Please note that the information about the payment providers in this article was taken from their respective websites on 27 February 2025. This information is subject to change.

BlueSnap is a global payment processing platform that offers sellers the ability to accept payments through multiple channels and currencies across a wide range of markets. Although it provides a reliable solution for many businesses, UK and EU vendors often look for alternatives due to special regional requirements, price considerations, or limited local payment options.

Here, we are to consider BlueSnap competitors operating in the UK and EU markets, taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of each option as well as its suitability for different business models.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a BlueSnap Alternative

When exploring alternatives to BlueSnap payment processing, European merchants should evaluate a range of factors to ensure the chosen payment provider aligns with their business needs.

Payment processors vary in fees, features, and compatibility with local payment methods, making it crucial to select a solution that supports preferred payment options, for example iDEAL in Germany or Sofort in the Netherlands, and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. European consumers prefer a variety of payment methods, with digital wallets growing rapidly, particularly in the UK, where over 30% of e-commerce transactions are made through them. International payment methods online, such as credit cards, and local solutions allow businesses to cater to a wider customer base and improve transaction success rates across borders.

Cost efficiency is another major consideration, as card payment processing fees can significantly eat into merchant revenue—typically ranging from 0.7% to 3.4% for UK merchants. Compliance with regional regulations, like GDPR and PSD2, is essential to ensure secure transactions and data protection. The availability of local support is also a key consideration for businesses, including BlueSnap merchants, as accessible and responsive assistance can impact operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. While BlueSnap's primary market is the US, support for other regions may be more limited, though still available.

Top BlueSnap Payment Alternatives for UK & EU Merchants

When considering services, merchants are often focusing on BlueSnap payment methods and its approach to global payment processing. However, as with any platform, it’s important to weigh the full picture—ranging from the BlueSnap gateway features to the nuances of BlueSnap fees and pricing. The security benefits of BlueSnap 3D Secure (also known as BlueSnap 3ds) add a layer of protection for transactions, but they also come with their own set of considerations. For businesses offering subscriptions or managing recurring billing, understanding the ins and outs of BlueSnap subscription options and how BlueSnap processing fees align with your revenue model is crucial. Let’s delve into how other payment providers stack up against what BlueSnap brings to the table.

Noda Open Banking

​Noda is one of the leading open banking payment solutions tailored for the UK and European markets, offering a compelling alternative to traditional payment processors.​

Key Features:

• Direct Bank-to-Bank Payments – Utilises PSD2 open banking for secure, efficient transfers with instant payment confirmation and settlement.
• Card & Bank Payments – Supports seamless transactions, including flexible payment links and no-code checkout pages.
• Instant Pay-ins and Payouts – for refunds, settlements or cashbacks 
• Chargeback Protection – Reduces risks with authenticated bank transfers, eliminating chargebacks.
• Comprehensive Merchant Dashboard – Provides real-time transaction monitoring, advanced reconciliation, and customisable financial insights.
• Secure Authentication & Data Enrichment – Enables one-click bank sign-in and predictive financial analysis for merchants.

Noda has direct connections to over 2,000 banks across 28 countries, encompassing over 30,000 bank branches. The company holds licenses as a Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) and Account Information Service Provider (AISP) under PSD2 regulations. By leveraging Noda's platform, merchants can enhance customer experience, reduce transaction costs, and ensure secure, real-time payments.

Noda offers a competitive and transparent pricing model tailored to European merchants. Pricing is tailored to each merchant’s needs, with fees often starting as low as 0.1% and typically ranging up to 1% per transaction—offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional card processing fees. Also, there are no monthly subscription fees. Additionally, Noda eliminates chargeback fees as chargebacks do not apply to bank transfers, providing further financial security. With the help of the pricing calculator, businesses can estimate their transaction costs, comparing them to BlueSnap pricing, for example, and making it easier to understand potential savings and plan accordingly.

Adyen

Adyen is a leading enterprise-grade payment processor known for its strength in omnichannel retail environments, providing a robust alternative for large-scale merchants seeking integrated payment solutions.

Key Features:

• End-to-End Payment Processing: Direct acquirer connections for seamless transaction management.
• Wide Payment Method Support: Including all major European options.
• Advanced Risk Management: Ensures transaction security and optimal authorisation outcomes.
• Unified Commerce Capabilities: Integrates payments across in-store, online, and mobile platforms.

Founded in Amsterdam, Adyen holds payment institution licenses across the EU and processes over €320 billion in transactions annually, with significant European volume. It is a trusted partner for large enterprises, particularly those with physical and digital stores that need unified payment data. The platform’s direct acquiring model and local payment scheme integrations help optimise approval rates for European transactions.

Adyen uses a custom pricing model based on transaction volume and business type, following the Interchange++ structure. In Europe, total fees typically range from 0.9% to 1.2% plus €0.11 per transaction, while in the US, where interchange fees are higher, rates usually range from 2.5% to 3.0% plus $0.11 per transaction.

