Software Comparison

AIB Business vs Stripe - Irish business-banking Software Compared

Choosing between AIB Business and Stripe is one of the most common decisions Irish businesses face when evaluating business-banking software. This comparison breaks down everything an Irish SME needs to know, from Revenue integration and GDPR data residency to pricing and ease of use.

View AIB Business View Stripe

Last checked: 08 Jun 2026 data estimated for at least one vendor - confirm with the vendor Methodology

Quick Verdict

AIB Business vs Stripe - Feature Comparison

Feature	AIB Business	Stripe
Free Tier	None	No monthly fee baseline; costs are entirely usage-based
Irish Bank Feeds	Direct bank feeds supported for Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, and BrightBooks	No direct Irish bank feed; sits in accounting platforms as a payment processor clearing account, with bank feeds coming from the receiving Irish business bank
SEPA Direct Debit	Supported natively; pain.008 bulk file upload via Internet Business Banking	Supported; approximately 0.8% per SEPA Direct Debit transaction, capped per transaction
Irish IBAN Issuance	Issues Irish IE IBANs as standard to all business current account holders	Does not issue an Irish IBAN; settles EUR payouts to an existing Irish IBAN held at AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, Revolut Business, N26 Business, or Wise Business
VAT Handling	No automated VAT calculation or reporting	Stripe Tax automates Irish VAT at 23%, 13.5%, 9%, and 0% rates; handles EU One Stop Shop for cross-border distance sellers; does not file VAT3 returns to Revenue
Irish Customer Support	Irish-based customer support team; branch network available nationwide	Email-first support; no general phone line and no Irish-language support; phone support reserved for higher-volume accounts
CBI Regulation and Deposit Protection	Authorised credit institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (ref C21174); Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme covers up to EUR 100,000 per eligible depositor	Authorised e-money institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (ref C187865); not a bank, so Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme protection does not apply to Stripe balances

Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix

A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for AIB Business and Stripe. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.

Requirement	AIB Business	Stripe
Pricing
Starting price	From €4/month	Free tier available
Pricing model	Monthly flat rate	Usage-based
EUR pricing guaranteed	✓	✓
Free trial	✗	✓
Irish Compliance
Revenue (ROS) integration	✗	✗
PAYE Modernisation	✗	✗
Irish bank feeds	✓	✗
Bank compatibility	SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, Pain.001, Pain.008	SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Credit Transfer
SEPA direct debit	✓	✓
Irish IBAN support	✓	✓
VAT handling	✗	✓
EU data residency (GDPR)	EU only	EU only
Irish support	✓	✗
Revenue-approved	✗	✗
CBI regulated	✓	✓

Pricing notes

Stripe: No monthly fee on standard pricing. Approximately 1.4% + EUR 0.25 per successful EEA card payment, approximately 2.9% + EUR 0.25 per non-EEA card. SEPA Direct Debit charged at approximately 0.8% capped per transaction. A 2% currency conversion fee applies when the customer pays in a currency other than your settlement currency, and stacks on top of the standard processing fee. Stripe Billing adds 0.5% on recurring revenue (0.8% on the Scale plan, plus extras). Stripe Tax adds 0.5% per transaction where it calculates tax (capped). Stripe Connect adds 0.25% + EUR 0.10 per payout for Standard accounts and more for Express/Custom configurations. Custom pricing available for Irish merchants processing high volumes - typically negotiated above approximately EUR 80,000 per month. - Source

Irish Compliance Comparison

For Irish businesses, compliance with Revenue, GDPR, and local banking standards is non-negotiable. Here is how AIB Business and Stripe compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.

Revenue Integration

Neither AIB Business nor Stripe offers native Revenue Online Service integration. Irish businesses in business-banking may not need this feature directly, but should ensure their accounting software handles Revenue compliance separately.

Irish Bank Feeds

AIB Business supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, Pain.001, Pain.008. Stripe supports SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Credit Transfer. AIB Business has broader Irish bank compatibility, which matters if you bank with Pain.001 or Pain.008 - you will get automatic bank feeds or SEPA payment file support that Stripe cannot offer.

