European alternatives to Stripe
Stripe is the well-known US-based payment provider. European PSPs process payments with an EU licence and EU data processing.
Why look for an alternative?
Reasons include EU data processing, an EU licence, European payment methods (iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA) and independence from a US provider.
What to look for in an alternative
- EU/EEA licence (e.g. e-money institution)
- EU data processing
- European payment methods (iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA)
- Transparent transaction fees
- Integration into shop/checkout
The best European alternatives at a glance
Sorted by suitability as a replacement for the tool you searched. The Sovereignty Score independently rates how European and data-sovereign a provider is – so the two values can differ.
Dutch payment provider with an EU licence and EU data processing – a European alternative to Stripe and PayPal.
Dutch enterprise payment platform with a European banking licence – online, in-store and marketplace payments from one provider.
Comparison table
The top providers in detail
Mollie is a Dutch payment service provider from Amsterdam that handles online and in-person payments for European merchants. The company is licensed as an e-money institution by the Dutch central bank and operates across the entire European Economic Area (plus the UK and Switzerland) via EEA passporting. Mollie covers common European payment methods – card, SEPA direct debit, iDEAL, Bancontact, PayPal and more – and, according to the provider, processes payment data in European data centers under EU jurisdiction. Pricing is transaction-based and transparent, usually with no monthly fee. This makes Mollie a practical European alternative to Stripe or PayPal.
Strengths
- EU licence (e-money institution) and payment processing in the EU/EEA
- Broad European payment methods (iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA, card)
- Transparent, transaction-based pricing with no monthly fee
- Easy integration into common shop and platform systems
Weaknesses
- Not open source, no self-hosting (payment SaaS)
- Only for companies from the EEA, UK and Switzerland
- Less developer-platform depth than the US market leader
Adyen is a Dutch payments and fintech company from Amsterdam that unifies online, in-store and marketplace payments on a single platform. Adyen is listed on Euronext and holds its own European banking licence (acquiring bank), giving it deep control over the payment chain. The platform is built for larger, often international companies and high transaction volumes, and bills transparently via interchange++ with no monthly fee. As a European provider with EU data processing, Adyen is a sovereignty-friendly alternative to US payment platforms – especially for enterprise and omnichannel setups.
Strengths
- European banking licence (acquiring bank), deep payment chain
- Online, in-store and marketplace payments on one platform
- Transparent interchange++ pricing with no monthly fee
- Built for high volumes and international companies
Weaknesses
- Not open source, no self-hosting
- Strongly geared to larger companies – often too complex for small shops
- Higher minimums and integration effort than SMB PSPs
Migration effort
| Providers | Migration effort | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Mollie | medium | 84/100 |
| Adyen | high | 78/100 |
When switching pays off
For SMBs and marketplaces with European payment methods, Mollie is a practical choice. For large, international merchants with high volume, Adyen offers an enterprise platform.
When to stick with your current tool
If you heavily use Stripe's broad developer and billing platform (subscriptions, invoicing, Connect), check the alternative's coverage carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Do European PSPs have an EU licence?
The Sovereignty Score is an editorial orientation aid, not legal advice. How we rate.