Your payroll, your way. No forced cloud migration—just a powerful, reliable alternative.
Excellent 4.9 out of 5
Make the switch with confidence. Qtac is a feature-rich, HMRC-recognised payroll solution designed for UK businesses that prefer a desktop-first approach.
| Feature | Qtac | BrightPay |
|---|---|---|
| Free phone and email support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Software update notification | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company wide additions and deductions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workflow management | ✓ | ✗ |
| National Minimum Wage Compliance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto enrolment (workplace) pensions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pension provider (API) integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| HMRC recognition | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bulk RTI submission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Net to Gross Calculations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customer invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Previous Pay Period Correction functionality | ✓ | ✓ |
| Umbrella payroll calculations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payrolling of Benefits in Kinds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic calculation of annual leave | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud portal for payroll distribution | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employee Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email connectivity to send reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accounting/Payroll Journals reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xero/Quickbooks integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited user licences available | ✓ | ✗ |
No need to be—it’s free for the entire 2026/27 tax year.
After that, enjoy fixed pricing for 3 years at your current BrightPay cost.
We also provide free migration support to ensure a smooth transition.
Prices for the 2026/27 tax year
Developed for large volume payroll operations. Payroll Plus prices start at £765.00 ex VAT.
With a host of features to support large scale processing, such as batch processing across core operations, enhanced reports and umbrella payments, we recommend getting in touch to explore your requirements in more detail.
More Info
Run payroll in just minutes with automated calculations, tax deductions, and employee enrolment.
No more emailing payslips—employees can securely access them anytime, anywhere.
100% UK payroll compliance, always up to date—no fines, no stress.
Sync payroll with pension providers and accounting software for a fully streamlined workflow.
Real payroll experts ready to assist—no chatbots, no call centres, just real help when you need it.
Reduce year-end admin by managing taxable benefits through payroll—mandatory from April 2026!
We're proud to work in partnership with our customers to improve what we do.
"We have been using Qtac for a number of years now and have always found it easy to use and very intuitive. The team at Qtac are great at support both via email and on the phone. I wouldn't look anywhere else!"
Sue Lawrence, The Tax Factory
"Always quick to reply and friendly staff.
Most important software is payroll and its great having Qtac on the end of the line. Great guys, thanks."
Caron, Stonecroft Intabuild Ltd
"Software is perfect for my business and is so easy to use. The support team are knowledgeable and extremely helpful."
Sandra, Bright Beginnings Nursery
Is Qtac Payroll HMRC Recognised?+
Yes! Our software is fully HMRC recognised and ensures full compliance. Start your free trial now
Can I migrate from BrightPay easily?+
Absolutely! We provide a free migration service to make the transition seamless. Download free trial
You need to find the right solution for you and your business. And that might not fit the next person! If any of the following points chime with you, then maybe desktop payroll is the way to go.
Desktop software stores your data on your own computer or your company's network. It's less likely that someone who shouldn't see your data will get access to it, which can sometimes happen with online apps. If you're careful about who sees your data, you might prefer to keep it on your own computer where you have more control.
Our desktop payroll software gives you the flexibility to work offline, even when you don't have an internet connection. It's a big plus for people who travel a lot, or live out in the sticks with poor internet access!
Desktop software usually runs much quicker since the payroll app is on your computer's hardware. No latency on your internet line. No relying on your cloud app provider to have invested in their servers.
Relying on third party cloud suppliers can be an issue when it comes to meeting requirements of any accredited schemes you may be a part of. Desktop software, on your servers, allow greater control and make hitting those targets more achievable.
Storing your desktop applications' data in the cloud is a well-known and reliable method. If your business relies on important cloud apps, you'll need to think about what happens if you can't use them anymore or if you lose internet connection. Fixing these issues can be expensive!
Sign up in seconds. No setup required. Just download and start running payroll your way.