There are no setup fees or monthly minimums, and the platform offers volume-based tiering to help businesses scale efficiently. While it’s well-suited for large enterprises, smaller merchants might find Adyen’s implementation more resource-intensive, as it generally targets businesses processing at least €1 million annually. Smaller merchants may find Adyen's implementation process more resource-intensive than BlueSnap's.

Stripe

Stripe is a versatile payment processor widely used for e-commerce and subscription-based businesses. It offers global payment acceptance and developer-friendly APIs for easy integration with various platforms.

Key Features:

• Global Payment Acceptance: Supports cards, wallets, and alternative payment methods.
• Customisable Integration: APIs for seamless integration into websites and apps.
• Recurring Billing: Built-in support for subscription management and invoicing.
• Stripe Connect: A solution for platforms and marketplaces to manage payments, onboard sellers, and handle payouts globally.

Being a multinational financial services company, it is dual-headquartered (South San Francisco, California, and Dublin, Ireland). Stripe offers payment processing software and APIs for e-commerce and mobile apps. With a valuation of about $65 billion, Stripe processed over $1 trillion in payments in 2023. In February 2025, there were reports suggesting Stripe might be in talks for the sale of staff shares at a valuation of over $85 billion.

Checkout.com

Checkout.com is a payment processor offering a unified payment platform with particular strength in authorisation rate optimisation for European transactions.

Key Features:

• Proprietary Payment Gateway and Acquiring Solution: Integrated solutions to streamline transaction processing.
• Advanced Payment Routing: maximises approval rates to reduce transaction declines.
• Comprehensive Data Analytics and Reporting: Offers detailed insights into payment performance and trends.
• Extensive Fraud Prevention Tools: Provides robust security measures to protect against fraud.

Headquartered in London, Checkout.com maintains direct relationships with European card schemes and banks and holds payment licenses across the UK and EU.

Checkout.com offers powerful tools for optimising authorisation rates and payment acceptance. With offices across Europe and deep connections with local financial networks, it is a trusted partner for high-volume merchants.

Checkout.com employs a customised pricing model, which varies based on factors such as business volume and risk category. The exact fee structure is not publicly disclosed on the official website. While there are no setup or monthly fees, currency conversion fees may apply. This pricing approach is designed to help businesses optimise processing costs and enhance payment acceptance rates.

Checkout.com is best suited for high-volume merchants who need to maximise payment approval rates and optimise their processing costs. However, smaller merchants may find the platform’s implementation process requires more technical resources than some other options, such as BlueSnap's more straightforward setup.

Braintree (a PayPal Service)

Braintree combines comprehensive payment processing with seamless PayPal integration, offering a familiar and widely adopted solution for European consumers.

Key Features:

• One-Touch PayPal Integration: Simplifies payments by enabling fast, secure PayPal transactions, which is particularly valuable for consumers already familiar with the platform.
• Support for Some Local European Payment Methods: Accommodates several European payment preferences (e.g. Bancontact in Belgium, Ideal in the Netherlands, Blik in Poland and others, ensuring businesses can cater to local customers.
• Recurring Billing and Subscription Tools: Provides tools for managing subscription-based payments, making it good for businesses with recurring billing needs.
• Fraud Protection through Kount: Features advanced fraud protection tools to safeguard against fraudulent transactions and reduce risk.

Braintree operates as part of PayPal, leveraging PayPal's extensive infrastructure across Europe. It holds payment institution licenses in multiple European jurisdictions and processes over $50 billion in annual payment volume globally, with a significant focus on Europe.

Braintree follows a pricing model with a fee of 1.9% + €0.20 per transaction for European card payments. For transactions outside Europe, the fee increases to an additional +1% fee. There are no setup or monthly fees, but a 1% fee applies for currency conversion. This pricing model is designed to be flexible and affordable for businesses of various sizes.

Braintree is suited for merchants who wish to leverage PayPal's broad consumer adoption in Europe while maintaining the flexibility of direct credit card processing. It is particularly strong in supporting marketplaces and platforms that require diverse payment capabilities.

However, some merchants may find the account setup process more complex than other providers and advanced customisation might require more technical resources.

In conclusion

The European payment landscape offers numerous robust alternatives to BlueSnap payment services, each with distinct advantages for UK and EU merchants. While the company provides  BlueSnap customers with a comprehensive solution, merchants with specific European requirements often benefit from providers with deeper regional specialisation.

• For enterprise merchants with complex needs, Adyen’s direct acquiring model and global infrastructure ensure high authorisation rates and broad payment acceptance.
• For high-volume merchants, Checkout.com provides optimisation tools and custom pricing structures that help maximise efficiency.
• For businesses heavily reliant on PayPal, Braintree offers seamless integration alongside additional payment flexibility.
• For online merchants seeking lower costs, instant settlement, and the latest in payment innovation, Noda stands out as the most forward-thinking alternative.

By leveraging Europe's fast-growing open banking technology, Noda enables:

• Instant, secure bank payments with no card fees.
• Chargeback-free transactions, reducing fraud risk.
• Connections to over 2000+ banks in 28 countries

Curious about open banking? Reach out for a free consultation and see how Noda can transform your payments.