Top Payment Gateways in Europe (2025) – Comprehensive Guide for Businesses

European businesses operate in a complex environment that spans multiple currencies, local payment methods, and ever‑changing regulations. Choosing the right payment gateway can make or break the checkout experience. This guide from Make An App Like analyses the leading European payment gateways and compares their features, fees and suitability for e‑commerce, SaaS, marketplaces and enterprises.

Why payment gateways matter for European businesses

Modern merchants need more than a simple card processor. They require gateways that support multi‑currency payments, offer local payment methods like SEPA and iDEAL, comply with PSD2 Strong Customer Authentication, and integrate easily with their websites or apps. Gateways also differ in pricing structures—flat‑rate, interchange‑plus or subscription—and in the way they handle fraud prevention, payout times and customer support. Understanding these differences helps businesses optimise costs and minimise friction at checkout.

Key criteria for selecting a gateway

When evaluating payment gateways in Europe, consider the following factors:

• Coverage and supported currencies – leading gateways like Stripe and Adyen support more than 135 currencies, while local providers may focus on the eurozone.
• Payment methods – support for credit/debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), SEPA direct debit, Open Banking pay‑by‑bank, QR codes, and local methods such as iDEAL, Bancontact, Klarna and PayPal.
• Fee structure – transaction fees for domestic and cross‑border cards, fixed fees per transaction, monthly or annual account fees, and currency conversion mark‑ups.
• Integration & developer support – availability of APIs, SDKs, plugins for platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify, and sandbox environments for testing.
• Security & compliance – PCI DSS level, fraud prevention tools (3‑D Secure, machine‑learning risk scoring), and compliance with PSD2 and GDPR.
• Settlement speed – how quickly funds reach your bank account (instant, T+1, T+5 etc.).
• Customer service & reliability – uptime, account management and local support.

In the sections below, we compare the major European payment gateways across these dimensions. A summary table and individual profiles help you choose the best option for your business model.

Comparison table of leading European payment gateways

The table below summarises key information about the top payment gateways in Europe, including pricing for European cards, supported methods, currencies and typical use cases. Note that some providers offer custom pricing based on volume; the listed fees are examples for standard accounts.

*Prices are indicative and subject to change. Many providers offer volume‑based or bespoke pricing, so larger merchants may negotiate lower rates.

Gateway profiles and analysis

Stripe – developer‑friendly global gateway

Stripe began as a US platform but now dominates the European payment gateway landscape. It processes transactions in 135+ currencies, offers 100+ payment methods and provides an API‑driven architecture that developers love. Standard European card rates are 1.5 % + €0.25 for consumer cards, 1.9 % + €0.25 for premium cards and 3.25 % + €0.25 for international cards. There are no setup or monthly fees, and SEPA Direct Debit costs €0.35. Stripe’s additional 2 % currency conversion fee can add up for cross‑border merchants.

Advantages:

• Extensive API ecosystem: Stripe’s documentation and libraries make it easy for developers to build custom checkout flows, subscription billing and marketplace payouts.
• Multi‑currency support and 100+ payment methods including wallets, bank transfers and local APMs.
• Built‑in fraud prevention: Radar uses machine learning to detect suspicious transactions and maintain a 99.999 % uptime.
• Add‑ons for invoicing, tax and identity verification allow businesses to centralise financial operations.

Limitations:

• Cross‑border fees: Each international transaction adds 2 % to the base rate, and currency conversion can raise costs.
• Account holds: Stripe may freeze payouts when it detects risk or unusual activity, which can disrupt cash flow.

Best for: tech‑savvy startups, SaaS platforms, and online marketplaces needing custom flows and international reach.

PayPal & Braintree – trust and convenience with higher fees

PayPal remains one of Europe’s most recognisable payment options, and its checkout button can boost conversions. Merchants can accept payments either via PayPal Checkout or through Braintree, which adds card processing and advanced features. The standard rate for PayPal wallet transactions in the UK is 2.9 % + £0.30, while card transactions processed via Braintree cost 1.9 % + £0.20. PayPal’s merchant fees page confirms that domestic European transactions using alternative payment methods (APMs) are charged at 1.9 % + a fixed fee. Cross‑border transactions incur an additional 1.29 % fee and currency conversions add around 3 %.

