Category: SaaS

Date: February 6, 2026

February 6, 2026 February 6, 2026

Top Payment Gateways in Europe 2026

Choosing the right payment gateway for your European business in 2026 isn’t just about processing transactions; it’s about conversion rates, compliance, and customer experience. Europe’s fragmented payment landscape means German customers prefer Sofort and Giropay, Dutch shoppers want iDEAL, and Swedes use Swish. Your payment gateway needs to handle this diversity while keeping operations simple.

Top Payment Gateways in Europe 2026

This guide breaks down the top 7 payment gateways dominating Europe in 2026, covering their features, pricing, and ideal use cases to help you make the right choice for your business.

1. Stripe

Stripe is the go-to payment infrastructure for tech-savvy businesses across Europe. What started as a simple payment API has evolved into a complete financial operating system handling everything from one-time payments to complex subscription billing. Developers love the clean APIs and extensive documentation, while business teams appreciate the automated compliance and reporting features.

Key Features of Stripe

Unified European Coverage with Local Payment Methods – Supports 47+ countries with iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA Direct Debit, Klarna, and Multibanco

Developer-Friendly Integration – Pre-built libraries for React, Node.js, Python, Ruby, and PHP with production-ready checkout flows

Advanced Fraud Protection (Radar) – Machine learning models trained on billions of transactions with adaptive scoring

Subscription and Recurring Billing – Native support for usage-based pricing, metered billing, and automated dunning management

Comprehensive Analytics Dashboard – Real-time insights into payment success rates, revenue trends, and customer lifetime value

Strong PSD2 Compliance – Built-in SCA handling with intelligent exemption logic for regulatory compliance

Best For: Tech-enabled businesses, SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and companies prioritizing developer experience.

2. Adyen

Adyen is the enterprise payment platform built for global brands that need scale and unified commerce. Unlike most gateways, Adyen operates as a licensed acquiring bank with direct connections to card networks, resulting in higher authorization rates and faster settlements. Their single platform handles online, mobile, and in-store payments, making them ideal for omnichannel retailers.

Key Features of Adyen

Unified Commerce Platform – Single integration for online, mobile, and in-store payments with consistent reporting
Direct Acquiring in 30+ Markets – Licensed payment provider with direct card scheme connections eliminating intermediary fees
Intelligent Payment Routing – Smart algorithms increase authorization rates by 2-4% through optimized transaction routing
250+ Payment Methods – Comprehensive support including Swish, TWINT, Vipps, and Przelewy24 for regional coverage
Real-Time Financial Reporting – Granular transaction data with automated reconciliation and multi-channel breakdowns
Advanced Risk Management – ML-powered fraud detection with dynamic 3D Secure and exemption management

Best For: Enterprise retailers, multinational corporations, high-volume e-commerce, and omnichannel businesses.

3. Mollie

Mollie dominates the Netherlands and Benelux region by making payments simple for growing businesses. They target SMEs that need professional payment infrastructure without the complexity of enterprise platforms. With transparent pricing, quick onboarding, and pre-built plugins for popular e-commerce platforms, Mollie removes the technical barriers to accepting digital payments.

Key Features of Mollie

Extensive European Payment Methods – Native support for iDEAL, Bancontact, Sofort, Giropay, EPS, Apple Pay, and Google Pay

Simple E-Commerce Integration – Official plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and PrestaShop with automatic updates

Transparent Pricing – Per-transaction fees with no setup costs, monthly minimums, or hidden charges

Fast Onboarding for SMEs – Most European businesses can start accepting payments within 24-48 hours

Localized Support – Multi-language support teams (Dutch, German, French, English) with quick response times

Built-in PSD2 Compliance – Automated SCA handling with fallback mechanisms for seamless authentication

Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses, European-focused e-commerce stores, and non-technical founders.

4. PayPal/Braintree

PayPal brings instant trust with over 400 million active accounts, many in Europe. Their dual offering includes the consumer PayPal brand and Braintree for merchants wanting more control. PayPal’s recognition drives conversions, while Braintree handles complex scenarios like marketplace split payments and subscription billing. Together, they offer flexibility for different business models.

Key Features of PayPal/Braintree

Massive Brand Trust – 400+ million active accounts with buyer protection programs that increase conversion by 10-15%
Unified Payment Options – Card processing, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay through single integration
One-Touch Checkout – Returning customers complete purchases with a single click using vault technology
Buyer and Seller Protection – Dispute resolution and fraud liability coverage reducing chargeback losses
Advanced Fraud Prevention – Proprietary risk models with Kount integration for enhanced fraud intelligence
Subscription Management – Native billing functionality with trials, plan changes, proration, and automated retries

Best For: Businesses prioritizing brand trust, marketplaces with split payments, and subscription services.

Also Read

Payment Gateways for Ecommerce Businesses in Germany

5. Checkout.com

Checkout.com focuses on performance optimization for businesses where authorization rates directly impact the bottom line. Their modern, cloud-native platform uses intelligent routing to maximize payment approvals, often increasing authorization rates by 3-8% compared to static configurations. For high-volume businesses with thin margins, these improvements translate into significant revenue gains.

