Software Comparison

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

Choosing between Big Red Book Payroll and Quantum 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 Quantum Payroll

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

Quick Verdict

Where Big Red Book Payroll and Quantum Payroll actually differ

Big Red Book Payroll offers a free trial; Quantum Payroll does not, so evaluating it hands-on takes a demo request.

Big Red Book Payroll vs Quantum Payroll - Feature Comparison

Feature	Big Red Book Payroll	Quantum Payroll
Deployment Options	Desktop-first with cloud option via Big Red Cloud ecosystem.	On-premise and cloud deployment both available, giving employers full data custody if required.
PAYE Modernisation and Revenue Integration	Supported. Real-time PAYE reporting to Revenue via ROS.	Supported. Real-time PAYE reporting to Revenue via ROS.
Accounting Integration	Native integration with Big Red Book accounting; payroll journal posts directly to the ledger.	No accounting integration documented.
Irish Bank Feeds	Not available. No AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB bank feed support.	Not available. No AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB bank feed support.
SEPA Direct Debit	Not supported.	Not supported.
Security Certification	No ISO certification documented.	ISO 27001:2022 certified for information security.
GDPR Data Residency and Irish Support	EU data residency. Irish support via phone, live chat, and email.	EU data residency. Irish support provided by Snow Technology.

Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix

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

Requirement	Big Red Book Payroll	Quantum Payroll
Pricing
Starting price	Contact for pricing	Contact for pricing
Pricing model	Monthly flat rate	Contact for pricing
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

Quantum Payroll: Quote-based pricing. Contact Snow Technology for a quotation.

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 Quantum Payroll compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.

Revenue Integration

Both Big Red Book Payroll and Quantum 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 Quantum 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 Quantum 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 Quantum 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

Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor Quantum Payroll 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 Quantum 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 →

Quantum Payroll

Contact for quote

Pricing model: Contact for pricing
Free trial: No
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Quantum 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 Quantum Payroll

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

✓ Those who value: deployable on-premise or in the cloud, with revenue online service (ros) integration
✓ Those who value: supports paye modernisation for compliant real-time revenue reporting
✓ Those who value: built and supported in ireland by snow technology

Our Verdict

Neither vendor offers native Irish bank feeds for AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB, and neither includes SEPA direct debit output, which limits automated payment runs for both. Big Red Book Payroll edges ahead for the smallest Irish businesses with its published tiered pricing and available free trial, whereas Quantum Payroll's quote-only model and absence of a free trial create a higher evaluation barrier for cost-conscious SMEs.

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?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Big Red Book Payroll suits Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus that already operate within the Big Red Book accounting ecosystem, because payroll journals flow directly into the ledger without manual re-keying, and the vendor has decades of experience serving Irish accountancy practices running multi-client payroll. Quantum Payroll is the stronger choice for mid-sized or larger Irish employers who require on-premise deployment to keep payroll data in-house, or who prioritise a vendor holding ISO 27001:2022 certification for information security. Both products support PAYE Modernisation and Revenue Online Service integration, carry EU data residency, and provide Irish-based support, so neither has a compliance advantage on those fronts. Neither vendor offers native Irish bank feeds for AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB, and neither includes SEPA direct debit output, which limits automated payment runs for both. Big Red Book Payroll edges ahead for the smallest Irish businesses with its published tiered pricing and available free trial, whereas Quantum Payroll's quote-only model and absence of a free trial create a higher evaluation barrier for cost-conscious SMEs.

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

Big Red Book Payroll starts at Contact for pricing, while Quantum Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. Both are similarly priced at entry level, so the best value depends on which features matter most to your business.

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

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

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

Big Red Book Payroll stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Quantum 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 Quantum Payroll?

Yes, migrating between Big Red Book Payroll and Quantum 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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