💳Payment Provider Comparison 2026: PayPal, Klarna, Mollie, Stripe, Adyen in direct use🚀

If you're running an online shop in 2026, choosing the right payment provider is no longer a minor technical detail. It's a direct lever for conversion, cash flow, cart abandonment, support costs, and margin. Sounds dry, but it's anything but. Because this is often where it's decided whether your checkout process runs smoothly or whether customers abandon their purchase at the last step, as if they suddenly have an urgent appointment with their houseplant.

In practice, simply offering "PayPal and card" is no longer sufficient. Depending on the target group, shopping cart, country, device, and shop system, payment methods have a massive impact on purchasing behavior. A company selling in Germany needs to think differently than a D2C brand with an international focus. A B2B company has different priorities than a fashion shop. A company selling digital products needs different risk management strategies than a shop with a high return rate.

Before getting into the technical details, it's helpful to look at the market and regulatory aspects. BaFin (the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) clearly and comprehensibly explains the regulatory classification of payment services and PSD2 in Germany. If you need to argue internally why payment services are more than just "plug and play," this resource is invaluable: BaFin on payment services and PSD2 in Germany.

In this article, I compare PayPal, Klarna, Mollie, Stripe, and Adyen in a way that's relevant for real-world online store projects. No glossy hype, no blind feature bingo. Instead, we'll look at use cases, fee structures, technical integration, checkout impact, risks, scalability, and practical tips for everyday use. You'll also get clear assessments of where each provider makes sense, where you need to be careful, and how to make smarter decisions instead of having to make costly changes later.

Why the payment mix will influence more revenue in 2026 than many shops think

Many shop owners invest in design first, ads, product texts and SEOThat's correct. But if the checkout then fails due to flawed payment logic, part of that work is wasted. A payment provider today is no longer just a payment processor. It influences trust, speed, approval rates, international reach, refunds, chargebacks, and reconciliation. ERP and the effort involved in customer service.

That's precisely why payment should be considered a conversion issue. This is especially noticeable on mobile devices. If a user's preferred payment method isn't available, things quickly become frustrating. They'll compare options, postpone the purchase, or abandon it altogether. In the worst-case scenario, your shop loses the sale to a competitor who simply offers the more suitable payment method at the right moment.

The second point is cash flow. Not every payment method is equally fast, not every chargeback is equally costly, and not every risk is equally distributed. Some providers excel at rapid integration, others at omnichannel, still others at local market coverage or in-depth data analysis. Choosing the right provider here not only saves on fees but also reduces operational friction in finance, support, and logistics.

The five providers at a glance

PayPal

PayPal will remain a staple in many German online shops in 2026. The reason is simple: hardly any other payment method is as well-known, trusted, and readily available to customers in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). For many shops, PayPal isn't an optional extra, but a mandatory component of the checkout process. This is especially true in B2C (business-to-consumer) transactions, for impulse purchases, and anywhere trust is paramount in the final step.

PayPal's strength lies in its market penetration, brand recognition, and sense of security. This can be a real conversion driver, especially for lesser-known shops. At the same time, PayPal isn't always the cheapest or most hassle-free solution when it comes to fees and dispute handling. Those dealing with large ticket sizes, margin-sensitive products, or a high volume of problematic cases need to factor this in carefully.

Klarna

Klarna will be particularly interesting in 2026 if your shop has a strong B2C presence and target groups that actively expect flexible payment methods. Invoice purchases, installment plans, and "pay later" options are psychologically powerful. Especially in fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and higher-priced D2C concepts, Klarna can significantly boost sales. If the customer doesn't want to commit immediately, the barrier to purchase is lowered.

The downside is clear. Flexible payment models require more coordination, different expectations regarding support, and, depending on the setup, more complex returns processes. For shops with high return rates or product categories where the final shopping cart value fluctuates frequently, the process really needs to be flawless. Otherwise, a cool conversion lever can quickly turn into a support marathon.

Mollie

Mollie is a strong choice for many medium-sized and smaller shops because getting started is usually straightforward. The platform is popular with many merchants who want a streamlined, flexible solution without turning payment processing into a major project. Especially for shops that want to neatly integrate multiple local payment methods, Mollie is often pleasantly pragmatic.

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Technically, Mollie often appears well-organized, easy to integrate, and manageable. This is more valuable in everyday use than many realize. If your team doesn't operate its own large in-house payment setup, a user-friendly solution is often better than a theoretically more powerful platform that ultimately no one maintains properly.

Stripe

Stripe will be particularly strong in 2026 if you want to work with technical flexibility. Developers often love Stripe because its API, documentation, and extensibility offer many clean solutions. Stripe is frequently a top choice for SaaS, digital products, international shops, subscription models, and customized checkout processes. It's also often a leading option if you want to tightly integrate payment with data, automation, or individual workflows.

The catch isn't technical, but organizational. Flexibility comes with responsibility. If you don't utilize the possibilities or don't have a team that integrates seamlessly, you might end up paying for potential that never sees the light of day-to-day use. Stripe can be brilliant for simple, standard online stores. But it can also be more of a platform than you actually need.

