Top 5 Adyen alternatives: compare fees, features & benefits

Key takeaways

• Adyen is an established global payment platform primarily built for large businesses with high transaction volumes, offering online, mobile, or in-store payments across approximately 100 countries.¹

• There are several strong Adyen alternatives in Australia, including Airwallex, Braintree, Payoneer, PayPal, and Stripe, each catering to different business needs – from simple online payments to cross-border transactions.

• If your business is expanding internationally, platforms such as Airwallex combine global payments with multi-currency accounts, FX tools, and broader financial operations, often at lower and more predictable costs.

If you run a growing global business, you’ll need a payment platform that makes it easy to manage international transactions, move money across borders, and open accounts in local currencies. 

While Adyen may be a great option for some companies, it may not be the best match for businesses with more complex needs. Luckily, you have options. Based on our research, we’ve identified some excellent alternatives, including Airwallex, Braintree, and PayPal, with Airwallex standing out for its seamless international solutions and all-in-one financial management tools.

In this guide, we explore five Adyen alternatives to help you find the best fit for your business.

How does Adyen work?

Adyen is a Dutch financial technology company that helps businesses accept payments from customers. The platform supports online, mobile, and point-of-sale (POS) transactions.

Since its founding in 2006, Adyen has grown into an end-to-end financial platform and now integrates payments, data analytics, and fund management services.

It’s used by major global enterprises, such as Spotify, eBay, and Uber, has a global reach across 190+ countries, and can handle large payment volumes in-store and digitally.

You can use major credit and debit cards, digital wallets, “buy now, pay later” services, and local payment methods.

The platform also supports multi-currency settlement, letting businesses accept payments in more than 30 currencies. If the payout currency differs from the transaction currency, Adyen automatically converts funds using its own reference rate, combined with an FX management fee set out in the customer’s contract.

Adyen has two options for Aussie businesses: the interchange++ model, which includes interchange fees, card fees, and Adyen’s mark-up², or a fixed processing fee combined with a payment method fee for each transaction.

The platform also provides tools to optimise the checkout experience, including customised error messages and saved payment details for repeat customers.

The company also offers risk and fraud management via Adyen’s Protect engine, which uses machine learning to identify suspicious transactions and manage disputes. Be aware, however, that availability varies by region.

The top alternatives to Adyen

Now, we’ll walk you through the top Adyen alternatives in Australia.

Airwallex is an Australian global financial technology company that offers a range of financial services, including international payments, multi-currency accounts, and Corporate Cards. It aims to help businesses of all sizes drive their global growth through easy-to-use transaction solutions.

Braintree is a payment platform that lets businesses accept, process, and split payments in multiple currencies. It supports a variety of payment methods, including credit or debit cards, PayPal, and several digital wallets.

Payoneer is a global fintech company that offers digital payment solutions. It lets businesses send and receive funds, manage finances, and operate internationally. With Payoneer, users can handle cross-border payments and access global markets.

PayPal is a leading payment gateway that's been serving customers worldwide for 20 years. It lets eCommerce brands support payments from credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.

Stripe is a financial services and mobile payment company that equips businesses with the tools to accept payments, manage sales, and optimise operations.

Compare the top 5 alternatives to Adyen

The top Adyen alternatives: Key features and fees

Airwallex, Braintree, Payoneer, PayPal, and Stripe are all leading Adyen competitors, each offering different strengths depending on your business needs. Our platform, Airwallex, stands out from the rest with its end-to-end financial operations and global reach. It’s a strong option if you’re looking to scale your financial operations domestically or internationally. 

Below, we summarise the key features and fees of each. You can find full product and fee information, including other charges, on each provider’s official website.

Airwallex

Airwallex is an Australian global fintech company offering financial services, including online payments, multi-currency business accounts, and FX transfers. Our payment products let businesses accept domestic and international payments through either cards or local payment methods in more than 180 countries.

We’re designed to help businesses of all sizes manage and move money globally from one platform to another. You can open local currency accounts without setting up separate businesses in each region, settle payments in the same currency customers pay in, and reduce unnecessary FX costs. To help your business convert more customers at checkout, we also offer a checkout solution that you can embed directly into your website. It supports multiple payment methods and currencies, reducing friction for international customers while keeping processing fees low. 

Alongside payments, we provide multi-currency Visa Corporate Cards, expense management tools, and open APIs for customised integrations, making us a strong option for businesses scaling internationally.

What fees does Airwallex charge?

Subscription fees: Airwallex’s ‘Explore’ bundle starts from A$29 per month, which can be waived by holding a minimum of A$10,000 or depositing A$5,000 per month.

Domestic transactions: Free

International transactions: Free to 120+ countries

Pros

• An all-in-one platform for business financial operations, combining accounts, payments, corporate cards, and more

• Like-for-like settlements let businesses pay and get paid in the same currencies as their customers 

• Extensive payment reach, with 160+ local payment methods available across 180+ countries

Cons

• No physical branches – digital-only platform and service

• New updates and optimisations are being released regularly, which may not suit every user

• Physical POS system coming soon

Braintree

Owned by PayPal, Braintree offers a customisable payment solution. It features an API for integration into websites and apps and supports various payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and digital wallets. The company also offers fraud detection and prevention tools. 

For less technical business owners, Braintree may have a steeper learning curve compared with other payment solutions. International transaction fees are also relatively high compared to those of other Adyen alternatives.

What fees does Braintree charge?

