Payments

9 Best Worldpay Alternatives for Businesses (2026): Stripe vs Unlimit vs Airwallex

November 5, 2026 23 min read
Nine Worldpay alternatives for businesses compared on payment methods, markets, cost at three monthly volumes, onboarding and licences, with one strength and one criticism each.
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Nine payment providers ranked as Worldpay alternatives for businesses selling across borders, scored on payment methods, onboarding, settlement and FX, licences, multi-market reach and pricing transparency, verified November 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Stripe leads the ranking with the highest scores on the payment methods customers use and on onboarding without a local entity. It suits a business selling abroad from one account.
  • Worldpay’s online prices are only estimates, and a business learns its real cost only after a quote, which is the main reason buyers look for another provider.
  • Braintree is the cheapest and PayPal the most expensive in the cost scenario, so the choice of payment processor changes what a business keeps from each sale. The price for Worldpay, Checkout.com and Global Payments cannot be calculated before a sales call.
  • Providers split on onboarding without a local entity: Stripe fits it best and Square least, so a business based abroad already has fewer options before price matters.
  • Unlimit fits businesses that want a contracting entity they can check in a public register. Its limit is that rates are quoted per business, so its costs cannot be compared until a sales quote arrives.
  • Choose by your own situation: sales channel first, then regions and currencies, then volume and sale size. Each answer narrows the list to the providers that fit, with Stripe in the online-first group.

Quick answer: the best Worldpay alternatives for Businesses

The best Worldpay alternatives for businesses are Stripe for online stores that want a US company and payments set up from abroad, Unlimit for marketplaces and platforms that pay out sellers across regions, and Airwallex for merchants that want low currency conversion costs, with six more providers ranked below them on the same rubric.

The 9 best Worldpay alternatives compared

Nine Worldpay alternatives for businesses selling across borders, ranked by a weighted score out of 10, verified November 2026.

RankProviderBest forPricing model and headline rateCost at USD 10,000 a monthPayment methodsMarketsScore / 10
1StripeOnline stores that want a US company and payments set up from abroadFlat rate, 2.9 percent plus USD 0.30 per online card payment; 1.5 percent extra for international cardsUSD 470Cards; wallets; bank debits and transfers; buy now pay later; cash vouchers; more than 125 methods51 countries and regions8.3
2UnlimitMarketplaces and platforms that pay out sellers across regionsQuoted per businessNot publishedGlobal and local card schemes; digital wallets; cash; direct bank transfers; mobile paymentsMore than 200 locations8.1
3AirwallexMerchants that want low currency conversion costsFlat rate, 4.3 percent plus USD 0.30 per international card paymentUSD 460Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay; Apple Pay; Google Pay; WeChat Pay; more than 160 local methodsMore than 180 countries7.3
4Checkout.comTeams that build their checkout on one global APIInterchange plus plus, priced by business profile and risk categoryNot publishedCards; wallets; local methods through one Flow integrationDomestic processing in 57 countries6.8
5AdyenMerchants selling across borders from one company accountInterchange plus 0.6 percent plus USD 0.13 per transactionUSD 73 plus interchangeCards, including Accel; ACH Direct Debit; local methods by countryMore than 130 countries6.4
6BraintreeMerchants that charge buyers in their own currencyFlat rate, 2.89 percent plus USD 0.29; 1 percent extra for cards issued abroadUSD 418Cards; third-party digital wallets; Venmo in the US44 countries6.1
7Global PaymentsOnline stores that also sell in personQuoted per businessNot publishedCards; checks; Apple Pay; Google Pay; PayPal; Alipay; WeChat PayMore than 175 countries6.0
8PayPalMarketplaces and platforms that also invoice clientsFlat rate, 2.99 percent plus USD 0.49 for card payments; 1.5 percent extra for international cardsUSD 498Cards; PayPal; Venmo; Pay Later; Pay by Bank (ACH); local methods such as PromptPay QR and Viet QRApproximately 200 markets5.6
9SquareUS sellers that want one card rate for every major brandFlat rate, 2.9 percent plus USD 0.30 per online API card paymentUSD 470Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover; Afterpay; ACH; Cash App Pay; Bitcoin8 countries5.1
Published list prices in USD for online card payments, read from each provider’s own fee page, verified November 2026; Not published where a provider quotes per business.

Why businesses look for a Worldpay alternative

Price is the main reason businesses look at alternatives to Worldpay. Worldpay’s online pricing quote is quoted only and includes the gateway, and each transaction has an authorisation fee of 4.5 pence (GBP 0.045). A business therefore sees its real fees only once a quote is agreed, so there is no fixed price to compare with a published rate until the sales process ends.

