Changing PSPs: When is an alternative to PayPal worth it in Switzerland?

Last reviewed: 6 October 2026  ·  Source: Payrexx Blog Comparison 2026

PayPal is known worldwide and easy to set up – however, for Swiss online shops, 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 – from EUR 355 per month with EUR 20,000 turnover.

Status: Q1 2026 – The cost information in this guide is based on the Comparison of Swiss Payment Providers 2026. Prices and conditions may change – check current rates 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 standalone 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, buyer trust, and simple setup without monthly fixed costs. For international transactions and buyers who prefer PayPal as a familiar payment method, PayPal is indisputably relevant.

PayPal does not charge a monthly fee. The transaction fees are a fixed 0.55 EUR plus 3.4 % per transaction – the highest value of all providers compared. With EUR 20,000 monthly turnover, this results in total costs of around EUR 790, and with EUR 100,000 turnover around EUR 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 point of contact in Switzerland.

2. When switching makes sense

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

No TWINT

TWINT is the most widely used mobile payment method in Switzerland, with over 6 million users. Swiss online shops that do not offer TWINT lose a significant share of their potential customer base. Not a single other provider compared leaves out TWINT.

No PostFinance Pay

PostFinance Pay is particularly widespread among Swiss private customers and in the B2C segment. PayPal does not support this method either. As a result, the two most important Swiss payment methods are completely missing from PayPal's offering.

Highest transaction fees

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

Lowest Google rating

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

No personal support

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

Headquarters in the USA

PayPal has its legal registered office in the USA. Transaction and customer data are processed Outside Switzerland. This is relevant for companies with Swiss data retention requirements or EU GDPR sensitivity.

3. Overview of alternatives

All of 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 EUR 20,000 monthly turnover.

Payrexx – from EUR 355/month at 20K

Swiss Payment Facilitator with over 25 payment methods – including TWINT, PostFinance Pay, Samsung Pay, Reka, and Pay by Bank. No fixed costs in the Free plan, integrated e-commerce tools, free plugins, same-day onboarding. PayPal can additionally be activated as a payment method with Payrexx.

PostFinance – from EUR 365.90/month at 20K

Swiss Payment Facilitator with direct bank integration and very high brand awareness. TWINT and PostFinance Pay naturally included. One-off setup costs of EUR 199–249.

wallee – from EUR 369.95/month at 20K

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

Worldline – from EUR 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 EUR 398/month at 20K

Established Swiss PSP. TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, but requires a separate acquiring contract. Suitable for enterprise.

saldiaPay – from EUR 449/month at 20K

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

zahls.ch – from EUR 489/month at 20K

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

Stripe – from EUR 640/month at 20K

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

Keeping PayPal as a supplement

Many Comerciantes choose not to replace PayPal, but to offer it as an additional payment method alongside a Swiss PSP. This allows serving international customers without foregoing 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 EUR 20,000 monthly turnover, Payrexx at EUR 355 is around 55 % cheaper than PayPal (EUR 790). At EUR 100,000 turnover, the difference is over EUR 2,370 per month – a difference of almost EUR 28,000 annually.

Complete 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 clientele

• 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

• Settle PayPal account balance and open disputes before switching

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

• Test payment page thoroughly before disabling PayPal

• Plan customer communication if new payment methods become visible

Payrexx offers as an alternative to PayPal 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.