The SimplePay Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SimplePay 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.
SimplePay
The Insider’s Guide
South African online payroll with leave and self-service
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among payroll services, read from SimplePay’s own pages.
Made by SimplePay · checked Nov 12, 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 SimplePay’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SimplePay’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 39 of the 40 other payroll services we grade
SimplePay is online payroll software for South African employers, with leave management, employee self-service and statutory filing for PAYE, UIF and SDL. One plan includes every feature, priced as a base fee plus a per-employee charge that falls as headcount grows. The company also runs sites for Singapore, Ireland and Hong Kong.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about SimplePay, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You enter pay items and employees and connect an accounting package, so it is a C.
- 1
Best for South African payroll for small firms
SimplePay does South African payroll with PAYE, UIF and tax filing, leave and self-service, on one plan: R70 a month plus R19.50 an employee.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at R70 per month plus R19.50 per employee, excluding VAT.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial with all features and full support
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Payroll processing
Calculates salaries, wages and tax from employee data and produces payment files to upload to your bank.
- 6
Statutory calculations and filing
Handles PAYE, UIF and SDL, with EMP201 and UIF declaration data, and tax certificate exports for eFiling or e@syFile.
- 7
Leave management
Custom annual leave policies, built-in sick and family responsibility leave, and approvals through self-service.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 39 of 40
That is against the other payroll services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace SimplePay 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.
SimplePay at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from R70 per month plus R19.50 per employee, excluding VAT
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial with all features and full support
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- SimplePay
- Category
- Payroll
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for South African payroll for small firms
SimplePay does South African payroll with PAYE, UIF and tax filing, leave and self-service, on one plan: R70 a month plus R19.50 an employee. That is cheap, but it is in rand, excludes VAT, and companies over 500 employees and bureaus must ask for a quote.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | R70 plus R19.50 an employee, about R170 a month for five people, which is well under what payroll tools cost elsewhere. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 30-day trial with all features, and no card is asked in the sign-up form. No free plan afterwards. |
| Features | B | PAYE, UIF and SDL, SARS filing, leave, self-service, accounting links and an API. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in South African payroll. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You enter pay items and employees and connect an accounting package, so it is a C. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iPhone and Android, with Xero, QuickBooks and an API. No desktop app. |
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 SimplePay is for
- Fits if you run payroll for a South African business of up to 500 people
- Works for owners who want one plan with every feature included
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you run payroll outside South Africa: it is built around SARS rules
- Pricey if you add VAT: the prices shown exclude VAT
- Watch out: accountants, bureaus and firms over 500 employees must request a quote
- Watch out: each extra company is billed separately and needs its own quote
Good to know
Good for
- Small South African employers that want to pay only for the headcount they have
- Businesses that need SARS and Department of Labour compliance built in
- Accountants and owners who use Xero or QuickBooks
Worth knowing
- Prices are in South African rand and exclude VAT.
- Companies with more than 500 employees, and accounting firms or bureaus running payroll for clients, must request a quote.
- Multiple companies are billed separately, each needing its own quote.
- The site says its ISO 27001 certification is still in progress.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
1
plan
SimplePay is a paid product with a free trial, starting at R70 per month plus R19.50 per employee, excluding VAT.
The One Plan
R70
per month, plus R19.50 per employee (first 5)
All features. Per-employee rate falls to R13.60 for employees 6 to 10, R11.00 for 11 to 300 and R8.75 from 301; 10 employees come to R235.50 a month, excluding VAT.
Trying it first
30-day free trial with all features and full support
Read from simplepay.co.za on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
South African online payroll with leave and self-service. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: expense tracking, payroll, employee records, time off.
PAYE, UIF and SDL, SARS filing, leave, self-service, accounting links and an API.
- Payroll processing
- Calculates salaries, wages and tax from employee data and produces payment files to upload to your bank.
- Statutory calculations and filing
- Handles PAYE, UIF and SDL, with EMP201 and UIF declaration data, and tax certificate exports for eFiling or e@syFile.
- Leave management
- Custom annual leave policies, built-in sick and family responsibility leave, and approvals through self-service.
- Employee self-service
- Employees see payslips, request leave, log expense claims and submit banking and address changes through the website or the mobile app for iOS and Android.
- Flexible pay structures
- Supports variable pay rates, bonuses, commissions and unlimited custom income and deduction items.
- Accounting integrations and API
- Connects to Xero and QuickBooks and offers an API for other systems.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Xero
- QuickBooks
SimplePay is made by SimplePay.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
39/40
Other payroll services it is graded above
SimplePay's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 39 of the 40 other payroll services we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 36 of 40) and worst on ease of use (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 41 payroll services we grade, cut by the letter each got. SimplePay’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 36 of 40
- CFree plan and trialAbove 30 of 40
- BFeaturesAbove 17 of 40
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 40
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 11 of 40
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 SimplePay 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.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 39 of the 40 other payroll services we grade.
What you could make
- Time off, employee records and expense tracking: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. SimplePay’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
BrightPay, Payfit, Employment Hero, greytHR and Talenox
The 5 tools SimplePay is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
BrightPay
Free trial · from £7.00/mo
UK cloud payroll with HMRC submissions and auto-enrolment.
- Only SimplePay lists iOS and Android apps.
- SimplePay also covers expense tracking.
- 2.0GPA
Payfit
Paid
Managed UK payroll and HR with an AI assistant.
- Only SimplePay lists iOS and Android apps.
- 1.8GPA
Employment Hero
From $10/mo
Payroll, HR and hiring for Australia, NZ, the UK and Asia.
- SimplePay also covers expense tracking, employee records and time off.
- Employment Hero also covers time tracking.
- 2.2GPA
greytHR
Free trial · from ₹2,495/mo
HR and payroll software for businesses in India.
- Only SimplePay lists iOS and Android apps.
- SimplePay also covers expense tracking.
- greytHR also covers time clock.
- 2.6GPA
Talenox
Free trial · from $5/mo
Multi-country HR, payroll, leave and claims for small teams.
- Only SimplePay lists iOS and Android apps.
- Talenox also covers reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 SimplePay free?
No, SimplePay is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial with all features and full support.
How much does SimplePay cost?
SimplePay lists one plan. The One Plan: R70 per month, plus R19.50 per employee (first 5).
What platforms does SimplePay work on?
SimplePay is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does SimplePay have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. SimplePay is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does SimplePay have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. SimplePay is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is SimplePay open source?
SimplePay is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does SimplePay integrate with?
SimplePay's listing names Xero and QuickBooks. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes SimplePay?
SimplePay is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to SimplePay?
The closest alternatives to SimplePay in our directory are BrightPay, Payfit, Employment Hero, greytHR and Talenox.
How does SimplePay compare with other payroll services?
SimplePay's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 39 of the 40 other payroll services we grade, and level with 1.
Could I make my own version of SimplePay?
To replace SimplePay 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 SimplePay’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from SimplePay's own pages on 12 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 SimplePay. Prices change, so check simplepay.co.za before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- SimplePay, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/simplepay
- 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, "SimplePay: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/simplepay
Know someone choosing between payroll services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/simplepay/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded payroll services after SimplePay, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Payroll Insider's GuideEvery one of the 41 payroll services we grade, compared
- Roll by ADP Insider's GuideChat-based payroll app for very small US businesses2.8 GPA
- BrightPay Insider's GuideUK cloud payroll with HMRC submissions and auto-enrolment2.6 GPA
- OnPay Insider's GuideUS payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons2.6 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 SimplePay’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. SimplePay is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by SimplePay. Prices and plans change: check simplepay.co.za before you buy.