Mollie vs Stripe: Comparing Leading Payment Gateways for 2024

Note that the information about Mollie and Stripe found in this article was taken from their respective websites on 2 October 2024. This information is subject to change.

Mollie vs. Stripe, which is the better payment gateway option for businesses? The truth is that it can completely depend on your business model, size, and priorities.

Let’s take a closer look at the features and benefits of both.

An Introduction: Mollie vs. Stripe

Two industry leaders when it comes to payment gateways, but which has the better offering?

Mollie, a payment gateway with a specific focus on EU and UK markets, is an incredibly popular choice.

Originally founded in the Netherlands in 2004, and currently serving over 250,000 businesses across Europe, this all-in-one payment solution is a great option for businesses that need some flexibility.

Stripe, on the other hand, has an international reputation and serves customers globally.

Founded more recently in 2010 by Irish entrepreneurs in the US, Stripe has many partners and investors including Elon Musk and PayPal founder Peter Thiel.

Key Features: Stripe vs. Mollie

Let’s begin our Mollie vs Stripe comparison with a quick overview of the key features of both platforms.

Key Features: Mollie

Practical Features:

• Simple contract setup: Mollie prides itself on simplicity, with one single contract covering all payment options. 
• Plugins and integrations: Mollie calls their plugins a “best in class” solution, proudly showcasing flexibility for all customers.
• A variety of payment methods: Mollie covers a wide variety of payment methods, including cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and bank-to-bank methods like iDEAL.
• APIs: Mollie has a vast development hub and an extensive number of guides and documentation to help businesses fully utilise their API.

Areas Covered:

Mollie covers businesses from the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom.

Designed For:

Mollie is an effective solution for many industries, including some that have more complex payment gateway requirements.

These include:

• Ticketing and events businesses
• Hospitality
• Marketplaces
• Food and beverage companies

Key Features: Stripe

Practical Features:

• Adaptability for billing models: Stripe offers intelligent billing options to suit any business, without sacrificing performance.
• International partnerships: The well-established Stripe network has its benefits. From more data points to detect fraudulent activity to the visibility and trust of many internationally recognised businesses.
• Unified online and in-person payment: Stripe’s many payment solutions make it easy for businesses to unify their payment systems for a clear view of their finances.

Areas Covered:

Stripe is a global payment gateway solution supporting businesses in 47 countries.

Designed For:

• Global businesses: Stripe supports businesses operating globally to oversee millions of daily transactions.
• Crypto: Stripe supports crypto businesses including NFT marketplaces. They also offer a fiat-to-crypto onramp that means customers can top up their crypto wallets in minutes.
• SaaS: With simple customer portal setup and webhook integration, software businesses can access streamlined and secure payment solutions.

Integrations and Development: Mollie vs. Stripe

Both Mollie and Stripe are extremely simple and developer-friendly, offering countless integrations and a huge amount of support for developers.

Both products' API documentation is extensive with both Mollie and Stripe offering guides and forums to support development.

Integrations for Mollie

• Shopify
• WooCommerce
• Salesforce
• Magento
• Wix
• PrestaShop
• BigCommerce
• Lightspeed
• + more

Integrations for Stripe

• WooCommerce
• Adobe Commerce
• Salesforce B2C Commerce
• PrestaShop
• Shopware 6
• Commercetools
• Mirakl
• Spryker
• + more

Supported Payment Methods

Both payment gateways offer a number of payment options, including payment links and subscription models, but which is the best payment processor for small businesses?

Payment Methods Supported by Mollie

Offering an all-in-one solution covered by a single contract, Mollie offers both simplicity and variety with the following payment methods:

• Cards: Mastercard, Maestro, Visa, American Express, Cartes Bancaires, Credit and Debit Card
• Wallets: Apple Pay, PayPal, TWINT
• Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): Klarna, Riverty, in3 Business, Billie, iDEAL in3
• Bank Debit: SEPA Direct Debit
• Bank Transfers: SEPA Bank Transfer
• Cash-based Voucher: paysafecard, Edenred, Eco-gift-and-meal vouchers, Gift Cards
• Bank Redirect: iDEAL, Bancontact, Belfius Pay Button, KBC Payment Button, EPS, Przelewy24, Trustly, BLIK
• Other: PostePay

Payment Methods Supported by Stripe

With many methods included in the core gateway, Stripe has additional options for alternative payment methods that businesses can add on as needed. However, their accessibility depends on the merchant’s country. For example for UK-based merchants, the following methods are available.

