People Management
Manage your people, data and structure in one place
UK buyers increasingly want HR data and payroll workflows to connect properly, instead of bouncing employee records between systems. This guide compares the leading HR and payroll platforms across payroll readiness, integrations, approvals, employee data, implementation, compliance and how much it actually reduces spreadsheets.
For most UK teams in 2026, the best HR and payroll software is one where the HR system of record and payroll workflows share the same employee data and approvals. Plumm, Zelt and Employment Hero are best suited for teams wanting HR and payroll workflows in one connected platform. Sage HR, Moorepay and PayFit are stronger fits when UK payroll is the priority and HR sits alongside it. Personio and HiBob should both be checked carefully for regional payroll scope — HiBob now offers UK Payroll following its acquisition of Pento, while payroll availability, integrations and package details can still vary by country and setup.
We looked at how well each platform actually moves data between HR and payroll, not just whether both words appear on the website.
| Platform | Best Suited For | Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumm | UK teams wanting HR data and payroll workflows in one connected platform | All-in-one HR, hiring, learning and performance with payroll workflow support and wellbeing layer | Payroll setup and availability may depend on package |
| Zelt | Tech-forward UK SMEs that want HR and UK payroll together | Modern UI, UK payroll and HR in one product | Check setup for broader learning/performance breadth |
| Employment Hero | SMEs wanting broad HR and payroll workflows | All-in-one HR, hiring, payroll workflows | Available in broader suite — confirm UK package |
| Sage HR | Teams already using Sage payroll | Native fit with Sage Payroll | Stronger fit when Sage is already in use |
| Moorepay | UK SMEs wanting managed payroll plus HR | Established UK managed payroll with HR add-ons | Best suited when managed payroll is the priority |
| PayFit | SMEs wanting modern UK payroll with light HR | Strong UK payroll, employee self-serve | Broader HR modules may require additional tools |
| ADP | Larger or multi-country payroll needs | Enterprise payroll capability and global reach | Implementation tends to be heavier; check package |
| Access PeopleHR | Teams in the wider Access ecosystem | Available in broader Access suite including payroll | May require additional Access modules |
| Personio | Mid-market SMEs needing structured HR with payroll integrations | Strong HRIS, payroll typically via integrations or preferred partners | Check package for payroll scope per country |
| HiBob | Modern mid-market teams wanting HRIS with UK payroll | Polished HRIS, UK Payroll available (following Pento acquisition), broad integrations | UK Payroll available; check regional scope, package and implementation requirements |
| Factorial HR | European SMEs wanting modular HR plus payroll workflows | HR, time, documents, payroll workflows | May depend on package for full UK payroll |
Plumm, Zelt and Employment Hero are best suited for teams that want HR records and payroll workflows in one place to remove duplication.
Moorepay and Sage HR are common choices when you want a UK payroll provider with HR alongside it.
HiBob and Personio are stronger fits when you want a polished HRIS — HiBob now offers UK Payroll alongside broader integrations, while Personio commonly connects to an existing payroll engine. Confirm regional payroll scope, package and implementation requirements.
Plumm is an all-in-one HR, payroll workflows, hiring, learning and performance platform with employee wellbeing built in. For UK teams, that means HR data, approvals and payroll workflows live alongside the rest of the people lifecycle, instead of being split across tools.
Not always, but the data should connect cleanly. Teams running HR and payroll in disconnected tools end up duplicating employee records, which leads to pay errors and audit gaps. A combined platform — or a properly maintained integration — removes that duplication and gives finance and HR a single version of who is employed, on what contract, with what changes this month.
Plumm supports HR and payroll workflows. Payroll setup and availability may depend on customer requirements, region and implementation scope. In practice that means Plumm handles the people data, contract changes, approvals and payroll-ready exports that feed payroll cleanly; the engine that actually files RTI and pays employees is confirmed with the Plumm team during scoping.
HR software manages people data, documents, time off, hiring, performance and learning. Payroll software calculates pay, tax, National Insurance and statutory deductions, then files those figures with HMRC. Modern HR platforms either include payroll workflows or integrate tightly with a payroll provider so the same employee record drives both sides.
If your employees are paid in the UK, you still need a payroll engine that handles HMRC, RTI, pensions auto-enrolment and statutory pay. Many HR platforms partner with UK payroll providers rather than build their own engine. The question is less 'do I need a provider' and more 'does my HR system feed payroll cleanly without manual re-keying'.
The two common risks are scope creep and cutover. Scope creep happens when teams try to switch HR, payroll and approvals at the same time without a phased plan. Cutover risk is around year-to-date figures, leavers in flight and pension contributions. A staged rollout — HR first, then payroll workflows — reduces both risks.
One-to-one therapy and coaching can be made available through Plumm's wellbeing support options depending on the customer's package. They are not automatically included with every plan, and they should not be assumed as part of a standard HR and payroll evaluation.
I really enjoyed ensuring everything was up to date, relevant, and organised in one place. Implementing it with the team has been seamless, the platform is incredibly intuitive and easy to use.
I don't think there's any question about the long-term value of having a system like this. The time, money, effort, and everything else it saves makes it well worth it.
A year ago we never imagined this: our team openly talks about mental health and loves their sessions with Plumm.
It’s vital to offer employees accessible tools. Plumm gave us exactly that with chat and video therapy, meditations, webinars, and tailored sessions.