Access to local methods depends on where the merchant is based. iDEAL, Przelewy24, Pix and Open Banking are among Worldpay’s bank payment methods, while ACH and eCheck direct debit are offered to US-based merchants.

Moving stored cards takes a manual step. Enabling network token provisioning with Access Worldpay requires contacting a Worldpay Implementation Manager rather than switching it on in self-service. PaymentGenes Consulting analysed a 2026 workshop of nearly 60 enterprise merchants on switching payment service providers for The Paypers and concluded: “The operational risks, particularly around token migration, checkout disruption, and internal capacity, are simply too high for most organisations to absorb.”

Worldpay’s strength as a payment provider is hosted checkout. Its Hosted Payment Pages take payments at SAQ A, the lowest PCI compliance level, which keeps a merchant’s own card-data scope small.

How this was scored

Every provider is scored out of 10 on weighted criteria for a business selling across borders. On each criterion, the best provider in the comparison scores 10 and the others are scored against it. Unlimit goes through the same process, and its position is not edited.

Published by Unlimit. Unlimit is #2 on this list and is scored on the same rubric as every other entry.

The weight of each criterion in the rubric behind this ranking.
The weight of each criterion in the rubric behind this ranking.
CriterionDescriptionWeight
Local method coverageWhich of the market’s cards, local card schemes, instalments, wallets, bank transfers and cash methods the provider accepts online. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.18 percent
Developer experienceAPI documentation, hosted checkout, SDKs and plugins available for integration. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.10 percent
Pricing transparencyWhether the provider publishes its rates and fees, and how much of its pricing is published. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.8 percent
Settlement & FXHow the merchant receives its own funds: settlement timing, local and foreign settlement currencies, multi-currency accounts, FX handling and the accounts it can settle to. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.12 percent
Regulatory licenceLicence or authorisation verified in the regulator’s public register, not by the provider’s own claim. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.12 percent
Non-resident onboardingWhether a merchant without a local entity, local tax ID or local bank account can open an account to accept payments in the market, and on what conditions. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.14 percent
Multi-market reachHow many named markets the provider accepts payments in, and whether one integration, account or contract covers the market together with other named markets. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.12 percent
Payout capabilityWhether the provider sends payouts to third parties such as sellers, partners and customers, by API or in bulk, to which methods, including cards and instant local rails, and in which markets and currencies. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.4 percent
Local acquiringWhether the provider acquires card payments in the market itself, under its own licence or principal card-scheme membership, or through partner acquirers. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.4 percent
Support & reliabilityPublished support channels, status information, security certification, and incidents or sanctions. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.4 percent
Recurring & card-on-fileSubscription and recurring-payment APIs, stored-card tokens, network tokens, card-data updates and the import of tokens from another provider. Assessed for a business selling across borders, not for one market.2 percent
Every provider fact was checked against the provider’s own pages or filings in November 2026; market figures show their source and date inline.

The ranking covers nine payment processors that accept cross-border payments online for businesses; Worldpay, the original provider, is compared but not ranked. Pricing reflects published rates or, for a provider without them, the pricing model, and a merchant’s own quote may differ. The list is not professional advice.

Where Unlimit fits

A business switching providers has to move its stored cards and subscriptions over, and Unlimit includes recurring payment token migration among its recurring payment types. Unlimit builds global financial infrastructure that enables cross-border commerce for businesses, consumers and AI agents. Unlimit gives businesses access to more than 150 currencies across more than 200 locations worldwide.

Unlimit's published reach, as stated on unlimit.com.
Unlimit’s published reach, as stated on unlimit.com.

Businesses across the world can accept payments from local customers through one Unlimit API integration, without a legal entity, office or bank account in the region. If Unlimit does not hold a licence in the region itself, it processes payments through licensed partners and settles in the currency agreed with the merchant.

Unlimit is right for marketplaces and platforms paying out sellers that also bill customers on a schedule. Pricing transparency is the criterion that limits its score, and it is not the best fit for a business that needs published card rates before it applies.

Start accepting payments globally with one integration

The best Worldpay alternatives in detail

Every card below, the top pick and the publisher’s entry included, has one strength and one criticism.

