Europe Archives - Credit Card Processing & Merchant Services

Selecting the best international payment gateway provider is crucial for business expansion in the rapidly changing payment processing sector. Small business owners in Europe require reliable, affordable, and secure solutions that facilitate international transactions, a variety of local payment options, and flexible billing. The following 8 European payment gateways enable merchants to run their online businesses with confidence. 1. Unicorn Group Unicorn Group offers a full-service, high-performing global payment gateway that provides everything serious, growing companies need to succeed. This merchant services provider stands out due to its focus on strong infrastructure, security, and a feature-rich centralised dashboard that merchants can access from anywhere and any device. Features Recurring billing (subscription services) and invoicing Advanced fraud protection and PCI Level 1 compliance Integration-friendly APIs, hosted payment pages, and customisable payment links Merchant accounts and acquiring bank orchestration Payment Methods Major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) Local European methods (e.g., SEPA Direct Debit, iDEAL, Bancontact) Support for international payments and cross-border transactions Pricing No setup or monthly fees for standard plans Competitive transaction fees Benefits of tiered volume pricing for larger retailers Pros Widespread support for European payment methods Clear pricing and volume-based discounts Robust fraud protection and analytics tools Full-featured, scalable, comprehensive payment solution for significant business growth Cons Low public profile compared to industry titans like Stripe or Ayden (fewer user reviews available) Best for Unicorn Group is best for aspiring small businesses and mid-sized merchants in Europe seeking a robust, secure, and scalable global payment processing solution. Options for enterprise-grade providers are also available on request. 2. Square Serving several European markets in addition to the U.S, Square offers simplicity of use and clear pricing for small businesses that sell online, in-person, or both. Features Invoicing, online checkout, and point of sale integrated into a single account Payment buttons, hosted checkout links, and a free online store builder PCI compliance and integrated fraud detection Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, and other major credit/debit cards Google Pay and Apple Pay Pricing 1.75% for each in-person transaction in EU countries Online transactions incur a fixed fee of approximately 2.5 to 2.9%. Pros Easy to set up, no monthly fees, and clear flat-rate pricing Online payments and unified point of sale under a single brand Free basic e-commerce tools included Cons Fewer sophisticated developer APIs than some other payment gateways Local payment methods still not widely available in certain EU markets Best for Square is ideal for small European businesses seeking a unified, user-friendly platform with fixed prices and no long-term commitments for both online and in-person payments. 3. Adyen Fast-growing and enterprise-level businesses favour Adyen, a premium, unified payment platform with local and global reach. Features Omnichannel support for mobile, POS, online, and in-app More than 150 currencies, wallets, BNPL (Klarna), and local EU methods (SEPA, iDEAL, and Bancontact) PCI DSS compliance, fraud detection, real-time reports, and sophisticated developer tools with adaptable user interfaces, APIs, and plugins Payment Methods Local European methods (SEPA, Direct Debit, iDeal, Bancontact) Pricing There are no monthly fees or volume-based discounts. However, community feedback has highlighted the complexity and the minimum fees associated with small businesses. Pros Excellent local and global coverage and scalability Strong analytics, security, and compliance Flexible integrations and omnichannel experience Cons Complicated pricing and setup Potentially costly for small merchants if minimum fees are applicable Best for Adyen is ideal for medium-to-large European businesses with complex needs, global transactions, local credibility, and full omnichannel reach. 4. Mollie Mollie is a payment service provider (PSP) that originated in the Netherlands. It is perfect for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) because of its ease of use, transparency, and wide local payment reach. Features Simple integrations (WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify) Intuitive dashboards Tools for subscriptions Fraud prevention Payment Methods SEPA, iDEAL, Bancontact, Sofort Apple Pay PayPal Cards Pricing €0.29-0.25 per EU transaction No monthly fees Pros Clear, affordable pricing with no lock-in or hidden fees Best-in-class ease of use and quick setup Excellent for local EU payment preferences Cons Some other payment gateways are more sophisticated as far as fraud and analytics tools go. Best for Mollie is an interesting option for European small-to-medium e-commerce companies seeking a simple, fast, and local payment setup. 