GDPR Data Residency

Both AIB Business and Stripe store data in EU data centres, providing strong GDPR compliance out of the box. Irish businesses can use either platform without worrying about cross-border data transfers to the US or other non-EU jurisdictions.

SEPA and IBAN Support

Both AIB Business and Stripe support SEPA Direct Debit and Irish IBAN format. This means you can process euro payments, set up direct debits, and handle bank transfers in the standard European format without any manual workarounds.

VAT Handling

Stripe includes Irish VAT handling for return preparation and submission. AIB Business does not handle VAT natively - Irish businesses using AIB Business will need their accounting software to manage VAT obligations separately.

Pricing Comparison

All prices below are in euro. Pricing can change - we verify vendor pricing weekly, but always confirm on the vendor's website before purchasing.

AIB Business

€4 /mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: No
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View AIB Business pricing →

Stripe

Free tier

Pricing model: Usage-based
Free trial: Yes
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Stripe pricing →

Stripe does not publish entry-level pricing - request a quote directly. Total cost of ownership depends on users, plan tier, add-ons and features, so always calculate the full annual cost for your team size before committing.

Who Should Choose AIB Business

AIB Business is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓ Companies that value Irish-based phone and email support
✓ Businesses banking with SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, Pain.001, Pain.008 who want reliable bank feed or payment file support
✓ Those who value: branch network across ireland

Who Should Choose Stripe

Stripe is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓ Those who prioritise user satisfaction - Stripe has a higher editorial rating (4.4/5)
✓ Those who value: eu headquarters in dublin - stripe payments europe, limited is the contracting irish entity and contracts are written under irish law
✓ Those who value: eur-native settlement to an irish iban with no forced usd conversion for domestic irish revenue

Our Verdict

A critical structural difference is that Stripe is a payment processor and not a bank account, so any business using Stripe still requires a separate Irish business bank account to receive payouts and run day-to-day banking operations. Neither vendor offers native Revenue Online Service integration, PAYE Modernisation reporting, or direct Revenue file submission, so both must be paired with Irish accounting or payroll software to meet those obligations.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific business needs, team size, and priorities. We recommend taking advantage of free trials from both vendors before making your final decision. If you are working with an Irish accountant or payroll bureau, ask which platform they prefer - their familiarity with the software can save you significant time and hassle during setup and ongoing support.

Not sure which is right for you?

Our AI-powered recommendation engine analyses your business size, sector, and priorities to suggest the best software stack for your Irish business - in under 60 seconds.

Try Our Free Recommendation Tool →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AIB Business or Stripe better for Irish SMEs?

AIB Business wins for Irish SMEs that need a full-service relationship bank: a physical branch network, overdraft and term lending, merchant services, and deposit protection under the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to EUR 100,000. Stripe wins for Irish technology companies, e-commerce sellers, SaaS businesses, and agencies that need to accept card payments and recurring subscriptions online, with EUR-native settlement to an Irish IBAN, SEPA Direct Debit, and automated Irish VAT calculation at 23%, 13.5%, 9%, and 0% rates via Stripe Tax. A critical structural difference is that Stripe is a payment processor and not a bank account, so any business using Stripe still requires a separate Irish business bank account to receive payouts and run day-to-day banking operations. Neither vendor offers native Revenue Online Service integration, PAYE Modernisation reporting, or direct Revenue file submission, so both must be paired with Irish accounting or payroll software to meet those obligations.

Which is cheaper, AIB Business or Stripe?

AIB Business starts at From €4/month, while Stripe starts at Free tier available. Stripe is the more affordable option at entry level, though total cost depends on the number of users and features you need.

Does AIB Business or Stripe have better Irish bank feeds?

AIB Business supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, Pain.001, Pain.008. Stripe supports SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Credit Transfer. AIB Business has broader Irish bank support.

Which has better GDPR compliance, AIB Business or Stripe?

AIB Business stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Stripe stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Both offer EU data centre options, though configuration may be required.

Can I switch from AIB Business to Stripe?

Yes, migrating between AIB Business and Stripe is possible. Most business-banking platforms allow you to export your data in CSV or standard formats. We recommend working with your accountant or IT provider to plan the migration, ideally at the start of a new financial year or payroll period to minimise disruption.

Not sure which one fits?

Share your email and we'll send tailored guidance based on this comparison.