Mollie vs. Stripe: Which Payment Gateway is Right for You?

Accepting online payments is an important process for any eCommerce business. The provider you use can make a lot of difference for your internal operations and the customer’s experience.

Both Mollie and Stripe are payment service providers catering to a range of businesses that trade online.

In this blog post, you’ll learn more about the two payment providers, and which types of businesses they’re best suited to.

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Stripe vs Mollie: Quick Comparison

	Mollie	Stripe
Key features	Simple to setup Focuses on European businesses Supports major payment methods include pay-later schemes like Klarna	Offers advanced API Global coverage Extensive developer tools for custom functionality
Main fees	¹Pay-per-transaction (e.g., €0.32 for iDEAL, and €0.35 for SEPA)	²2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (varies by region)
Best for	Businesses which operate in Europe and accept local European payment methods	Businesses that have a global reach or need advanced integrations and custom workflows

Mollie: An Overview

Key Features of Mollie

Mollie is a simple payment provider that works well with small and growing businesses. With it, you can accept a range of European payment methods including for example:

• Bancontact
• SEPA
• Klarna

With an easy-to-scan dashboard, you can track payments in real time. You can also use the insights to improve your sales processes and forecast revenue.

If you have an eCommerce store, you can plug Mollie into your existing tech stack. It integrates well with popular platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify.

With no monthly fees or contracts, you only pay for the transactions that you process.

Mollie Pricing and Fees

Mollie offers a transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing model, which is useful if you don’t want to get tied down with fixed monthly costs.

Fees will vary depending on the payment method customers use. A transaction through iDEAL generally costs less than a SEPA direct debit, for instance.

Key Benefits of Using Mollie

Mollie serves the European market with a wide range of localized payment methods, making it a top choice if you sell in or to Europe. It has a transparent pricing structure and a user-friendly interface setup. It's also an approachable option for small businesses.

The pay-as-you-go model can also appeal to businesses with fluctuating seasonal sales or low transaction volumes.

Main Considerations of Using Mollie

Mollie operates mostly in the EU. If you exclusively serve the U.S. market or trade on a global scale, it might not be the best payment provider for your business.

There are fewer payment method options than Stripe. Developers looking to build custom workflows for checkout will prefer the advanced tools offered by Stripe.

Stripe: An Overview

Key Features of Stripe

Stripe is a popular developer-first payment platform that caters to businesses of all sizes. It’s particularly well-suited to businesses with global reach operating in many countries.

Currently, Stripe supports over 135 currencies, and allows you to accept a long list of payment methods.

Beyond basic billing and transaction processing, though, Stripe has a variety of advanced features such as:

• Recurring billing
• Subscription management
• Invoicing
• Fraud detection

With these additional features, you have a more robust payment provider, which caters to various types of businesses and industries.

Stripe’s advanced API lets developers further tailor the platform to their business’s needs. This is because they can use it to create custom checkout flows, marketplace solutions, and more.

Stripe Pricing and Fees

Typically, Stripe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per successful card charge in the U.S. For international cards, ³there’s an additional 1% fee, and another 1% is added on for currency conversions.

There are no setup or monthly fees with Stripe. However, you can incur additional costs if you use some of the platform’s more advanced features. These include accepting alternative payment methods.

As such, you can adapt Stripe to your needs, but you should factor in add-on costs if you’re planning on using Stripe for complex needs.

Key Benefits of Using Stripe

Stripe is best suited to businesses that process transactions globally or need an adaptable solution that can cater to more complex payment processing needs.

It’s also a great option for businesses that process high volumes of transactions. This is due to its robust security features, such as fraud prevention. It’s a popular choice for SaaS and subscription-based businesses that bill regularly and must offer seamless customer experiences.

Main Considerations of Using Stripe

Stripe may not be the best fit payment provider for smaller businesses, since setup and customization can require technical skills.

Another point to consider is the additional fees for processing international cards and currency conversions. These fees can add up if your business handles a lot of international transactions.

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Direct Comparison: Mollie payments vs. Stripe

Pricing and Transaction Fees

Mollie can be cheaper for businesses that primarily rely on processing local European payment methods like SEPA or iDEAL. Stripe, on the other hand, can be affordable if you’re processing a lot of standard card transactions.

However, with Stripe, there are additional card and currency conversion fees to consider in some cases if you operate globally.

Supported Payment Methods

Mollie supports a wide range of European payment methods, making it a great option for businesses serving the European market. Stripe wins out when it comes to serving a global audience, though, supporting more than 135 currencies and various payment methods.

Integrations and API

Stripe has one of the most robust APIs in the payment processing industry, which makes it the go-to choice for many developers looking to customize their payment experience.

Stripe also offers complex integrations. While Mollie offers integrations with eCommerce platforms, it has a more limited API.

User Experience and Setup

Mollie is relatively easy to use for small and medium-sized business owners. You can be up and running soon after creating an account even if you lack technical expertise.

Stripe has a steeper learning curve, especially if you want to take advantage of its robust API and advanced features.

Customer Support

Mollie has localized customer support for European customers. Stripe offers 24/7 global customer support, albeit some users report that it doesn’t always make for the most personalized experience.

Use Cases and Ideal Scenarios

Mollie is best suited for small and medium-sized businesses that serve European-based customers. Stripe works well for startups, SaaS businesses, and global enterprises.

When to Choose Mollie

If you’re based in Europe, or exclusively serve a European audience, Mollie is a simple payment solution with an appealing pay-as-you-go model so you can get started quickly and without startup costs.

When to Choose Stripe

If you have a global customer base, or need an adaptable payment processor for customizing your sales experience, Stripe could be the best fit for your business with its advanced features.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Stipe or Mollie for Your Business?

Both Stripe and Mollie are reliable payment processors. However, they serve different audiences.

• Mollie is an excellent option for smaller businesses operating in the EU market.
• Stripe tends to be preferred by enterprises and global businesses that need a feature-rich payment processor to suit their needs.

Common Questions when comparing Stripe vs Mollie:

• Is Mollie cheaper than Stripe?

If you’re offering European payment methods including iDEAL or SEPA, Mollie works out cheaper. Whereas, if you accept card payment, both platforms offer similar rates, though Stripe has additional fees for international transactions.

• Is Mollie a good payment gateway?

Yes, a payment gateway, Mollie is simple to use, easy to set up, and offers a transparent pay-as-you-go model.

• What is the difference between Mollie and Stripe?

The payment processors cater to different audiences. Mollie is a simple solution best suited to European businesses. Stripe is an advanced payment processor that works well for enterprises and global businesses.

• Which payment gateway is best for small business?

Small businesses that serve European customers might prefer Mollie as a simple, cost-effective solution. However, if you have a subscription payment model or require advanced features, Stripe could be a better option.

🔍 You can also read the guide to the best payment gateways to compare more options

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Sources:
¹ Mollie
² Stripe
³ Stripe
Sources last checked on 29-September- 2025