Payfit vs SD Worx (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Payfit grades higher than SD Worx: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Payfit grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Payfit if
- Fits if you want a provider to run your UK payroll
- Works for firms from 25 employees up to 300 or more
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: no prices are published, so cost cannot be compared in advance
- Skip it if you pay staff outside the UK, as the pages read describe UK payroll only
- Skip it if you want a free plan or a trial, as neither is listed
- Watch out: sizes described run from small firms of up to 25 employees to 300-plus
Pick SD Worx if
- Fits if you pay staff in several European countries
- Makes sense if you want payroll run for you
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price online, as none is published
- Not for you if you need US payroll, which the pages do not describe
- Watch out: much of the offering is advisor-led rather than self-serve
- Watch out: there is no free plan or trial on the pages read
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAPayfitFair | 1.8GPASD WorxWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published; the site offers a demo and a Try now button. | CNo price is published; buyers are sent to an expert, so it sits in the middle of payroll tools. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial are on record for this listing. | FNo free plan or trial on the pages read. |
| Features | BPayroll run by Payfit's team, HMRC and pension submissions, starters, leavers and statutory pay, payments and HR modules. | BLocal, managed and multi-country payroll, time and attendance, HR and expenses on the mysdworx platform. The listing names no gap in the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A team sets up and runs the payroll with you. | CNo store rating on record. A service with local advisors means onboarding rather than sign-up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with links to Xero, QuickBooks, Kota, Spendesk and BambooHR. | CWeb only on the listing, with no mobile app or integrations list. |
| Best for | UK payroll run by Payfit's own team | payroll across several European countries |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Payfit and SD Worx. How we grade
Where they differ
- SD Worx also covers shift scheduling and time clock.
In commonWebExpense trackingPayrollEmployee recordsTime off
At a glance
| Payfit | SD Worx | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Payfit | SD Worx |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Payfit
- No prices are published; the site offers a demo and a Try now button, so cost cannot be compared in advance.
- The pages read from this location describe UK payroll; availability and features in other countries are not shown on them.
- Payfit says it takes legal responsibility for HMRC compliance on the payroll it runs.
- Pages describe sizes from small businesses of up to 25 employees to mid-market firms of 300 or more.
SD Worx
- No prices are published and buyers are sent to talk to an expert, so pricing is unverified.
- Services are organized around European countries; the pages do not describe US payroll.
- Much of the offering is service-led, with local advisors alongside the software.
- The pages read give no free plan or self-serve trial.
Key features
Payfit
- Payroll run by Payfit's team
- UK payroll experts, described as CIPP-qualified, prepare and check each pay run; the client reviews and approves before payday.
- HMRC and pension submissions
- Sends Full Payment Submissions and Employer Payment Summaries to HMRC, applies tax code changes, and submits to pension providers including NEST, Smart Pension, Aviva, NOW Pensions and People's Pension.
- Starters, leavers and statutory pay
- Handles new-starter notifications, P45s, notice-pay calculations and statutory pay entitlements, and generates P11Ds at no extra cost.
- Payments
- Pays staff through Telleroo or produces a BACS file for upload to the company's bank.
- Connected HR modules
- Leave and absence, expenses, performance reviews and reporting sit on the same platform as payroll.
SD Worx
- Local and managed payroll
- Local payroll software, plus managed payroll services in which in-country specialists handle legislation and language.
- Multi-country payroll
- Payroll across several countries with local compliance, with payroll compliance guidance and reward and compensation advice.
- Time and attendance
- Time tracking, leave and absence management, workforce scheduling and planning, connected to payroll.
- HR and expenses
- Digital HR documents and workflows, performance and skills, learning and development, and expense and travel management.
- mysdworx platform
- One platform for HR, pay and time across Europe, with AI features highlighted on the site.
Plans
Payfit
Pricing could not be confirmed. See payfit.com.
SD Worx
Pricing could not be confirmed. See sdworx.com.
Ways to pay less
Payfit
- Other savings
First month free for new clients until 30 November 2026
A site banner offers a free first month to new clients who subscribe on or before 30 November 2026.
SD Worx
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Payfit or SD Worx?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Payfit has no price we could confirm, and SD Worx has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Payfit or SD Worx?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Payfit nor SD Worx has a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.