Software Comparison
Revolut Business vs AIB Business - Irish business-banking Software Compared
Choosing between Revolut Business and AIB Business 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.
For most Irish SMEs launching in 2026, the honest answer is to run both. Revolut Business is the best day-to-day operating account for tech-forward Irish companies, sole traders and agencies - fast online onboarding in days rather than weeks, Irish (IE) IBAN issuance via the Revolut Bank UAB Irish branch, SEPA Instant transfers, strong multi-currency tooling and native bank feeds to Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. AIB Business is the traditional pillar bank you pair it with when you need overdrafts, term lending, merchant services, physical branches and the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme (versus Revolut's Lithuanian scheme). AIB is the default if you handle significant cash balances, need credit facilities or work in sectors like construction, hospitality or manufacturing where relationship banking matters. Revolut starts free on its Basic plan with transaction-based fees and scales via Grow, Scale and Enterprise; AIB charges approximately €4.50 per quarter maintenance plus per-transaction fees. If forced to pick one, Revolut wins for a new Irish tech business that banks digitally and values FX. AIB wins for a lending-heavy operation that needs a branch. For real Irish SME workflows, use Revolut as the operating account and AIB for balance protection and credit.
Revolut Business vs AIB Business - Feature Comparison
| Feature | Revolut Business | AIB Business |
|---|---|---|
| Irish IBAN and Licence | Issues Irish (IE) IBANs via Revolut Bank UAB Irish branch. Licensed EU bank regulated by the European Central Bank through the Bank of Lithuania. | Issues Irish (IE) IBANs. Licensed Irish bank regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. |
| Deposit Protection | Deposits up to €100,000 protected under the Lithuanian Deposit Insurance scheme, not the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme. | Covered by the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme - €100,000 per eligible depositor. |
| SEPA and Payments | SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Instant Credit Transfer and SEPA Direct Debit. Multi-currency across 25-plus currencies. | SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit and pain.001/pain.008 bulk payment file upload via Internet Business Banking. Euro-focused. |
| Bank Feed Integrations | Native bank feeds to Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage and other major accounting platforms. | Direct feeds to Xero, Sage, QuickBooks and Surf Accounts. |
| Lending, Overdraft and Branches | No overdrafts, no traditional business lending, no physical branches, no cash deposits. | Full lending, overdraft and merchant services in-house. Branch network across Ireland. |
| Onboarding | Fast online onboarding, typically days not weeks. | Traditional onboarding for new businesses can take several weeks. |
| Irish Support | Irish support flag is true in our dataset. Support is primarily in-app rather than via a dedicated Irish phone line. | Irish-based customer support with branch access across the country. |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | €0/month flat | €4/month flat |
| 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 Revolut Business and AIB Business compare on the requirements that matter most to Irish SMEs.
Revenue Integration
Neither Revolut Business nor AIB Business 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
Revolut Business supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Instant. AIB Business supports SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, Pain.001, Pain.008. AIB Business has broader Irish bank compatibility, which matters if you bank with SEPA Direct Debit or Pain.001 or Pain.008 - you will get automatic bank feeds or SEPA payment file support that Revolut Business cannot offer.
GDPR Data Residency
Both Revolut Business and AIB Business 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 Revolut Business and AIB Business 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 Revolut Business nor AIB Business 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 monthly, but always confirm on the vendor's website before purchasing.
Revolut Business
Free
- Pricing model: Flat rate
- Free trial: Yes
- EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes
AIB Business
€4 /mo
- Pricing model: Flat rate
- Free trial: No
- EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes
At entry level, Revolut 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 Revolut Business
Revolut Business is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:
- ✓ Budget-conscious businesses - Revolut Business starts at just €0/month
- ✓ Those who prioritise user satisfaction - Revolut Business has a higher user rating (4.3/5 from 14 reviews via editorial)
- ✓ Those who value: fast online onboarding, typically days not weeks
Who Should Choose AIB Business
AIB Business is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:
- ✓ Businesses banking with SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, Pain.001, Pain.008 who want reliable bank feed or payment file support
- ✓ Those who value: branch network across ireland
- ✓ Those who value: irish deposit guarantee scheme coverage
Our Verdict
For most Irish SMEs launching in 2026, the honest answer is to run both. Revolut Business is the best day-to-day operating account for tech-forward Irish companies, sole traders and agencies - fast online onboarding in days rather than weeks, Irish (IE) IBAN issuance via the Revolut Bank UAB Irish branch, SEPA Instant transfers, strong multi-currency tooling and native bank feeds to Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. AIB Business is the traditional pillar bank you pair it with when you need overdrafts, term lending, merchant services, physical branches and the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme (versus Revolut's Lithuanian scheme). AIB is the default if you handle significant cash balances, need credit facilities or work in sectors like construction, hospitality or manufacturing where relationship banking matters.
Revolut starts free on its Basic plan with transaction-based fees and scales via Grow, Scale and Enterprise; AIB charges approximately €4.50 per quarter maintenance plus per-transaction fees. If forced to pick one, Revolut wins for a new Irish tech business that banks digitally and values FX. AIB wins for a lending-heavy operation that needs a branch. For real Irish SME workflows, use Revolut as the operating account and AIB for balance protection and credit.
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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