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  1. Home
  2. Software
  3. Sage Pastel Payroll
  4. Reviews

342 verified reviews

Sage Pastel Payroll reviews

Every published review of Sage Pastel Payroll, unedited beyond length and clarity. Vendor responses are shown alongside the review they answer.

Write a review

342 reviews match · page 5 of 35

RA

Ravi ArendseVerified

Managing Director

Logistics and transportZambiaZambia51 to 200 employees
5.0
16 Jun 2026

ETI calculated correctly, with the working shown

We run about ninety staff on this and it has not missed a submission. Strong multi company handling for practices. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Used for more than 5 years
CM

Claire MabundaVerified

HR Officer

Financial servicesSouth AfricaPretoriaSole trader
3.0
16 Jun 2026

Good product, frustrating support queue

We use maybe sixty percent of what we pay for. Strong multi company handling for practices. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. Good value, with some real rough edges.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

No bargaining council support. Support queues get long towards month end.

Response from the vendor22 Jun 2026

We value the honest assessment. The bank feed reliability issue you mention has been addressed in a recent release, and we would encourage you to reconnect the affected accounts.

Used for 6 to 12 months
DB

Deven BezuidenhoutVerified

Payroll and Benefits Officer

Wholesale and distributionSouth AfricaPietermaritzburg500 plus employees
3.0
15 Jun 2026

Correct outputs, unhelpful reporting

It works. It is not enjoyable, but payroll rarely is. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. I would shortlist it, not necessarily pick it.

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. Per employee pricing is fair for a small team.

What does not

The reporting cannot break cost down by department. No bargaining council support.

Used for 1 to 2 years
MA

Michelle Adams

Payroll Administrator

Financial servicesSouth AfricaDurban51 to 200 employees
5.0
13 Jun 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Used for 1 to 2 years
FA

Francois Arendse

Talent Acquisition Lead

InsuranceSouth AfricaPretoria500 plus employees
4.0
12 Jun 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

We run about ninety staff on this and it has not missed a submission. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. If you are weighing it up, do the trial with your own data and you will see it.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for less than 6 months
LV

Lindiwe VenterVerified

Chief Operating Officer

Security servicesSouth AfricaKimberley201 to 500 employees
4.0
12 Jun 2026

Support actually understands South African payroll

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Strong multi company handling for practices. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Used for 2 to 5 years
FR

Fatima ReddyVerified

Talent Acquisition Lead

Mining servicesSouth AfricaSandton201 to 500 employees
3.0
10 Jun 2026

Compliant, but the interface fights you

It works. It is not enjoyable, but payroll rarely is. Strong multi company handling for practices. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. It is a reasonable choice, provided you know what it does not do.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Statutory outputs are correct.

What does not

Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried. Support queues get long towards month end.

Response from the vendor22 Jun 2026

We value the honest assessment. The bank feed reliability issue you mention has been addressed in a recent release, and we would encourage you to reconnect the affected accounts.

Used for 2 to 5 years
AV

Andrew Venter

HR and Payroll Manager

Food and beverageSouth AfricaRandburg500 plus employees
5.0
06 Jun 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Strong multi company handling for practices. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Used for 2 to 5 years
YR

Yusuf RamavhoyaVerified

Senior Bookkeeper

HospitalitySouth AfricaEast London201 to 500 employees
4.0
06 Jun 2026

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. Two years in and nobody has suggested we look at alternatives.

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for 6 to 12 months
MP

Mpho Pillay

Creditors Clerk

EducationSouth AfricaKimberley500 plus employees
3.0
05 Jun 2026

Correct outputs, unhelpful reporting

Compliance side is solid, the day to day is more of a slog than it should be. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. I would shortlist it, not necessarily pick it.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Per employee pricing is fair for a small team.

What does not

No bargaining council support. The reporting cannot break cost down by department.

Response from the vendor18 Jun 2026

Thank you for this. We recognise the pricing concern and would like to review your plan with you, as there may be a better fit for your usage. Our team will be in touch.

Used for less than 6 months
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3.9

Overall

from 342 reviews

72% positive19% neutral9% critical

Rating distribution

5
113 of 342
4
133 of 342
3
65 of 342
2
26 of 342
1
5 of 342

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