BrightHR is UK-built HR software for small and medium-sized businesses. It is owned by Peninsula Group, one of the UK’s largest employment-law advisory firms. The platform handles staff records, holiday tracking, rotas, and absence management. Enhanced and Full plans add a 24/7 HR advice line staffed by Peninsula’s employment-law professionals. Pricing starts at £16.67 per employee per month for Core HR (based on a 5-employee minimum). Trustpilot rates it 4.8 out of 5 from 6,309 reviews.
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BrightHR gives UK SMBs an affordable HR platform with three tiers. Core HR starts at £16.67/month, Enhanced HR at £21.20/month, and Full HR with EAP at £28.20/month (per employee, based on 5 employees). The platform combines rota scheduling, absence management, document storage, and employee self-service. Enhanced plans add Peninsula’s 24/7 HR advice line for UK employment-law guidance.
This review examines BrightHR’s features, pricing, UX, and customer support. It covers real-world performance and how the platform compares to UK alternatives. It also clarifies the payroll question that catches buyers out: BrightHR HR plans do not run PAYE or submit RTI on their own. RTI requires either BrightHR Payroll (a separate product) or your existing Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks setup.
- Core HR from £16.67 per employee per month - 5-employee minimum, £83.35/month total at that size; per-person rate falls for larger teams
- Built for UK SMEs with 5-250 employees - Bradford Factor absence scoring, UK employment-law updates, and Peninsula’s HR advice line included on Enhanced and Full tiers
- Three tiers with 24, 36, or 60-month fixed contracts - no rolling monthly option; budget for the full term upfront
- Owned by Peninsula Group - parent company is a major UK employment-law advisor; that’s why the 24/7 HR advice line is staffed by qualified advisors
- Trustpilot 4.8/5 from 6,309 reviews - verified May 2026; ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certified for data security
Key Features
Considering BrightHR alongside other UK HR tools? Our HR software cost calculator compares it side by side with 10 other UK providers. Inputs are team size, payroll needs and budget.
BrightHR’s 5-employee minimum and per-month pricing model make it a strong fit on most best HR software for small business shortlists. It works well for UK SMEs that want bundled HR advice alongside the software.
BrightHR provides a comprehensive suite of HR tools designed for UK businesses. The platform handles employee records, holiday tracking, absence management, and shift scheduling through a central dashboard.
Core functionality includes:
- Employee self-service portal for holiday requests and document access
- Rota management with drag-and-drop scheduling
- Bradford Factor monitoring for absence patterns
- Digital document storage with e-signatures
- Real-time absence tracking with calendar views
- Statutory leave calculations (SSP, maternity, paternity)
- Automatic updates for UK employment-law changes
The mobile app lets staff clock in and out, request time off, and view their schedules. Managers receive notifications for pending requests and can approve them remotely.
BrightHR offers UK-based phone support on all plans. Enhanced and Full tier subscribers also get the 24/7 HR advice line with employment-law advisors. The platform provides templates for UK employment contracts, policies, and HR letters.
Reports cover employee costs, absence rates, and holiday allowances. Users can export data in multiple formats. The platform supports multiple locations and departments. That suits businesses with distributed teams across the UK.
Pricing Breakdown
BrightHR offers three pricing tiers, all quoted in GBP as per-employee monthly rates. Prices below are based on a 5-employee example. Contracts run for 24, 36, or 60 months (36-month terms are available online). There is no rolling monthly option. Per-employee rates decrease for larger teams, falling to around £3.00 per person at higher headcounts.
| Plan | Per Employee/Mo (5-emp example) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Core HR | £16.67/employee/mo (£83.35/mo total) | Holiday planner, shifts & rotas, absence management, performance management, overtime tracker, payroll navigator, expense apps |
| Enhanced HR | £21.20/employee/mo (£106/mo total) | Everything in Core + 24/7 HR advice line, employment-law updates, indemnity insurance (opt-in), HR templates library |
| Full HR + EAP | £28.20/employee/mo (£141/mo total) | Everything in Enhanced + health & safety advice, H&S docs library, accident reporting, EAP wellbeing portal, NHS-approved programmes |
The Core plan covers essential HR management features. Enhanced adds the 24/7 HR advice line and employment-law support. That advice line is a significant differentiator for businesses without in-house HR. The Full plan adds health and safety compliance plus employee wellbeing tools.