5. Worldpay Worldpay, a legacy mainstay, has enterprise-level advantages but also some disadvantages for SMBs. It offers a wide global reach, reliable methods, and omnichannel capabilities. Features Recurring billing POS Online payment flows Mobile payments Bank transfers Cards Fraud detection Dashboards Payment Methods Mobile payments Local European cards (iDEAL) International cards Others Pricing Custom quotes, typically beginning at approximately 1.5% plus a fixed fee (somewhat variable and unclear) Pros Reputable brand, global reach, and multi-channel flexibility Good for large-scale operations Cons Variable pricing with little transparency Slower customer support response times Best for Worldpay is best suited to larger merchants or those expecting rapid growth who require sophisticated, multi-channel payment infrastructures. 6. Braintree PayPal-owned Braintree provides a full-service gateway that is particularly well-suited for companies that prioritise digital and mobile technologies. Features Recurring billing Fraud tools Customisable checkout Payment Methods Cards and major wallets via the PayPal ecosystem Pricing 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (USD); comparable for Europe No monthly fee Pros No monthly fees Variety of payment types Robust mobile and app support Cons Requires a merchant account Higher transaction fees Complex setup Limited developer community compared to Stripe Best for Braintree is good for medium-to-large e-commerce businesses looking for payment options and invoicing under PayPal’s umbrella. 7. Stripe Stripe is widely used, developer-first, highly scalable, and provides robust tools for SaaS, startups, and international merchants, along with transparent pricing. Features Supports over 135 currencies Advanced invoicing Recurring billing Analytics Fraud protection (Radar) Payment Methods Bank debits Apple Pay and Google Pay Credit and debit cards Extensive worldwide coverage Pricing 1.4% + €0.25 for EU cards No setup costs or monthly fees Pros Easy setup Helpful tools and automation Reasonable prices Worldwide reach Cons Complaints from community users about the manner of customer service representatives Best for Stripe is ideal for new and growing digital enterprises that require flexibility, subscriptions, worldwide reach, and developer-friendly tools. 8. BlueSnap Often disregarded, BlueSnap is a global payments platform that offers multi-currency support, wide international coverage, and convenient one-stop shopping. Features Fraud protection Hosted checkout Subscriptions Marketplace tools Payment Methods Mobile payments Cards A variety of regional payment methods Pricing Custom quotes usually include a fixed fee plus a percentage. Pros Robust worldwide features and a holistic platform Cons Less transparent pricing Best for BlueSnap is ideal for European SMBs looking for a comprehensive international payment solution with a growing international clientele. What to Look for in a European Payment Gateway Prioritise the following characteristics in a payment gateway for selling to customers in Europe: 1. Extensive Payment Method Support You want coverage of major credit cards and debit cards, mobile payments (including Apple Pay and Google Pay), cross-border options, and local payment methods (SEPA, iDEAL, Bancontact, etc.). 2. Transparent & Affordable Pricing Keep an eye out for volume discounts and low or no setup or monthly fees. 3. Multiple Currency & International Transaction Support Support for cross-border payments and multiple currencies is critical, given that 28 different currencies are used across the 50 European countries that are members of the UN. This will set you up for cross-border sales and regional expansion. 4. Recurring Billing & Subscription Capabilities Select providers with native recurring payment features if your company uses a subscription business model. 5. Security & Fraud Protection PCI-DSS compliance and sophisticated fraud tools offer peace of mind and protect your business. Particularly noteworthy are Level 1 PCI compliance (Unicorn Group), Stripe’s Radar, and Adyen’s powerful fraud tools. 6. Easy Integration & Developer Tools Seek out reliable hosted checkout options, Shopify and WooCommerce plugins, and APIs. 7. Customer Support & Onboarding Responsive support makes or breaks your experience. Unicorn Group is commended for its seamless onboarding process, whereas Adyen and Worldpay might be slower to get up and running for smaller merchants. 8. Scalability & Business Fit Make sure your gateway is set up to grow with your company, managing expansions in complexity, volume, and geography. Know the Difference A payment gateway is not the same as a merchant account. While a payment gateway securely processes and authorises transactions, the merchant account collects and temporarily retains customer funds until they are cleared. Knowing exactly which services you need will help you choose the right provider. The Right Payment Gateway for Your Business Each of the eight gateways we’ve covered has advantages. However, a few of these solutions stand out from the crowd: Unicorn Group is the best all-inclusive payment solution if you’re managing a serious, expansion-focused company in Europe. It combines scalable features, strong security, and transparent pricing with local and international capabilities. Adyen excels in global enterprise features. Stripe is still a market favourite for flexible, developer-focused infrastructure. Mollie is a great option for ease of setup and local popularity. Choose a payment gateway provider based on the exact features you need and your budget requirements, prioritising security, growth potential, and robust customer support.

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