Software Comparison

Big Red Book Payroll vs Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) - Irish Payroll Software Compared

Choosing between Big Red Book Payroll and Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)

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

Quick Verdict

Big Red Book Payroll vs Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) - Feature Comparison

Feature	Big Red Book Payroll	Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)
Product Status	Actively developed and supported Irish payroll product	Discontinued - consolidated into BrightPay under Bright Software Group
PAYE Modernisation	Yes - full PAYE Modernisation compliance with real-time Revenue submissions	No - product is discontinued and carries no active compliance standing
Revenue Integration	Yes - payroll submissions integrate directly with Revenue	No - not present in this discontinued product
Irish Support	Yes - Ireland-based support team	No - no active support for Surf Payroll as a standalone product
Irish Bank Feeds / SEPA	No native Irish bank feeds. No SEPA direct debit support.	No native Irish bank feeds. No SEPA direct debit support.
GDPR Data Residency	EU data residency confirmed	EU data residency noted, though product is no longer active
Free Trial	Yes - free trial available	No - not available for a discontinued product

Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix

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

Requirement	Big Red Book Payroll	Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)
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

Surf Payroll (now BrightPay): Surf Payroll consolidated into BrightPay. Contact Bright Software Group for migration path and BrightPay pricing. - 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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. Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) does not have native PAYE Modernisation - if you choose Surf Payroll (now BrightPay), 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 →

Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)

Contact for quote

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

View Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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:

✓ Businesses that need built-in payroll with PAYE Modernisation support
✓ Companies that value Irish-based phone and email support
✓ Those who value: long-established irish vendor

Who Should Choose Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)

Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓ Those who value: migration path to brightpay (the active irish-hosted payroll product)
✓ Those who value: same bright software group support team
✓ Those who value: continues integration with brightbooks (formerly surf accounts)

Our Verdict

Both products lack native Irish bank feeds and SEPA direct debit support, which is a shared limitation worth noting for SMEs whose payroll workflow includes direct salary payments via AIB or Bank of Ireland. For any Irish business evaluating payroll today, Big Red Book Payroll is the only viable option of these two, and Surf Payroll should be disregarded as a current product entirely.

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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) better for Irish SMEs?

Big Red Book Payroll is the clear choice for Irish SMEs and accountancy bureaus that already operate within the Big Red Book ecosystem, offering active PAYE Modernisation compliance, Revenue real-time reporting integration, Irish support, and a free trial. Surf Payroll is a discontinued product that has been consolidated into BrightPay under Bright Software Group, and it no longer functions as a standalone payroll solution for new or existing buyers. The key Irish-specific differentiator is that Big Red Book Payroll maintains live Revenue integration and full PAYE Modernisation handling, whereas Surf Payroll carries none of these active compliance signals as it is no longer a developed product. Both products lack native Irish bank feeds and SEPA direct debit support, which is a shared limitation worth noting for SMEs whose payroll workflow includes direct salary payments via AIB or Bank of Ireland. For any Irish business evaluating payroll today, Big Red Book Payroll is the only viable option of these two, and Surf Payroll should be disregarded as a current product entirely.

Which is cheaper, Big Red Book Payroll or Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)?

Big Red Book Payroll starts at Contact for pricing, while Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) have better Irish bank feeds?

Big Red Book Payroll supports None. Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) supports None. Both offer similar Irish bank compatibility.

Which has better GDPR compliance, Big Red Book Payroll or Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)?

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

Yes, migrating between Big Red Book Payroll and Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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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