In 2025, Europe is more connected than ever—but its payment landscape remains highly fragmented. From iDEAL in the Netherlands to Sofort in Germany and Bancontact in Belgium, consumers across the continent have strong preferences when it comes to paying online.
If you want to scale your business in Europe, offering local payment methods isn’t optional—it’s essential.
In this guide, we’ll cover the top 5 most-used payment methods in Europe and show you how you can accept all of them with just one tool: PayRequest.
1. iDEAL (Netherlands)
Usage: 70%+ of Dutch online payments
Why it’s popular: Fast, secure, and directly connected to online banking.
Challenge: Requires integration with a provider that supports Dutch banks.
Solution: PayRequest lets you accept iDEAL instantly through Mollie or Stripe, with zero coding and a branded checkout page.
2. Bancontact (Belgium)
Usage: Over 15 million active users
Why it’s popular: Widely trusted and used in both in-store and online purchases.
Challenge: Requires Bancontact-compatible checkout flows.
Solution: PayRequest integrates Bancontact with one click using supported gateways, and lets you offer it alongside cards and wallets.
3. Sofort (Germany, Austria)
Usage: Common across Germany and Austria
Why it’s popular: Bank transfer alternative with instant confirmation.
Challenge: Often overlooked by international merchants unfamiliar with the German market.
Solution: PayRequest includes Sofort as a default option in supported regions, all manageable from one dashboard.
4. SEPA Direct Debit (All of EU)
Usage: Ideal for subscriptions and recurring billing
Why it’s popular: Lower fees and more stable than cards.
Challenge: SEPA mandates, chargeback handling, and customer approval flows.
Solution: With PayRequest, you can easily enable SEPA and automate the mandate process through Stripe or Mollie integrations.
5. Credit & Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
Usage: Universal but varies by country
Why it’s important: Still essential for international customers and one-time purchases.
Challenge: High fees, chargebacks, and compliance.
Solution: PayRequest accepts all major cards through your chosen provider and wraps it in a secure, branded experience.
🛠️ Accept All European Payment Methods With PayRequest
Instead of building complex integrations per country, PayRequest offers:
- ✅ Multi-language checkout pages
- ✅ Automatic currency conversion
- ✅ Built-in payment providers (Mollie, Stripe, PayPal)
- ✅ QR & SMS payment options
- ✅ Easy integration with your CRM or shop
🌍 Expand Across Europe With Local Payment Power
Europe rewards businesses that localize. With PayRequest, you’re not just accepting payments—you’re speaking your customer’s financial language.
Start accepting iDEAL, Bancontact, Sofort, SEPA and more today.
👉 Create your free PayRequest account and launch in minutes.
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