1. Stripe

  • Best for: Online stores that want a US company and payments set up from abroad.
  • What it is: Stripe is a payments platform that a business uses to accept cards and local methods online from one account. Stripe Atlas takes applications online from almost anywhere in the world and files the formation documents in Delaware. Atlas also lets a business incorporate a US company, then open a US bank account and accept payments.
  • Pricing model: Stripe charges a flat rate per online card transaction of 2.9 percent plus USD 0.30, with 1.5 percent added for cards issued abroad and 1 percent when currency conversion is needed, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Stripe supports more than 125 payment methods directly, plus any custom method a merchant adds, grouped as cards, wallets, bank debits, bank redirects, bank transfers, buy now pay later and cash-based vouchers, with WeChat Pay among the wallets.
  • Markets and currencies: Stripe’s local methods depend on the buyer’s country: Bancontact for Belgian customers, BLIK for Polish customers and UPI for customers in India, and PayNow, Singapore’s national payment scheme, for Singapore.
  • Requirements: A business can accept payments through Stripe from local cards and wallets available in South Korea without a local entity, and no banking details are needed to create the account and start accepting payments.
  • Strength: On local method coverage, Stripe’s cash-based voucher method for Japan lets customers pay at more than 34,000 convenience stores, so a business reaches shoppers who prefer to pay in cash.
  • Criticism: During business verification Stripe requests information about the business, its product and the applicant’s relationship to it, and it may require more verification as further services are used, so compliance checks can return after the account is live.
  • Worldpay vs Stripe: Worldpay suits a business that prefers an acquirer-led, contract-based relationship; Stripe fits one that wants to open an account online and switch on local methods itself.
  • Score: #1 of 9, 8.3 / 10, verified November 2026

2. Unlimit

  • Publisher’s entry
  • Best for: Marketplaces and platforms that pay out sellers across regions.
  • What it is: Unlimit is a payment provider for card acquiring, local methods and payouts. Its EU entity, Unlimit EU Ltd, was authorised as an electronic money institution on 9 July 2018 under national reference number 115.1.3.7 and is supervised by CBC (Cyprus). The register shows 150 payment services across 30 countries, with electronic money issuance and acquiring of payment transactions in Cyprus. Marketplaces use Unlimit for multi-currency payouts to sellers and partners across regions.
  • Pricing model: Unlimit quotes pricing per business and sets it in the merchant’s contract, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Unlimit offers more than 1,000 payment methods across digital wallets, mobile payments, cash, cards and bank transfers. Its payment methods page groups them as global card schemes, local card schemes, digital wallets, cash payment options, direct bank transfers and mobile payment methods, with PIX among Brazil’s online banking options.
  • Markets and currencies: Unlimit accepts card brands and local methods in more than 50 currencies and settles funds directly into the merchant’s wallets or accounts. Its regional coverage spans Latin America, Africa, Europe and the UK, India and Asia-Pacific, and a multicurrency account converts funds between assets and sends them over SEPA and SWIFT.
  • Requirements: Approval for an Unlimit account opened through its application goes through KYC, and payment methods are enabled by Unlimit support as part of merchant onboarding.
  • Strength: On multi-market reach, Unlimit’s documentation offers thousands of local payment methods through one API, the same single integration that connects card processing, so a business adds markets without building a second integration.
  • Criticism: On pricing transparency, Unlimit’s rates come from a sales quote, so a business cannot compare its cost with published card rates before a sales conversation.
  • Worldpay vs Unlimit: Worldpay is the closer match for a business that already runs its acquiring and payouts on a Worldpay account; Unlimit suits a marketplace that wants pay-ins and seller payouts with a single provider across Latin America, Africa, India and Asia-Pacific.
  • Score: #2 of 9, 8.1 / 10, verified November 2026
Start accepting payments globally with one integration

3. Airwallex

  • Best for: Merchants that want low currency conversion costs.
  • What it is: Airwallex is a business payments provider: a merchant accepts online payments and holds, converts and settles funds in a multi-currency business account. Its payments product accepts cards and alternative payment methods from shoppers around the world.
  • Pricing model: Airwallex charges 4.3 percent plus USD 0.30 per international card transaction. Its business accounts convert currency at 0.5 percent above interbank rates for major currencies and 1.0 percent for all others, across the three plans on the US pricing page: Explore, Grow and Accelerate. A foreign currency settlement fee of 0.50 percent applies per settlement of a non-USD transaction in the same non-USD currency, separate from the conversion fee, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Airwallex accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Its other method groups include ACH Direct Debit for US shoppers, Affirm buy now pay later, Alipay for shoppers in China and 7-Eleven Malaysia cash payments in MYR.
  • Markets and currencies: Airwallex offers Apple Pay to shoppers in all currencies across the globe, and American Express cards are available to merchants located in Australia, Switzerland, the EEA, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and the UK.
  • Requirements: Airwallex accounts belong to a business legal entity; one entity may hold several accounts, and the monthly fee is charged per entity. The Yield product requires an account with Airwallex (Netherlands) B.V. and ends if that account is closed or suspended.
  • Strength: On local method coverage, Airwallex offers WeChat Pay, GrabPay and more than 160 other local payment methods as well as cards, so a business can offer shoppers in Asia their usual wallet from the same account.
  • Criticism: Several Airwallex methods depend on where the merchant is based: Cash App Pay serves US shoppers for merchants located in the US, so a business registered elsewhere cannot add it to checkout.
  • Worldpay vs Airwallex: Worldpay suits a business that wants its acquirer to also run payouts at scale; Airwallex fits one that wants checkout and currency accounts in a single self-serve product.
  • Score: #3 of 9, 7.3 / 10, verified November 2026