Subscription fees: Free account

Domestic transactions: 1.75% + A$0.30 per transaction

International transactions: 3.9% + A$0.30 per transaction

Pros 

• Supports popular payment methods and mobile wallets 

• Suitable for subscription-based businesses with recurring billing 

• Integrates with platforms like BigCommerce

Cons 

• High international fees, especially with FX conversion 

• Limited support for custom features, which may be difficult for businesses without technical resources

• Not ideal for brick-and-mortar stores – it primarily focuses on online stores

Payoneer

Payoneer is popular with freelancers and small businesses because of its focus on cross-border transactions. The platform’s intuitive interface supports multiple payment methods, including bank transfers and debit/credit cards. Payoneer also provides a prepaid Mastercard at $29.95 per year, which you can use for online and in-store purchases. 

While the company offers payment processing services for marketplaces and platforms, be aware that fees for international transfers are relatively high and can add up over time.

What fees does Payoneer charge?

Subscription fees: Free account. Prepaid Mastercard costs US$29.95 (A$44.70) per year.

Domestic transactions: Free for transactions between Payoneer accounts. All other transactions cost 2% or 3% per transaction if paying via credit card

International transactions: 0.5% transfer fee

Pros

• Supports multi-currency accounts and currency conversion 

• Serves both individuals and businesses

• Free transactions between Payoneer accounts

Cons

• Transfer limits of US$15,000 (A$22,402.60) per credit card transaction, which may be limiting for larger businesses 

• Primarily a payments product, with no multi-currency accounts or corporate cards

• Users may need another platform to manage other financial operations

Note that these are receiving card transactions, so transactions will involve conversion from supported currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP.

PayPal 

PayPal supports several payment methods, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal balances. It also offers invoicing, subscription payments, and mobile payments. 

The platform is available for personal and business use. However, business transactions are likely to incur higher fees, which may affect your organisation’s bottom line over the longer term.

What fees does PayPal charge?

Subscription fees: Free account

Domestic transactions: 2.9%, plus fixed fee 

International transactions: Varies by location

Pros 

• Widespread acceptance and various payment methods

• Suitable for physical and digital stores

• Offers buyer and seller protection

Cons

• Higher fees for international transactions

• Limited customisations

• Doesn’t hold multi-currency funds

Stripe 

Stripe helps businesses take payments, both online and in person. It offers a suite of payment processing APIs, letting businesses accept, manage, and reconcile online transactions. For brick-and-mortar stores, the company provides a POS system to accept in-person payments. 

Stripe's tools and services support various payment methods and currencies, but the platform doesn't offer a multi-currency account to hold international funds or expense management tools to help with financial operations.

What fees does Stripe charge?

Subscription fees: No account fees

Domestic transactions: 1.7% + A$0.30 per transaction

International transactions: 3.5% + A$0.30 per transaction. An additional 2% if currency conversion is required.

Pros

• Extensive analytics and reporting tools

• POS system for physical stores

• Minimal subscription fees may make Stripe an accessible option

Cons

• Primarily a payments product, with no multi-currency accounts or corporate cards

• Users may need another platform to manage other financial operations

• Costly for international transactions, especially where currency conversion is involved

Why choose Airwallex over Adyen?

Why choose Airwallex as your Adyen alternative?

Although Adyen has some excellent features, it may not be for everyone.

Trusted by more than 100,000 companies worldwide, Airwallex streamlines international payments while supporting broader financial operations. From taking overseas customer payments to treasury management and providing embedded finance, we built Airwallex for entrepreneurs with global ambitions.

Our payment gateway lets companies accept payments from users in more than 180 countries, with integrations across platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento – making it far easier for you to sell internationally.

Airwallex’s Business Accounts also let you settle funds in the same currency they’re paid in, avoiding unnecessary conversion costs. When FX is required, we offer interbank rates with a modest markup of around 0.5–1%, often undercutting traditional payment providers.

While Adyen may suit certain enterprise setups, businesses planning to scale globally will likely find Airwallex’s transparent pricing, multi-currency flexibility, and all-in-one platform to be a better value choice.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the cheapest alternative to Adyen in Australia?

If your company takes international payments, Airwallex is often one of the most cost-effective alternatives to Adyen. Our low FX markup and ability to settle payments in the same currency customers pay in can help reduce conversion costs. Other providers, such as Stripe and PayPal, typically charge higher fees for international transactions and currency conversion.

What’s the best platform for eCommerce businesses?

Luckily, eCommerce businesses have several options. Airwallex integrates with platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. Stripe and Braintree could suit businesses focused on domestic online payments or subscriptions – although they often require additional tools to manage global finances.

Which of Adyen’s competitors is best for international expansion?

Airwallex is designed for international growth, letting businesses accept, hold, and send multiple currencies while keeping FX costs low. Compared with Adyen, Stripe, or PayPal, we offer a more accessible and cost-efficient setup for Australian businesses expanding overseas.

Sources

1. https://www.adyen.com/en_AU/press-and-media/adyen-leader-idc-marketscapes

2. https://www.adyen.com/en_AU/pricing

3. https://www.braintreepayments.com/au/braintree-pricing

4. https://pages.payoneer.com/business-account/

5. https://www.payoneer.com/about/pricing/

6. https://www.paypal.com/au/business/accept-payments/payment-methods

7. https://www.paypal.com/au/digital-wallet/send-receive-money/send-money

8. https://stripe.com/au/use-cases/global-businesses

9. https://stripe.com/au/pricing

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex was not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]].

The Airwallex Yield Liquidity Fund (Yield) is issued by K2 Asset Management Limited (K2) (ABN 95 085 445 094, AFSL No 244393), a wholly owned subsidiary of K2 Asset Management Holdings Limited. This information doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) for Yield, available at www.airwallex.com.au/terms from Airwallex Capital Pty Ltd (ABN 37 609 653 312, AFSL No. 549026). All investments carry risk.