Written by Matt Reed Updated on 5 August 2024 On this page Can You Really Get a Free Payment Gateway in the UK? Best Payment Gateways for UK Businesses 1. Stripe 2. Square 3. Mollie Buying Guide: How to Choose a Free Payment Gateway How We Test Payment Gateways Verdict FAQs Expand For most UK businesses, a free payment gateway means you can start taking payments online, without paying a monthly gateway fee.You will still pay transaction fees, and those fees can vary depending on card type, card origin and how the payment is taken, such as through an online checkout, invoice or manually entered card details.That is why the best free gateway is not always the one with the lowest headline rate. It is the provider that gives you the best overall value for the way your business actually sells. Can You Really Get a Free Payment Gateway in the UK?Yes, but only in one sense. A free payment gateway usually means you do not pay a monthly software fee to start taking payments online. It does not mean card payments themselves are free.Instead, you pay per transaction. That is now the standard model among the best pay-as-you-go providers in the UK. For smaller businesses, that can be a cheaper way to get started, because you only pay when you make a sale.Low-volume businesses often benefit most, because they avoid fixed monthly costs while sales are still unpredictable.Higher-volume businesses may outgrow free gateways, because percentage fees can become more expensive than custom pricing or paid ecommerce plans.The real comparison points are fees, payout speed, checkout tools and payment methods, not just whether the monthly gateway fee is £0.If you want the short version, free gateways are usually best for newer sellers, service businesses, social sellers and online-first businesses that want to start taking payments without adding another fixed overhead. Best Free Payment Gateways for UK Businesses in 2026The table below compares our top-rated free payment gateways for UK businesses, including monthly cost, core online rates and which type of seller each one suits best. 0 out of 0 backward forward Monthly fee Transaction fee Online payment gateway Stripe Square Mollie None None None Online fees: 1.5% + £0.20 to 3.25% + £0.20In-person fees: 1.4% + £0.20 to 2.9% + £0.20 Online fees: 1.4% + £0.25 to 2.5% + £0.25In-person fees: 1.75% to 3.25% Online fees: 1.2% + £0.20 to 3.25% + £0.20In-person fees: 1.2% to 2.9% (on Mollie’s free pay-as-you-go in-person plan) Included (no fee) Included (no fee) Included (no fee) Note: The table refers to each provider’s standard pay-as-you-go online payment gateway offering, rather than paid add-ons or potential upgrade plans. Why Should You Trust Us? At Expert Market, all of our review titles, rankings and recommendations are written by real people, not AI.To bring you our payment services reviews, we researched and tested 18 providers, assessing them across five main areas of investigation and 23 subcategories.Hardware: Card machine size, portability, connectivity, interface, receipt printing and battery life.Software: Accepted payment methods, payout times, reporting, security features, EPOS tools and integrations.Pricing: Monthly fees, transaction fees, hardware costs and contract terms.Ease of use: How intuitive each system was for everyday users carrying out common tasks.Help and support: Support channels, availability and responsiveness.For this guide, we focused most heavily on the things that matter when comparing free payment gateways, including online transaction fees, checkout tools, international payment support, recurring billing and cash-flow impact through payout speed.You can read more about our full payment gateway methodology here. 1. Stripe: Best Free Payment Gateway for International SalesStripe is the best free payment gateway for international sales, because it gives UK businesses a strong no-monthly-fee starting point with much broader global reach than most rivals.It supports more than 40 payment methods, more than 35 languages and over 135 currencies, while also letting businesses create payment links, subscriptions, invoices and more advanced checkout flows from the same ecosystem. Stripe Online fees From 1.5% + £0.20 Stripe Review Strengths No monthly fee for core online payments and payment links Strongest international reach, with 135+ currencies and 40+ payment methods Supports subscriptions, invoices and no-code payment links Weaknesses Advanced customisation can be technical for smaller teams Optional extras, such as a custom domain, can add cost Pricing See more See less Monthly feesOnline transaction feesHigher online feesPayment links / hosted checkout None From 1.5% + £0.20 Up to 3.25% + £.20 for international cards, plus 2% if currency conversion is required Included What did we like about Stripe?It has the strongest international reach on this page: Stripe’s payment UIs support more than 40 payment methods, more than 35 languages and over 135 currencies, which makes it a strong fit for cross-border ecommerce and digital sales.It works well