The best alternatives to PayPal at a glance

Numerous studies and statistics show how much e-commerce in the US is booming and that there are many online payment methods available. One of the most popular payment options for online shoppers is credit card, followed by PayPal.
However, PayPal is also being repeatedly criticized for security flaws and questionable company policy that allows accounts to be frozen, for example. But what are the alternatives to PayPal? We take a look at the most popular and best alternatives to PayPal.

PayPal alternatives at a glance

As it turns out, there are numerous alternatives to the online payment service, PayPal. The decisive factor for many customers is often how widespread the service is i.e. how many shops actually offer the respective payment method? PayPal is still unbeaten in this respect, but other providers are ahead when it comes to flexibility and data protection. Here is an overview of all good PayPal alternatives (all information is current as of February 2022):
Provider
Fees
Payment form
Advantages
Disadvantages
Braintree
2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction
Credit card
No monthly payment fee for processing payments, and
multi-currency options
Long setup times for accounts and
not suitable for high-risk industries
Click to Pay
Free: no additional fees or charges
Credit/debit card
Completely free PayPal alternative, proven security system, and bonus program
Can only be used at participating merchants
Amazon Pay
For merchants 2.9 % plus an additional 30 cent per transaction
Credit card
No need to register additional account with merchant, no transfer or payment information to third parties
Can only be used with an Amazon account, questionable data protection practices
Apple Pay
Fees for users not known, for credit card companies: 0.15% per transaction
Credit card
Security, useful for different applications
Exclusively available for apple product
Google Pay
None
Credit card
No account necessary, no transfer or sensitive data
Limited use cases and online payment partners
Payoneer
1% for each payment received
Credit card (specifically Mastercard)
Available in over 200 countries; small business-friendly
Somewhat high credit card rates
Skrill
None
Credit card/debit card
Manageable budgeting due to prepaid system, no transfer of bank data to merchants
Not as widespread, no cancellations possible, additional services and high security standards are fee based
Stripe
2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction
Credit card/debit card
Small fee for merchants, quick checkout for customers
Not as widespead
Square
2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction
Debit card/Bitcoin
Trade with Cryptocurrency
Deposit limits

Braintree

Braintree refers to itself as “all-in-one payments partner” and helps business of all sizes accept and process payments, which help maximize business opportunities and increase revenue growth.
No matter where in the world a company’s buyers are located, the solution offers all the tools needed to help the business reach them and therefore grow internationally. Since it’s a PayPal service, you’re not straying too far from the market giant.
The service replaces the traditional model of sourcing a payment gateway and merchant account from different providers. Braintree is suitable for small businesses that are just starting out, to large fully-fledged companies. Some well-known companies include Airbnb, GitHub, Pinterest, and Uber. Braintree Direct, Braintree Marketplace, Braintree Auth, and Braintree Extend are the different solutions that cater to each business model.
Advantages Disadvantages
Solved the problem PayPal had when redirecting user from website to PayPal server Long setup times for accounts
No monthly payment fee for processing payments Not suitable for high-risk industries
Multi-currency options  
Extensive integrations available  

Click to Pay

Click to Pay, formerly known as Masterpass, was initially only available as an alternative to PayPal for Mastercard customers but is now available to all credit card holders.
Similarly to PayPal, you have to create a personal account and enter payment and personal data there. Whenever you want to pay online, you can easily and quickly click “Remember me”. This saves you having to repeatedly enter your address and payment information for each individual online shop. A one-time code is sent to your email, which is necessary to complete the payment. Click to Pay uses a multi-level security system, which is also used for payments with credit cards. It can be used in desktop and mobile browsers as well as in native Android and iOS apps.
Advantages Disadvantages
Completely free PayPal alternative for customers Can only be used at participating merchants
Proven security system  
Bonus program  

Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay is the online retail giant’s very own payment service. Amazon Payments profits immensely from its parent company’s notoriety and reputation, which is why many other popular online shops opt for this payment option. This PayPal alternative is not as widespread as the industry leader.
Amazon Pay allows users to process purchases in participating shops with their Amazon account, which only requires an email address and a password to complete a purchase. Here, the provider uses the payment information that’s already been registered with Amazon. All that’s needed is an active Amazon account. The advantage here is that there’s no need to hand over sensitive payment information to third parties. Amazon acts as the intermediary between customer and retailer. The customer shouldn’t expect any additional costs for setting up and using the account. The retailer, on the other hand, should expect to pay 1.9 % of the total purchase price plus an additional 35 cents for each transaction: the same fees as PayPal. Billing is carried out via credit card.
Advantages Disadvantage
No separate account required Can only be used together with an Amazon account
No billing until goods are sent Consumer protection concerns: Amazon has information on the customer’s payment behavior and consumer history