Adyen

Adyen truly shines when volume, internationalization, omnichannel capabilities, and operational depth become crucial. This is the solution where it quickly becomes clear: it's no longer just about checkout, but about payment architecture. Large retailers, platforms, international brands, and companies with complex processes benefit from its breadth and scalability.

For smaller shops, Adyen isn't automatically the first choice. Not because it's bad—quite the opposite. But because the effort, complexity, and organizational requirements can be higher. However, anyone seriously looking to scale, serve multiple markets, or merge online and offline operations should definitely have Adyen on their shortlist.

Best payment providers for online shops – E-news for shop owners – read yourself rich – 💳Payment Provider Comparison 2026: PayPal, Klarna, Mollie, Stripe, Adyen in direct use🚀

What will really matter about fees in 2026

Many merchants initially compare payment providers based on percentages. This is understandable, but it's too simplistic. The true cost structure lies on several levels. You need to consider transaction fees, fixed costs, dispute costs, payout logic, currency exchange fees, additional technical modules, and indirect processing costs. A provider with a seemingly higher base fee might ultimately be cheaper if their approval rate is better or your support team has less work to do.

PayPal transparently communicates its seller and merchant fees for business accounts on its own website. Stripe also openly outlines its pricing structure and clearly states that there are no setup or monthly fees in the standard model. Adyen presents its model with a fixed processing fee plus a fee that depends on the payment method. This is useful because it allows you to compare the logic, even though individual terms and conditions may vary depending on volume. PayPal fees for business customers, Stripe pricing for online payments and Adyen transaction pricing.

My practical tip: Never just compare the percentage of fees. Instead, calculate with actual shopping cart values. For example, take €39, €89, €149, and €399. Then, for each provider, check how fees, refunds, and risk costs affect the total. This way, you can quickly see which provider best suits your actual order structure. And yes, this simple calculation often saves more money later on than any discussion in a meeting room.

Conversion at checkout: where does each provider score points?

PayPal clearly scores points for trust. If your shop has many first-time buyers or sells products where security is crucial at the final stage of the transaction, the well-known logo often makes a measurable difference. The impact is particularly strong on mobile devices. Users are familiar with the process. Less thinking, less uncertainty, more sales.

Klarna excels where flexibility lowers barriers to purchase. When customers want to try things on, compare prices, or spread their budget over the month, Klarna can be truly effective. This is especially true in the fashion and lifestyle sector, where paying by invoice is often more than just a payment method; it's a key selling point.

Mollie shines when you want to neatly bundle multiple relevant payment methods in one place. This is a major advantage for shops that don't want to manage each payment method individually but still want to offer a comprehensive checkout experience. For teams without a large development budget, this often strikes a smart balance between versatility and control.

Stripe shines when you want to actively shape your checkout process. For example, with custom payment logic, subscriptions, digital products, or international flows. Anyone who thinks in terms of integrating product, CRM, ERP, or automation can get a lot out of Stripe. It's less about gut feeling, more about system design. And yes, that's precisely what makes it so appealing to technical teams.

Adyen excels at orchestrated growth. When you combine markets, devices, countries, and channels, the platform becomes truly compelling. Then it's no longer just about accepting a payment. It's about identifying which method, with which approval levels, risk profile, and operational logic, delivers the best performance in each channel.

Technical integration: what really matters in everyday project work

From a developer's and operator's perspective, the most impressive feature list is worthless if the setup is unreliable in everyday use. Therefore, you should check five points for every payment provider. First, how well does the plugin or native integration work with your shop system? Second, how clean are the webhooks and status messages? Third, how smoothly do partial cancellations, full cancellations, and refunds work? Fourth, how robust is the handling of failed attempts? Fifth, how easily can payment statuses be transferred to your ERP or CRM system?

If you are Magento, Shopware or WooCommerce If you work in this field, you're familiar with the issue. Theoretically, many things work at the push of a button, but in practice, fine-tuning is what makes the difference between "running smoothly" and "being a weekly annoyance." Especially with asynchronous payment methods, delayed capture, multiple partial returns, or mixed processes involving shipping and partial refunds, your provider needs to fit seamlessly into your existing workflow.

If you want to delve deeper into the shop system, it's worth taking a look at relevant technical environments. For Magento projects, a smoothly integrated payment process can be just as important as the actual shop architecture. Therefore, thematically relevant in-depth tutorials are useful, for example here: Magento agency for payment-related shop processes, Shopware agency for checkout and payment integrations, WooCommerce agency for payment providers in checkout and E-commerce blog with payment and checkout tips.

Which provider is suitable for which type of shop?

Small to medium-sized B2C shop in Germany

If you primarily sell in the German market, operate a classic B2C shop, and need a solid, high-converting foundation, the combination of PayPal plus a clear card payment option is often a strong starting point. Depending on your target group, Klarna can be added if you sell fashion, beauty, home, or similar categories with higher purchase barriers.

