Switching PSP: When is an alternative to PayPal worth it in Switzerland?

PayPal is globally known, but often not an optimal solution for Swiss online shops: Neither TWINT nor PostFinance Pay are supported, and with a 3.4% transaction fee, PayPal is the most expensive provider compared. All Swiss alternatives offer TWINT, more favorable fees, and personal support – starting from EUR 355 per month.

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

PayPal is globally known and easy to set up – but 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 20,000 EUR turnover.



As of: Q1 2026 – The cost information in this guide is based on the comparison of Swiss payment providers 2026. Prices and conditions are subject to 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 most well-known payment providers. Its strengths lie in global brand awareness, buyer trust, and easy setup without fixed monthly costs. For international transactions and buyers who prefer PayPal as a familiar payment method, PayPal is indisputably relevant.

PayPal charges no monthly fee. The transaction fees are 0.55 EUR fixed plus 3.4 % per transaction – the highest figure among all compared providers. A monthly turnover of 20,000 EUR results in total costs of around EUR 790, and a turnover of 100,000 EUR results in 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, with no dedicated contact person in Switzerland.

Feature

PayPal

Type

Payment Facilitator (USA)

Monthly fee

None

Transaction fee

0.55 EUR + 3.4 %

Costs 20,000 EUR/month

EUR 790

Costs 100,000 EUR/month

EUR 3,950

Google rating

1.6 stars (56 reviews)

TWINT

No

PostFinance Pay

No

E-commerce tools

No

Support

Email and chat only

Headquarters

USA

 

2. When switching makes sense

PayPal is suitable as an additional payment method for internationally oriented shops. As a standalone 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 6 million users. Swiss online shops that do not offer TWINT lose a significant share of their potential customer base. Not a single other compared provider omits 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. Thus, 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 compared providers. Payrexx (1.35–1.65 %), PostFinance (1.55 %), or wallee (1.55 %) are around half the price, depending on the plan. With a monthly turnover of 100,000 EUR, 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 compared providers. This primarily reflects criticism regarding support processes and account freezes.

No personal support

PayPal offers only email and chat support for Comerciantes, with no Swiss contact person. In case of dispute proceedings or account issues, this can lead to long processing times.

Headquarters USA

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

3. Alternatives at a glance

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 a monthly turnover of 20,000 EUR.

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-time 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 versed 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 terms from sales.

Datatrans – from EUR 398/month at 20K

Established Swiss PSP. TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, but requires a separate acquirer agreement. 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 pricing, 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 developer team. Less suitable as a PayPal alternative for Swiss customers.

Keeping PayPal as a supplement

Many Comerciantes decide 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. What does switching cost?

With a monthly turnover of 20,000 EUR, Payrexx is roughly 55 % cheaper at EUR 355 than PayPal (EUR 790). With a turnover of 100,000 EUR, the difference is over EUR 2,370 per month – a difference of almost EUR 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 customer base, your technical resources, and whether you want to keep PayPal as a supplement:

Your situation

Recommendation

Primary reason

Focus on Swiss customers, simple setup

Payrexx

TWINT, PostFinance Pay, all CH methods, same-day onboarding

Keep PayPal as a supplement

Payrexx + PayPal

Both payment methods possible side by side

Technical team, CH + international

wallee

API-flexible, CH methods, PayPal can be integrated

Enterprise / Omnichannel

Datatrans

Strong CH presence, TWINT & PostFinance Pay

Lowest-cost entry

Payrexx Free

No monthly fee, all CH methods available

Additional features (accounting, logistics)

saldiaPay

saldiaApps complement payment processing

 

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 the shop system

  • Settle PayPal account balances and open disputes before switching

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

  • Fully test the payment page before PayPal is deactivated

  • 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.

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Try for free for 30 days – TWINT & PostFinance Pay included
Ready for a cheaper PSP with TWINT?

Payrexx offers all Swiss payment methods including TWINT and PostFinance Pay – at cheaper fees than PayPal and with personal support.

Our team advises you on the right payment solution for your Swiss online shop.

Frequently asked questions about PayPal alternatives in Switzerland

Why does PayPal not support TWINT?

PayPal integrates payment methods globally based on international distribution. TWINT is exclusively active in Switzerland and has no international reach. For all Swiss payment facilitators, TWINT is a standard method.

View detailed response

Can I use PayPal and a Swiss PSP at the same time?

Yes. Most shop systems allow multiple payment providers at the same time. Payrexx, wallee, Worldline and Datatrans enable the integration of PayPal as an additional method.

View detailed response

How much more expensive is PayPal compared to Swiss alternatives?

PayPal charges a 3.4 % transaction fee. Swiss providers like Payrexx (1.35–1.65 %) are around 1.75 percentage points cheaper. With a monthly turnover of EUR 100’000, this corresponds to over EUR 2’000 less costs per month.

View detailed response

Does PayPal process data in Switzerland?

No. PayPal has its legal seat in the USA and does not process data in Switzerland. For companies with requirements for data storage in Switzerland, Swiss providers are the better choice.

View detailed response

What is better for international customers – PayPal or Stripe?

For internationally oriented shops, Stripe is better suited: lower fees (2.9% vs. 3.4%), TWINT support, and higher flexibility. However, PayPal has higher global brand recognition.

View detailed response

Does PayPal offer a free trial period?

PayPal does not offer a formal test account. In contrast, Payrexx, wallee, saldiaPay, and zahls.ch offer explicit 30-day trial periods, during which the entire payment process can be tested without any contractual obligation.

View detailed response

Ready for a cheaper PSP with TWINT?

Our team advises you on the right payment solution for your Swiss online shop.

Ready for a cheaper PSP with TWINT?

Our team advises you on the right payment solution for your Swiss online shop.