4. Checkout.com

  • Best for: Teams that build their checkout on one global API.
  • What it is: Checkout.com is a payment processor that online businesses use to accept cards and alternative payment methods. It offers free payment processing to registered charities in the countries where it operates.
  • Pricing model: Checkout.com prices card payments as interchange plus plus, itemising card association, processor and interchange fees. Its pricing page sets a merchant’s rate by business profile and risk category through the sales team, with no setup or account maintenance fees, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Checkout.com takes cards and alternative payment methods through Flow, PayPal Pay Later included, which a merchant offers when it sells in the local currency and runs a publicly available website in the country of the Pay Later option.
  • Markets and currencies: Checkout.com supports more than 150 processing currencies, with domestic coverage in more than 45 countries.
  • Requirements: The holder named in the proof of a new Checkout.com settlement bank account must match the merchant entity’s legal name, and some payment methods may not be available for every merchant and customer location.
  • Strength: On developer experience, Flow gives Checkout.com merchants access to the global network of payment methods with a single integration, so a business adds methods across markets without new integration work.
  • Criticism: Checkout.com’s United States country terms require the merchant to open and keep a depository bank account at Cross River Bank or another institution agreed by Checkout.com and the bank, so a business entering that market needs a new bank account.
  • Worldpay vs Checkout.com: Worldpay suits a business that wants an estimated price without a profile review; Checkout.com serves one that wants itemised interchange pricing and wide domestic coverage from one contract.
  • Score: #4 of 9, 6.8 / 10, verified November 2026

5. Adyen

  • Best for: Merchants selling across borders from one company account.
  • What it is: Adyen is a payments processor. Its legal entity, Adyen N.V., processes payments for customers and platforms by credit card, bank transfer and other methods. A merchant receives a single company account with one or more sub-accounts called merchant accounts, and Adyen for Platforms offers one model for marketplaces and one for platforms, with the business model and processing requirements deciding the integration.
  • Pricing model: Adyen charges interchange plus 0.6 percent plus USD 0.13 per transaction and passes interchange and scheme fees through. A minimum invoice applies that depends on the merchant’s industry or business model, with details from the sales team, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Adyen accepts cards, bank debits, bank transfers and local card networks, with US examples in its payment methods documentation.
  • Markets and currencies: Adyen’s compliance is based on US, UK and EU banking licences, giving one processor across those regions.
  • Requirements: Adyen’s terms make a merchant that receives, processes or stores PCI DSS protected card data solely responsible for first getting PCI DSS certification and providing a copy on request. The legal entity API treats the FATCA and CRS tax classification as not required for a US-based organisation requesting business bank account capabilities.
  • Strength: On settlement and FX, Adyen processes and settles Accel credit and debit cards and ACH Direct Debit in USD, so domestic US payments reach the merchant in the shopper’s currency.
  • Criticism: An offer marked restricted on Adyen’s prohibited and restricted list needs additional documentation as a condition of onboarding, so a business in a restricted category faces an added review before it can process.
  • Worldpay vs Adyen: Worldpay suits a business that wants hosted checkout pages with little integration work; Adyen fits a platform that wants one company account split into merchant accounts across licensed regions.
  • Score: #5 of 9, 6.4 / 10, verified November 2026

