Note: This is the 2025 version. You can find the current 2026 edition here.

1. Online payments: theory for understanding

To accept payments in an online shop, merchants need two contracts:

1. Acceptance contract (acquiring contract): This is concluded with an acquirer (see chapter 1.2).

2. Processing contract: This is concluded with a payment service provider (PSP) (see chapter 1.1).

The following explains exactly what an acquirer and a payment service provider are and how they interact with the online shop.

1.1 What is a payment service provider?

A payment service provider (also Payment Service Provider or PSP) enables the technical integration of online payment methods such as Mastercard, TWINT, PostFinance and Apple Pay into an online shop. Instead of negotiating with each financial institution individually and integrating the payment methods separately into their shop, online merchants (also merchants) can work directly with a PSP. This gives them all the desired payment methods, integration systems and e-commerce tools, and also fulfils the necessary security requirements.

The processing contract with the payment service provider regulates the technical processing of payments, meaning the connection between the online shop, the payment service provider and the banks. In some cases, however, merchants also need an acceptance contract with an acquirer - unless the PSP takes on this role itself as a Payment Facilitator (see chapter 1.3).

How a payment service provider (PSP) works

1.2 What is an acquirer and an acceptance contract?

An acquirer (also called an acquiring bank) is a financial institution that processes credit and debit card payments for merchants. In order for an online shop to accept such payments, it needs an acceptance contract. This regulates the acceptance and processing of card payments and defines fees, security requirements and chargeback processes. 

1.3 What is a Payment Facilitator?

A Payment Facilitator (also PF or Collecting PSP) simplifies payment processing for merchants by acting as an intermediary between them and the acquirer (see figure 2). The Payment Facilitator can sign the acceptance contract on behalf of the acquirer. Merchants, in turn, conclude their contract directly with the Payment Facilitator and therefore do not need a separate acceptance contract with an acquirer.

The Payment Facilitator therefore makes it possible to integrate various payment methods from different acquirers into an online shop with just one contract - for example Visa, Mastercard, TWINT, PostFinance and Reka. 

How a Payment Facilitator (PF) works

In addition to these two basic models, there are other hybrid forms, but for simplicity they are not explained in more detail in this article.

2. How do you choose the right provider?

Choosing the right provider depends on several factors. Merchants should ask themselves the following questions:

• Which payment methods should be offered? A diverse payment offering increases customer satisfaction and the conversion rate. Merchants should therefore check which payment methods their customers prefer. Not all providers support the same payment methods - especially for regionally popular options such as TWINT or PostFinance Pay, choosing the right provider is crucial.

• Which shop system is used? The technical integration of a payment service provider can be simplified by prebuilt plugins¹. For well-known systems such as Shopify or WooCommerce, most providers offer ready-made plugins for easy integration. For custom-built shops, some providers offer flexible API solutions.

• Which tools are needed? The functionalities of a payment service provider should match the requirements of the shop. While some providers offer specialised solutions for donation platforms or subscription-based business models, there are also all-in-one platforms that cover a broad range of business models.

• What costs are incurred? In addition to transaction fees, any monthly fixed costs, setup fees and additional costs for special features should also be considered. This helps avoid unexpected costs.

• Which target group is addressed? Depending on the customer base, different payment methods are relevant - younger consumers often expect wallet solutions, while businesses or international customers benefit from fast and low-cost alternatives such as Instant Payment. Instant Payment (also Pay by Bank) enables direct bank transfers in real time and saves fees, especially in international payments. At present, Payrexx is the only provider in Switzerland offering Pay by Bank.

In addition to these functional and security-related aspects, for merchants an easy and stable connection, a broad range of payment methods and tools, reliable support and a cost-efficient pricing model are particularly decisive in order to avoid unnecessary expenses.

It is also advisable to choose a provider that additionally acts as an acquirer or Payment Facilitator. This gives merchants a single contact for all payment processes.

¹Extensions for shop systems that enable the integration of payment service providers without programming.

3. Overview of the functions of the individual payment service providers

The following table shows which payment methods are supported by the individual providers. For better clarity, only the most common payment methods are considered. The table also provides information on which providers offer plugins for common shop systems.

Some payment service providers also offer their own, usually very rudimentary shop systems, which allow you to create a small online shop for products, vouchers, subscriptions or donations without programming knowledge. Such solutions are listed in the table as “E-commerce tools”.

