use and has all the features you need plus more Cons The only thning we don't like is when sick leave spans 2 tax years. You have to do a manual adjustment. Only happened to us a couple of times over 4 years and they may have solved/addressed this quirk Alternatives considered [Sage 50 Accounting](https://www.capterra.com/p/174753/Sage-50cloud/)[Xero](https://www.capterra.com/p/120109/Xero/) Reason for choosing Bright WE took advantage of the trial period and ran one of our payrolls side by side to get an idea of what it could do, didn't let the trial expire and purchase the full version the follwing month Switched from [Sage Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/215768/Sage-Business-Cloud-Payroll/) Sage pricing is ridiculous, the price kept increasing year on year and every thing is an added extra or was when we left. Review Source MO Margaret O. Payrol Retail Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Payrol 10/10" April 16, 2026 5.0 Very Good using a long time no issues fing them competitive with pricings & straight forward to use with good Help notes Pros Bright Thesaurus works very well from a payroll point of view very easy to use & great support, always helpful & knowledgeable Cons None- I dont have any issues with the passage the support team are always quick to solve any problems you might have Review Source LW Lesley W. Director Staffing and Recruiting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A software package that does what it says " February 21, 2025 5.0 Good experience the software is easy to use Pros The software is easy to use and the support team respond quickly Cons Nothing to report, the software does what it says Review Source SM Samantha M. swim school owner Leisure, Travel & Tourism Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Incredible company" September 27, 2024 5.0 excellent great company great customer service Pros very helpful clear instructions in a friendly way Cons N/A nothing to complain about product and service always outstanding Switched from [QuickBooks Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/) cost and how simple your system was , sage so complicated Review Source LM Lisa M. Bookkeeper Accounting Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Best software for my practice" August 25, 2022 5.0 Its been an amazing experience with AM. Its only been about 8 weeks since I started the trial so I am relatively new and still working my way through all what it can do. AM has saved me so much time, its connectivity with HMRC was super easy and I got the information within a week. Being able to access all the information without relying on spreadsheets is a bonus. Pros I signed up to a trial with Accountancy Manager after a failed attempt to get another practice management software sorted for my practice. I had a 1on1 meeting to go through the software and for me to ask questions. They send you weekly tasks with short videos to complete. There are software setups and short videos in the actual software that you can rewatch if not sure and their amazing support team and my account manager have been brilliant helping me with any questions. It has saved me so much time, I am able to apply for authorisation from HMRC from within the software, I can get documents signed, clients can send me documents through a more secure means than just emails. Being able to email multiple clients at a time with news or information is a time saver. Tracking if the client has seen an email is a great addition too. Cons The worse bit for me was setting up the templates or adjusting them. As i am with ICB, there are certain paragraphs that I needed in there and i had to do it manually and check each template which took its time. Reason for choosing Bright I took out the trial and tested it over the 30 day period, used the support team and watched the videos. After a failed attempt with another software, I needed to make sure that it was a good fit with my practice. Switched from [Senta](https://www.capterra.com/p/206605/Senta/) I was missold the package based on information i gave them as it could'nt do what I needed it to. I got zero support from the sales team which is were it all started going wrong. 6 months later and I am still not sure that it has all been cancelled. Review Source RM Rasa M. Director Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Superb product for accountants" August 25, 2022 5.0 Pros I have tried and tested quite a few software before I came across Accountancy manager. One had a client database but required extensive work to set up tasks, especially those that are requiring, preset specific templates, another had some features that were required in Practice (i.e. Letters of engagement), but not others, so in fact, my practice and tasks were managed across 3-4 CMR's and client management software, that in combination served my practice management needs. AM was revolutionary, for it had all of the features I wanted and needed in one software. Cons I find filters bit cumbersome. Guess it's a very low price to pay. Reason for choosing Bright Because the Accountancy manager had everything I needed and wanted in one place. Switched from [Capsule](https://www.capterra.com/p/124041/Capsule/) Because the Accountancy manager had everything I needed and wanted in one place. Review Source JW Jennifer W. Director Accounting Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent system for keeping track in my practice" August 27, 2019 4.0 This system has helped me to keep all of my clients and prospective clients details in one easy to reach place. I can now easily keep track of the number of hours I am spending on each client task and it has reduced the amount of chasing up I was previously having to do in order to get paperwork from clients. It has also really helped my practice in becoming GDPR compliant with regards to sharing documentation with them. My clients have also commented on how easy the registration process with my practice is now that I have implemented Accountancy Manager. Pros The amount of client information that you can enter including details of any communication that has occured is extremely useful. I really like the task list and the automatic reminders that can be sent out to clients for various pieces of missing information. I also like the time tracking features and the fact that it is GDPR compliant. Cons