for businesses that want to scale: You can start with payment links and later move into subscriptions, invoicing and more advanced checkout setups, without switching provider.It is flexible without forcing a contract: That makes Stripe a good long-term fit for growing businesses that do not want to rebuild their payments stack a year later.Stripe Payments' interface is stripped back and simple to navigate. Source: StripeWhat didn’t we like about Stripe?It is not the easiest platform for beginners: Stripe is simple enough to start with, but it is still more technical than Square once you go beyond basic payment links.Its cheapest rate is not universal: Stripe’s fees rise across premium UK cards and overseas cards, so its headline rate does not tell the full story for every business.Some optional extras can add cost: Businesses that want deeper customisation or add-on features may end up paying more over time.How much does Stripe cost?Stripe is not the cheapest standard-rate gateway on this page, but it earns its place because of its international flexibility and breadth of tools. For a closer look, see Stripe pricing for yourself.Standard UK cards: 1.5% + £0.20Premium UK cards: 1.9% + £0.20Cards from the European Economic Area: 2.5% + £0.20All other international cards: 3.25% + £0.20Payment links: Included with Stripe PaymentsWho is Stripe best for?Stripe is best for growing UK businesses that sell internationally, need subscription-friendly billing or want room to move into more advanced checkout customisation later.Who should use Stripe?Businesses selling internationally, because Stripe supports more currencies, languages and payment methods than most rivals.Businesses that want subscriptions or recurring billing, since Stripe can support one-off payments, invoices and recurring payments from one ecosystem.Businesses that expect to grow, because Stripe gives you a simple entry point now and deeper checkout options later.Who shouldn’t use Stripe?Very small businesses that want the easiest possible setup, because Square is simpler to launch and manage.UK-only sellers with straightforward needs, as Stripe’s international focus may be more platform than they really need.Teams without technical support, because the more advanced setup is more involved than with simpler hosted checkout tools. 2. Square: Best Free Payment Gateway for Beginners and Omnichannel SellingSquare is the best free payment gateway for beginners, because it is easy to launch, easy to understand, and ties online and in-person selling into one dashboard.It is particularly strong for sellers that want to take payments through online checkout links, invoices, a free online store and POS tools without paying a monthly fee to get started. Square Pricing From 1.4% + £0.25 Square Payments Review Strengths Very easy to start with, with £0 monthly cost on the free plan Payment links, invoices, and a free online store all sit in one dashboard Works well for sellers that take online and in-person payments together Weaknesses UK links and checkouts are charged in GBP, so it is weaker for multi-currency selling Flat pricing becomes less competitive as online sales volume grows Pricing See more See less Monthly feeOnline transaction feesHigher online feesPayment links / hosted checkout None From 1.4% + £0.25 Up to 2.5% + £0.25 for non-UK cards Included What did we like about Square?It is the easiest provider here to get started with: Square keeps setup simple and gives you payment links, invoices, ecommerce tools and POS features inside one system.It works well even if you do not have a website: Square Online Checkout lets you sell through hosted links, QR codes and buy buttons, which is useful for sole traders and service businesses.It suits omnichannel sellers: If you take payments online and in person, Square’s ecosystem is easier to manage than stitching together separate providers.You can create an item in Square in little to no time, with easily fillable sections and AI description tools. Source: SquareWhat didn’t we like about Square?It is weaker for international selling: Square is much more UK-focused than Stripe or Mollie when it comes to multi-currency and broader international checkout flexibility.Its flat-rate model becomes less attractive as you scale: Businesses with higher online turnover may eventually find lower effective rates elsewhere.It is built more around simplicity than deep customisation: That is good for beginners, but a limitation for more advanced ecommerce businesses.How much does Square cost?Square keeps costs simple, which is one of its biggest advantages for small businesses. It has no setup fees and no monthly fees on its Free plan. For a full breakdown, see Square pricing.Online UK cards: 1.4% + £0.25Online non-UK cards: 2.5% + £0.25Manually entered UK cards: 2.5%Manually entered non-UK cards: 2.5% + 1.5%Invoices, UK cards: 2.5%Invoices, non-UK cards: 2.5% + 1.5%Monthly cost on the Free plan: £0Who is Square best for?Square is best for new businesses, sole traders and small omnichannel sellers that want to