Payment gateways are usually chosen by a single number — the fee. Then it turns out half of the customers cannot pay with their usual method, payouts take two weeks and 10% of turnover is frozen in a reserve. Choosing a payment gateway is a decision about how much money you end up receiving, not only how much you give away.
In short: compare PSPs by net revenue, not by rate. Approval rates, local payment methods, payout times and reserve terms move your money more than a 0.3% difference in fees.
8 selection criteria
- Countries and payment methods. Cards are not the main method everywhere. Local methods — bank transfers, wallets, instalments — decide conversion in many countries.
- Approval rate. A 5–10% difference in approvals between providers is 5–10% of revenue.
- Total cost. Rate, fixed fee, FX conversion, refund and chargeback fees, monthly charges.
- Payout speed and currency. How fast and in which currency money reaches your account.
- Reserves and limits. How much turnover the provider holds back and for how long.
- Chargebacks and fraud. 3-D Secure, anti-fraud tools, help with disputes.
- Integration. API quality, ready-made plugins, hosted payment page or embedded form.
- Support and transparency. A dedicated manager and how fast problems get solved.
Comparing two offers: an example
| Parameter | PSP A | PSP B |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Approval rate | 82% | 91% |
| Payouts | T+7 | T+2 |
| Reserve | 10% for 180 days | None |
| Result on €100,000 of payment attempts | ~€80,000 received, €8,000 in reserve | ~€88,000 received, no reserve |
In this example the "cheap" provider costs the business more: fewer approved payments and frozen cash.
What to prepare for onboarding
- Company and beneficial owner documents, a business account.
- A website with product or service descriptions, prices, refund terms, privacy policy and contacts.
- Turnover forecast, average order value, buyer countries and processing history if you have it.
No account yet? Start with opening a business account — most PSPs will not onboard a company without one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a gateway and an acquirer?
The gateway is the technical link that passes payment data. The acquirer is the bank or institution that receives money from card schemes and pays it out to you. Many PSPs do both, but not all. If you need a dedicated card account, see merchant accounts.
Do I need a second provider from day one?
One is enough to start, but once turnover reaches tens of thousands per month a backup PSP protects you from sales stopping.
Can I connect a gateway without a website?
Usually not: providers review the website during onboarding. For services without a catalogue, payment links and invoices work well.
Choosing a payment gateway? Send a request on the payment gateways page and we will model your checkout, compare providers on net revenue and prepare the onboarding pack.