Software Comparison
Big Red Book Payroll vs QuickBooks Payroll - Irish Payroll Software Compared
Choosing between Big Red Book Payroll and QuickBooks 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.
Last checked: 08 Jun 2026 data estimated for at least one vendor - confirm with the vendor Methodology
Quick Verdict
Big Red Book Payroll is the stronger choice for Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus seeking a fully compliant Irish payroll solution, as it supports PAYE Modernisation and Revenue real-time reporting under Irish law, carries EU data residency, and provides Irish customer support.
Where Big Red Book Payroll and QuickBooks Payroll actually differ
- Data residency differs: Big Red Book Payroll stores data in EU data centres, QuickBooks Payroll in EU and US data centres. For GDPR-sensitive Irish organisations this can decide the shortlist on its own.
- Big Red Book Payroll offers Irish business-hours support; QuickBooks Payroll does not.
Big Red Book Payroll vs QuickBooks Payroll - Feature Comparison
| Feature | Big Red Book Payroll | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE Modernisation | Supported. Real-time reporting to Revenue included. | Not supported for Ireland. |
| Revenue Integration | Yes. Payroll submissions flow directly to Revenue. | No. Revenue integration not available. |
| Irish Tax Logic (PAYE, PRSI, USC) | Full Irish tax logic: PAYE, PRSI, and USC handled natively. | Region-dependent. Irish-specific tax logic not confirmed. |
| Irish Customer Support | Yes. Irish-based support available. | No dedicated Irish support presence. |
| GDPR Data Residency | EU data residency confirmed. | Mixed EU and non-EU data residency. EU residency not guaranteed. |
| Irish Bank Feeds and SEPA | No Irish bank feeds. No SEPA direct debit or SEPA XML file output. | No Irish bank feeds. No SEPA direct debit or SEPA XML file output. |
| Accounting Integration | Native integration with Big Red Book accounting. Payroll journal posts directly to the ledger. | Integrates with QuickBooks Online accounting. |
Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix
A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for Big Red Book Payroll and QuickBooks Payroll. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.
| Requirement | Big Red Book Payroll | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing model | Monthly flat rate | Monthly flat rate |
| 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 and US |
| Irish support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Revenue-approved | ✗ | ✗ |
| CBI regulated | ✗ | ✗ |
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 QuickBooks Payroll 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 QuickBooks Payroll 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. QuickBooks Payroll does not have native PAYE Modernisation - if you choose QuickBooks Payroll, 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 QuickBooks Payroll offers direct Irish bank feed integrations, which is expected for payroll software. Your accounting platform should handle bank feeds separately.
GDPR Data Residency
Big Red Book Payroll stores data exclusively in EU data centres, giving Irish businesses straightforward GDPR compliance. QuickBooks Payroll uses eu and us data centres (configuration required), which means you may need to specifically request or configure EU data residency. For businesses handling sensitive Irish customer data, Big Red Book Payroll offers greater peace of mind on data sovereignty.
SEPA and IBAN Support
Neither Big Red Book Payroll nor QuickBooks 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 QuickBooks 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
QuickBooks Payroll
Contact for quote
- Pricing model: Flat rate
- 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
- ✓ GDPR-conscious businesses wanting guaranteed EU data residency
- ✓ Growing businesses with 21-50 employees that need a platform which scales
Who Should Choose QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:
- ✓ Those who value: tight integration with quickbooks online accounting
- ✓ Those who value: familiar brand for international users
- ✓ Those who value: reasonable option for irish subsidiaries of uk or us groups already standardised on quickbooks
Our Verdict
Big Red Book Payroll is the stronger choice for Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus seeking a fully compliant Irish payroll solution, as it supports PAYE Modernisation and Revenue real-time reporting under Irish law, carries EU data residency, and provides Irish customer support. QuickBooks Payroll does not cover PAYE Modernisation, has no confirmed Revenue integration, and offers no Irish support presence, making it unsuitable as a standalone payroll solution for most Irish employers. Both vendors lack Irish bank feeds and SEPA direct debit capability, so neither automates payment runs through AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB natively.
Big Red Book Payroll also carries a clear Irish-law compliance track record and integrates directly with Big Red Book accounting, removing the need to re-key payroll journals. QuickBooks Payroll is only a plausible consideration for an Irish subsidiary already standardised on QuickBooks Online across a wider group, and even then the PAYE Modernisation gap is a material compliance risk that cannot be ignored.
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 Big Red Book Payroll or QuickBooks Payroll better for Irish SMEs?
Which is cheaper, Big Red Book Payroll or QuickBooks Payroll?
Does Big Red Book Payroll or QuickBooks Payroll have better Irish bank feeds?
Which has better GDPR compliance, Big Red Book Payroll or QuickBooks Payroll?
Can I switch from Big Red Book Payroll to QuickBooks Payroll?
Not sure which one fits?
Share your email and we'll send tailored guidance based on this comparison.
You're on the list.
Irish software updates, weekly. No spam.