start taking payments quickly and keep both cost and complexity low.Who should use Square?New businesses and sole traders, because Square is very easy to set up and does not charge a monthly fee on its basic online tools.Businesses selling online and in person, since Square combines payment links, ecommerce, invoicing and POS in one system.Businesses without a website, as Square lets you take payments through hosted checkout links and QR codes.Who shouldn’t use Square?Businesses prioritising international checkout flexibility, because Stripe and Mollie are stronger for cross-border sales.Higher-volume online sellers, as flat pricing can become expensive compared with providers that offer lower tailored rates.Businesses needing a highly custom checkout flow, because Square is more limited than Stripe for deeper customisation. 3. Mollie: Best Free Payment Gateway for Lowest Domestic Card RateMollie is the cheapest provider on this page for standard UK domestic Visa and Mastercard payments, and is also one of the strongest for wider payment-method choice.That combination makes Mollie a strong pick for UK businesses that sell into Europe, rely on recurring billing or want to offer more than just standard card checkout. Mollie Pricing From 1.2% + £0.20 Strengths Low domestic card rate and no minimum costs or lock-in contracts Broad choice of payment methods, including cards, PayPal, Klarna, Bacs Direct Debit and electronic wallets Particularly strong for recurring billing, invoicing and selling into Europe Weaknesses Less familiar to some UK micro-businesses than Stripe or Square Pricing rises noticeably on commercial, European and non-UK cards Pricing See more See less Monthly feeOnline transaction feesHigher online feesPayment links / hosted checkout None From 1.2% + £0.20 Up to 3.25% + £0.20 for non-UK Visa/Mastercard cards Included What did we like about Mollie?It has the lowest headline domestic card rate on this page: That makes Mollie attractive for online businesses with a high share of standard UK consumer card payments.It supports a broad mix of payment methods: Mollie goes beyond cards with options such as Klarna, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bacs Direct Debit and Pay by Bank.It is a strong fit for recurring billing: Mollie supports recurring payments, invoicing and broader European payment preferences better than many UK-first competitors.Once you have made some sales, Mollie's payment gateway interface will look something like this. Source: MollieWhat didn’t we like about Mollie?Its cheapest rate only applies to a specific card segment: The 1.2% + £0.20 headline rate is for UK domestic consumer Visa and Mastercard, not every card type.Its pricing rises quickly on commercial and non-UK cards: Businesses with more expensive card mixes may not save as much as the headline fee suggests.It is less familiar than Stripe or Square: Some smaller UK merchants may still prefer the more recognisable platforms.How much does Mollie cost?Mollie is on this list partly because it is the cheapest option here for standard UK domestic Visa and Mastercard payments. But that is only one part of the picture. For a full fee breakdown, see Mollie pricing.UK domestic consumer Visa and Mastercard: 1.2% + £0.20UK domestic commercial and European Visa/Mastercard: 2.9% + £0.20All other Visa/Mastercard cards: 3.25% + £0.20UK American Express cards: 2.5% + £0.20All other American Express cards: 2.6% + £0.20Bacs Direct Debit: 0.9% + £0.20Pay by Bank: 0.9% + £0.20Apple Pay and Google Pay: Charged at the rate of the underlying card usedWho is Mollie best for?Mollie is best for ecommerce businesses that want lower standard UK card fees, wider payment-method choice, and a stronger setup for European sales and recurring billing.Who should use Mollie?Businesses selling into European markets, because Mollie supports a broader range of local payment methods and checkout options.Subscription and recurring-revenue businesses, as Mollie is well set up for recurring billing, invoicing and bank-based payments.Ecommerce businesses that want more than just card payments, since Mollie supports a wider mix of electronic wallets, buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) options and bank-based methods.Who shouldn’t use Mollie?Businesses that want the most familiar beginner platform, because Square is simpler and more recognisable to many smaller UK sellers.Businesses whose sales skew heavily to commercial or international cards, as Mollie’s pricing rises noticeably on those transaction types.Very small sellers that only need basic UK card acceptance, because they may not need Mollie’s wider payment-method depth. Buying Guide: How to Choose a Free Payment GatewayThe best free payment gateway depends on how you sell, what your customers pay with and how fast you need access to your money.Compare the real fee mix, not just the headline rate: Standard UK consumer cards are usually the cheapest, but premium cards, commercial cards, invoices, manually entered transactions and non-UK cards can all cost more.Match