The verdict in three sentences
The headline rate is never the real cost: the true trade-off lies in per-transaction fixed fees, FX and chargebacks. Below 200,000 EUR of annual volume a simple PSP (Stripe, Mollie) wins; above 1.5M EUR an interchange++ model (Adyen) becomes clearly cheaper. Model your cost on your real average basket, not the marketing rate.
The fees that actually matter in 2026
A PSP rarely charges a single line. Here are the weighty items, with 2026 orders of magnitude for the European market.
| Fee item | 2026 range (EUR) | Real impact |
|---|---|---|
| EU card rate | 1.4% to 2.9% | The main line |
| Fixed fee / transaction | 0.25 to 0.30 EUR | Crushes small baskets |
| Monthly subscription | 0 to 49 EUR | Negligible above 50k volume |
| FX fee (non-EUR) | 1% to 2% | Critical if non-euro clients |
| Chargeback (dispute) | 15 to 25 EUR / case | Can erase the margin |
| Non-EU / commercial cards | +0.5 to +1.5 pt | Often forgotten |
The 0.30 EUR fixed fee is 3% on a 10 EUR basket, but 0.03% on a 1,000 EUR basket. Your average basket picks the winner.
Stripe / Adyen / Mollie comparison by tier
Estimated annual cost (2026 order of magnitude) for a European e-commerce store, 60 EUR average basket, 90% EU cards.
| Annual volume | Stripe (~1.5% + 0.25) | Adyen (interchange++) | Mollie (~1.8% + 0.25) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100,000 EUR | ~1,920 EUR | ~2,100 EUR | ~2,220 EUR |
| 250,000 EUR | ~4,800 EUR | ~4,300 EUR | ~5,550 EUR |
| 500,000 EUR | ~9,580 EUR | ~7,900 EUR | ~11,100 EUR |
| 1,000,000 EUR | ~19,160 EUR | ~14,500 EUR | ~22,200 EUR |
| 2,500,000 EUR | ~47,900 EUR | ~34,000 EUR | ~55,500 EUR |
Reading: Stripe and Mollie are unbeatable on simplicity and at low volume; Adyen takes the lead around 250,000-500,000 EUR thanks to interchange++, but requires a negotiated contract and heavier integration.
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Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a cosmetics SME in London, processes 500,000 EUR/year, 55 EUR average basket, 20% of clients outside the euro zone. On Mollie, her real cost reaches ~11,100 EUR + ~2,000 EUR FX, i.e. ~13,100 EUR. Moving to Adyen (negotiated contract): ~7,900 EUR + optimised FX ~1,400 EUR = ~9,300 EUR. Annual saving: ~3,800 EUR, for an estimated technical migration cost of 4,000-7,000 EUR — paid back in under two years, and immediately as volume climbs.
FAQ
Is the cheapest PSP always the best choice? No. An acceptance rate 1 to 2 points higher (Adyen, Stripe) recovers more revenue than 0.3% of fees saved. On 500,000 EUR, 1.5 extra acceptance points = 7,500 EUR of revenue saved.
What do chargebacks really cost? Budget 15 to 25 EUR per dispute, plus the refunded amount. Above a 0.9% dispute rate, the card networks impose surcharges and a remediation programme.
Do I need a monthly subscription? Rarely worthwhile below 50,000 EUR of volume. Above that, a plan can cut the variable rate: negotiate as soon as you pass 250,000 EUR/year.
What about local payment methods (Bancontact, iDEAL, SEPA)? They often cost less than cards (0.20-0.40 EUR fixed) and lift conversion in certain countries. A good PSP offers them natively.
Can I switch PSP without breaking everything? Yes, if your payment layer is well abstracted. That is exactly the point of a clean integration: switching PSP becomes a few-days project, not a rebuild.
Let's scope your project. Give us your annual volume, average basket and channels: we model your real PSP cost and the integration (indicative budget 4,000-9,000 EUR). Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