Apple Pay

The PayPal alternative is a mobile payment service. Apple Pay is only available for a limited target group that has access to newer Apple products. The payment service acts first and foremost as an NFC-based wallet for the iPhone, allowing Apple Pay to carry out so-called contactless payments at the checkout register. It is also possible to make in-app purchases e.g. from Airbnb, Starbucks, and Kickstarter.
Recently, some online stores have started to support this method of payment. Apple Pay was only available in the United States for a long time; however, it has since expanded its services to France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Due to its immense market power, it’s highly likely that this PayPal alternative will also spread to other countries in coming years.
Advantages Disadvantages
Online payment as well as on-site contactless payment possible Exclusively available to Apple users
No storage of payment data on the devices  
High security standards  

Google Pay

When it comes to mobile payments, it’s essential not to forget the second most important player. With Google Pay (formerly known as Android Pay), Google brought its own payment service onto the market. As the successor of Google Wallet, Google Pay is the Internet giant’s second attempt to get a foothold in the payment services industry.
Google Pay is used for in-app payments as well as for transactions at brick-and-mortar retailers. Third-party providers are also able to integrate the function into their online shops. Payment takes place via an app with one click. The idea is similar to that of Apple Pay: credit card information is stored and securely managed, and no payment information is sent to the merchant.
Advantage Disadvantage
High security standards Limited use cases and online payment partners
Can be used independently of Google as a separate app  

Payoneer

This next option takes a look at PayPal alternatives from the merchant’s perspective. Founded in 2005 by Israeli entrepreneur, Yuval Tal, this money transfer and payment company Payoneer is especially well suited to small and medium sized business as well as freelancers. As a registered Member Service Provider (MSP) of Mastercard, Payoneer is available in over 200 countries and has round-the-clock support in more than 35 languages. Users can opt to either have funds transferred to a bank account or into a reloadable prepaid debit card, which can then be used to carry out transactions. Low currency conversion fees also make this an attractive option for cross-border wire transfers, which is why it’s a very popular solution for Airbnb hosts as well as freelancers with international clients.
Advantages Disadvantages
Available worldwide Somewhat high credit card rates
Low currency conversion rates  
Small business/freelancer friendly  

Skrill

The UK-based payment system Skrill, formerly known as Moneybookers, works on a prepaid basis. Via credit or debit card, users pay into a customer account. The prepaid credit can then be used for later purchases or online orders. Paying via the customer account doesn’t require any bank or credit card information to be transferred to the merchants. The prepaid idea is also valuable for allowing users to set budgets for themselves. But this model is also associated with its own unique risks: Customers have to pay before they’re able to use the service, meaning their accrued credit could be lost (e.g. in instances of bankruptcy).
Advantages Disadvantages
No transfer of sensitive data No cancelation possible
Complete cost control Still not widespread in terms of use
  Higher security standards only with verified accounts
  Charges for additional services
  Potentially prone to phishing attacks
  Prepaid model risks

Stripe

Similar to PayPal, Stripe, a San Francisco company, also offers online payment processing. It's worth taking a look at Stripe, especially for entrepreneurs, because in general the transaction fees charged by Stripe are lower than those charged by PayPal. Customers who choose to pay with Stripe do not need a separate account, just a valid credit or debit card.
A comparison Stripe vs. PayPal shows that payment with Stripe supports a comparatively large number of currencies and is integrated directly into web stores, so customers do not have to additionally register with the payment service provider. This saves time during checkout.
Advantages Disadvantages
No account necessary Not yet widely used
Fast checkout  
Lower fees for companies  

Square

Square is also a financial services provider from San Francisco. With square small businesses and larger ones can accept and process nearly any type of online payment from clients and customers securely. You can also create loyalty programs for customers and manage payments, business accounts and cash flow easily. The service is already enjoying great success with over 30 million users.
Unlike PayPal, square also supports trading with bitcoin.
Advantages Disadvantages
loyalty programs available for customers Not widely available outside of the United States
supports trading with Bitcoin  
secure online payment  
Was this article helpful?
We use cookies on our website to provide you with the best possible user experience. By continuing to use our website or services, you agree to their use. More Information.
Page top