the gateway to your sales model: If you sell through links, invoices or social media, prioritise hosted checkout tools. If you run a full ecommerce site, prioritise payment-method choice, integrations and checkout flexibility.Check international support carefully: Businesses selling outside the UK should compare currencies, local payment methods and cross-border card fees, because these can affect both conversion and margins.Think about recurring payments early: If you bill monthly, take deposits or run subscriptions, choose a provider that already supports recurring billing or direct debit-style payment flows.Do not overlook payout speed: A cheaper fee is not always better if it slows down your cash flow. Faster settlement can matter as much as lower rates.Choose for where your business is going, not just where it is now: Some gateways are best for getting started quickly, while others are better for international growth or more advanced checkout needs.If you want the simplest rule of thumb from the options on this page, Square is best for getting started quickly, Stripe is best for international growth, and Mollie is best for a wider payment-method choice. How We Test Payment GatewaysTo bring you our reviews, we tested and researched 18 payment services providers, assessing them across five main areas of investigation and 23 subcategories. These included ease of use, the quality and feel of hardware, and the price of products and services.Here’s what we looked at:Hardware: We looked at the size, weight and portability of the card machines they offer, and assessed their connectivity, interface, receipt printing and battery life.Software: We tallied up how many payment types and methods each provider accepts, looked at payout times, reporting and security features, EPOS functionality, and what systems they integrate with.Pricing: We compared monthly fees, card machine costs, transaction fees and contract lengths against the features of each payment services provider, to determine the value for money of each.Ease of use: We had several different average users test each card machine and payment processing system to see how intuitive each one was to use, and how quickly everyday tasks could be completed.Help and support: We assessed providers based on how many different channels of support they offered, and how available and responsive the support team was.We then gave each provider an overall score based on how well they fared in the above assessment categories. Verdict Stripe is the best free payment gateway for most UK businesses in 2026, because it combines strong international reach, flexible checkout tools and no monthly gateway fee.If you want the easiest setup, choose Square. If you want the lowest standard domestic Visa and Mastercard rate on this page, choose Mollie.That makes the right choice less about which provider is “free” and more about which one gives you the best value for your card mix, your checkout needs and your cash flow.If you want a broader view of online payments, read our guide on how to take credit card payments. FAQs What is the cheapest card processing fee for UK small businesses? On this page, Mollie has the cheapest standard headline rate for UK domestic consumer Visa and Mastercard transactions at 1.2% + £0.20. However, that is not the cheapest rate for every payment type. Businesses should also compare fees for commercial cards, overseas cards, invoices and manually entered payments before deciding which gateway is actually cheapest for them. What is the difference between a payment gateway and a merchant account? A payment gateway is the digital service that captures, encrypts and sends payment details when a customer checks out online.A merchant account is the business account used to hold and process those card funds before they are paid out to you.Modern providers like Stripe and Square often bundle both together, which is why smaller businesses do not always need to set them up separately. Can I take online payments if I don’t have a website? Yes. Most free gateways now provide payment links or similar hosted checkout tools. You create a secure link inside your dashboard and send it by email, social media or messaging apps. Your customer then clicks through to a secure checkout page hosted by the provider, so you can take payments without building a full ecommerce site. Written by: Matt Reed Senior Communications and Logistics Expert Matt Reed is a Senior Communications and Logistics Expert at Expert Market. Adept at evaluating products, he focuses mainly on assessing fleet management and business communication software. Matt began his career in technology publishing with Expert Reviews, where he spent several years putting the latest audio-related products and releases through their paces, revealing his findings in transparent, in-depth articles and guides. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism from City, University of London, Matt is no stranger to diving into challenging topics and summarising them into practical, helpful information.