Software Comparison

Payhawk vs Soldo - Irish expense-management Software Compared

Choosing between Payhawk and Soldo is one of the most common decisions Irish businesses face when evaluating expense-management 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.

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Quick Verdict

Its broader integration set and invoice processing capability give finance teams a single platform that Soldo, which is prepaid card and expense capture only, cannot match at equivalent team sizes.
Soldo suits smaller Irish businesses of 6-20 employees that want prepaid card controls at a low entry cost, with its Pro plan starting at around EUR 10 per month flat compared to Payhawk's indicative Essential tier of around EUR 149 per month.
Both platforms issue EU IBANs, support SEPA top-ups from AIB and Bank of Ireland current accounts, capture Irish multi-rate VAT on receipts, and store digital receipt images that satisfy Revenue's 6-year retention requirement under eBrief 09/15.
Neither vendor offers native integration with AIB, Bank of Ireland, or Permanent TSB bank feeds, and neither has Revenue or ROS integration, so Irish finance teams will still need to handle payroll tax compliance separately.
Soldo has the edge of a free trial, allowing Irish buyers to evaluate the platform without a sales engagement, whereas Payhawk requires a quote conversation before access.

Payhawk vs Soldo - Feature Comparison

Feature	Payhawk	Soldo
Entry Pricing	Essential plan from approximately EUR 149 per month flat, quote-based, no free trial	Pro plan from approximately EUR 10 per month flat, free trial available
Free Trial	No free trial, sales engagement required before evaluation	Free trial available
Accounting and ERP Integration	Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365	Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite
Expense and Invoice Scope	Card spend, expense management, invoice processing, and reimbursement workflows in one platform	Prepaid card spend and expense capture only, no invoice processing or travel booking
Irish Bank Compatibility	EU IBAN issued, SEPA top-up and settlement supported, no native AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB bank feed	EU IBAN issued, SEPA top-up from Irish bank accounts supported, no native AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB bank feed
VAT and Revenue Compliance	Irish multi-rate VAT auto-detected on receipts, digital receipts meet Revenue 6-year retention under eBrief 09/15, no Revenue or ROS integration	Irish multi-rate VAT auto-detected on receipts, digital receipts meet Revenue 6-year retention under eBrief 09/15, no Revenue or ROS integration
GDPR Data Residency	EU-hosted	EU-hosted
Irish Support	London-led account management, no dedicated Irish or Dublin support desk	London-led account management, no dedicated Irish or Dublin support desk
Pricing
Starting Price	Contact for pricing	From €21/month
Free Trial	✗	✓
Irish Compliance
Revenue Integration	✗	✗
PAYE Modernisation	✗	✗
Irish Bank Feeds	✗	✗
GDPR Data Residency	EU	EU
SEPA Direct Debit	✓	✓
Irish IBAN Support	✓	✓
VAT Handling	✓	✓

Irish Compliance Comparison

For Irish businesses, compliance with Revenue, GDPR, and local banking standards is non-negotiable. Here is how Payhawk and Soldo compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.

Revenue Integration

Neither Payhawk nor Soldo offers native Revenue Online Service integration. Irish businesses in expense-management may not need this feature directly, but should ensure their accounting software handles Revenue compliance separately.

Irish Bank Feeds

Neither Payhawk nor Soldo offers direct Irish bank feed integrations, which is expected for expense-management software. Your accounting platform should handle bank feeds separately.

GDPR Data Residency

Both Payhawk and Soldo 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 Payhawk and Soldo 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

Both Payhawk and Soldo handle Irish VAT, including standard VAT return preparation and submission. Irish businesses can manage their VAT obligations from either platform without needing a separate tool.

Pricing Comparison

All prices below are in euro. Pricing can change - we verify vendor pricing monthly, but always confirm on the vendor's website before purchasing.

Payhawk

Contact

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: No
EUR pricing guaranteed: No - may fluctuate with exchange rates

View Payhawk pricing →

Soldo

€21 /mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: Yes
EUR pricing guaranteed: No - may fluctuate with exchange rates

View Soldo pricing →

Payhawk 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 Payhawk

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

✓ Those who value: eu iban and sepa settlement compatible with irish business bank accounts
✓ Those who value: vat capture handles ireland's multi-rate receipt scenarios
✓ Those who value: broad erp integration including xero, sage, quickbooks, and dynamics 365

Who Should Choose Soldo

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

✓ Those who value: soldo financial services ireland dac is directly authorised by the central bank of ireland (e-money institution c179925), not passporting in from another eu state.
✓ Those who value: issues ie-prefix ibans via the irish dac, which removes friction for revenue, payroll, and sepa direct debit creditor setups versus pleo (dk), spendesk (fr) and payhawk (bg).
✓ Those who value: departmental wallet structure suits irish smes with multiple cardholders, project-based spend, or per-vehicle and per-till spend in retail and hospitality.

Our Verdict

Both platforms issue EU IBANs, support SEPA top-ups from AIB and Bank of Ireland current accounts, capture Irish multi-rate VAT on receipts, and store digital receipt images that satisfy Revenue's 6-year retention requirement under eBrief 09/15. Neither vendor offers native integration with AIB, Bank of Ireland, or Permanent TSB bank feeds, and neither has Revenue or ROS integration, so Irish finance teams will still need to handle payroll tax compliance separately. Soldo has the edge of a free trial, allowing Irish buyers to evaluate the platform without a sales engagement, whereas Payhawk requires a quote conversation before access.

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 Payhawk or Soldo better for Irish SMEs?

Payhawk is the stronger choice for Irish SMEs in the 21-50 employee range that run an ERP such as Sage, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or NetSuite and need tightly controlled approval workflows across both card spend and supplier invoices. Its broader integration set and invoice processing capability give finance teams a single platform that Soldo, which is prepaid card and expense capture only, cannot match at equivalent team sizes. Soldo suits smaller Irish businesses of 6-20 employees that want prepaid card controls at a low entry cost, with its Pro plan starting at around EUR 10 per month flat compared to Payhawk's indicative Essential tier of around EUR 149 per month. Both platforms issue EU IBANs, support SEPA top-ups from AIB and Bank of Ireland current accounts, capture Irish multi-rate VAT on receipts, and store digital receipt images that satisfy Revenue's 6-year retention requirement under eBrief 09/15. Neither vendor offers native integration with AIB, Bank of Ireland, or Permanent TSB bank feeds, and neither has Revenue or ROS integration, so Irish finance teams will still need to handle payroll tax compliance separately. Soldo has the edge of a free trial, allowing Irish buyers to evaluate the platform without a sales engagement, whereas Payhawk requires a quote conversation before access.

Which is cheaper, Payhawk or Soldo?

Payhawk starts at Contact for pricing, while Soldo starts at From €21/month. Payhawk is the more affordable option at entry level, though total cost depends on the number of users and features you need.

Does Payhawk or Soldo have better Irish bank feeds?

Payhawk supports None. Soldo supports None. Both offer similar Irish bank compatibility.

Which has better GDPR compliance, Payhawk or Soldo?

Payhawk stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Soldo stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Both offer EU data centre options, though configuration may be required.

Can I switch from Payhawk to Soldo?

Yes, migrating between Payhawk and Soldo is possible. Most expense-management 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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