To better assess customer satisfaction and service quality, the table also includes the Google ratings of all providers.

Function matrix of the various payment service providers

4. Cost analysis

In this section, the monthly costs (subscription and transaction fees) for the different providers were calculated. The analysis is carried out for two example online shops: one with a turnover of CHF 20'000 and one with CHF 100'000.

For the calculation, the cheapest offers from the individual payment service providers were selected for the respective trading volume. The prices are taken from the websites of the respective payment service providers¹. Any setup fees are not taken into account in the diagram.

4.1 Online shop with a turnover of CHF 20'000 per month

The following cost analysis shows the monthly fees for smaller online shops with a trading volume of CHF 20'000 and 200 credit card transactions per month. The average value of a transaction is therefore CHF 100 per purchase.

Monthly costs with a turnover of CHF 20'000 (without setup)

A small online shop benefits from the lowest fees with Payrexx, closely followed by PostFinance. At CHF 790, PayPal is the most expensive for online shops of this volume. The price difference between Payrexx and PayPal is CHF 435. The costs of the cheapest payment service provider, Payrexx, are therefore more than 50 percent lower than those of the most expensive.

Payrexx also offers exclusive discounts for start-ups and non-profit organisations: 30 percent for start-ups and 50 percent for non-profit organisations on all subscriptions.

¹The Datatrans offer also requires a separate acquiring contract. The cost of acquiring therefore depends on the choice of acquirer). For this reason, a value of 1.7 percent was assumed (average of all other providers).

4.2 Online shop with a turnover of CHF 100'000 per month

The next cost analysis shows the monthly fees for medium-sized online shops with a trading volume of CHF 100'000 and 1'000 credit card transactions per month. The average value of a transaction is therefore CHF 100 per purchase.

Monthly costs with a turnover of CHF 100'000 (without setup)

With monthly costs of CHF 1'579, Payrexx is the cheapest provider for medium-sized online shops, followed by wallee. PayPal and Stripe are significantly more expensive than the others. The price difference between Payrexx and the most expensive provider is CHF 2'371, which corresponds to savings of more than 60 percent.

No calculation was carried out for large online shops with a turnover of over CHF 100'000 per month. This is because many payment service providers offer individual special conditions for larger customers - including Datatrans, Payrexx, Stripe, walle, Worldline and zahls.ch.

5. All payment service providers in detail

5.1 Payrexx

Payrexx is a Swiss omnichannel payment provider and facilitator that offers merchants a central platform for accepting payment methods such as credit cards, TWINT, PostFinance Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay - without separate contracts with acquirers.

The provider stands out for its simple setup and free plugins for integration into all common shop systems, such as WooCommerce and Shopify. The platform also offers a range of practical e-commerce tools that are particularly attractive for smaller online merchants without their own online shop. Also included are innovative POS and SoftPOS solutions for in-store retail, as well as universal QR-code payment stickers that can be used not only with TWINT, but with all desired payment methods.

Payrexx impresses with favourable fees and discounts for start-ups and non-profit organisations. All Payrexx functions can be tested free of charge for 30 days. The average Google rating is 4 out of 5 stars based on 144 reviews.

5.1.1 Price overview of Payrexx

¹The Free subscription from Payrexx does not include plugins or API connection.

5.1.2 Additional remarks

Thanks to its comprehensive offering, Payrexx provides an attractive solution beyond the large, often expensive providers. The Swiss company is characterised by flexibility, personal support and a focus on SME merchants. In this way, Payrexx stands out from global mass-market solutions. To register with this provider, merchants need a valid photo ID, a document confirming the address and, where applicable, the commercial register entry. If you register by 4 p.m., your application will be reviewed on the same day.

5.2 PostFinance

PostFinance offers a payment solution specially tailored to the Swiss market and enables businesses to accept payments quickly and securely. The provider includes all common payment methods (PostFinance Pay, TWINT as well as Visa and Mastercard) and also offers various free shop plugins for integration into well-known shop systems.

Particularly noteworthy is the direct connection to the Swiss banking system and the high level of customer acceptance, which makes the provider especially suitable for companies that operate mainly domestically.

PostFinance also offers a free 30-day trial period in simulation mode. The average Google rating is 2.4 out of 5 stars based on 158 reviews.

