Software Comparison

SimplePay vs Thesaurus Payroll Manager - Irish Payroll Software Compared

Choosing between SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager 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 SimplePay View Thesaurus Payroll Manager

Last checked: 07 Sept 2026data estimated for at least one vendor - confirm with the vendorMethodology

Quick Verdict

Where SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager actually differ

SimplePay publishes the lower starting price: EUR 4 against EUR 229 for Thesaurus Payroll Manager.
Thesaurus Payroll Manager supports SEPA Direct Debit collection out of the box; SimplePay needs a third-party add-on or manual handling.

SimplePay vs Thesaurus Payroll Manager - Feature Comparison

Feature	SimplePay	Thesaurus Payroll Manager
Deployment	Cloud-based, accessible via browser and mobile app	Desktop only, no cloud access
Revenue and PAYE Modernisation	Direct ROS submission in one click, RPN retrieval automated	Direct ROS submission, PAYE Modernisation compliant
SEPA Payment File Export	SEPA XML file export compatible with AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB; manual upload to bank portal required	SEPA XML file export compatible with AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB; manual upload to bank portal required
Employee Self-Service	Yes, payslip access and leave management via web and mobile app	No employee self-service portal
Accounting Integrations	Xero and QuickBooks Online	None listed
My Future Fund Auto-Enrolment	Supported	Not listed
GDPR Data Residency	EU	EU

Irish Compliance and Pricing Matrix

A side-by-side data comparison of pricing and Irish regulatory compliance for SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager. Values are derived from each vendor's published data and verified weekly.

Requirement	SimplePay	Thesaurus Payroll Manager
Pricing
Starting price	From €4/employee/month	From €229/year
Pricing model	Monthly flat rate	Annual licence
EUR pricing guaranteed	✓	✓
Free trial	✓	✓
Irish Compliance
Revenue (ROS) integration	✓	✓
PAYE Modernisation	✓	✓
Irish bank feeds	✗	✗
Bank compatibility	AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB	AIB, BOI, PTSB
SEPA direct debit	✗	✓
Irish IBAN support	✓	✓
VAT handling	✗	✗
EU data residency (GDPR)	EU only	EU only
Irish support	✓	✓
Revenue-approved	✗	✗
CBI regulated	✗	✗

Pricing notes

SimplePay: From EUR4.00 per active employee per month, exclusive of VAT. Per active employee model: no charge for admin users. Free 30-day trial with all features and full support included. - Source

Thesaurus Payroll Manager: Tiered licence per tax year, excl. VAT: EUR 229 (1 employer, up to 10 employees), EUR 349 (up to 25), EUR 459 (unlimited). Bureau licences: EUR 489 / EUR 709 / EUR 949. 60-day free trial; no free licence. Verified on thesaurus.ie 2026-07-14. - Source

Irish Compliance Comparison

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

Revenue Integration

Both SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager support Revenue Online Service (ROS) integration, meaning you can file VAT returns and manage your tax obligations directly from either platform. For Irish businesses, this is table stakes - and both vendors deliver.

PAYE Modernisation

Both SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager fully support PAYE Modernisation with real-time payroll reporting to Revenue. Irish employers are legally required to submit payroll data in real time, so having this built in saves significant time and reduces the risk of non-compliance penalties.

Irish Bank Feeds

SimplePay supports AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB. Thesaurus Payroll Manager supports AIB, BOI, PTSB. Both support the same Irish banks, so bank compatibility is not a deciding factor here.

GDPR Data Residency

Both SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager 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

Thesaurus Payroll Manager supports SEPA Direct Debit and Irish IBAN format, making euro payments and bank transfers seamless. SimplePay 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 SimplePay nor Thesaurus Payroll Manager 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.

SimplePay

€4/mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: Yes
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View SimplePay pricing →

Thesaurus Payroll Manager

€229/mo

Pricing model: Flat rate
Free trial: Yes
EUR pricing guaranteed: Yes

View Thesaurus Payroll Manager pricing →

At entry level, SimplePay 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 SimplePay

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

✓Budget-conscious businesses - SimplePay from €4/employee/month
✓Growing businesses with 21-50 employees that need a platform which scales
✓Those who value: submit payroll data to ros with a single click; usc and prsi handled automatically

Who Should Choose Thesaurus Payroll Manager

Thesaurus Payroll Manager is the better fit if your business matches one or more of these profiles:

✓Those who prioritise user satisfaction - Thesaurus Payroll Manager has a higher editorial rating (4.6/5)
✓Those who value: very affordable
✓Those who value: solid revenue compliance

Our Verdict

Thesaurus Payroll Manager suits micro-businesses and sole traders with stable, small headcounts who prefer a predictable flat annual licence from EUR 229 ex VAT for up to 10 employees and are comfortable with desktop-only software. Neither product offers native live Irish bank feeds, so payroll payments in both cases require a manual file upload to your bank portal. For a business growing beyond five or ten employees that values cloud access and integrations, SimplePay is the stronger long-term fit.

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 SimplePay or Thesaurus Payroll Manager better for Irish SMEs?

SimplePay wins for Irish SMEs that want a fully cloud-based payroll workflow, particularly accountancy practices running payroll across multiple small clients, because its per active employee pricing from EUR 4.00 per month means there is no charge for admin users and costs scale down when headcount is low. Both products submit directly to Revenue via ROS and handle PAYE Modernisation, PRSI, and USC, and both generate SEPA payment files compatible with AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB, so neither has an advantage on core Irish compliance or bank file generation. SimplePay adds employee self-service for payslips and leave, a mobile app, Xero and QuickBooks Online integrations, and vendor-stated support for My Future Fund auto-enrolment and Enhanced Reporting Requirements, none of which Thesaurus Payroll Manager offers. Thesaurus Payroll Manager suits micro-businesses and sole traders with stable, small headcounts who prefer a predictable flat annual licence from EUR 229 ex VAT for up to 10 employees and are comfortable with desktop-only software. Neither product offers native live Irish bank feeds, so payroll payments in both cases require a manual file upload to your bank portal. For a business growing beyond five or ten employees that values cloud access and integrations, SimplePay is the stronger long-term fit.

Which is cheaper, SimplePay or Thesaurus Payroll Manager?

SimplePay starts at From €4/employee/month, while Thesaurus Payroll Manager starts at From €229/year. SimplePay is the more affordable option at entry level, though total cost depends on the number of users and features you need.

Does SimplePay or Thesaurus Payroll Manager have better Irish bank feeds?

SimplePay supports AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB. Thesaurus Payroll Manager supports AIB, BOI, PTSB. Both offer similar Irish bank compatibility.

Which has better GDPR compliance, SimplePay or Thesaurus Payroll Manager?

SimplePay stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Thesaurus Payroll Manager stores data in EU data centres (GDPR-friendly). Both offer EU data centre options, though configuration may be required.

Can I switch from SimplePay to Thesaurus Payroll Manager?

Yes, migrating between SimplePay and Thesaurus Payroll Manager 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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