The IRIS Payroll Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about IRIS Payroll in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
IRIS Payroll
The Insider’s Guide
HMRC-recognised payroll module inside IRIS Cascade HRi
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among payroll services, read from IRIS Payroll’s own pages.
Made by IRIS · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from IRIS Payroll’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on IRIS Payroll’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.6
GPA, above 0 of the 61 other payroll services we grade
The IRIS Cascade HRi Payroll Module is payroll software for UK employers, built into the IRIS Cascade HR system so employee changes flow into payroll. IRIS also offers outsourced payroll from CIPP-qualified staff and several other payroll products such as Staffology Payroll.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about IRIS Payroll, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No price is published, and it is a module of the HR system rather than something you buy on its own.
- 1
Best for UK payroll for people already on IRIS Cascade HR
The IRIS Payroll module sits inside IRIS Cascade HRi, so changes in HR flow into UK payroll and RTI reports go to HMRC.
- 2
It runs on Web
Web.
- 3
HMRC reporting
Sends RTI reports to HMRC and downloads coding and student or postgraduate loan notices.
- 4
Employee self-service
Employees see payslips and P60s in one place, with access rights controlled by the employer.
- 5
Direct HR integration
Changes employees make to their details in IRIS Cascade HRi flow into payroll automatically.
- 6
A 1.6 GPA, above 0 of 61
That is against the other payroll services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 7
Keep it
To replace IRIS Payroll you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
IRIS Payroll at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- IRIS
- Category
- Payroll
- Our grade
- 1.6 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for UK payroll for people already on IRIS Cascade HR
The IRIS Payroll module sits inside IRIS Cascade HRi, so changes in HR flow into UK payroll and RTI reports go to HMRC. No price is published, and it is a module of the HR system rather than something you buy on its own.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price is published on the page, so it sits at C. |
| Free plan and trial | F | Nothing is free: no free plan and no trial are listed, so the way in is paying. |
| Features | C | HMRC RTI reports, payslips and P60s for staff, HR changes flowing into payroll, and reports including the Gender Pay Gap. It is a module of Cascade HRi, and IRIS sells other payroll products separately. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating is on record, and an HR system with a payroll module needs setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only on the listing, with no apps and no integrations named. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who IRIS Payroll is for
- Fits if you are a UK employer already on IRIS Cascade HR
- Works for organisations that want software or outsourced payroll from the same vendor
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a price, because none is published
- Skip it if you employ outside the UK, since it covers English, Scottish and Welsh tax rates
- Too light for a payroll bureau, schools or GPs, as IRIS sells separate products for those
- Not for you if you want a free plan or trial, as none is listed
Good to know
Good for
- UK employers already using IRIS Cascade HR
- Organisations wanting software or outsourced payroll from one vendor
Worth knowing
- No prices are published on the page.
- Supports English, Scottish and Welsh tax rates, so it serves UK payroll.
- It is a module of IRIS Cascade HRi; IRIS sells separate payroll products for bureaus, schools and GPs.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
IRIS Payroll's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No price is published on the page, so it sits at C.
We could not confirm IRIS Payroll’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. iris.co.uk has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
HMRC-recognised payroll module inside IRIS Cascade HRi. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, payroll, employee records.
It is a module of Cascade HRi, and IRIS sells other payroll products separately.
- HMRC reporting
- Sends RTI reports to HMRC and downloads coding and student or postgraduate loan notices.
- Employee self-service
- Employees see payslips and P60s in one place, with access rights controlled by the employer.
- Direct HR integration
- Changes employees make to their details in IRIS Cascade HRi flow into payroll automatically.
- Reports
- Pre-built reports include the Gender Pay Gap, plus real-time payroll data.
- Outsourced option
- Employers can have CIPP-qualified professionals run payroll instead of doing it themselves.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
IRIS Payroll is made by IRIS.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/61
Other payroll services it is graded above
IRIS Payroll's GPA of 1.6 is higher than 0 of the 61 other payroll services we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on value for money (C, above 3 of 61) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 62 payroll services we grade, cut by the letter each got. IRIS Payroll’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 61
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 61
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 61
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 61
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 61
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace IRIS Payroll you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 52 of the 61 other payroll services grade higher.
What you could make
- Employee records and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
What this rests on. IRIS Payroll’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Zellis, Moorepay, BrightPay, SD Worx and Azets
The 5 tools IRIS Payroll is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Zellis
Paid
HR, workforce management and payroll software for UK and Ireland.
- IRIS Payroll also covers reports.
- Zellis also covers shift scheduling and time off.
- 1.6GPA
Moorepay
Paid
UK payroll software and outsourced payroll, with HR add-ons.
- Moorepay also covers time off.
- 2.6GPA
BrightPay
Free trial · from £7.00/mo
UK cloud payroll with HMRC submissions and auto-enrolment.
- IRIS Payroll also covers reports.
- BrightPay also covers time off.
- 1.8GPA
SD Worx
Paid
European HR, payroll and time provider, with managed payroll.
- IRIS Payroll also covers reports.
- SD Worx also covers expense tracking, shift scheduling, time clock and time off.
- 1.6GPA
Azets
Paid
Accounting firm with managed payroll services and cloud software.
- IRIS Payroll also covers employee records.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is IRIS Payroll free?
No. IRIS Payroll is a paid product.
What platforms does IRIS Payroll work on?
IRIS Payroll is available on Web.
Does IRIS Payroll have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. IRIS Payroll is listed for Web.
Does IRIS Payroll have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. IRIS Payroll is listed for Web.
Is IRIS Payroll open source?
IRIS Payroll is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes IRIS Payroll?
IRIS Payroll is made by IRIS.
What are the alternatives to IRIS Payroll?
The closest alternatives to IRIS Payroll in our directory are Zellis, Moorepay, BrightPay, SD Worx and Azets.
How does IRIS Payroll compare with other payroll services?
IRIS Payroll's GPA of 1.6 is higher than 0 of the 61 other payroll services we grade, and level with 9.
Could I make my own version of IRIS Payroll?
To replace IRIS Payroll you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from IRIS Payroll’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from IRIS's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by IRIS. Prices change, so check iris.co.uk before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- IRIS Payroll, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/iris-payroll
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "IRIS Payroll: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/iris-payroll
Know someone choosing between payroll services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/iris-payroll/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded payroll services after IRIS Payroll, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Payroll Insider's GuideEvery one of the 62 payroll services we grade, compared
- Roll by ADP Insider's GuideChat-based payroll app for very small US businesses2.8 GPA
- SimplePay Insider's GuideSouth African online payroll with leave and self-service2.8 GPA
- BrightPay Insider's GuideUK cloud payroll with HMRC submissions and auto-enrolment2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what IRIS Payroll’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. IRIS Payroll is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by IRIS. Prices and plans change: check iris.co.uk before you buy.