5.2.1 Price overview of PostFinance

5.2.2 Additional remarks

To use PostFinance, the company must be based in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein and have a business account with PostFinance or a credit card for fee billing. Billing is in Swiss francs, but payouts can also be made in foreign currencies depending on the acceptance partner.

5.3 Worldline

Worldline offers both acquirer and payment service provider services and therefore usually presents its offerings in packages tailored to the respective use case. With the Worldline E-commerce package, payments can be accepted in the online shop without monthly fixed costs.

As a global provider of payment solutions, Worldline is distinguished by many years of experience and comprehensive services. The provider offers a scalable solution with a broad selection of payment methods, especially for larger companies. Worldline has also specialised in dynamic currency conversion, allowing foreign customers to pay conveniently in their own currency.

For easy integration, Worldline provides numerous free and paid plug-ins. In addition, larger companies benefit from additional services and extensive reporting tools. Worldline has an average Google rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars based on a total of 589 reviews.

5.3.1 Price overview of Worldline

5.3.2 Additional remarks

Medium and larger companies as well as omnichannel solutions need an individual offer that cannot be ordered online. To find the right package, it is advisable to contact Worldline sales directly.

5.4 Datatrans (planet)

Datatrans is an established payment service provider that is particularly suitable for larger companies and those with a high transaction volume. The platform offers a wide range of payment methods as well as free and paid plugins for shop systems such as WooCommerce, Shopify and Magento. Datatrans offers a customised solution, especially for companies with more complex requirements.

A key advantage of Datatrans is its direct connection to acquirers, which provides an efficient and reliable solution for companies with high transaction volumes. However, this also applies to smaller companies, for which the separate contract with an acquirer can be more of an obstacle.

Once an acquirer contract exists, a test account can also be created with Datatrans. The average Google rating of this provider is 4.3 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews.

5.4.1 Price overview of Datatrans

5.4.2 Additional remarks

As Datatrans is neither an acquirer nor a Payment Facilitator, merchants additionally need an acceptance contract with a separate acquirer. To take this factor into account, a fee of 1.7 percent was used in this analysis. This is an assumed value based on the average of the remaining providers. However, the transaction fee can vary depending on the chosen acquirer.

5.5 PayPal

PayPal is a globally recognised, simple and standardised solution for online merchants. The provider enables payments to be accepted in various currencies and offers a high level of security, especially for international transactions.

With over 400 million users and broad acceptance, PayPal is particularly suitable for companies that want to address a large number of international customers. The platform supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Venmo and many more. PayPal also offers some free plugins for common e-commerce systems such as WooCommerce, Magento and Shopware. In addition, tools such as payment links, email invoices and QR payments are available.

PayPal has an average Google rating of 1.8 out of 5 stars based on a total of 618 reviews.

5.5.1 Price overview of PayPal

5.5.2 Additional remarks

Setting up PayPal is very easy. Merchants only need to provide their company information and commercial register number. Large companies can also apply for special terms for a scalable solution at Paypal.

5.6 Stripe

Stripe is a well-known and flexible payment solution that is aimed especially at developers who need highly customisable payment processing. The provider supports numerous payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and various regional payment methods. 

Stripe is suitable for both start-ups and larger companies with an international focus. The solution can be easily integrated into common e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Shopify. In addition to numerous free plugins, Stripe also offers paid extensions.

The provider has a Google rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 76 reviews.

5.6.1 Price overview of Stripe

5.6.2 Additional remarks

To implement Stripe, merchants should have developer knowledge. In addition, a valid photo ID and a commercial register number are required for verification. For large companies, Stripe also offers special terms that can be requested from sales.

5.7 wallee

wallee is a Swiss omnichannel payment provider that enables merchants to process payments seamlessly across various sales channels. The platform supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, mobile wallets and other local payment methods. wallee also offers both free and paid plugins for various shop systems.

wallee offers API integration. Its modular architecture also allows companies to choose only the functions they really need. This flexibility makes this provider an excellent choice for medium-sized to large companies with specific requirements for their payment solution.

Online merchants can try out wallee in detail using the free test mode. The platform has been rated on Google with an average of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on 112 reviews.

5.7.1 Price overview of wallee

5.7.2 Additional remarks

To use one of the many wallee integrations, merchants usually need to carry out a few technical steps. This includes setting up a wallee plugin for their shop system or connecting directly via the API.

5.8 saldiaPay

saldiaPay is an innovative Swiss payment provider that enables online payments via a single platform. Here, merchants can accept payments via credit cards, TWINT, PostFinance and many other methods.

