Software Comparison
Big Red Book Payroll vs Payroller - Irish Payroll Software Compared
Choosing between Big Red Book Payroll and Payroller 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.
Last checked: 08 Jun 2026 data estimated for at least one vendor - confirm with the vendor Methodology
Quick Verdict
Big Red Book Payroll wins for Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus that need a fully compliant, Revenue-integrated payroll solution with verified PAYE Modernisation support and Irish-based customer support.
Where Big Red Book Payroll and Payroller actually differ
- Payroller publishes a starting price; Big Red Book Payroll is quote-based, so budget a sales conversation to get a comparable figure.
- Big Red Book Payroll offers Irish business-hours support; Payroller does not.
Big Red Book Payroll vs Payroller - Feature Comparison
| Feature | Big Red Book Payroll | Payroller |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE Modernisation (Revenue Real-Time Reporting) | Supported. Payroll submissions flow to Revenue in real time as required under PAYE Modernisation. | Not supported. Irish employers cannot meet their real-time reporting obligations with this product. |
| Revenue Integration | Yes. Direct integration with Revenue for payroll reporting. | No. No Revenue integration in place. |
| Irish Local Tax Logic | Full PAYE, PRSI, and USC calculations handled natively. | PAYE, PRSI, and USC calculations claimed but compliance is unverified for the Irish market. |
| Irish Customer Support | Yes. Ireland-based support from a vendor established in the Irish market since 1992. | No Irish support offering available. |
| GDPR Data Residency | EU data residency confirmed. | EU data residency noted, though vendor has no Irish or EU legal entity registered. |
| Accounting Integration | Native integration with Big Red Book accounting. Payroll journal posts directly to the ledger. | No accounting integration noted. |
| SEPA Direct Debit / Irish Bank Feeds | Neither SEPA direct debit nor Irish bank feeds are supported. | Neither SEPA direct debit nor Irish bank feeds are supported. |
Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix
A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for Big Red Book Payroll and Payroller. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.
| Requirement | Big Red Book Payroll | Payroller |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Free tier available |
| Pricing model | Monthly flat rate | Per user / month |
| 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
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 Payroller compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.
Revenue Integration
Big Red Book Payroll supports full Revenue Online Service (ROS) integration for VAT returns and tax submissions, while Payroller does not offer native Revenue integration. This is a significant gap for Irish businesses that need to file directly with Revenue from their software.
PAYE Modernisation
Big Red Book Payroll includes full PAYE Modernisation support with real-time payroll submissions to Revenue. Payroller does not have native PAYE Modernisation - if you choose Payroller, you will need a separate payroll solution (such as BrightPay or Collsoft) to handle your PAYE obligations. This is a critical consideration for any Irish employer.
Irish Bank Feeds
Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor Payroller 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 Payroller 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
Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor Payroller offers native SEPA Direct Debit support. This is less relevant for payroll tools, but if you need to process euro payments, ensure your accounting or invoicing software covers SEPA compliance.
VAT Handling
Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor Payroller 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
Payroller
Free tier
- Pricing model: Per user
- Free trial: Yes
- EUR pricing guaranteed: No - may fluctuate with exchange rates
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:
- ✓ Businesses that need built-in payroll with PAYE Modernisation support
- ✓ Companies that value Irish-based phone and email support
- ✓ Growing businesses with 21-50 employees that need a platform which scales
Who Should Choose Payroller
Payroller is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:
- ✓ Those who value: very simple interface - good for non-payroll specialists
- ✓ Those who value: mobile app access
- ✓ Those who value: free tier for very small businesses
Our Verdict
Big Red Book Payroll wins for Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus that need a fully compliant, Revenue-integrated payroll solution with verified PAYE Modernisation support and Irish-based customer support. It carries decades of Irish market experience, handles PAYE, PRSI, and USC correctly, and integrates directly with Big Red Book accounting so payroll journals post to the ledger without manual re-keying. Payroller, by contrast, does not currently have an active Irish product, lacks Revenue integration, does not support PAYE Modernisation, and has no Irish support offering, making it unsuitable for any Irish employer with a legal obligation to report payroll in real time to Revenue.
Neither vendor supports SEPA direct debit or Irish bank feeds, which is a shared limitation for businesses wanting end-to-end automated pay runs. Irish SMEs of 1 to 50 staff should choose Big Red Book Payroll; Payroller cannot be recommended for Irish payroll at this time.
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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