6. Braintree

  • Best for: Merchants that charge buyers in their own currency.
  • What it is: Braintree is the PayPal payment gateway a business uses to accept cards, third-party digital wallets and PayPal-family payments online.
  • Pricing model: Braintree’s published US rate is 2.89 percent plus USD 0.29 per transaction for cards and third-party digital wallets for standard merchants. It adds 1 percent for cards issued outside the United States and 1 percent for transactions presented in a currency other than USD. Pass-through American Express costs a flat USD 0.15, and each chargeback USD 15.00, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Braintree accepts cards, third-party digital wallets, pass-through American Express and Venmo, with Venmo transactions limited to the US.
  • Markets and currencies: Customers in Braintree’s supported countries should be able to buy from a merchant whatever currency the merchant presents in.
  • Requirements: Braintree use is subject to eligibility, application, approval by PayPal and acceptance of the Payment Services Agreement, and PayPal may request a merchant’s tax identification number or other tax documentation.
  • Strength: On settlement and FX, more than 130 local presentment currencies in 44 countries let a business price in the buyer’s own currency from one Braintree gateway.
  • Criticism: A Braintree production account’s location follows the country where the business is registered, so the account follows the company’s home registration rather than the markets it sells into.
  • Worldpay vs Braintree: Worldpay suits a business that wants payouts and acquiring under one contract; Braintree fits one that wants a published card rate and PayPal wallets in the same checkout.
  • Score: #6 of 9, 6.1 / 10, verified November 2026

7. Global Payments

  • Best for: Online stores that also sell in person.
  • What it is: Global Payments is a payment technology company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Pricing model: Global Payments quotes pricing per business, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Global Payments handles card, check and digital-based payments, per its annual filing.
  • Markets and currencies: Global Payments manages payments volume and transactions across more than 175 countries.
  • Requirements: Certain Global Payments businesses are regulated as money transmitters or otherwise need licensing in one or more states or jurisdictions; merchant onboarding conditions: Not published.
  • Strength: Global Payments offers payment acceptance online and in store, so a business selling in both channels keeps one provider for them.
  • Criticism: On pricing transparency, Global Payments sets rates in a quote, so a business cannot compare its cost until sales has priced its volume.
  • Worldpay vs Global Payments: Worldpay suits a business that wants payouts from the same provider as its acquiring; Global Payments fits one that wants its gateway with wallets for online and in-store sales.
  • Score: #7 of 9, 6.0 / 10, verified November 2026

8. PayPal

  • Best for: Marketplaces and platforms that also invoice clients.
  • What it is: PayPal is a payments company. Its business offer runs PayPal Checkout, Pay with Venmo, Pay Later and card processing from one merchant account.
  • Pricing model: PayPal charges 2.99 percent plus USD 0.49 for standard card payments, Apple Pay and other third-party wallets on its US fee page, and 3.49 percent plus USD 0.49 for PayPal Checkout, Venmo and Pay Later. International card transactions cost an extra 1.50 percent. On invoices, Pay Later costs 4.99 percent plus a fixed fee and Pay by Bank (ACH) 1 percent with a cap per transaction. Payments Advanced costs USD 5.00 a month and Payments Pro USD 30.00, while Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments and ACH Services have no monthly fee, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: PayPal accepts cards, Apple Pay, PayPal Checkout, Venmo, Pay Later and Pay by Bank (ACH), plus alternative methods such as Doku Wallet, LinkAja, Paysera, PesaLink, PromptPay QR, Viet QR, Mercado Pago and ShopeePay.
  • Markets and currencies: PayPal prices alternative methods reaching Estonia, Nigeria and Vietnam in their own rows by name, among them Estonia Online Bank Transfer, Nigerian Bank Transfer (NIBSS) and Viet QR.
  • Requirements: Processing American Express directly with PayPal’s Direct Payment needs the American Express Card Acceptance agreement. The PayPal Business Debit MasterCard is subject to eligibility, application, approval by PayPal and acceptance of its terms.
  • Strength: On pricing transparency, PayPal gives alternative methods without their own row on the fee page a published price of 2.89 percent plus a fixed fee, so a business can work out the cost of every method in advance.
  • Criticism: PayPal’s Payflow ACH recurring billing is available only to current ACH merchants, and Payflow no longer opens new ACH accounts, so a new business cannot bill subscriptions by ACH through Payflow.
  • Worldpay vs PayPal: Worldpay suits a business that wants card acquiring with payouts to more channels from its acquirer; PayPal fits one that wants buyer-facing wallets and a published price for each method.
  • Score: number 8 of 9, 5.6 / 10, verified November 2026

