Salstead vs Access Group
Built for care homes, not bolted onto an HR suite.
Access Workspace for Care is a long-established product suite, but it shows its age. Operators tell us it is heavy, slow, and priced by module rather than outcome. Salstead is a modern, single-platform alternative with transparent per-bed pricing and PAYE built in.
Feature comparison
| Capability | SSalstead | Access Group |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | Per-bed from £4/mo, no per-seat fees | Multi-module licensing, per-seat |
| PAYE payroll built-in | Yes, with full transparency | Add-on via separate Access People module |
| CQC evidence packs | One-click, auto-built from live data | Manual report builder |
| Mobile-first care | Designed mobile-first, offline-tolerant | Mobile feels like a port of the desktop |
| AI workforce insights | Predictive forecasting included | Premium AI add-on |
| Family portal | Included on Standard plan | Separate Engage module |
| NHS DSPT integrations | On Enterprise plan | Yes (mature) |
| Migration support | 6-week guided migration, free | Paid migration service |
| Customer support | UK team, direct line to product | Tiered ticket system |
Based on publicly available information and customer interviews as of 2026. We are happy to update this if you spot anything inaccurate: hello@salstead.com.
3 reasons operators move from Access to Salstead
You stopped being a customer, you became a renewal
Operators tell us Access support feels transactional after the contract is signed. Salstead keeps your onboarding lead on your account.
You pay for modules you do not use
Access charges by module. Salstead gives you the full platform per bed, so adding the family portal or eMAR does not change your bill.
Your team finds it slow
Salstead loads in under a second on a hot connection. Carers do not have time for 8-second page loads on a phone.
6-week switch from Access to Salstead
A guided, low-risk migration. Your current system stays live until you say go.
Considering a switch from Access Group?
Book a no-obligation migration consultation. We will walk through your current setup, scope the move, and give you a written plan.