A unique feature of saldiaPay are the “saldiaApps” - integrations for diverse solutions such as accounting, online shops or logistics services. For merchants without their own web shop, saldiaPay also offers its own shop system, “saldiaShop”, with which a web shop can be created easily.

saldiaPay also provides free plugins for well-known shop systems such as WooCommerce and Shopware. All functions of the platform can be tested free of charge for 30 days. saldiaPay has an average Google rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on a total of 38 reviews.

5.8.1 Price overview of saldiaPay

5.8.2 Additional remarks

In addition to the broad range of integrated plugins and shop systems, saldiaPay offers many further web shop integrations on request. For registration, merchants need a photo ID and, if available, the commercial register entry.

5.9 zahls.ch

zahls.ch is a Swiss payment provider that stands out for particularly transparent and simple pricing. With zahls.ch, merchants can accept a wide range of payment methods, including TWINT, PostFinance and credit cards.

In addition to classic payments, the zahls.ch offering also includes e-commerce tools, such as an online terminal, payment links, digital invoices or a self-configurable payment page (small online shop). This payment provider also offers free plugins for the best-known shop systems and scores points for its easy setup and integration.

zahls.ch has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars, but has only been rated three times on Google.

5.9.1 Price overview of zahls.ch

5.9.2 Additional remarks

Using the integrated tools from zahls.ch, merchants can easily create their own online shop, or connect the provider directly to their existing online shop. For the verification process, a valid photo ID and, if available, the commercial register entry are required.

Conclusion: Which is the right payment service provider?

Before online merchants decide on a payment service provider, they should clearly define the individual requirements of their online shop. In addition to costs, the range of functions, the supported shop systems and the payment methods offered also play a decisive role.

For young, digital companies, Payrexx can be an interesting option. As an all-in-one payment solution, Payrexx offers broad support for all common shop systems and is also the cheapest provider for medium-sized online shops - followed by PostFinance and wallee. PayPal and Stripe, on the other hand, charge comparatively high transaction fees, while Datatrans has high monthly fixed costs. To find the best solution, each provider offers a free trial period for you.

Almost all providers offer plugins for popular shop systems such as WooCommerce, Shopware or Shopify. While the plugins from Payrexx, PostFinance, PayPal and Stripe are free, additional costs may apply for Worldline, Datatrans and wallee. At saldiaPay and zahls.ch, plugins are often available on request.

Another important point is the range of payment methods. While all providers offer a broad range of payment options, the difference often lies in support for regional payment methods such as TWINT, PostFinance, Reka and others. Here, Swiss providers such as Payrexx, Datatrans, saldiaPay or zahls.ch have the advantage. If you have many international customers, you benefit from global providers such as PayPal or Stripe.

With regard to the easy integration , PayPal, Payrexx and zahls.ch are particularly convincing, while Stripe, Worldline and Datatrans score points with more customisation options. Since setup with some providers involves a high level of technical know-how, this point should also be taken into account when choosing.

In summary, it is worth considering newer as well as less well-known providers. They often offer cost-attractive and at the same time powerful payment solutions and can also respond better to the individual needs of merchants. For small and medium-sized shops, Payrexx and wallee are a good choice, while for larger companies an established provider may be more worthwhile. In terms of price, range of functions and user-friendliness, Payrexx is clearly one of the top performers.

Sources

Prices: Datatrans, PayPal, Payrexx, PostFinance, Stripe, wallee, Worldline, saldiaPay, zahls.ch
Plugins for shop systems: Datatrans, PayPal, Payrexx, PostFinance, Stripe, wallee, Worldline, saldiaPay, zahls.ch
Payment methods: Datatrans, PayPal, Payrexx, PostFinance, Stripe, wallee, Worldline, saldiaPay, zahls.ch

Legal

We assume no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or quality of the data and information provided in this comparison article. In particular, it is important that online merchants obtain information about prices and any additional costs directly from the respective providers. Some providers also have further unofficial offers and conditions that are not visible on the websites.

We expressly reserve the right to change the data provided in this comparison article or our entire offering at any time without separate notice. Likewise, we are entitled to supplement, delete or temporarily or permanently discontinue publication of this comparison article at any time.

As of: February 2025.

Contact information

Author: Melanie Frutiger, Payrexx AG
Email address: melanie.frutiger@payrexx.com