Best Payment Platforms & Tools 2026
Payment complexity grows with every market you enter. We evaluated 6 payment platforms on transaction fees, integration speed, and conversion impact.
MG Software integrates Stripe by default for client projects thanks to the superior API and developer experience. For Dutch clients primarily serving the local market, we recommend Mollie for its seamless iDEAL integration and simplicity. We build complete payment flows that seamlessly connect to your existing systems.
Online payments are the backbone of every digital business. The right payment provider determines your checkout conversion, cost per transaction, and the payment methods you can offer. For the European and Dutch market, iDEAL support is essential, but international business requires a broader offering. We compare the most important payment platforms.
How did we select these tools?
We integrated each payment platform into a production webshop and measured checkout conversion, transaction speed, refund handling time, and API documentation quality. Costs were calculated based on 5,000 monthly transactions with an average order value of 75 euros.
How do we evaluate these tools?
- Support for European payment methods (iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA)
- Developer experience and API documentation quality
- Transaction costs and pricing model transparency
- Scalability and support for international payments
1. Stripe
The most developer-friendly payment platform in the world. Stripe offers an extensive API, support for 135+ currencies, and advanced features like Stripe Connect, Billing, and Revenue Recognition.
Pros
- +Best API and developer experience on the market
- +Support for 135+ currencies and countless payment methods
- +Powerful features: subscriptions, invoicing, connect
- +Extensive fraud prevention with Radar
Cons
- -Transaction costs higher than Mollie for Dutch payments
- -Dashboard can be overwhelming for non-technical users
- -iDEAL integration requires extra configuration
2. Mollie
Dutch payment platform specifically designed for the European market. Mollie offers the simplest setup for iDEAL, Bancontact, credit card, and other popular European payment methods.
Pros
- +Best iDEAL integration, plug and play for Dutch market
- +Simple setup and clear dashboard
- +Transparent per-transaction pricing without monthly costs
- +Excellent support in Dutch and English
Cons
- -Fewer international payment methods than Stripe
- -API is functional but less extensive than Stripe
- -Fewer advanced features for complex billing scenarios
3. Adyen
Enterprise payment platform from Amsterdam offering unified commerce for online, in-store, and mobile payments. Adyen is used by companies like Uber, Spotify, and Booking.com.
Pros
- +Unified commerce: online, POS, and mobile in one platform
- +Excellent fraud prevention with machine learning
- +Direct connection to card schemes for lower costs at high volume
- +Enterprise-grade reliability and uptime
Cons
- -Minimum transaction volume required, not suitable for small businesses
- -More complex integration than Stripe or Mollie
- -No transparent public pricing
4. Paddle
Merchant of Record platform that handles payments, taxes, and compliance globally. Paddle is ideal for SaaS companies selling internationally who want to avoid managing tax obligations themselves.
Pros
- +Handles global tax compliance automatically
- +Merchant of Record: Paddle handles VAT and sales tax
- +Built for SaaS with subscription and usage-based billing
- +Checkout optimized for global conversion
Cons
- -Higher fees than direct payment processors
- -Less control over the checkout experience
- -Primarily designed for digital products and SaaS
Which tool does MG Software recommend?
MG Software integrates Stripe by default for client projects thanks to the superior API and developer experience. For Dutch clients primarily serving the local market, we recommend Mollie for its seamless iDEAL integration and simplicity. We build complete payment flows that seamlessly connect to your existing systems.
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