I found the initial setup quite difficult to get to grips with and trying to tailor each template that was in the system was quite labourious but has paid off in the long run. I don't like not being able to pause a task for when I have to take a telephone call. Reason for choosing Bright After hearing reviews from other Professional Bookkeepers and after seeing a few of the free webinars showing examples of how to set the software up and all of the different features that it has. I also like being offered a discount as part of my membership to the Bookkeepers Alliance. Review Source SG Sarah G. Manager Accounting Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Excellent piece of software! " August 25, 2022 5.0 Excellent software, saves me so much time with onboarding new clients and chasing paperwork, documents etc. I couldn’t be without it now Pros The task list is my first “Go to” every single day! It’s great as a diary for knowing what needs to be done by specific dates and keeps my workflow running smoothly Cons The extra charge for other members of staff. I think upto 3 staff users should be included in the one monthly fee originally quoted Review Source Emma S. Director Accounting Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent practice management for small accountancy practice" August 27, 2019 5.0 Accountancy Manager has helped organise my practice. It keeps all information securely and allows clients to update/check their information anytime; assisting us to meet the GDPR requirements. The secure portal allows us to share information and obtain electronic signature, greatly reducing our postage costs. We’ve also noticed a better efficiency and improved cash flow thanks to a more streamline way of working. Pros Cloud access - I can check my tasks at work/home/on my mobile. Easy search function Good record of deadlines Easy to use portal Regular improvements and updates Cons Sometimes it can be hard to navigate the site. I think clients get confused with logging in to the portal from Accountancy Manager - would love an embedded log in for my own website. Review Source LR Lydia R. Managing Director Accounting Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Couldn't live without it!" August 25, 2022 5.0 AM has revolutionised our practice - we also love the team there, they support is every step of the way! Pros Easy to use, keeps our practice running smoothly, helps client experience to be the best that it can be Cons None! It is a great software and I would highly recommend it! Alternatives considered [Senta](https://www.capterra.com/p/206605/Senta/) Reason for choosing Bright Better interface Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Practice Manager Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Fantastic payroll software that has thought of everything" March 13, 2018 5.0 Great software and functionality. Very feature rich as well as being easy to use. Good value for money and the support is efficient and thorough, both telephone customer service and support bank of self-help tools. Pros The auto-enrolment functionality is a dream, making light of the entire process from identifying staging dates, right through to generating enrolment letters for staff. The user interface is simple yet detailed and easy to navigate and customise. Cons I have been caught out a few times by alterations to the pay of an employee in one month/pay period which do not automatically revert to the stated basic pay the following month. It would be better if it did automatically revert or the system prompted you to choose how many periods/months should reflect that change. Review Source JM Jackie M. Accountant Accounting Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Accountancy Manager" August 27, 2019 5.0 Very beneficial, definitely we took the leap to try it out, it has certainly streamlined the operation of the practice Pros It is a fantastic piece of software that organises all of your client data and assists with the practice management by organising the relevant tasks to ensure you don't miss a key deadline for a client. It is a great database making finding that key piece of information a quick exercise rather than raiding through files. The software ensures that the practice can comply with the GDPR legislation, and the portal is a great secure area for transfer of files both from the practice to the client and vice versa. As with everything sometimes things go wrong but the support team at Accountancy Manager as very helpful and get issues resolved very quickly Cons Not a lot, however it would be great if when a client left a comment, the practice was notified Reason for choosing Bright N/A Review Source SM Sarah M. Accountant Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Core software for efficient, effective client service" August 25, 2022 5.0 AM is essential to the day to day management of my business Pros The timeline allows easy management and monitoring of deadlines and progress Cons I use taxfiler - it would be great if tax due/payments on account could integrate with the client record in AM Review Source ZE Zoe E. Director Accounting Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Amazing Software " August 27, 2019 5.0 See above Pros Our business was growing at a rate of 50% a year , we started using Accountancy Manager November 2017 as we could no longer manage with basic spreedsheets It took us a while to get to fully understand all its features , but withink 6 months we started bringing the clients on board to it and havent looked back since It allows us manager all our client data ( no more filling cabinets ) and ensure deadlines are meet and work is allocated out to staff at ease . The time record is brilliant and we can charge precisily and see how affective the staff are being . The customer service is fantastic Cons There are non , we have loved the software and all of the new faetures that keep getting added on Reason for choosing Bright We looked at a few and trialed some also this was the best for our business Review Source ME Mark E. Director Accounting Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "The Sole Practitioner" September 2, 2019 5.0 Overall, AccountancyManager has allowed me to organise my practice, keep control on all reporting deadlines, streamlined admin tasks, given a professional look and feel to clients and made my life much easier. I