Software Comparison

Bunq Business vs Fire Business Account - Irish business-banking Software Compared

Choosing between Bunq Business and Fire Business Account is one of the most common decisions Irish businesses face when evaluating business-banking 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 Bunq Business View Fire Business Account

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

Quick Verdict

Bunq Business vs Fire Business Account - Feature Comparison

Feature	Bunq Business	Fire Business Account
Monthly Pricing	From EUR 7.99 per month (Core plan); free tier available for sole proprietors only in Ireland	From EUR 10 per month flat; no free tier available
Regulatory Authority	De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), Netherlands; passported into Ireland under EU banking licence	Central Bank of Ireland, Payment Institution authorisation, reference C58301; Irish-founded and Dublin-headquartered
Irish IBAN Issuance	Irish (IE) IBANs issued to Ireland-resident businesses, with optional NL, DE, FR, and ES IBANs on the same account; up to 25 sub-accounts each with a unique IBAN	Irish (IE) IBANs issued by the Irish entity, Fire Financial Services Limited; single euro account per business
UK Payments	No native UK Faster Payments or Bacs capability published	GBP account with UK sort code and account number; UK Faster Payments and Bacs supported under Fire-UK (FCA-authorised EMI)
Irish Customer Support	No Irish-based support; app and web only	Irish-based customer support during Irish business hours
Payments API	API and Zapier access on Pro and Elite plans for custom integrations	Documented Fire Payments API plus Open Banking PISP and AISP APIs for programmatic payouts, batched runs, and webhook-driven reconciliation
Deposit Protection	Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme, up to EUR 100,000; not the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme	Payment Institution; customer funds are safeguarded, not covered by any deposit guarantee scheme
Sustainability Programme	One tree planted per EUR 100 of card spend; published ESG reporting and socially-responsible investing exclusions	No published sustainability or ESG programme

Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix

A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for Bunq Business and Fire Business Account. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.

Requirement	Bunq Business	Fire Business Account
Pricing
Starting price	From €7.99/month	From €10/month
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	SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit	SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit
SEPA direct debit	✓	✓
Irish IBAN support	✓	✓
VAT handling	✗	✗
EU data residency (GDPR)	EU only	EU only
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 Bunq Business and Fire Business Account compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.

Revenue Integration

Neither Bunq Business nor Fire Business Account offers native Revenue Online Service integration. Irish businesses in business-banking may not need this feature directly, but should ensure their accounting software handles Revenue compliance separately.

Irish Bank Feeds

Bunq Business supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit. Fire Business Account supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit. Both support the same Irish banks, so bank compatibility is not a deciding factor here.

GDPR Data Residency

Both Bunq Business and Fire Business Account 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

Both Bunq Business and Fire Business Account support SEPA Direct Debit and Irish IBAN format. This means you can process euro payments, set up direct debits, and handle bank transfers in the standard European format without any manual workarounds.

VAT Handling

Neither Bunq Business nor Fire Business Account handles Irish VAT directly. This is expected for business-banking 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.

Bunq Business

€7.99 /mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: No
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Bunq Business pricing →

Fire Business Account

€10 /mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: No
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Fire Business Account pricing →

At entry level, Bunq Business 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 Bunq Business

Bunq Business is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓ Budget-conscious businesses - Bunq Business from €7.99/month
✓ Those who value: irish (ie) iban available to ireland-resident business customers
✓ Those who value: up to 25 sub-accounts with their own ibans for vat, payroll, project segregation

Who Should Choose Fire Business Account

Fire Business Account is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓ Companies that value Irish-based phone and email support
✓ Growing businesses with 21-50 employees that need a platform which scales
✓ Those who prioritise user satisfaction - Fire Business Account has a higher editorial rating (4/5)

Our Verdict

Neither vendor offers native Revenue integration, PAYE Modernisation connectivity, or direct bank feeds into Xero, Sage, or BrightBooks as first-party integrations, so both require OFX, CSV, or API-based reconciliation workflows. Bunq deposits are protected under the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme rather than the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme, while Fire is a Payment Institution whose balances are safeguarded rather than deposit-insured under either scheme, meaning businesses holding large operational balances should factor that into their treasury setup for both products.

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 Bunq Business or Fire Business Account better for Irish SMEs?

Bunq Business suits ESG-conscious Irish SMEs and cross-border operators who need Irish (IE) IBANs alongside Dutch, German, French, and Spanish IBANs on a single account, plus up to 25 sub-accounts for VAT segregation, payroll holding, and project budgeting. Fire Business Account wins for Irish SMEs that want a domestically regulated, Irish-founded provider with Central Bank of Ireland Payment Institution authorisation, Irish-based customer support during Irish business hours, and a documented Payments API for programmatic payouts and batched supplier runs. Fire's dual EUR and GBP setup with UK Faster Payments is a sharper fit for businesses invoicing across Ireland and the UK from one login, while Bunq's multi-country IBAN architecture is more relevant for operators with EU-wide payment flows. Neither vendor offers native Revenue integration, PAYE Modernisation connectivity, or direct bank feeds into Xero, Sage, or BrightBooks as first-party integrations, so both require OFX, CSV, or API-based reconciliation workflows. Bunq deposits are protected under the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme rather than the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme, while Fire is a Payment Institution whose balances are safeguarded rather than deposit-insured under either scheme, meaning businesses holding large operational balances should factor that into their treasury setup for both products.

Which is cheaper, Bunq Business or Fire Business Account?

Bunq Business starts at From €7.99/month, while Fire Business Account starts at From €10/month. Bunq Business is the more affordable option at entry level, though total cost depends on the number of users and features you need.

Does Bunq Business or Fire Business Account have better Irish bank feeds?

Bunq Business supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit. Fire Business Account supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit. Both offer similar Irish bank compatibility.

Which has better GDPR compliance, Bunq Business or Fire Business Account?

Bunq Business stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Fire Business Account stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Both offer EU data centre options, though configuration may be required.

Can I switch from Bunq Business to Fire Business Account?

Yes, migrating between Bunq Business and Fire Business Account is possible. Most business-banking 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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