Payroll software
Compare the best payroll software for your organisation.
Need help? Start our selection guide or request non-binding advice!
Which package suits you?
Answer a few questions about your organisation and what the software needs to be able to do. The selection guide shows which of these 12 packages fit.
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Request free advicePayroll software at a glance
Price indications and features as stated by the suppliers. Ratings are the average of the reviews on SoftwareWatcher.
| Software | Rating | From per month | Budget per user per month | Free trial account | Demo | Cloud | Dutch-language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD Worx | HR & Payroll | – | On request | €5 or more | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Youforce | – | On request | €50–€100 | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AFAS Payroll | – | On request | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Humanwave | 4,9 / 5 (3) | On request | €1–€25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PHOCUS Cloud | – | On request | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pantheon HRM | – | On request | €5–€10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nmbrs® | 3,0 / 5 (7) | On request | €1–€25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Employes | 5,0 / 5 (1) | On request | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Buddee | 5,0 / 5 (2) | On request | €1–€10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BCS Payroll Administration | – | On request | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loket | – | On request | – | – | – | – | – |
| SalarFusion | – | On request | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Choosing payroll software: what to look out for
With payroll software, it is all about reliability: every month the salaries must be correct, paid on time and reported correctly. Run through these points before you choose a package.
On SoftwareWatcher you can compare 12 payroll software packages. 6 offer a free trial account.
- Payroll tax return: the package prepares the monthly payroll tax return and sends it digitally to the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst). Check whether you can review the return before it is sent.
- Your collective labour agreement (cao): check whether the cao for your sector is supported and whether the supplier processes cao changes and new payroll tax tables itself.
- Pension: check whether the package connects to your pension provider, so that the pension reporting does not have to be done by hand.
- Self-service: employees want to be able to view their payslips and annual statements online. Many packages offer an app or portal for this, sometimes also for leave and expense claims.
- Integrations: with an integration to your accounting software, the payroll journal entries go into your books automatically. An integration with time tracking or staff scheduling saves retyping hours worked and allowances.
- Do it yourself or together with your administration office: some packages are made for entrepreneurs who do the payroll themselves, others for working with an accountant or payroll administrator. Also read doing your payroll yourself or outsourcing it.
- Pricing model: most packages charge per employee or per payslip per month. Work it out for your current number of employees and for the growth you expect.
Frequently asked questions about payroll software
Can I do the payroll myself with software?
Yes. For a small team with simple pay, many entrepreneurs do it themselves with an online package. If you work with a complicated collective labour agreement, many varying hours or allowances, outsourcing or working with a payroll administrator may be wiser.
What is the difference from HRM software?
Payroll software calculates salaries, produces payslips and takes care of the tax returns. HRM software focuses on personnel files, leave, absence and appraisal meetings. Many suppliers offer both in one package; also compare HRM software if you are looking for both.
How long do I have to keep the payroll records?
For payroll records, the statutory tax retention obligation of seven years generally applies. Choose a package that keeps older payslips and returns available, even after an employee has left.
From the knowledge base
- Do payroll yourself or outsource it? Compare tasks, costs and software
- Leave tracking in Excel or HR software: what suits your team?
- What does an ERP system cost? Licences, implementation and hidden costs worked out
Still in doubt? Start the selection guide or request free advice.
This selection guide was written and checked by Sjaak Schokker, co-founder of SoftwareWatcher. Last checked on .
What is payroll software?
Payroll software is a digital tool for processing salaries and payments to employees. These systems help you draw up payslips and ensure that you comply with laws and regulations. The software calculates the correct payroll taxes and, through a connection with the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst), makes it possible to file payroll taxes in one go. Using a SEPA file, which the software can generate, you can pay all employees correctly at the same time. Payroll software also generates payroll journal entries that are used for the bookkeeping. It can also offer additional functions such as absence files, personnel files, contract management (for example, you receive notifications when a contract needs to be renewed) and time tracking.
Is payroll software free?
Payroll software is not offered for free. Although in theory you can run your payroll yourself using Excel, we advise against this because of the high risk of errors and the time-consuming nature of this method.
What does payroll software cost?
The costs for payroll administration are based on the number of payslips and usually range from 3 to 20 euros per payslip. This variation depends on the extra functions the software offers, such as contract management, time tracking and personnel files. The costs also vary depending on the type of payslip, such as one for a director-major shareholder (DGA) or a regular employee. In addition, the pay scale that applies in your industry plays a role in the costs.
What do you need for payroll administration?
Besides the right software, running a payroll also requires trained staff. Because not every company has or can have payroll administrators, this task is often outsourced.
Outsourcing the payroll
Many companies in the Netherlands outsource their payroll. This can be done with various specialised companies that also have the right software to carry out this work. With payroll software, organisations can choose to process salaries themselves or outsource them. Outsourcing the payroll to a specialised firm also has the following advantages:
- A payroll firm has experienced staff in-house who can process the salaries in the payroll software.
- Outsourcing salary processing can save a lot of time because you no longer have to do it yourself.
- A specialised company is up to date with the relevant laws and regulations in the field of salary processing.
- Outsourcing the payroll can save costs because you do not have to invest your own time and money in salary processing.
Integrating payroll software
When you outsource your payroll, you do not need to buy a system yourself. It is important, however, to know which system is being used, because you can often connect the other software you work with to the payroll system, which makes various processes in your company more efficient.
Connecting your accounting system to the payroll software means that payroll journal entries are transferred automatically to the accounting system. This saves time because you do not have to transfer them by hand.
It is also often possible to load employees' hours into the payroll system automatically. The software takes hours worked into account in the salary calculation, including allowances, holiday hours and overtime. So always check when buying a payroll system whether you also need a time tracking module. If you already have this in place, you can consider buying a payroll system without a time tracking module.
Compare payroll software
To discover which payroll software best suits your business, we have developed a simple selection guide. By working through the questions in this selection guide, you will know exactly which software is suitable for your business and you can compare it easily.
Software advice from SoftwareWatcher
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