Last verified: 1 May 2026  ·  Source: Payrexx Blog Comparison 2026

PayPal is globally known and easy to set up - for Swiss online shops, however, TWINT and PostFinance Pay are missing, and with a 3.4 % transaction fee, PayPal is the most expensive provider compared. All Swiss alternatives offer TWINT, lower fees and personal support - starting at CHF 355 per month with a turnover of 20’000 CHF.

As of: Q1 2026 – The cost details in this guide are based on the Comparison of Swiss Payment Providers 2026. Prices and conditions are subject to change – check current tariffs directly with the respective provider.

This guide shows you what PayPal offers, what factual differences exist compared to Swiss providers, and whether PayPal makes sense as a supplement or as a sole solution.

1. What PayPal offers

With over 400 million users worldwide, PayPal is one of the best-known payment providers. Its strengths lie in global brand recognition, trust among buyers, and easy setup with no monthly fixed costs. For international transactions and buyers who prefer PayPal as a familiar payment method, PayPal is indisputably relevant.

PayPal charges no monthly fee. Transaction fees are a flat rate of 0.55 CHF plus 3.4 % per transaction - the highest value of all compared providers. With a monthly turnover of 20’000 CHF, the total costs amount to around CHF 790, and with a turnover of 100’000 CHF, around CHF 3’950.

TWINT and PostFinance Pay are not supported by PayPal - a critical gap for Swiss online shops. Support is provided exclusively via email and chat, without a personal contact person in Switzerland.

2. When a switch makes sense

PayPal is suitable as an additional payment method for internationally oriented shops. As a sole solution for Swiss online shops, however, PayPal has several critical gaps.

No TWINT

TWINT is the most widely used mobile payment method in Switzerland with over 5 million active users. Swiss online shops that do not offer TWINT lose a significant portion of their potential customer base. Not a single other compared provider leaves out TWINT.

No PostFinance Pay

PostFinance Pay is very common, especially among Swiss private customers and in the B2C segment. PayPal does not support this method either. Thus, the two most important Swiss payment methods are completely missing from PayPal's range of services.

Highest transaction fees

At 3.4 %, PayPal is significantly higher than all other compared providers. Payrexx (1.35–1.65 %), PostFinance (1.55 %), or wallee (1.55 %) are around twice as cheap, depending on the plan. At a monthly turnover of 100’000 CHF, this means a cost difference of over CHF 2'000 per month.

Lowest Google rating

With 1.6 stars (56 reviews), PayPal has the lowest Google rating of all compared providers. This primarily reflects criticism of support processes and account suspensions.

No personal support

PayPal only offers email and chat support for merchants without a Swiss contact person. In the case of dispute proceedings or account issues, this can lead to long processing times.

Headquarters USA

PayPal has its legal seat in the USA. Transaction and customer data are processed outside Switzerland. Relevant for companies with Swiss data retention requirements or EU GDPR sensitivity.

3. Alternatives at a glance

All the following providers support both TWINT and PostFinance Pay - the two most important Swiss payment methods that PayPal does not offer. Sorted by total costs at 20’000 CHF monthly turnover.

Payrexx – from CHF 355/month at 20K

Swiss Payment Facilitator with 16 payment methods – including TWINT, PostFinance Pay, Samsung Pay, Reka, Centi, and Pay by Bank. No fixed costs in the Free plan, integrated e-commerce tools, free plugins, same-day onboarding. PayPal can also be activated as a payment method in Payrexx.

PostFinance – from CHF 365.90/month at 20K

Swiss Payment Facilitator with direct bank connection and very high brand awareness. TWINT and PostFinance Pay are of course included. One-time setup costs of CHF 199–249.

wallee – from CHF 369.95/month at 20K

Modular architecture, TWINT and PostFinance Pay included. Well-suited for technically experienced merchants. PayPal can be integrated as an additional method.

Worldline – from CHF 378/month at 20K

Combined acquirer and PSP solution with TWINT, PostFinance Pay, and POS support. No monthly fee in the E-Payments package. Request individual conditions from sales.

Datatrans – from CHF 398/month at 20K

Established Swiss PSP. TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, but requires a separate acquirer agreement. Suitable for Enterprise.

saldiaPay – from CHF 449/month at 20K

TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, saldiaApps for accounting and logistics. Personal support, Google rating of 4.7 stars.

zahls.ch – from CHF 489/month at 20K

Transparent pricing, TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, e-commerce tools. Highest Google rating (5.0 stars).

Stripe – from CHF 640/month at 20K

TWINT yes, PostFinance Pay no. Sensible for internationally oriented shops with a developer team. Less suitable as a PayPal alternative for Swiss customers.

Keep PayPal as a supplement

Many merchants decide not to replace PayPal, but to offer it as an additional payment method alongside a Swiss PSP. This allows serving international customers without having to do without TWINT and PostFinance Pay. Payrexx, wallee, Worldline, and Datatrans allow the integration of PayPal as an additional method.

4. How much does switching cost?

At 20’000 CHF monthly turnover, Payrexx is roughly 55 % cheaper than PayPal (CHF 790) at CHF 355. At a turnover of 100’000 CHF, the difference is over CHF 2'370 monthly – a difference of almost CHF 28’000 annually.

Full cost breakdown for all providers: Comparison of Swiss Payment Providers 2026 on the Payrexx Content Hub. You can find all 1v1 detailed comparisons in the Payrexx Comparison Hub.

5. Which alternative suits you?

The right alternative depends on your clientele, your technical resources, and whether you want to keep PayPal as a supplement:

Checklist: Switching from PayPal to a Swiss PSP

• Check TWINT and PostFinance Pay as mandatory methods for Swiss customers

• Compare current transaction volume and costs with Swiss providers

• Decide: Replace PayPal or keep it as a supplement?

• Check plugin compatibility with your shop system

• Clear PayPal account balance and open disputes before switching

• Start onboarding with the new provider (use the free trial phase)

• Test the payment page fully before deactivating PayPal

• Plan customer communication in case new payment methods become visible

As an alternative to PayPal, Payrexx offers TWINT, PostFinance Pay, and all other Swiss payment methods – with a 30-day free trial period, no monthly fee in the Free plan, and personal support.