• Cards: American Express, China UnionPay, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Cartes Bancaires, JCB
• Wallets: Click to Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Revolut Pay, Alipay, Apple Pay, Fonix, WeChat Pay, LINE Pay, Link
• Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): Klarna, Kriya, Afterpay/Clearpay, Divido, iwocaPay, Sezzle
• Bank Debit: Bacs Direct Debit
• Bank Redirect: Bancontact, EPS, Przelewy24, TrueLayer
• Real-time Payments: Pay by Bank, iDEAL, TWINT
• Bank Transfers: GBP Bank Transfers
• Cash-based Voucher: Multibanco, PaySafeCard

Costs, Pricing and Fees: Mollie vs. Stripe

For businesses of all sizes, costs are incredibly important. Not only must businesses consider implementation costs when exploring payment gateway solutions, but they must also consider the impact of additional licensing and transaction fees.

Mollie are very transparent with pricing, advertising “No minimum costs, no lock-in contracts, no hidden fees.” for their standard pricing packages. Payment links, 3D secure, invoicing and recurring payments are also included at no extra cost.

Mollie has a fairly simple fee model, charging per transaction at a rate of 1.8%+ 19p for EEA consumer cards, 2.9%+ 19p for EEA commercial cards, or 3.25%+ 19p for non-EEA Cards.

Stripe requires some additional fees for services that are included as standard on other platforms. Invoicing, for example, has a cost of 0.4% per invoice.

For comparison, Stripe charges 1.5% + 20p for UK cards and 2.5% + 20p for EU card transactions. For international card payments, the fee is 3.25% + 20p for international cards plus hidden Stripe processing fees of 2% if a currency conversion is required.

Security and Compliance

European payment gateways and cross-border payment platforms take security and compliance incredibly seriously. The protection of customers is key.

Both Mollie and Stripe use advanced technology to detect and prevent fraud. Mollie offers a basic level of fraud protection with every transaction, with the option to upgrade to a premium Fraud protection product for businesses most susceptible.

Stripe Radar, uses machine learning and millions of data points to identify fraudulent transactions, offering protection to merchants.

Customer Service and Support

While both Mollie and Stripe provide extensive self-service options, such as libraries of guides and email support, getting immediate access to a real person who understands your business can be more challenging. Larger companies often rely heavily on self-support and email requests.

Although Stripe does offer phone support, customers frequently speak to different specialists with each call, which can lead to inconsistency. Dedicated account managers are typically reserved for only their largest clients, leaving smaller businesses without personalised assistance.

An Industry Challenger - Mollie vs. Stripe vs. Noda

Of course, when exploring the best payment gateway for small business, these two are not the only options available.

Challengers like Noda are quickly proving that exceptional service isn’t exclusive to established providers. With quick, secure and regulated solutions for merchants, Noda is quickly becoming a leading European payment gateway.

Noda's pay-by-bank solution is gaining momentum as a superior alternative to traditional card payments. It enhances the user experience, increases conversion rates, and eliminates chargebacks, while significantly reducing processing costs by bypassing intermediaries involved in card processing. Merchants benefit from Noda’s personalised support, with dedicated account managers available throughout onboarding and beyond, ensuring smooth integration and ongoing success.

With excellent coverage and high acceptance rates across the UK, EU, and continued expansion into new markets, Noda is becoming the go-to choice for merchants seeking a more efficient, cost-effective, and secure payment solution.

Conclusion & Recommendation

A payment provider comparison is not complete without a recommendation, but in this case, both Mollie and Stripe are solid options. The best payment gateway can very much depend on the business’s size and how complex systems need to be.

Mollie offers a flexible but capable all-in-one solution, with most businesses likely suitable candidates if based in the EU or UK.

Stripe is the more global solution. If your business needs to take international payments from many different countries at once, it is a recognised and trusted payment gateway option.

If you are looking for an alternative or feel that neither of these options suit your needs, it may be time to look at Noda.