Advantages:

• Instant brand recognition: A PayPal badge reassures customers and improves checkout completion.
• Simple setup: No coding is required for basic integration, making it suitable for small businesses and freelancers.
• Buy‑now‑pay‑later: PayPal’s Pay in 3 gives customers interest‑free instalment options, which can increase average order value.
• Fast payouts to PayPal balance and easy withdrawals to bank accounts.

Limitations:

• High fees: Merchant rates are higher than many competitors and additional cross‑border and currency conversion fees apply.
• Limited local payment methods: PayPal primarily supports cards and PayPal wallet; merchants may need other providers for iDEAL, Bancontact or open banking.
• Account suspensions: PayPal has strict risk controls and can hold funds if disputes arise.

Best for: businesses seeking a quick, trusted payment option and selling in markets where PayPal has strong consumer adoption (e.g., Germany). Combining PayPal with another gateway provides broader coverage.

Adyen – enterprise‑grade acquiring and unified commerce

Dutch‑based Adyen operates as both a payment gateway and an acquirer in many European countries. Instead of fixed rates, it uses an interchange‑plus (IC++) model, adding approximately 0.6 % + €0.11 to the interchange fee per card transaction. Merchants also pay per use for alternative payment methods. While there are no monthly fees, Adyen often requires a minimum transaction volume, making it more suitable for larger merchants.

Advantages:

• Local acquiring: By processing transactions directly with local card networks, Adyen increases authorisation rates and reduces cross‑border fees.
• Omnichannel support: One platform handles e‑commerce, in‑store and marketplace payments, with unified reporting and payouts.
• Advanced risk management: RevenueProtect uses machine learning to fight fraud.
• Flexible payouts: Supports split payments, subscription billing and marketplace escrow.

Limitations:

• Complex setup: Integration and compliance processes are more involved than plug‑and‑play gateways.
• Not ideal for small businesses: The minimum volume requirement and interchange‑plus pricing may be overkill for low‑volume merchants.

Best for: large e‑commerce retailers, travel companies, marketplaces and omnichannel enterprises that need high acceptance rates and global coverage.

Mollie – transparent pricing and local payment methods

Mollie is popular in the Benelux region and Germany thanks to its seamless support for local payment methods like iDEAL and Bancontact. Its pricing is transparent: EEA consumer cards 1.8 % + €0.25, commercial cards 2.9 % + €0.25, non‑EEA cards 3.25 % + €0.25; iDEAL €0.32, Bancontact €0.39. There are no monthly fees and merchants pay only for successful transactions.

Advantages:

• Plug‑and‑play integration: Ready‑made plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce and PrestaShop reduce development time.
• Localised methods: Strong support for regional favourites such as SOFORT, Klarna, Giropay and EPS.
• Transparent per‑method pricing: Merchants know exactly what they will pay for each payment option.
• Subscription and split payment support make it suitable for SaaS and marketplaces.

Limitations:

• Settlement delay: Card payments can take 5 business days to settle.
• Limited marketplace features: While Mollie supports split payments, it lacks some advanced marketplace functions found in platforms like Stripe Connect.

Best for: small and medium‑sized e‑commerce merchants in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany or Austria who need broad local payment coverage and clear pricing.

GoCardless – direct debit and recurring payments specialist

GoCardless focuses on direct debit (Bacs in the UK and SEPA in Europe) and open‑banking payments. It charges around 1 % + £0.20 per transaction, making it cost‑effective for recurring billing. Payments settle in 3–5 business days and there are no setup costs.

Advantages:

• Recurring payment automation: GoCardless excels at subscription billing, invoicing and membership management.
• Low fees: Direct debit transactions cost far less than card payments, especially for high‑value recurring charges.
• Open banking: Instant Bank Pay allows real‑time bank‑to‑bank payments via the UK’s Open Banking ecosystem.

