Sage Payroll: features, editions and UK prices

Checked 28 October 2026 · 3 min read · HR

Sage Payroll is a HR and payroll software from Sage. This page sets out what Sage's own UK pages say about it: the editions and what they cost, which features are built in and which need an app or add-on. It is a factual summary to help you build a shortlist, not a recommendation for or against Sage Payroll.

In total we confirmed 10 features for Sage Payroll from public information: 10 built in and 0 through an app, add-on or separate Sage product. Each is listed below with the vendor's own words and a link to the source.

Sage Payroll editions and UK prices

Prices as published by Sage on 28 October 2026. Prices change; always confirm the current price and terms with Sage before you buy.

Finance and accounting: Sage Payroll

• Full audit trail – built in (Payroll Essentials). “A comprehensive audit trail gives you peace of mind.” (sage.com)

Purchasing and payables: Sage Payroll

• Employee expenses – built in (Payroll Standard). “You can get more HR capabilities by upgrading at any time to our Standard or Premium plans, which include advanced HR features such as HR analytics, custom policies and workflows, expense management, timesheets, and shift scheduling.” (sage.com)

People, HR and payroll: Sage Payroll

• Employee records – built in (Payroll Essentials). “It allows you to quickly and easily create employee records and pay your people, while also giving you essential HR capabilities needed to manage a growing workforce.” (sage.com)
• Holiday and absence – built in (Payroll Essentials). “Ensure records flow directly into your pay run, matching with holiday and sick leave.” (sage.com)
• Rotas / shift scheduling – built in (Payroll Standard). “You can get more HR capabilities by upgrading at any time to our Standard or Premium plans, which include advanced HR features such as HR analytics, custom policies and workflows, expense management, timesheets, and shift scheduling.” (sage.com)
• Time and attendance – built in (Payroll Standard). “You can get more HR capabilities by upgrading at any time to our Standard or Premium plans, which include advanced HR features such as HR analytics, custom policies and workflows, expense management, timesheets, and shift scheduling.” (sage.com)
• UK payroll (RTI) – built in (Payroll Essentials). “You can create payments and deductions, accurately calculate PAYE, National Insurance, pensions and more, before creating payslips for your employees and submitting your payroll information to HMRC and pension providers.” (sage.com)
• Pensions auto-enrolment – built in (Payroll Essentials). “Set-up, assess, and manage workplace pensions directly from payroll.” (sage.com)
• Employee self-service app – built in (Payroll Essentials). “Share payslips and P60s with employees through a secure self‑service portal.” (sage.com)

Reporting, platform and integrations: Sage Payroll

• Cloud (no servers to run) – built in (Payroll Essentials). “Sage Payroll is cloud-based payroll software, so you can access it online anywhere, 24/7.” (sage.com)

How to compare Sage Payroll with other systems

The useful comparison is against the features your business actually needs. Write down the five or six processes you cannot work without, check each against the list above and against the same list for other systems, and ask each vendor to show those processes in a demo using your own examples.

Frequently asked questions