Support is included across all plans, though the level differs by tier. Core users get business-hours phone and chat support. Enhanced and Full plan holders receive the 24/7 HR advice line with access to qualified employment-law advisors. All plans include automatic updates for UK employment-law changes. Insurance add-ons are not included in online pricing and require a separate quote.
Payroll is sold separately. The HR plans above include a “payroll navigator” that exports data to your existing payroll engine. They do not run PAYE or submit RTI on their own. To get an integrated payroll product from BrightHR, you need either BrightHR Payroll (a separate paid product) or BrightHR’s Outsourced Payroll service. Budget for this separately if you do not already have a payroll tool.
User Interface & Experience
BrightHR provides a clean dashboard that prioritises essential HR functions. The navigation menu groups related features logically. It is easy to locate employee records, holiday requests, and absence tracking tools.
The mobile app mirrors the desktop interface. Managers and staff can approve requests, clock in, and check rotas away from their desks. Push notifications alert users to pending actions.
Key interface features include:
- Quick access tiles for frequently used functions like staff lists and absence calendars
- Colour-coded status indicators for holiday approvals and shift coverage
- Integrated document storage within employee profiles
- Real-time updates across desktop and mobile platforms
The platform displays salary information in GBP. HMRC-compliant fields appear throughout employee records. Tax codes, National Insurance numbers, and statutory payment calculations appear in familiar UK formats.
Setting up new employees uses forms that follow UK employment-law requirements. The system prompts for the right information without requiring deep HR knowledge.
Search works reliably when filtering employees by department, location, or employment status. Report generation offers standard templates for absence statistics and holiday entitlements. Customisation options are somewhat limited.
The interface occasionally requires multiple clicks for simple tasks like editing shift patterns. Some users report that the calendar view becomes cluttered when managing larger teams across multiple locations.
Customer Support & Service
BrightHR provides UK-based phone support across all plans. The 24/7 HR advice line is reserved for Enhanced and Full tier subscribers. This tiered model still compares favourably to many competitors who restrict employment-law guidance entirely. The support team has expertise in both technical issues and UK employment-law compliance.
Support channels:
- Phone: Business hours on Core; 24/7 HR advice line on Enhanced and Full plans
- Email: Response typically within 24 hours
- Live chat: Available during extended hours
- Help centre: Searchable knowledge base with articles and guides
The platform includes access to BrightAdvice. This service offers employment-law guidance from qualified advisors. It is particularly valuable for small businesses without dedicated HR departments. UK employment regulations get complex fast.
Response times for email queries generally fall within one business day. Phone support connects users to advisors who can address both technical issues and HR-related questions on UK employment law.
The knowledge base covers common scenarios. Examples include statutory sick pay calculations, holiday entitlement under UK law, and disciplinary procedures. Users can access these resources without contacting support directly.
BrightHR assigns account managers to certain subscription tiers for a dedicated point of contact. The support team is trained on UK-specific compliance including Working Time Regulations and ACAS guidelines.
There are no additional fees for support access. All channels are included in the standard subscription cost. Users report the phone support as particularly responsive. Email responses can occasionally take longer during peak periods.
Pros and Cons
BrightHR offers strong core HR features at an accessible price point. The interface and advanced feature gating draw mixed feedback from users.
Integrations
BrightHR connects with several payroll and accounting platforms. The software integrates directly with Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks. These integrations synchronise employee data and streamline payroll processing in your existing accounts package.
Important clarification on RTI: The HR plans (Core, Enhanced, Full) do not submit RTI to HMRC themselves. The “payroll navigator” exports the data to your payroll engine (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, or another) which then handles RTI submissions. If you want BrightHR to handle PAYE and RTI directly, you need to add BrightHR Payroll (a separate paid product) or use BrightHR’s Outsourced Payroll service.
