Payment gateway comparison for European SMEs (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

Below €30,000 processed per month, Stripe remains the fastest and most predictable choice, with a public rate of 1.5% plus €0.25 per European card. Between €50,000 and €200,000 per month, negotiating with PayPlug or Lyra saves €3,000 to €9,000 a year, provided you accept a contract and sometimes a merchant acquiring agreement with your bank. The true total cost also includes integration (€1,500 to €6,000 excl. VAT), disputes and the acceptance rate, which often weighs more than 0.2 points of commission.

2026 fee grid: what you actually pay

The three players do not sell the same thing. Stripe is an aggregator: you do not need a bank merchant agreement, Stripe carries the risk. PayPlug (BPCE group) offers packaged plans that become negotiable from a few tens of thousands of euros per month. Lyra (formerly Systempay) plugs into your bank's card acquiring contract: the card commission is negotiated with the bank, Lyra charges for the tool.

The difference is about volume. At €20,000 a month with a €120 average basket, Stripe costs about €340 a month, PayPlug negotiated at 1% plus €0.15 about €225. At that level, a €115 gap does not always justify switching providers.

3D Secure, acceptance and payouts: the hidden costs

Since PSD2, 3D Secure 2 strong authentication is the norm in Europe. A gateway that applies exemptions intelligently (small amounts, low-risk transactions, trusted beneficiaries) reduces checkout abandonment by 3 to 8 points. On a B2B site processing large amounts, each acceptance point is worth more than the commission.

These figures assume 100% standard European cards. Commercial and non-EU cards, common in B2B, sharply raise the bill with every provider. Always ask for a simulation based on your last 3 months of real transactions.

Integration cost and go-live delay

Integration cost depends on your platform. On Shopify or WooCommerce, all three provide an official module. On a custom site or a B2B portal with quotes, invoices and partial payments, you need to build webhooks, accounting reconciliation and refund handling.

Stripe goes live within 48 hours. PayPlug requires a few days of KYC validation. Lyra depends on the bank: allow up to 6 weeks to obtain the merchant agreement.

Mini case study

Claire, CFO of an industrial supplies SME in Lyon, processes €80,000 a month online with a €150 average basket, about 533 transactions. With Stripe, her monthly bill reaches €1,333, or €16,000 a year. She negotiates a merchant agreement at 0.6% with her bank and connects Lyra at €80 a month: €613 monthly, €7,356 a year. Integration into her B2B portal costs €4,500 excl. VAT. Net savings in year one: 16,000 - 7,356 - 4,500 = €4,144, then €8,644 per year afterwards. Payback arrives in month 7.

FAQ

Is Stripe too expensive for a European SME?

Not below €30,000 a month: no subscription and no merchant agreement offset the 1.5% plus €0.25 commission. Above €50,000, Stripe also agrees to negotiate custom pricing.

Can you combine two gateways?

Yes, many SMEs keep Stripe for international cards and Lyra for domestic cards. Building simple routing costs €1,000 to €2,000 excl. VAT.

Does 3D Secure lose sales?

Poorly configured, it can cut conversion by 5 to 10%. With well-managed PSD2 exemptions, the loss drops below 2% and fraud liability shifts to the issuing bank.

How long does switching gateways take?

Allow 2 to 4 weeks to move to Stripe or PayPlug, 4 to 8 weeks to Lyra because of the bank contract. Plan 15 days of parallel operation.

Do commercial cards cost more?

Yes, in B2B they often represent 20 to 40% of payments and are charged 2 to 2.9% depending on the provider. Insist on a dedicated line in the simulation.

Let's scope your project. We price your gateway integration (CMS module, custom site or B2B portal, €1,500 to €6,000 excl. VAT) with a fee simulation on your real volumes and a 1 to 4 week delay. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.