Software Comparison
Collsoft Payroll vs Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) - Irish Payroll Software Compared
Choosing between Collsoft 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.
Last checked: 08 Jun 2026 data estimated for at least one vendor - confirm with the vendor Methodology
Quick Verdict
Collsoft Payroll is the clear choice for any Irish SME or accountancy practice actively running payroll in 2026.
Collsoft Payroll vs Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) - Feature Comparison
| Feature | Collsoft Payroll | Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) |
|---|---|---|
| Product Status | Actively developed and supported desktop payroll for the 2026 tax year | Discontinued. Consolidated into BrightPay under Bright Software Group. No longer an independent product. |
| PAYE Modernisation and Revenue Integration | Full PAYE Modernisation with automatic RPN fetching, real-time Revenue Online Service submissions, P30, P35, P45, and P2C imports | Not available. Surf Payroll does not carry active PAYE Modernisation or Revenue integration. |
| SEPA XML Payment Files | Generates SEPA XML files for bulk payroll payment runs | Not available on Surf Payroll. |
| Irish Bank Feeds | Not included | Not included |
| Irish Phone and Email Support | Unlimited phone and email support included with every licence | No dedicated Surf Payroll support. Existing users directed to Bright Software Group for migration queries only. |
| Free Trial | 60-day free trial available before purchase | No free trial available. |
| GDPR Data Residency | EU data residency. Collsoft is an Irish-registered company headquartered in Navan, Co. Meath. | EU data residency under Bright Software Group, but Surf Payroll as a product is no longer active. |
Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix
A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for Collsoft Payroll and Surf Payroll (now BrightPay). Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.
| Requirement | Collsoft Payroll | Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | From €199/year | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing model | Annual licence | 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
Collsoft Payroll: Priced per employer (not per employee) per tax year, ex VAT, with unlimited employees on all tiers. Small Business: €199/year (up to 5 employers). Micro Bureau: €299/year (up to 10 employers). Bureau: €499/year (unlimited employers). A 60-day free trial is available before purchase. Source: collsoft.ie/pricing, verified 2026-05-28. - 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 Collsoft Payroll and Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.
Revenue Integration
Collsoft 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
Collsoft 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 Collsoft 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 Collsoft 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
Collsoft Payroll supports SEPA Direct Debit and Irish IBAN format, making euro payments and bank transfers seamless. Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) does not support SEPA natively, which could mean extra manual steps when processing euro payments or setting up direct debits for Irish customers.
VAT Handling
Neither Collsoft 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.
Collsoft Payroll
€199 /mo
- Pricing model: Flat rate
- Free trial: Yes
- EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes
Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)
Contact for quote
- Pricing model: Contact for pricing
- Free trial: No
- EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes
Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) 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 Collsoft Payroll
Collsoft 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 prioritise user satisfaction - Collsoft Payroll has a higher editorial rating (4.6/5)
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
Collsoft Payroll is the clear choice for any Irish SME or accountancy practice actively running payroll in 2026. It carries full PAYE Modernisation compliance, real-time RPN fetching, Revenue Online Service integration, SEPA XML payment file generation, CSO Earnings Hours and Employment Costs Survey reporting, and My Future Fund auto-enrolment readiness, all of which are live and confirmed. Surf Payroll, by contrast, is a discontinued product that has been absorbed into BrightPay under Bright Software Group and no longer operates as an independent payroll solution, meaning it has no active Revenue integration, no PAYE Modernisation support, and no Irish phone or email support of its own.
Collsoft's pricing is transparent and fixed in EUR, starting at EUR 199 per tax year for up to five employers with unlimited employees, and a 60-day free trial is available before any purchase commitment. The only meaningful limitation shared by both is the absence of native Irish bank feeds, though Collsoft does generate SEPA XML files for bulk payment runs. For any Irish business evaluating payroll software today, Surf Payroll is not a viable option and Collsoft stands as a solid, compliance-ready desktop payroll product.
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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Is Collsoft Payroll or Surf Payroll (now BrightPay) better for Irish SMEs?
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Which has better GDPR compliance, Collsoft Payroll or Surf Payroll (now BrightPay)?
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