Key integrations include:
- Xero – Syncs employee records and absence data; Xero submits RTI to HMRC
- Sage – Transfers payroll information and working hours; Sage submits RTI
- QuickBooks – Shares staff details and time tracking; QuickBooks submits RTI
- BrightHR Payroll – Separate paid product that runs PAYE and submits RTI natively
BrightHR also offers API access for businesses that need custom integrations. The API documentation provides technical details for developers.
The platform includes single sign-on (SSO) capabilities for businesses using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. This simplifies access management.
| Integration Type | Available Options |
|---|---|
| Accounts + payroll engines | Xero, Sage, QuickBooks |
| BrightHR’s own payroll | BrightHR Payroll (separate product) or Outsourced Payroll service |
| Identity management | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace |
| Custom | REST API |
Most integrations require configuration during initial setup. BrightHR’s UK-based support team can help with connecting third-party systems. Some technical knowledge is useful for API implementations.
Security & Compliance (GDPR)
BrightHR holds ISO 27001 certification for its information security management system. It is also accredited by Cyber Essentials Plus, which demonstrates protection against common cyber threats. The platform is PCI compliant and registered with the ICO. Source: brighthr.com/security/.
The platform stores customer data within UK-based servers. It maintains compliance with UK GDPR for data protection.
The software includes built-in features for managing data subject access requests. Users can export employee records and delete personal information on request. Administrators can maintain audit trails of data processing activities. These tools help UK businesses meet their legal obligations under data protection legislation. See our guide to GDPR subject access requests in UK HR software for how this works in practice.
Key security features:
- Encryption in transit and at rest
- Two-factor authentication for user accounts
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
- Role-based access controls to limit data visibility
- Automated backup with disaster recovery protocols
- Admin change monitoring to detect unauthorised activity
BrightHR maintains a dedicated information security team that monitors systems for potential vulnerabilities. The system generates GDPR-compliant privacy notices and consent forms that businesses can customise. Administrators can track which employees have acknowledged policies and when consent was obtained.
BrightHR provides a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) to all customers. This clarifies its role as a data processor under GDPR. The company notifies clients of any data breaches within the required timeframes. It also assists with breach reporting obligations.
Who BrightHR Suits – and Who It Doesn't
BrightHR works best for UK SMBs that want UK-specific HR software with bundled employment-law advice. The Peninsula ownership is the structural reason: it is HR software with a major employment-law firm behind it.
| Best For | Not Ideal For |
|---|---|
| UK SMBs with 5-250 employees that want HR software with employment-law advice built in | Businesses under 5 employees (minimum subscription excludes them) |
| Companies that already have payroll (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) and want HR to slot in | Companies that need integrated PAYE/RTI in their HR plan (BrightHR Payroll is sold separately) |
| Businesses managing shift workers and complex rotas | Companies wanting rolling monthly plans without multi-year commitment |
| Managers without in-house HR who need expert advice on disciplinaries and contracts | Enterprises needing extensive customisation or advanced workforce analytics |
Final Verdict
BrightHR delivers a solid HR management platform built specifically for UK small and medium businesses. The Peninsula Group ownership means the 24/7 HR advice line on Enhanced and Full plans is staffed by qualified employment-law advisors. That is genuinely useful for managers handling disciplinary issues or contractual queries.
The pricing is transparent and accessible at £16.67 per employee per month for Core HR. The 5-employee minimum means it is not for sole traders. The multi-year contract requirement means you commit upfront. The most common buyer regret is not understanding the payroll position: BrightHR’s HR plans do not submit RTI directly. Plan for an existing payroll engine (or a separate BrightHR Payroll subscription) when you budget.
BrightHR suits organisations with 5-250 employees that want to digitise paper-based HR processes. The employment-law helpline provides real value for managers without dedicated HR staff. Businesses requiring extensive customisation or complex hierarchical structures may find the platform restrictive. The system works best for straightforward organisational structures with standard UK employment contracts.
For more on this topic, see our guides to best HR software, HR software costs, absence management software, and our BrightHR vs Breathe comparison.
Our Verdict
Solid UK SMB HR software with bundled employment-law advice via Peninsula. Buy with eyes open on the multi-year contract and the separate-payroll-product reality.