9. Square

  • Best for: US sellers that want one card rate for every major brand.
  • What it is: Square is a commerce and payments company that sellers use to take payments in person and online. Its services run under a Seller Agreement, a Commercial Entity Agreement and a Cash Agreement, among others.
  • Pricing model: Square charges 2.9 percent plus USD 0.30 for online API card payments on each of the Square Free, Square Plus and Square Premium plans in its fee guide, and each plan has its own processing fee categories. Cash App Pay card-not-present transactions cost 3.3 percent plus USD 0.30 for legacy plan subscribers, verified November 2026.
  • Payment methods: Square accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover at the same processing fees, plus Afterpay, ACH, Cash App Pay, Bitcoin and EBT as alternative payment methods.
  • Markets and currencies: Square uses an applicant’s identification and financial information to decide whether its services are available in the applicant’s country and to create the account.
  • Requirements: A seller must confirm to Square that it and its business are eligible to register and can enter the General Terms, and must give accurate and full registration information and keep it current. Square’s identity vendors cross-check the applicant’s identity and financial data and screen it against sanctions watchlists.
  • Strength: Square pays sellers the full amount of an Afterpay sale at the time of purchase, minus a processing fee, so instalment sales do not wait for the shopper’s repayments.
  • Criticism: On non-resident onboarding, Square’s General Terms of Service require a seller to confirm that it is located in the United States and is at least eighteen years of age, so a business based in another country cannot register.
  • Worldpay vs Square: Worldpay suits a business that sells across many countries from one acquirer; Square fits a US seller that wants one fee table for in-person and online sales.
  • Score: #9 of 9, 5.1 / 10, verified November 2026

What Worldpay and its alternatives cost at USD 10,000, 100,000 and 1 million a month

A monthly bill for online card payments can be estimated at USD 10,000, USD 100,000 and USD 1 million for Worldpay and each ranked alternative that publishes a rate.

This is an estimation scenario, not a quote: a US business sells at an average ticket of USD 100, every card is issued abroad and every sale is charged in USD. The example method is online card checkout because 6 of 10 providers in the table publish a rate for it and it is the online checkout that Worldpay and its alternatives share. Real costs depend on the business, the card mix and negotiated terms.

Provider and productRateInternational add-onFixed feeIf currency conversion is neededUSD 10,000 a monthUSD 100,000 a monthUSD 1 million a month
WorldpayNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Stripe online card payments2.9 percent1.5 percentUSD 0.301 percentUSD 470USD 4,700USD 47,000
UnlimitNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Airwallex4.3 percentIncluded in the rateUSD 0.301 percentUSD 460USD 4,600USD 46,000
Checkout.comNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot published
AdyenInterchange plus 0.6 percentNot publishedUSD 0.13Not publishedUSD 73 plus interchangeUSD 730 plus interchangeUSD 7,300 plus interchange
Braintree, Cards and third-party digital wallet transactions2.89 percent1 percentUSD 0.291 percentUSD 418USD 4,180USD 41,800
Global PaymentsNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot published
PayPal, Payment links2.99 percent1.5 percentUSD 0.494 percentUSD 498USD 4,980USD 49,800
Square Online API card payments2.9 percent1.5 percentUSD 0.30Not publishedUSD 470USD 4,700USD 47,000
Sources — Airwallex: US pricing; Adyen: pricing; Braintree: pricing; PayPal: business fees; Square: fees

At USD 10,000 a month, Braintree is the cheapest in this scenario at USD 418 and PayPal is the most expensive at USD 498. Adyen prices on interchange plus a markup, so the figure shown excludes interchange and scheme fees and is not compared. Worldpay, Unlimit, Checkout.com, Global Payments publish no rate for this scenario, so no cost is shown for them.

Fixed transaction fees range from USD 0.13 per sale for Adyen to USD 0.49 for PayPal, so a business whose tickets are smaller than USD 100 pays a larger share of each sale in fixed fees.

A flat rate scales in a straight line with volume: at USD 1 million a month Braintree comes to USD 41,800 and PayPal to USD 49,800, while Adyen’s USD 7,300 still leaves out interchange and scheme fees.

Currency conversion comes on top of the scenario, which charges every sale in USD: Airwallex, Braintree and Stripe add 1 percent for it and PayPal 4 percent.

Worldpay prices this scenario by quote, so no monthly or yearly gap to Worldpay can be calculated.

Start accepting payments globally with one integration

Local acquiring and payment methods by region

Each of the nine payment gateway providers appears once below with where it operates, how it is licensed or acquires, its local payment methods by group and its fee model, worldwide.

