Stripe vs Mollie vs Adyen: Online Payment Fees for European SMEs in 2026

The verdict in three sentences

On EUR 1.2M of yearly payments, the difference between the most and least expensive provider reaches EUR 6,000 to 8,000 a year, the price of a full integration. Adyen is usually the cheapest at this volume thanks to Interchange++ pricing, Stripe remains the most complete for subscriptions, international B2B and developers, and Mollie wins on simplicity and the breadth of European payment methods. Always negotiate: above EUR 1M, none of these public prices is final.

Public pricing in 2026

The figures below are standard published or observed rates in 2026 (orders of magnitude, before negotiation). They change regularly: always check the current price list before signing.

Two details change the bill. First, the share of commercial cards: in B2B, 30 to 50 % are business cards, which cost more. Second, chargebacks, billed EUR 15 to 20 each by most providers. French SMEs often add PayPlug to the shortlist, with 0.8 to 1.2 % + EUR 0.25 on domestic cards.

Simulation: EUR 1.2M processed per year

Assumptions: 70 % of volume by card (EUR 840,000, 10,500 transactions at a EUR 80 average basket), 30 % by B2B SEPA Direct Debit (EUR 360,000, 300 transactions of EUR 1,200). Mostly standard European cards.

The gap between Mollie and Adyen comes to about EUR 7,000 to 8,000 a year in this scenario. With negotiation from EUR 1M of volume, Stripe often drops to 1.2 to 1.4 %, which narrows the gap. Adyen's onboarding is also more demanding, which matters for a lean finance team.

Integration: what to budget

Integration costs between EUR 1,500 and 5,000 depending on context: a Shopify, WooCommerce or PrestaShop plugin connects in 1 to 3 days, while a custom site with subscriptions, automatic invoices and accounting reconciliation takes 1 to 2 weeks. Plan for webhook handling (payment confirmed, failed, refunded), reconciliation with your accounting software (Xero, Exact, DATEV, Sage) and testing the 3D Secure flow on mobile, where 5 to 10 % of payments are lost when poorly integrated.

Mini case study

Laurent, CFO of a professional supplies SME in Amsterdam, processes EUR 1.2M a year through Mollie, paying EUR 18,075 in fees. He moves card traffic to Adyen with a reconciliation module: EUR 3,000 of integration. New annual fees: about EUR 10,500, a saving of roughly EUR 7,500 a year. The integration pays back in under 5 months and the cumulative net saving over 3 years reaches about EUR 19,500.

FAQ

Can you run two providers at once?

Yes, many SMEs keep Stripe for subscriptions and international sales and use a second provider for domestic cards. The extra integration cost is EUR 1,000 to 2,000, worthwhile above EUR 500,000 of volume.

Does 3D Secure hurt conversion?

A well-integrated flow loses 2 to 4 % of payments, a poorly integrated one up to 10 %. PSD2 exemptions for low amounts (under EUR 30) and recurring customers limit the friction.

Are payment fees negotiable for an SME?

From EUR 500,000 to 1M a year, yes. Request written offers from all three: a 0.2 to 0.4 point reduction is common, worth EUR 2,400 to 4,800 a year on EUR 1.2M.

How long does switching provider take?

Allow 2 to 6 weeks for account opening (KYC checks), integration and testing. Existing SEPA mandates can be migrated, but stored cards need a secure data transfer between providers.

Is Stripe suited to European B2B?

Yes, especially with Stripe Invoicing and SEPA Direct Debit, useful for 30-day invoices. Its main drawback is the initial 7-day payout delay, which you should negotiate at onboarding.

Let's scope your project. We audit your payment fees, help you negotiate and integrate the chosen provider with webhooks and accounting reconciliation, for EUR 1,500 to 5,000 in 2 to 6 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.