How Lanek compares.

Lanek

• the VAT3 file has been accepted by Revenue's test service; live submission as agent follows Revenue's production authorisation.
• Xero and Sage Accounting today; QuickBooks Online coming.

Bright

• BrightManager creates tasks from CRO compliance dates and links to Revenue income tax, VAT and corporation tax deadlines; no published list of the returns covered.
• tasks generated per client from compliance deadlines and CRO data; first-period dates not published.
• CRO registration and compliance data syncs into BrightManager; flagging of differences not published.
• BrightBooks prepares the VAT return from its own ledger and submits it via ROS, or saves it as PDF or CSV; only for books kept in BrightBooks.
• BrightPay files payroll to ROS with an agent certificate; BrightBooks files VAT via ROS; agent filing of tax returns not published.
• separate products (BrightManager, BrightPropose, BrightAccountsProduction, BrightTax, BrightBooks, BrightPay); client details sync from BrightManager into some of them.
• in BrightManager and in BrightPropose, a separately priced product.
• clients review and sign accounts online in BrightAccountsProduction; delivery by email not stated.
• portal uploads and forwarded emails are filed to the client record; sorting by category not published.
• fee projections, profitability and invoicing from work in progress in BrightManager; invoices raised through the Xero integration.
• BrightManager has Admin and User roles; client-level access limits are documented for BrightAccountsProduction, BrightTax and BrightBooks.
• a Bright blog (Aug 2026) says BrightTax covers corporation tax and submits to Revenue; the Irish BrightTax product page lists UK returns only.
• CRO compliance dates pulled into BrightManager; RBO not published.
• BrightAccountsProduction imports trial balances from Xero, QuickBooks and Sage (edition not named); BrightManager integrates with all three.
• trial balance import from spreadsheets; Sage 50 file import not specified.
• client-list export; full account export on request to support.
• products priced separately at the check date (BrightManager, BrightPropose, BrightAccountsProduction, BrightTax, BrightBooks, BrightPay).

Sage

• Sage 50 Accounts runs rule-based checks on the VAT return (possible duplicates, unexpected VAT amounts, excluded tax codes); not a return-level check with evidence per finding.
• an XML file for ROS upload from Sage 50 Accounts; in Sage Accounting the return is filed on ROS separately.
• direct ROS filing of CT1 and 46G through Corporation Tax Pro, and of payroll; filing as an agent not stated.
• users can be restricted to assigned clients and given an access level; no role matrix published.
• via Corporation Tax Pro, a separately sold product; CT1 and 46G filed to ROS.
• Final Accounts takes a trial balance from Sage products or CSV; Xero mapping documented for UK entities only.
• CSV export of lists such as contacts and transactions; no whole-practice export published.
• unlimited colleagues in Sage for Accountants per its help pages; desktop products licensed separately.

Xero + XPM

• VAT3 figures drill down to source transactions in the Xero Compliance (IE) app; no automated check of the return published.
• Xero Compliance (IE) app, from 14 Sept 2026, for accountants and bookkeepers; included on Starter, Standard and Premium plans.
• exports a file for upload through ROS; does not file on your behalf.
• Partner Hub + Practice Management, included for Silver, Gold and Platinum partners; Bronze or new practices USD 149 a month for up to 10 users.
• one client record across Partner Hub and Practice Management; link to the Irish VAT app not published.
• time-based and progress or final invoicing; no fee-review function published.
• staff access can be limited per client; restriction to assigned work not published.
• reads its own ledger.
• report and list exports; no whole-practice export published.
• unlimited users in Xero; Practice Management for Bronze practices capped at 10 users.
• list prices in USD on the Irish site at the check date.

Karbon

• recurring work on automatic schedules from templates; no Irish deadline library.
• one client record for practice work; no compliance or returns module.
• e-signature uses prepaid credit bundles; engagement letters are signed without credits.
• approval by emailed secure link or portal; needs a purchased e-signature bundle.
• client uploads attach to the client and work item; sorting by category not published.
• online payment collection not offered for euro accounts.
• user permissions on Business plan and above; privacy settings per contact and work item.
• Irish annual return date field on organisation records; RBO not published.
• Xero and QuickBooks Online; no native Sage Accounting integration published.
• CSV export of client, work and template data; custom export on Enterprise.
• deleting a contact removes its record, work and notes; linked emails are made private rather than deleted.
• paid add-ons include e-signature credits, Email Insights, Custom Reporting and training.