ProviderRegionsLicences or local acquiringPayment methodsPricing model
Stripe51 countries and regions; own acquiring in EEA, GB, BR, AU, HK, MY, NZ, SGE-money institution in the EEA (Central Bank of Ireland) and the UK (FCA); money transmitter in 53 US jurisdictions; payment institution in Brazil; and 2 more; in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, India, Japan and Thailand it acquires through partners such as Cross River Bank and PNC BankCards; wallets; bank debits; bank redirects; bank transfers; buy now pay later; cash vouchers; more than 125 methodsFlat rate per transaction, 2.9 percent plus USD 0.30 in the US, with add-ons for international cards and currency conversion
UnlimitMore than 200 locations; local licences in EEA, GB, BR, IN, HK, KE, NG, TZE-money institution in the EEA (Central Bank of Cyprus) and the UK (FCA); payment institution in Brazil; cross-border payment aggregator in India; and 4 more, within a network of local licencesGlobal and local card schemes; digital wallets; cash; direct bank transfers; mobile paymentsQuoted per business
AirwallexPayments from more than 180 countries; local processing in over 35 marketsE-money institution in the EEA (Netherlands, Lithuania) and the UK (FCA); money transmitter in 48 US jurisdictions; financial services licence in Australia; and 12 more; US card acquiring under agreements with JP Morgan Chase and Cross River BankCards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, Discover); Apple Pay; Google Pay; WeChat Pay; Alipay; ACH Direct Debit; Affirm; cash; more than 160 local methodsFlat rate, 4.3 percent plus USD 0.30 for international cards in the US; currency conversion 0.5 percent above interbank for major currencies and 1 percent for others; 0.50 percent foreign currency settlement fee; Explore, Grow and Accelerate plans
Checkout.comDomestic processing in 57 countriesE-money institution in the EEA (ACPR, France) and the UK (FCA); money transmitter in the US; payment institution in Brazil; and 5 more; US card payments also through two sponsor banksCards; wallets; local methods through one Flow integrationInterchange plus plus, priced by business profile and risk category; no setup or account maintenance fees
AdyenPayments accepted and settled in more than 130 countriesBank in the EEA (De Nederlandsche Bank) with a UK branch; federal bank branch in the US (OCC and Federal Reserve); major payment institution in Singapore; and 5 moreCards, including Accel; ACH Direct Debit; local methods by countryInterchange plus 0.6 percent plus USD 0.13 per transaction; minimum invoice by industry or business model
BraintreeLocal presentment in 44 countriesA PayPal service with no licence of its own published; cards acquired through acquirers under a Commercial Entity AgreementCards; third-party digital wallets; Venmo in the USFlat rate, 2.89 percent plus USD 0.29 in the US; plus 1 percent for cards issued abroad and 1 percent for non-USD presentment; USD 15.00 per chargeback
Global PaymentsTransactions in more than 175 countriesPayment institution in the UK and six EU countries; money transmitter in the US; processing through sponsor banksCards; checks; Apple Pay; Google Pay; PayPal; Alipay; WeChat Pay; bank payment in CZNot published
PayPalApproximately 200 marketsBank in the EEA (CSSF, Luxembourg); e-money institution in the UK (FCA); money transmitter in 53 US jurisdictions; and 5 more; in some markets through local banks or other partnersCards; PayPal; Venmo; Pay Later; Pay by Bank (ACH); PromptPay QR; Viet QR; PesaLink; Mercado Pago; ShopeePayFlat rate by product: 2.99 percent plus USD 0.49 for card payments in the US; plus 1.5 percent for international cards; monthly fee USD 5.00 for Payments Advanced and USD 30.00 for Payments Pro
SquareSellers in 8 countries: US, CA, JP, AU, GB, IE, FR, ESMoney transmitter in 49 US jurisdictions and an industrial bank in Utah; e-money institution in the EEA (Central Bank of Ireland) and the UK (FCA); and 1 more; card processing through partners such as Chase Paymentech in Canada and Sumitomo Mitsui Card in JapanVisa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover; Afterpay; ACH; Cash App Pay; Bitcoin; EBTFlat rate, 2.9 percent plus USD 0.30 per online API card payment on Free, Plus and Premium plans; plus 1.5 percent for international cards
Sources — Stripe: payment methods page, local methods pricing page, global availability page, US licences page, acquirer disclosure page; Unlimit: payment methods page, Brazil coverage page, payment processing page, UK home page, home page, EU register entry, Tanzania licence release; Airwallex: US pricing page, fee schedule page, payment methods docs, EU payments page, US state licences page, licences help page; Checkout.com: pricing page, PayPal docs, acquiring page, licences page; Adyen: pricing page, home page, global processing page, US licences page, Singapore licences page; Braintree: fees page, currencies guide, services agreement; Global Payments: 2025 annual report, investor page, Worldpay release; PayPal: business fees page, 2025 annual report, US licences page; Square: fees help page, US fees page, privacy notice, US licences page, Canada payment terms; Block: 2025 annual report

Go deeper

Best for teams integrating by API

Checkout.com (#4, 6.8 / 10) is the pick for teams that build their own checkout on one API: it runs domestic processing in 57 countries, so cards are acquired in the buyer’s country without a separate integration per market.