wouldn't/couldn't be without it Pros Ease of use - it does all the essentials straight out of the box without the need for lots of customisation Easy to import existing clients using spreadsheets Client client onboarding is well thought out and with the production of letters of engagement and proposal emails saves me a lot of time Client portal works well together with esigning of documents Email reminders are brilliant timesavers HMRC authorisation also saves me time rather than going to the HMRC site Excellent and speedy support The software does what you need it to do and is not big and bloated like other packages Cons Could do with a lower cost for additional users or specifically part time users Would like to be able to have more reporting flexibility on the task list Review Source John J. Business Owner Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great value easy to use payroll package" September 6, 2022 5.0 Very happy to use and recommend the package Pros Good value and very easy to use software that meets all the requirements of a payroll bureau and standalone payroll Cons Not much that we can criticise on the package Review Source Response from Bright November 17, 2022 Hi John, thank you for taking the time to review BrightPay. It's great to hear that BrightPay meets all the requirements for your payroll bureau. Thanks for the 5-star ratings! Andrew C. Inspection & Training Manager Warehousing Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Very nice app for an employee" March 31, 2023 4.0 Overall I'm very pleased with the app - it is a good solution to the browser portal. Pros Brings all the functionality of the browser portal into a mobile app. It's much easier to use the app for quick access than to get on a computer to see and use the portal. Cons I have very few issues as an end-user employee. I do have some frustrations over how easily I can change my details, but I understand the importance of have this administrated by senior leadership. Review Source Response from Bright April 5, 2023 Thank you for your feedback and star rating Andrew. It's great to hear that you are enjoying using our BrightPay Connect app on your mobile/tablet device. MM Mark M. Director Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Cheap and easy to use. Could do with more customisation options" February 11, 2023 4.0 It does the job and is straightforward to use. Pros Inexpensive and talks directly to payroll software. Cons Lacking on customisation and some of the more advanced features available in other software Reason for choosing Bright Value for money and integration with payroll software Switched from [Sage HR Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/148336/Sage-HR-Online/) We changed our payroll software Review Source Response from Bright February 14, 2023 Hi Mark, thank you for your review and recommendation. It would be great to hear your customisation suggestions if you could email us at marketing@brightsg.com and we can add them to the development list. CK Cansu K. Senior Finance Manager Consumer Goods Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Efficient for the overall business process." November 6, 2022 4.0 Pros It has come in very handy in automating the workflow. It centralizes all my account information and provides a convenient access. Cons Templates are not intuitive to use. It doesn't have enough functions to be able to customize the templates. Review Source BT Baljit T. Practice Director Financial Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Review" August 28, 2019 3.0 Our experience has been positive with AM but there are still a few features that need to be added. Pros The software is easy to set up and is user friendly. You can save all your deadlines, references and customer information in one place. Keep track of all outstanding tasks. Send mass emails easily. Cons There are many areas that need developing eg adding budgeted hours against a client, mass documents to be attached when sending an email, uploaded documents to be saved all together, folders to be created to structure uploaded documents, exporting outstanding tasks, customised drop down boxes for short description on time log. Review Source SM Simon M. Proprietor Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Helping to Develop Your Practice" September 2, 2019 5.0 This software has enabled me to grow from being a sole practitioner to a staff of 7. Pros I enjoy the fact that it is hosted as all of my staff are remote workers. This is a central point for the entire team to refer to. New features are coming out regularly Cons I have found no Cons in using this software, Review Source JK James K. Payroll Clerk Transportation/Trucking/Railroad Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Brightpay Payroll" May 27, 2017 5.0 I had been a Sage 50 Payroll customer for around 20 years but found it getting ever more expensive and difficult to get in touch with customer care when you needed them with lengthy waits on hold. 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 . I trialed Moneysoft which also gets good reviews but I didn't really like the very old fashioned 1980's looking interface very much although it did the job. Then I tried Brightpay and was immediately impressed, it covers all the features I need including RTI and Auto Enrollment at a fraction of the price of Sage for the amount of employees I have. Moving data from Sage and setting things up took a little bit of time but this was mostly double checking everything was correct. The user interface is great and I find it easy to use, it's not quite so in depth as Sage so maybe misses a few features but this makes it less cluttered and easy to learn and operate. Also there's no need for dedicated stationery everything can be produced on plain paper which is another cost saving. I had a couple of initial queries and customer care answered these promptly. I would highly recommend this product, it's fantastic value for money. Pros Nice modern user interface. Easy to learn and operate. Covers RTI and Auto Enrollment. No need for dedicated stationery. Excellent value for money. Fixed yearly fee includes all legislation and feature updates and support. Cons Would be nice to be able to attach documents to employee records i.e. contract of employment, disciplinary letters, etc. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.