ADP Workforce Now vs HMRC Basic PAYE Tools

ADP Workforce Now is a web and mobile payroll and HR platform presented for organizations with 50–999 and 1,000 or more employees. All packages include real-time payroll processing, tax filing and payment services, and payroll reporting. The platform supports employee records, time off, onboarding, performance management, and time tracking. Employee self-service lets staff find HR answers, view expected pay, request time off, and complete tasks. Onboarding includes digital I-9 processing, electronic signatures, reminders, and employee payment preference setup. Benefits administration is included in Plus and Premium; Premium also includes Workforce Management tools for scheduling, time collection, and time off. Security features include secure cloud storage and role-based access to employee records. Reports can be customized and shared for comparisons across teams, departments, and timelines. Integrations connect the platform with business tools and payroll and carrier systems. Mobile capabilities include benefits enrollment, career sites, and C-suite insights. Pricing is available on request; no free tier or free trial is stated.

HMRC Basic PAYE Tools is free payroll software for employers with fewer than 10 employees. It calculates employee tax and National Insurance, sends payroll information to HMRC, and supports Full Payment Submissions and Employer Payment Summaries. Employers can add details for up to nine employees and use calculators for statutory sick, maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental bereavement, and neonatal care pay. The tool can create payslips to save as PDFs, print, or email with employee agreement. It can also be used alongside commercial payroll software for certain National Insurance number checks or Employer Payment Summary submissions. Employers need to register with HMRC and have a PAYE Online login before using it. The software runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It does not support pension auto-enrolment or pension contribution calculations, and employers must secure and back up payroll data themselves; HMRC does not keep a copy or recover lost data.