Adyen vs Stripe
Two enterprise-grade payment platforms compared. Stripe excels at developer experience and speed to market; Adyen excels at unified commerce and enterprise scale.
Our Verdict
For most UK businesses under £10M annual volume, Stripe is the better choice — faster to integrate, better docs, lower minimums, and more flexible billing. Adyen makes sense at enterprise scale (£10M+) where its unified commerce platform, direct acquiring relationships, and interchange++ pricing deliver real savings. If you're processing millions monthly across online and in-store, Adyen's economics win.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Adyen | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| UK card processing fee | Interchange++ (~0.6–1.8%) | 1.5% + 20p (UK cards) |
| Pricing model | Interchange++ | Flat rate |
| Minimum volume | Enterprise focus | No minimum |
| Developer API quality | Good, complex | Best in class |
| Time to integrate | 4–8 weeks typical | 1–2 weeks typical |
| In-person payments | Strong (unified commerce) | Stripe Terminal |
| Subscription billing | Via tokenisation | Stripe Billing (native) |
| Marketplace payments | Adyen for Platforms | Stripe Connect |
| Local payment methods | 250+ | 100+ |
| Direct acquiring | ||
| Multi-currency | 150+ | 135+ |
| POS hardware | Full range | Terminal readers |
Choose Adyen when…
- You process £10M+ annually — interchange++ pricing saves significantly
- You need unified online + in-store payments on one platform
- You want direct acquiring relationships (better auth rates)
- You operate across many countries with local payment methods
- You need enterprise-grade risk management and reporting
Choose Stripe when…
- You want to launch fast — days not months
- Developer experience and documentation quality matter
- You need advanced subscription billing (Stripe Billing)
- You're building a marketplace (Stripe Connect is simpler)
- You don't meet Adyen's volume requirements
- Flat-rate pricing is easier to forecast
Implementation Pricing
Whichever platform you choose, we implement it. Transparent, project-based pricing.
Stripe Integration
£2,500–£12,500
1–5 weeks
- ✓Checkout or Elements
- ✓Payment Intents API
- ✓Webhook handling
- ✓3-D Secure
- ✓Go-live support
Adyen Integration
£7,500–£17,500
3–7 weeks
- ✓Web Service API
- ✓3-D Secure 2
- ✓Local payment methods
- ✓Webhook HMAC verification
- ✓Multi-currency setup
Platform / Enterprise
£15,000–£30,000
6–12 weeks
- ✓Stripe Connect or Adyen for Platforms
- ✓Sub-merchant onboarding
- ✓Split payments
- ✓Terminal / POS integration
- ✓Ongoing support
Adyen vs Stripe FAQ
Is Adyen cheaper than Stripe?+
At high volumes, yes — Adyen's interchange++ pricing passes through actual interchange costs (often 0.6–1.8% for UK cards) plus a small markup. Stripe's flat 1.5% + 20p is simpler but more expensive at scale.
Can I switch from Stripe to Adyen?+
Yes — we handle migrations including saved card tokens (via PAN transfer), subscription migration, and parallel running during cutover. Typical migration takes 4–8 weeks.
Which is better for marketplaces?+
Stripe Connect is simpler to integrate and better documented. Adyen for Platforms is more powerful at enterprise scale but requires more implementation effort. For most SaaS marketplaces, Stripe Connect is the faster path.
Do I need both online and in-store payments?+
If yes, Adyen's unified commerce platform is genuinely better — one integration for online, in-store, and mobile with unified reporting. Stripe Terminal works but isn't as mature for complex retail.
Still Deciding?
We implement both platforms. Tell us about your business and we'll recommend the right one — then build it.
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