Software Comparison

Big Red Book Payroll vs Collsoft Payroll - Irish Payroll Software Compared

Choosing between Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll is one of the most common decisions Irish businesses face when evaluating payroll 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 Big Red Book Payroll View Collsoft Payroll

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

Quick Verdict

Big Red Book Payroll vs Collsoft Payroll - Feature Comparison

Feature	Big Red Book Payroll	Collsoft Payroll
Free Trial	Free trial available.	60-day free trial available before purchase.
PAYE Modernisation and Revenue Integration	Full PAYE Modernisation compliance with real-time Revenue reporting.	Full PAYE Modernisation compliance including automatic RPN fetching to keep tax credits and PRSI values current.
SEPA XML Payment Files	Not supported.	Generates SEPA XML payment files for bulk payroll runs.
Irish IBAN Support	Not supported.	Supported.
Accounting Integration	Native integration with Big Red Book accounting. Payroll journal posts directly to the ledger without manual re-keying.	Exports to QuickBooks, Sage Line 50, Twinfield, and Xero. No native accounting ledger of its own.
Irish Bank Feeds	Not supported.	Not supported.
GDPR Data Residency	EU data residency.	EU data residency.

Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix

A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.

Requirement	Big Red Book Payroll	Collsoft Payroll
Pricing
Starting price	Contact for pricing	From €199/year
Pricing model	Monthly flat rate	Annual licence
EUR pricing guaranteed	✓	✓
Free trial	✓	✓
Irish Compliance
Revenue (ROS) integration	✓	✓
PAYE Modernisation	✓	✓
Irish bank feeds	✗	✗
Bank compatibility	None listed	None listed
SEPA direct debit	✗	✓
Irish IBAN support	✗	✓
VAT handling	✗	✗
EU data residency (GDPR)	EU only	EU only
Irish support	✓	✓
Revenue-approved	✗	✗
CBI regulated	✗	✗

Pricing notes

Big Red Book Payroll: Contact Big Red Book for current Irish pricing. Often bundled with accounting modules. - Source

Collsoft Payroll: Priced per employer (not per employee) per tax year, ex VAT, with unlimited employees on all tiers. Small Business: €199/year (up to 5 employers). Micro Bureau: €299/year (up to 10 employers). Bureau: €499/year (unlimited employers). A 60-day free trial is available before purchase. Source: collsoft.ie/pricing, verified 2026-05-28. - Source

Irish Compliance Comparison

For Irish businesses, compliance with Revenue, GDPR, and local banking standards is non-negotiable. Here is how Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.

Revenue Integration

Both Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll support Revenue Online Service (ROS) integration, meaning you can file VAT returns and manage your tax obligations directly from either platform. For Irish businesses, this is table stakes - and both vendors deliver.

PAYE Modernisation

Both Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll fully support PAYE Modernisation with real-time payroll reporting to Revenue. Irish employers are legally required to submit payroll data in real time, so having this built in saves significant time and reduces the risk of non-compliance penalties.

Irish Bank Feeds

Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor Collsoft Payroll offers direct Irish bank feed integrations, which is expected for payroll software. Your accounting platform should handle bank feeds separately.

GDPR Data Residency

Both Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll 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

Collsoft Payroll supports SEPA Direct Debit and Irish IBAN format, making euro payments and bank transfers seamless. Big Red Book Payroll does not support SEPA natively, which could mean extra manual steps when processing euro payments or setting up direct debits for Irish customers.

VAT Handling

Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor Collsoft Payroll handles Irish VAT directly. This is expected for payroll tools - your accounting software should manage VAT compliance.

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.

Big Red Book Payroll

Contact for quote

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: Yes
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Big Red Book Payroll pricing →

Collsoft Payroll

€199 /mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: Yes
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Collsoft Payroll pricing →

Big Red Book Payroll 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 Big Red Book Payroll

Big Red Book Payroll is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓ Those who value: long-established irish vendor
✓ Those who value: strong in the irish accountancy-practice market
✓ Those who value: integrates with big red book accounting

Who Should Choose Collsoft Payroll

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

✓ Those who prioritise user satisfaction - Collsoft Payroll has a higher editorial rating (4.6/5)
✓ Those who value: strong irish revenue compliance with paye modernisation and rpn fetching
✓ Those who value: cso earnings, hours and employment costs survey reporting built in

Our Verdict

Collsoft adds SEPA XML payment file generation and Irish IBAN support, which Big Red Book Payroll does not offer, giving Collsoft a practical advantage for employers running bulk payroll payments through their bank. The shared limitation worth noting is that neither product offers native Irish bank feeds. For a greenfield payroll selection with no existing Big Red Book accounting tie-in, Collsoft's clear per-year pricing, 60-day free trial, and SEPA XML output make it the stronger pick for most Irish SMEs in the 1-50 employee range.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Red Book Payroll or Collsoft Payroll better for Irish SMEs?

Big Red Book Payroll suits Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus that already run Big Red Book accounting, because the payroll journal flows directly into the ledger without manual re-keying, and the vendor has decades of presence in the Irish accountancy practice market. Collsoft wins on pricing transparency and value for money: its tiers start at EUR 199 per tax year for up to five employers with unlimited employees, and a Bureau edition at EUR 499 covers unlimited employers, making it highly competitive for practices running multiple client payrolls. Both products cover the Irish-specific compliance essentials, including PAYE Modernisation, Revenue integration, PRSI, USC, and EU data residency, so neither has a compliance edge there. Collsoft adds SEPA XML payment file generation and Irish IBAN support, which Big Red Book Payroll does not offer, giving Collsoft a practical advantage for employers running bulk payroll payments through their bank. The shared limitation worth noting is that neither product offers native Irish bank feeds. For a greenfield payroll selection with no existing Big Red Book accounting tie-in, Collsoft's clear per-year pricing, 60-day free trial, and SEPA XML output make it the stronger pick for most Irish SMEs in the 1-50 employee range.

Which is cheaper, Big Red Book Payroll or Collsoft Payroll?

Big Red Book Payroll starts at Contact for pricing, while Collsoft Payroll starts at From €199/year. Big Red Book Payroll is the more affordable option at entry level, though total cost depends on the number of users and features you need.

Does Big Red Book Payroll or Collsoft Payroll have better Irish bank feeds?

Big Red Book Payroll supports None. Collsoft Payroll supports None. Both offer similar Irish bank compatibility.

Which has better GDPR compliance, Big Red Book Payroll or Collsoft Payroll?

Big Red Book Payroll stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Collsoft Payroll stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Both offer EU data centre options, though configuration may be required.

Can I switch from Big Red Book Payroll to Collsoft Payroll?

Yes, migrating between Big Red Book Payroll and Collsoft Payroll is possible. Most payroll 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.

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