PayslipIQ vs PayslipCheck
An honest, side-by-side comparison. We'll tell you where PayslipIQ is better — and where we are.
Quick verdict
PayslipIQ is a legitimate UK payslip checker. It does something genuinely useful: you can upload a photo of your payslip and get an AI-generated explanation. If you want to avoid typing in numbers, that's a real advantage.
Where PayslipCheck wins: speed, privacy, and depth. Our calculator is instant (no server round-trip), your data never leaves your browser, and we have features PayslipIQ simply doesn't — pension inputs, visual charts, month-on-month comparison, multilingual guides, and sector-specific content for NHS workers, teachers, and more.
If you want to upload a photo and wait 20 seconds for an AI to read it: PayslipIQ. If you want instant, private, accurate results with no upload: PayslipCheck.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | PayslipIQ | PayslipCheck |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation speed | 15–30 seconds (AI server processing) | ✅Instant — updates as you type |
| Privacy | Image uploaded to Anthropic servers (30-day retention) | ✅Nothing ever leaves your browser |
| Accuracy | AI interprets image — OCR errors possible | ✅Deterministic maths engine — exact to the penny |
| Pension input | No pension input in calculator | ✅Full pension calculation (salary sacrifice, net pay, RAS) |
| Visual chart | No chart on calculator | ✅Interactive doughnut chart + waterfall breakdown |
| Month-on-month comparison | Not available | ✅Free — compare any two months instantly |
| Multilingual | English only | ✅Polish, Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu, Tagalog |
| Sector-specific guides | Generic only | ✅NHS, Teaching, Umbrella, Amazon, Royal Mail, Tesco |
| Scotland/Wales support | Toggle on calculator only | ✅Dedicated calculators + full comparison tool |
| Tax code pages | Individual pages exist | Individual pages with interactive calculator |
| Photo upload / OCR | ✅Yes — upload a payslip photo | Manual entry (faster, more private) |
| AI image scanning | ✅Yes — powered by Anthropic Claude | No — pure calculation engine |
| Trust Centre / DPIA | ✅Published Trust Centre with DPIA | Privacy policy — no data to protect |
| Price | Free + £4.99 Pro Report PDF | ✅100% free — no upsell, no PDF fee |
| No sign-up required | Yes | Yes |
Where PayslipIQ genuinely wins
📷 Photo upload
PayslipIQ lets you photograph your payslip and have it read automatically. If you don't want to type in numbers, this is genuinely useful. The AI reads the figures and generates an explanation. It takes 15–30 seconds but requires no manual entry.
🏛️ Published Trust Centre
PayslipIQ has a detailed Trust Centre explaining their data processing, AI provider (Anthropic), and security measures. If you want to understand exactly how a tool handles your data before using it, their documentation is thorough.
🇮🇪 Ireland support
PayslipIQ has USC and PRSI pages for Irish workers. PayslipCheck is UK-only.
Where PayslipCheck wins
⚡ Instant results
PayslipCheck updates every number as you type. No server round-trip, no AI processing delay. The result is there before you finish entering your figures.
🔒 True privacy
PayslipIQ uploads your payslip image to Anthropic's servers, where it may be retained for 30 days. PayslipCheck runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to upload, nothing to retain, and nothing to breach.
📊 Visual breakdown
PayslipCheck shows an interactive doughnut chart and waterfall breakdown. PayslipIQ's calculator has no visual output — just text.
💰 Pension calculation
PayslipIQ's take-home calculator has no pension input. PayslipCheck calculates salary sacrifice, net pay, and relief-at-source pension correctly — including the NI saving from salary sacrifice.
🏥 Sector-specific content
PayslipCheck has dedicated guides for NHS workers (Agenda for Change bands), teachers (TPS pension, TLR), umbrella company workers, Amazon, Royal Mail, Tesco, and more. PayslipIQ has generic content only.
🌍 Multilingual
PayslipCheck has guides in Polish, Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu, and Tagalog. PayslipIQ is English only. For the 5.9 million non-UK-born workers in the UK, this matters.
📅 Month-on-month comparison
PayslipCheck lets you compare any two months to instantly see why your take-home changed. PayslipIQ has no comparison feature.
💷 Completely free
PayslipCheck has no paid tier, no PDF export fee, no upsell. PayslipIQ charges £4.99 for a Pro Report PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Is PayslipIQ free?
PayslipIQ has a free tier but upsells a paid Pro Report PDF for £4.99. PayslipCheck is completely free with no upsell.
Does PayslipIQ store my payslip data?
PayslipIQ processes payslip images via Anthropic's Claude AI. Anthropic may retain prompts for up to 30 days. PayslipCheck runs entirely in your browser — nothing is ever uploaded or stored.
Which is more accurate — PayslipIQ or PayslipCheck?
PayslipCheck uses a deterministic calculation engine built directly from HMRC's 2026/27 rules. There is no AI interpretation of numbers — the maths is exact. PayslipIQ uses AI to interpret uploaded images, which can introduce OCR errors.
What does PayslipIQ do that PayslipCheck doesn't?
PayslipIQ allows you to upload a photo of your payslip and have it scanned automatically. PayslipCheck requires manual entry, which is faster and more private but requires you to type in your figures.
Try PayslipCheck free
No upload. No waiting. No sign-up. Instant, private, accurate.