Key Features of Checkout.com

Authorization Rate Optimization – ML algorithms route transactions intelligently to increase approvals by 3-8%

Global Coverage – Direct acquiring in 30+ countries with comprehensive European market presence

Multi-Currency Support – 150+ currencies with local payment methods including Bancontact, iDEAL, and Sofort

Customizable Checkout – White-label payment pages and Frames.js for fully custom UI implementations

Advanced Fraud Suite – Behavioral analytics, velocity checks, and device fingerprinting with configurable rules

Enterprise Support – Dedicated technical account managers for integration optimization and performance tuning

Best For: High-growth tech companies, businesses optimizing authorization rates, and global enterprises.

6. Worldpay (from FIS)

Worldpay brings enterprise-grade payment infrastructure with decades of proven stability. As one of the largest processors globally, they handle massive transaction volumes for retailers, financial institutions, and government entities. Their strength lies in comprehensive compliance certifications, 24/7 uptime guarantees, and the ability to support both legacy systems and modern architectures.

Key Features of Worldpay

Massive Global Coverage – Processing in 146 countries with local acquiring across major European markets
Omnichannel Platform – Unified processing for in-store, online, mobile, and call center transactions
Enterprise Security – Level 1 PCI-DSS certification with tokenization, encryption, and compliance reporting
Complex Payment Scenarios – Multi-entity processing, split settlement for marketplaces, and configurable fee structures
Dedicated Enterprise Support – Hands-on account management with implementation assistance and optimization consulting
Legacy System Integration – REST and SOAP API support for both modern and older technology stacks

Best For: Large enterprises, traditional retailers, regulated industries, and established businesses with complex needs.

7. Klarna

Klarna transforms checkout into a conversion tool through “Buy Now, Pay Later” options. By letting consumers defer payment or split purchases into installments, Klarna removes immediate payment friction and typically increases conversion rates by 20-40%. Merchants get guaranteed payment while Klarna assumes all credit risk, making it particularly popular with fashion and electronics retailers.

Key Features of Klarna

BNPL Conversion Boost – “Pay in 30 Days,” “Pay in 3,” and financing options typically increase conversions by 20-40%

Increased Basket Sizes – Average order values increase 45% when customers select installment payment options

Easy Platform Integration – Pre-built plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento with minimal setup required

Shopping App Exposure – 150+ million active users browsing the Klarna app with merchant product recommendations

Full Risk Absorption – Klarna guarantees merchant payment and assumes all fraud risk and bad debt exposure

Marketing Tools – Post-purchase engagement, targeted promotions, and behavioral analytics for customer insights

Best For: Fashion retailers, consumer electronics, home goods, and brands targeting millennial/Gen Z consumers.

Detailed Comparison Table of European Payment Gateways

Payment Gateway	Supported Countries	Key Features	Transaction Fees (Standard)	Best For
Stripe	33-46 (33 core EEA + others)	Advanced developer APIs, AI-powered fraud (Radar), Global Payouts	1.5% + €0.25 (Standard EU), 2.5% for UK cards, 2.9% + €0.25 (Non-EEA)	SaaS, Tech startups, and API-first platforms
Adyen	30+ European markets	Unified commerce (POS + Online), Direct acquiring, Intelligent routing	Custom (Interchange++: typically €0.11 + method fee)	Enterprise retailers and high-volume omnichannel
Mollie	20+ (EEA, UK, CH)	Fast onboarding, Local APMs (iDEAL, Bancontact), SME-focused	Variable: e.g., 1.2% – 1.8% + €0.25 for cards	Small-to-medium stores focusing on EU markets
Braintree (PayPal)	Pan-European	PayPal integration, Vaulting, Marketplace split payments	1.9% + €0.30 (Standard EU), +1% for non-EEA cards	Marketplaces and businesses prioritizing consumer trust
Checkout.com	45+ countries (Global)	Authorization optimization, Granular data, Modular API	Custom (Interchange++ or Flat)	High-growth tech and data-driven enterprises
Worldpay	146+ countries	Massive global infrastructure, Omnichannel, Regulatory compliance	Custom (Monthly minimum of $35 often applies)	Traditional large enterprises and regulated industries
Klarna	19+ European markets	BNPL, High conversion, Risk-free for merchants	Variable (2.49% – 5.99%) based on credit risk	Fashion, electronics, and Millennial/Gen Z retail

Disclaimer: Payment gateway rates and supported regions are subject to change by the providers. The data above reflects the landscape as of February 2026. We recommend verifying final pricing directly with the provider’s sales team before integration, as high-volume businesses may be eligible for custom discounts.

Wrap Up

The right payment gateway depends on your specific needs. Tech startups and SaaS companies should go with Stripe for developer-friendly APIs and flexible billing. European SMEs will appreciate Mollie’s simplicity and transparent pricing. Enterprise retailers need Adyen’s unified commerce and direct acquiring capabilities.

Consumer-facing brands benefit from PayPal’s trust factor, while fashion and lifestyle retailers see real conversion gains from Klarna’s BNPL options. High-volume platforms optimizing performance should consider Checkout.com, and large enterprises with complex compliance needs will find Worldpay’s institutional infrastructure valuable.

At ColorWhistle, we help businesses build seamless checkout experiences and optimize payment flows. Whether you’re launching in Europe or scaling your existing platform, our web development team can guide you through payment gateway integration and conversion optimization.

Ready to optimize your European payment infrastructure? Get in touch with ColorWhistle to discuss your requirements.