For a business based in the US, Canada, Japan, Australia or Western Europe, also consider Square (#9, 5.1 / 10), whose sellers are located in eight countries, from the US and Canada to Japan and Spain.

Best for merchants selling across borders

Adyen (#5, 6.4 / 10) is the pick for merchants that sell across borders from one company: it accepts, processes and settles payments in more than 130 countries under its own banking licences in the US, UK and EU.

If the business is based outside the US, also consider Stripe (#1, 8.3 / 10), which is available to businesses in 51 countries and regions.

Best for marketplaces and platforms

Unlimit (#2, 8.1 / 10, publisher’s entry) is the pick for marketplaces and platforms that pay out sellers in several regions: it reaches more than 200 locations and over 150 currencies through a network of local licences, licenced partners and payment methods, all on one integration.

If sellers also invoice their clients, PayPal (#8, 5.6 / 10) is also worth a look: its accounts work in approximately 200 markets.

If you use Worldpay to get paid by clients, not for checkout

A business that clients pay by invoice needs bank payments and payment links more than an online payment gateway checkout page, and three ranked providers offer such options.

PayPal takes Pay by Bank (ACH) for invoices at the rate shown in the 8. PayPal card, so a business can collect large invoices by bank transfer instead of card. Global Payments sends a payment link by QR code, email or text message alongside its Hosted Payment Page, which lets a business request payment without a website checkout. Square prices invoices and ACH bank transfers sent by invoice as payment types with their own processing rates.

Worldpay vs Unlimit: how they compare

How to choose a Worldpay alternative

  • Decide on the sales channel first: online-first sellers should shortlist Stripe, Checkout.com and Unlimit, while a business that also sells in store should look at Global Payments and Square.
  • Choose an international payment gateway when you need many regions and currencies on one contract: Stripe, Unlimit, Checkout.com, Adyen and Braintree cover that case.
  • Match the pricing model to volume and sale size: Braintree, Stripe and Square publish flat rates for a modest volume and a small average sale, while Adyen and Checkout.com price on interchange at high volume. Interchange can include a cross-border part: the Payment Systems Regulator’s final report on UK-EEA cross-border interchange found that UK businesses pay cross-border interchange fees every time a Mastercard or Visa card issued in the EEA is used for an online retail purchase.
  • Check who you pay and how often: Unlimit and PayPal cover seller payouts, and recurring billing runs on Stripe and Unlimit.
  • Look at your e-commerce platform: Unlimit offers plugins for Magento, WooCommerce, OpenCart and PrestaShop, and Global Payments connects through its plugin.
The order in which to settle the choice of an alternative.
The order in which to make the choice of an alternative.
Start accepting payments globally with one integration

FAQs

What are the best Worldpay alternatives for businesses?

The best Worldpay alternatives for businesses are Stripe (#1), Unlimit (#2) and Airwallex (#3), followed by Checkout.com, Adyen, Braintree, Global Payments, PayPal and Square. All nine ranked providers are scored out of 10 on 11 weighted criteria such as non-resident onboarding, payment methods and settlement. The market is large: 41 percent of the acquirers in TSG’s 2026 directory of US merchant acquirers have an in-house or white-labelled payment gateway.

What is the difference between Stripe and Worldpay?

The difference between Stripe and Worldpay here is their role: Stripe is a ranked alternative, while Worldpay is the provider being replaced and is not ranked. Worldpay is now part of Global Payments, so a business leaving it for Global Payments stays within the same group. Either licence is verified in the regulator’s public register of the country of sign-up, not on provider pages.

What are some alternative payment methods?

Alternative payment methods are the ways customers pay besides the international card brands, such as wallets, account-to-account transfers and instalment options. In Worldpay’s documentation, alternative payment methods include eWallets, bank transfers, direct debits, local card schemes, Postpay and eInvoice or buy now pay later. Which of them a provider accepts, and in which currency it settles them, is set out in each card.

Is Worldpay a payment provider?

Worldpay is a payment provider for merchants and the benchmark that the nine alternatives in this ranking are measured against. Worldpay quotes a settlement time of 24 hours on its online pricing quote page, which cites the Payment Systems Regulator, so a business switching away can compare each alternative’s payout timing with that figure.

Changelog

  • November 2026, first publication: 9 providers screened, 9 ranked.
  • November 2026, rubric weights locked before research.
  • November 2026, rubric revised: weights for cross-border merchants, and each criterion scored against the best provider in the comparison.

Explore this category

Payment gateway guides

Payment provider alternatives

Payment products

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