Mollie is often an attractive option if you're looking for a good balance between ease of use, variety, and administrative effort. The crucial point isn't that you offer every conceivable payment method. What's crucial is that the right payment methods function flawlessly and are clearly visible.

Technically sophisticated D2C brand or SaaS

If your business model involves custom flows, API logic, subscriptions, upgrades, recurring payments, or international expansion, Stripe is often a strong contender. Its technical flexibility is a key advantage here. The platform scales with your needs if you actively use it.

Adyen can also be a good option if you want to not only grow but also scale in a structured way. The difference, broadly speaking, is this: Stripe often feels like a powerful, flexible developer toolkit. Adyen, on the other hand, feels more like a larger payment infrastructure that you build strategically.

International retailer or omnichannel brand

If you sell in multiple countries or integrate online and brick-and-mortar stores, Adyen becomes significantly more relevant. This is where centralized management, local payment methods, standardized processes, and deep operational control are key. This is the area where a large platform can effectively leverage its strengths.

Stripe remains strong internationally, especially if your setup is digitally focused. The choice often depends on whether you're looking for maximum integration flexibility or a broader enterprise-level payment logic for larger organizations.

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Risk, chargebacks and support – the part that many take seriously too late.

In a pitch, payment often sounds like revenue. In practice, however, it's just as much of a risk factor. Chargebacks, inquiries, refunds, outstanding payments, and disputes cost time and money. Depending on the industry, this impact is more significant. Electronics, digital products, ticketing, gift items, or international orders often have very different risk profiles than a local shop with a limited product range.

Therefore, before making a decision, you shouldn't just ask: Which payment methods does the provider offer? Instead, ask: How transparent is their dispute handling? How easy is it to submit supporting documents? How thoroughly are events documented? How clear is the communication regarding rejections? And how much of a burden does this place on my support team?

A practical, everyday trick: Don't just measure chargeback rates and fees. Also measure the internal processing time per issue. If your team spends 12 minutes less per case, that's often worth more per month than a marginally better fee point. It sounds unromantic, but it saves nerves, budget, and frustration in your daily work.

Practical tips for selection in direct use

1. Start with your actual shopping cart, not the vendor's brochure.

Examine your most frequent order values, your return rate, your countries, your devices, and your target groups. A payment setup for a B2B spare parts shop looks different than for a D2C fashion shop. This sounds obvious, but is surprisingly often ignored.

2. Test the mobile payment methods first.

If your mobile checkout is laggy, unclear, or requires too many clicks, you'll lose sales. Test the entire flow on smartphones, ideally with multiple devices and real test purchases. This is where any problems become brutally obvious.

3. Reduce your choices if they only look pretty.

More payment methods aren't automatically better. Too many options can also slow things down and cause confusion. It's better to offer the most important methods clearly and efficiently, rather than building a collection that no one maintains strategically.

4. Always consider payment in conjunction with accounting and ERP.

The best checkout conversion rate will only help you to a limited extent if reconciliation, payouts, partial refunds, and receipt logic become chaotic later on. Talk to your finance and IT departments early. Otherwise, you'll build a foundation for problems. Marketing Sales are happening in the front, while in the back someone is quietly crying and comparing CSV files.

5. Plan a thorough comparative test

If possible, test different variations. For example, different sorting options in the checkout, alternative displays of payment methods, or different combinations for each country. Even small changes can noticeably influence the conversion rate.

My conclusion: Which provider will be in the lead in 2026?

The honest answer is: there's no single best payment provider for everyone. There's only the best fit for your business model, your target audience, and your operational reality. For many German B2C shops, PayPal remains a must. Klarna is strong when flexible payment models boost conversions. Mollie is attractive for lean, easily controllable setups. Stripe is often the strongest choice for technical flexibility. Adyen becomes highly interesting when volume, internationalization, and omnichannel are serious considerations.

If you're setting up a new business today, I wouldn't base my decision solely on fees. I would consider the checkout experience, technical compatibility, process stability, and scalability. Because in 2026, payment isn't just another payment method in the footer. It's an operational growth driver if you choose it carefully and integrate it correctly.

For market trends in German retail, it's also worth taking a look at the EHI's classification of online payments and at developments surrounding new payment methods and regulatory changes in e-commerce. Two good starting points are these pages: EHI's assessment of the online payment market and German Retail Federation on e-commerce changes in 2026.

Now it's your turn

Which combination of payment methods are you currently using in your shop, and why exactly that one? Are PayPal plus card payments working best for you, or has Klarna given your checkout process a real boost? Perhaps you're currently testing Stripe for customized flows or considering Adyen because your setup is becoming more international.

Feel free to share your experiences in the comments. I'm particularly interested in real-world figures. Which payment method works best for you? Where do you encounter issues with customer support? And which providers have pleasantly surprised or frustrated you in your daily work? These are the kinds of examples that ultimately lead to the best decisions for other online shop owners.