09 Aug, 2025
The difference between closing a sale and losing a customer often comes down to your payment gateway. In 2025, European businesses need more than just a way to take cards they need flexible, secure, and conversion-focused solutions that plug into any e-commerce stack. With so many choices, picking the best payment gateway is essential for success.
I’m Riten, founder of Fueler, a platform that lets you prove your skills through real assignments. In this article, I’ll walk you through the most reliable and innovative payment gateways for e-commerce in Europe in 2025. Just like a strong project portfolio makes you credible as a professional, the right payment gateway does the same for your online store by delivering trust, seamless checkout, and better sales.
Stripe is known across Europe for seamless payment processing, advanced security, and excellent multi-currency support. This gateway offers one of the best APIs for developers, but is equally friendly for non-tech business owners thanks to plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, and many other shops. Stripe is built for volume, subscriptions, and global expansion.
Pricing: 1.4% + €0.25 per EU card, 2.9% + €0.25 for non-EU cards, no setup fees
Why it matters: Stripe simplifies international sales and subscriptions, making it a top choice for European stores wanting to scale and stay secure.
PayPal’s global recognition and ease of use make it a “must-offer” at checkout. With fast setup, strong buyer protection, and broad payment support, it helps increase conversion rates, especially from international shoppers.
Pricing: 2.9% + €0.35 per transaction for EU payments, small extra for FX and premium services
Why it matters: PayPal gives European e-commerce stores instant trust and streamlined payments for both local and global customers.
Adyen is a global platform loved by large and scaling e-commerce brands. With deep European coverage, support for over 150 currencies, and ability to offer local methods like iDEAL and Bancontact, Adyen is designed for cross-border growth.
Pricing: 1.4% + €0.10 for European cards per transaction, variable for other types
Why it matters: Adyen's all-in-one approach and local method support give businesses a flexible, growth-ready payment backbone.
Mollie delivers fast onboarding, clear pricing, and rich support for local European methods. Perfect for startups and mid-sized shops, it covers everything from iDEAL to Klarna without monthly fees or complicated setup.
Pricing: Around €0.29 per EU transaction, transparent fees, no contracts
Why it matters: Mollie lets European shops offer the payment options customers want with zero hassle or hidden costs.
SecurionPay stands out for its security-first approach, high conversion rates, and ability to handle subscriptions and mixed payment models. Designed in Switzerland for EU merchants, it’s ideal for those prioritizing compliance and flexible customer journeys.
Pricing: No setup fee, per-transaction rates often start at 2.95% + €0.25
Why it matters: SecurionPay is trusted by regional retailers for conversion-boosting checkout and robust compliance.
Klarna specializes in buy-now-pay-later and consumer financing, adding powerful options that drive up average order values. It’s become popular in Nordic nations and is recognized for making expensive purchases easier for customers.
Pricing: Varies, with pay-later services around 2.49% to 5.99% plus fixed fees
Why it matters: Klarna helps European stores boost conversions, especially when selling higher-priced or discretionary items.
A modern e-commerce professional documents real-world results, just like successful stores show off sales wins and efficient checkouts. On Fueler, you can highlight projects like "Optimized Stripe integration for 25% higher conversion" to win new opportunities and partnerships by proving you deliver real business value.
The payment gateway you choose directly impacts your sales and customer satisfaction. In 2025, European e-commerce success is built on security, flexibility, and a range of checkout options that meet customer needs. Select a gateway that matches your business stage, integrates easily, and keeps your margins healthy.
1. Which payment gateway is best for international e-commerce in Europe?
Stripe and Adyen both lead for multi-currency support and smooth cross-border integration.
2. Which European payment gateways are easiest for startups to set up?
Mollie and PayPal feature fast onboarding with no monthly fees and clear setup guides.
3. Do these gateways support recurring payments or subscriptions?
Stripe, PayPal, SecurionPay, and Adyen all provide robust options for handling subscriptions and automated billing.
4. Can I use more than one payment gateway in my shop?
Yes, combining gateways (like Stripe plus PayPal or Mollie) helps you serve more customers and keep backup options open.
5. What is the most cost-effective payment gateway for small businesses in Europe?
Mollie offers some of the lowest transaction fees with no monthly charges, making it ideal for growing shops.
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