Key takeaways
- Top pick: Stripe, best for: Online businesses and developers.
- Also near the top: PayPal and Square.
- How it was ranked: 10 SaaS products compared. Each verdict is below.
Stripe is our top recommendation for online businesses and developers needing custom payment flows, while
PayPal suits merchants seeking instant brand recognition and quick setup.
Square is ideal for physical retail and omnichannel sellers looking for integrated hardware and software solutions.
Top 10 Payment Processing Platforms, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  StripeStripe processes hundreds of billions of dollars annually for millions of internet businesses. | Online businesses and developers | 95.0 | 2.9% + 30c per transaction |
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| 2 |  PayPalPayPal has over 400 million active account holders worldwide. | Small businesses and freelancers | 92.7 | 2.9% + fixed fee |
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| 3 |  SquareSquare pioneered mobile card reading with its iconic white audio-jack dongle. | Brick-and-mortar retail and hospitality | 90.3 | 2.6% + 10c per transaction |
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| 4 |  AdyenAdyen acts as both payment gateway and merchant acquirer in a single system. | Large enterprises with international reach | 88.0 | Custom |
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| 5 |  Checkout.comCheckout.com serves many of the world's leading tech unicorns and marketplaces. | High-volume digital merchants | 85.7 | Custom |
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| 6 |  BraintreeBraintree was acquired by PayPal in 2013 for 800 million US dollars. | Mobile apps and subscription businesses | 83.3 | 2.59% + 49c per transaction |
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| 7 |  WorldpayWorldpay processes millions of mobile, online, and in-store transactions daily. | Omnichannel retail and large enterprises | 81.0 | Custom |
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| 8 |  Authorize.NetAuthorize.Net has been operating as a trusted payment gateway since 1996. | Established e-commerce stores | 78.7 | $25 monthly gateway fee |
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| 9 |  HelcimHelcim guarantees lifetime rate locks for its merchant accounts. | Growing businesses seeking lower fees | 76.3 | Interchange plus pricing |
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| 10 |  GoCardlessGoCardless automates collection across more than thirty countries globally. | B2B and subscription billing | 74.0 | 1% + 20p per transaction |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Stripe (#1): Online businesses and developers
- PayPal (#2): Small businesses and freelancers
- Square (#3): Brick-and-mortar retail and hospitality
- Adyen (#4): Large enterprises with international reach
- Checkout.com (#5): High-volume digital merchants
- Braintree (#6): Mobile apps and subscription businesses
- Worldpay (#7): Omnichannel retail and large enterprises
- Authorize.Net (#8): Established e-commerce stores
- Helcim (#9): Growing businesses seeking lower fees
- GoCardless (#10): B2B and subscription billing
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Financial infrastructure for the internet
A comprehensive payment platform offering developer-first tools for online businesses of all sizes.
From 2.9% + 30c per transaction
PROS- Highly customisable API
- Supports global payment methods
CONS- Can be complex for beginners
- Best for
- Online businesses and developers
- Where it falls short
- The platform can be complex for beginners to navigate.
- Pick something else if
- you are a beginner seeking simplicity.
95.0
02
The safer, easier way to pay online
A globally recognized digital wallet and payment processor offering trusted checkout solutions.
From 2.9% + fixed fee
PROS- Widely trusted by consumers
- Easy setup process
CONS- Account freezes can happen unexpectedly
- Best for
- Small businesses and freelancers
- Where it falls short
- Account freezes can happen unexpectedly.
- Pick something else if
- you need guaranteed account access.
92.7
03
Make every sale count
A versatile payment processor specialising in point-of-sale hardware and omnichannel retail.
From 2.6% + 10c per transaction
PROS- Great free POS software
- Transparent pricing
CONS- Customer support can be difficult to reach
- Best for
- Brick-and-mortar retail and hospitality
- Where it falls short
- Instant fund transfers incur a 1.5% fee rather than being free.
- Pick something else if
- you want completely free instant payouts.
90.3
04
Engineered for ambition
An end-to-end payments platform designed for large global enterprises and high-volume merchants.
From Custom
PROS- Direct connection to card schemes
- Advanced fraud protection
CONS- Not suitable for very small businesses
- Best for
- Large enterprises with international reach
- Where it falls short
- It is not suitable for very small businesses.
- Pick something else if
- you run a very small business.
88.0
05
Connected payments for the digital economy
A cloud-based payment processor focused on high-performance digital commerce and cross-border transactions.
From Custom
PROS- High acceptance rates for international cards
- Advanced data analytics and reporting tools
CONS- Strict underwriting criteria for new merchants
- Less suitable for micro-businesses
- Best for
- High-volume digital merchants
- Where it falls short
- Strict underwriting criteria for new merchants.
85.7
06
Powering payments for the world's leading companies
A PayPal service that provides a robust payment gateway for online and mobile applications.
From 2.59% + 49c per transaction
PROS- Accepts PayPal and Venmo natively
- Unified pricing for cards and digital wallets
CONS- Integration requires technical knowledge
- Best for
- Mobile apps and subscription businesses
- Where it falls short
- Integration requires technical knowledge.
83.3
07
Powering commerce worldwide
A traditional payment processing giant offering scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes.
From Custom
PROS- Strong global acquiring capabilities
- Dedicated account management
CONS- Contract terms can be rigid
- Best for
- Omnichannel retail and large enterprises
- Where it falls short
- Contract terms can be rigid.
81.0
08
The trusted name in payment processing
A Visa solution providing reliable payment gateway services for small to medium-sized businesses.
From $25 monthly gateway fee
PROS- Long-standing industry reputation
- Advanced fraud detection suite
- Best for
- Established e-commerce stores
- Where it falls short
- Outdated user interface.
78.7
09
Payments that are better for your business
A merchant services provider known for transparent interchange-plus pricing and no monthly fees.
From Interchange plus pricing
PROS- Transparent interchange-plus pricing
- No monthly subscription fees
CONS- Hardware can be costly upfront
- Best for
- Growing businesses seeking lower fees
- Where it falls short
- Hardware can be costly upfront.
76.3
10
Global bank payment made easy
A specialized payment processor focusing on recurring bank-to-bank direct debit payments.
From 1% + 20p per transaction
PROS- Significantly lower failure rates than card payments
- Automated collection reduces administrative overhead
CONS- Not designed for immediate point-of-sale purchases
- Payouts take longer due to direct debit clearing times
- Best for
- B2B and subscription billing
- Where it falls short
- Not designed for immediate point-of-sale purchases.
74.0
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?
A payment gateway captures and transmits payment information from the customer to the processor, while the payment processor executes the actual transaction by communicating with the issuing and acquiring banks.
What is interchange-plus pricing?
Interchange-plus pricing passes the exact wholesale interchange fee charged by card networks directly to the merchant, adding a transparent, fixed markup fee for the processor.
Are payment processors compliant with PCI DSS regulations?
Yes, reputable payment processors are certified as compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards to ensure secure handling of cardholder data.
Sources
Where we checked each company's facts, and when.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.