Limitations:

• Slower settlements: Funds take several days to reach your account.
• No card acceptance: To offer credit card or wallet payments, merchants must integrate another provider.

Best for: SaaS companies, utilities, gyms and membership‑based businesses with recurring revenue models.

Klarna – popular buy‑now‑pay‑later provider

Klarna offers BNPL options such as Pay in 30, Pay in 3/4 instalments and direct card payments. Merchant fees range from 2.49 % to 5.99 % plus a fixed charge, depending on the financing product and country.

Advantages:

• High conversion rates: Customers appreciate flexible financing and pay only after receiving goods.
• Brand recognition: Klarna is widely used in Germany, Sweden and other European markets, which can increase trust.
• Risk management: Klarna assumes credit risk and handles instalment collections.

Limitations:

• Higher fees: BNPL services are more expensive than standard card processing.
• Limited merchant control: Klarna owns the customer relationship, which may limit branding and marketing opportunities.

Best for: retailers selling higher‑value goods (fashion, electronics) who want to boost conversion rates through financing options.

SecurionPay – security‑focused payment gateway

SecurionPay positions itself as a secure gateway for both standard and high‑risk merchants. It supports 160+ currencies and major card networks such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB. Standard merchants pay 2.95 % + €0.25 per transaction, while high‑risk businesses are charged 4.9 % + €0.35.

Advantages:

• No setup or monthly fees: Merchants only pay per transaction.
• Robust security: Level 1 PCI DSS compliance, tokenisation, and anti‑fraud solutions protect sensitive data.
• Subscription and mixed payment support allow for recurring and one‑time charges in a single checkout.

Limitations:

• Higher fees: The standard rate is higher than mainstream gateways like Stripe or Mollie.
• Limited alternative payment methods: SecurionPay focuses on card payments; merchants may need additional providers for local methods.

Best for: merchants seeking high security and flexibility with mixed payments, including industries classified as high‑risk.

Payoneer – international payouts for freelancers and marketplaces

Payoneer provides multi‑currency accounts and allows businesses to receive payments from clients across the globe. When requesting payments via Payoneer, credit card transactions cost 3.20 % + $0.49, ACH debits 1 %, and PayPal (US only) 3.99 % + $0.49. The platform charges an annual account fee of $29.95 if your transaction volume is below $2,000 over 12 months.

Advantages:

• Global reach: Receive payments in EUR, USD, GBP and AUD with local bank account details.
• Marketplace integrations: Payoneer is widely used on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Amazon.
• No fee for receiving funds from another Payoneer account.

Limitations:

• Higher card payment fees: At 3.2 %, Payoneer is more expensive than many gateways.
• Annual fee for low activity: The $29.95 annual fee applies if you don’t meet a threshold.
• Limited payment methods: Primarily supports card payments and bank transfers; doesn’t offer SEPA or open banking.

Best for: freelancers, consultants and international marketplace sellers who need to receive cross‑border payments into local currency accounts.

Checkout.com – scalable enterprise platform

Checkout.com is a privately held London‑based gateway serving global enterprises. It handles payments in 150+ currencies and offers domestic acquiring in 45+ countries. The company does not publish standard transaction fees, instead providing custom flat‑rate or interchange‑plus pricing without setup or maintenance fees.

Advantages:

• Unified API: Merchants can accept cards, digital wallets and local APMs through a single integration.
• Advanced analytics and fraud detection: Real‑time dashboards help businesses optimise conversion and prevent fraud.
• No setup fees: You only pay transaction costs, making it easy to trial the service.

Limitations:

• Opaque pricing: Without published rates, smaller merchants may find it difficult to estimate costs and may not qualify for volume discounts.
• Enterprise focus: Implementation and support are tailored for mid‑to‑large enterprises rather than micro‑businesses.

Best for: large companies, marketplaces and high‑volume merchants seeking a bespoke solution with global reach and sophisticated reporting.

