Which online payment solution should you choose in France?

How to find the best online payment solution in France? To answer this question, you first need to determine your needs as a user. Are you an individual or a business? Is your business model B2B or B2C? Do you have an e-commerce site? Where are your clients located (France, Eurozone, worldwide...)?

Ideal for both businesses and individuals, Wise is a unique payment solution that lets you receive money transfers in multiple currencies without commission on the amount, with conversion at the mid-market exchange rate (no markup). This makes it a more transparent and usually more affordable option than most traditional banks in France.

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How to choose the best online payment solution in France?

To find the best online payment solution, you first need to determine your needs. Here’s a checklist to help you get organized:

Businesses or individuals

Are you a business or do you need a personal payment solution? Some payment providers offer advantageous pricing based on your projected revenue, while others set limits or caps on payments for individuals. When searching for the ideal payment solution, start with this key distinction.

Business clients or individual clients

If you’re a business, will you be receiving payments from other businesses or individuals? Depending on whether payments are made with a business card or a standard bank card, the commission and/or fixed fees often vary. Note that fees also depend on the card type (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) and whether it’s a business or personal card.

Geography, applicable fees, and the ideal payment solution

If you’re a business: Where are your clients located? If you’re an individual: Where are your main financial interests? Does your payment solution need to work only in France, across Europe, or internationally? Keep in mind that international transaction fees are usually higher than European ones (commissions average around 2% of the amount). Choose your payment solution accordingly.

Online store and payment solutions

If you have an e-commerce site or plan to launch an online business, it’s best to choose your e-commerce platform before your payment solution. Most online store hosts have partnerships with specific payment providers. Check which integrations they support (API).

Comparison of the main online payment solutions

We’ve compared the main payment solutions for you. The prices mentioned below are the lowest available and apply to standard transactions.

International transaction fees, which are generally higher, have been excluded (you can find them in our sources).

Determine your needs to find your payment solution

• PayPal is an ideal payment solution for businesses or individuals located in the Eurozone.
• Mollie is well suited for payments made by individuals within the Eurozone.
• With no commission or fixed fees on transactions in multiple currencies, Wise can be an economical option for both businesses and individuals.
• PayPlug integrates easily with many e-commerce sites as a payment solution.
• Revolut is a good choice for low-cost payments within the Eurozone (check applicable limits).

Thanks to its multi-currency account system, Wise is a payment solution that allows you to receive transfers for free at the mid-market rate (no commission) for the following currencies: AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, RON, SGD, TRY, USD (non-wire). A fixed fee of $6.11 applies only to USD payments.

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we answer the most common questions from businesses and individuals looking for the best online payment solution in France.

What are the different types of payment methods?

There are two main types of payment methods:⁵

• Fiat payments, such as coins and banknotes.
• Scriptural payments, which are recorded on accounts — like bank cards, checks, transfers, direct debits, and electronic money.

According to the Banque de France, the development of online payments was driven by the growth of e-commerce and advances in technology, such as contactless and mobile payments.

The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) also helped make cross-border payments faster, easier, and more secure.

What is the safest online payment solution?

Payment systems using virtual bank cards allow consumers to use a unique, one-time card number for each purchase — helping prevent hacking risks.

Two-factor authentication is another powerful tool to protect against fraud. Additionally, the money you deposit in your Wise account is covered by a safeguarding obligation. In line with regulations, Wise must keep all customer funds separate from its own company finances.

To stay safe, you should also check the legitimacy of the online store where you’re making a purchase. The DGCCRF (Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes) advises searching for the store’s name along with the word “scam.” Negative experiences are often reported online.

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.