Software Comparison
Big Red Book Payroll vs SimplePay - Irish Payroll Software Compared
Choosing between Big Red Book Payroll and SimplePay 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: 07 Sept 2026data estimated for at least one vendor - confirm with the vendorMethodology
Quick Verdict
Big Red Book Payroll suits Irish accountancy practices and SMEs already embedded in the Big Red Book accounting ecosystem, where the payroll-to-ledger journal integration removes manual re-keying and the vendor's decades of Irish market presence carry weight.
Where Big Red Book Payroll and SimplePay actually differ
- SimplePay publishes the lower starting price: EUR 4 against EUR 318 for Big Red Book Payroll.
Big Red Book Payroll vs SimplePay - Feature Comparison
| Feature | Big Red Book Payroll | SimplePay |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE Modernisation and Revenue Integration | Full PAYE Modernisation compliance with direct Revenue integration for real-time reporting. | Full PAYE Modernisation compliance. RPN retrieval and ROS submission in a single click. Also covers Enhanced Reporting Requirements. |
| SEPA Payment File Export | Not available. | Native SEPA payment file export after each pay run, compatible with AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB portals. |
| Irish Bank Feeds | Not available. | Not available. |
| Accounting Integration | Payroll journal posts directly into Big Red Book accounting ledger with no manual re-keying. | Integrates with Xero and QuickBooks Online. |
| Employee Self-Service | Not listed as a feature. | Employee self-service portal and mobile app for payslip access and leave management. |
| GDPR Data Residency | EU data residency. | EU data residency. |
| Auto-Enrolment (My Future Fund) | Not listed as a supported feature. | Vendor states support for My Future Fund auto-enrolment introduced in January 2026. |
Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix
A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for Big Red Book Payroll and SimplePay. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.
| Requirement | Big Red Book Payroll | SimplePay |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | From €318/year | From €4/employee/month |
| Pricing model | Annual licence | Monthly flat rate |
| EUR pricing guaranteed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Irish Compliance | ||
| Revenue (ROS) integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAYE Modernisation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Irish bank feeds | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bank compatibility | None listed | AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB |
| 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
SimplePay: From EUR4.00 per active employee per month, exclusive of VAT. Per active employee model: no charge for admin users. Free 30-day trial with all features and full support included. - 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 SimplePay compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.
Revenue Integration
Both Big Red Book Payroll and SimplePay 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 SimplePay 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
Big Red Book Payroll supports no Irish banks directly. SimplePay supports AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB. SimplePay has broader Irish bank compatibility, which matters if you bank with AIB or Bank of Ireland or PTSB - you will get automatic bank feeds or SEPA payment file support that Big Red Book Payroll cannot offer.
GDPR Data Residency
Both Big Red Book Payroll and SimplePay 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 SimplePay 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 SimplePay 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
€318/mo
- Pricing model: Flat rate
- Free trial: Yes
- EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes
SimplePay
€4/mo
- Pricing model: Flat rate
- Free trial: Yes
- EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes
At entry level, SimplePay is the more affordable option. However, total cost of ownership depends on the number of users, add-ons, and features your business requires. 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 SimplePay
SimplePay is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:
- ✓Budget-conscious businesses - SimplePay from €4/employee/month
- ✓Businesses banking with AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB who want reliable bank feed or payment file support
- ✓Those who value: submit payroll data to ros with a single click; usc and prsi handled automatically
Our Verdict
Big Red Book Payroll suits Irish accountancy practices and SMEs already embedded in the Big Red Book accounting ecosystem, where the payroll-to-ledger journal integration removes manual re-keying and the vendor's decades of Irish market presence carry weight. SimplePay wins for greenfield Irish payroll buyers, particularly sole employers and payroll bureaus running multiple small clients, because its per active employee pricing from EUR 4.00 per month scales down to zero cost for inactive months and admin users pay nothing. Both products cover PAYE, PRSI, USC, and PAYE Modernisation submissions to Revenue, and both hold EU data residency, so compliance parity is strong on those fronts.
The sharpest Irish-specific differentiator is SEPA payment file export: SimplePay generates a SEPA-compatible file after each pay run compatible with AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB portals, while Big Red Book Payroll does not offer that output. Neither product provides native Irish bank feeds, so both require manual bank reconciliation outside the payroll tool. Big Red Book's flat annual pricing from EUR 318 is less flexible than SimplePay's per-employee model for very small or seasonal headcounts, but may be more predictable for a steady team above a certain size.
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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