Noda – open‑banking gateway for fast, low‑cost payments

Noda takes a bank‑first approach, enabling customers to pay directly from their bank accounts via Open Banking. It connects to over 2,000 banks across 28 countries and supports QR codes and pay‑by‑link checkout. Transaction fees start at 0.1 % and funds are settled instantly.

Advantages:

• Low fees and instant settlement: Noda’s bank‑to‑bank payments avoid interchange fees and chargebacks.
• No PCI burden: Card data is not handled by merchants, reducing compliance costs.
• Easy integration: APIs and plugins are available for major CMS platforms.

Limitations:

• Limited coverage outside open‑banking markets: Adoption is strong in the UK and parts of the EU but may be weaker elsewhere.
• Customer education required: Some shoppers are unfamiliar with pay‑by‑bank, which could impact conversion.

Best for: cost‑sensitive e‑commerce businesses and fintechs that want instant settlements and direct bank payments.

Worldpay – established processor with multiple plans

Worldpay is one of the largest merchant service providers in Europe. It offers two main online gateways – Worldpay eCommerce (no monthly fee) and Simplicity Payment Gateway (£19.95 per month) – and provides POS terminals for physical stores. For low‑volume merchants, in‑person fees are 1.5 % per Visa/Mastercard transaction. High‑volume merchants can negotiate custom rates starting at 0.75 % + 4.5p. Online transactions through the eCommerce gateway start at 1.3 % + 20p, while the Simplicity plan charges 1.5 %. Additional fees include a monthly service charge from £15 and a PCI compliance fee from £5.

Advantages:

• Integrated hardware and software: Worldpay bundles card machines, virtual terminals and online gateways, making it a one‑stop shop.
• Competitive fees for high volumes: Custom plans can lower transaction costs significantly.
• Strong support for in‑person payments: Portable and countertop terminals suit hospitality and retail businesses.

Limitations:

• Hidden fees: Monthly service and PCI compliance charges, plus early termination penalties, can increase costs.
• Long contracts: Worldpay requires 18‑month agreements that may not suit agile startups.

Best for: established retailers and hospitality businesses that need both in‑store and online payment solutions and have sufficient volume to negotiate good rates.

Choosing the right gateway for your business

The best payment gateway depends on your business model, target markets and transaction volume. Consider the following scenarios:

• Startups & small e‑commerce stores: Stripe and Mollie offer simple setup, transparent pricing and broad payment method coverage. Combining them with PayPal ensures customers can use a familiar wallet.
• Subscription & SaaS businesses: GoCardless excels at recurring direct debit payments, while Stripe Billing can handle card‑based subscriptions and invoice automation.
• Marketplaces & platforms: Stripe Connect, Adyen and Checkout.com provide split payments, escrow and compliance features necessary for marketplaces.
• Enterprises with omnichannel presence: Adyen and Worldpay offer local acquiring, in‑store hardware and unified reporting for large merchants with high turnover.
• Low‑fee, bank‑to‑bank payments: Noda is ideal when real‑time settlement and low fees are priorities.
• High‑risk industries or security‑focused merchants: SecurionPay provides robust security and support for mixed payments, albeit at higher fees.
• International freelancers & marketplaces: Payoneer makes receiving global payouts easy, though card acceptance costs are higher.

Choosing a gateway is not an all‑or‑nothing decision. Many businesses combine two or more providers (e.g., Stripe + PayPal + GoCardless) to optimise coverage, pricing and payment options. Evaluate each provider’s fee structure, integration effort and support to create the best payment stack for your needs.

Final thoughts

Europe’s payment landscape is dynamic, with new open‑banking solutions and BNPL providers joining established card processors. By analysing fees, features and supported methods, businesses can choose the right partner and provide a frictionless checkout experience. Keep in mind that pricing and regulations change frequently; always consult the provider’s official documentation and negotiate rates based on your volume and risk profile.

FAQs on Top Payment Gateways in Europe