What should you look for when choosing a payment service provider (PSP)?
Your payment provider is more than just another supplier. It determines whether your customers see their favorite payment method at checkout, whether your settlements run smoothly, and how much time you spend each month reconciling your books. That affects both your conversion rate and how much you enjoy your work.
Many merchants compare payment solutions on a single rate: the price per iDEAL transaction. But that's only part of the total cost. Whether you run an online store or a physical shop, five factors give you a better picture of what a payment solution really costs.
1. The pricing structure: watch out for hidden costs
A "from" price gives only a limited picture of the real costs. Monthly costs are often made up of several components, and these aren't always shown clearly in a single price overview. So ask for a complete overview of all costs before you sign an agreement.
One key difference between providers is how transaction fees are calculated: do you pay a fixed amount per transaction or a percentage of the purchase amount? With a percentage, costs rise as the purchase amount goes up. A €800 payment then costs considerably more than an €8 payment, even though both transactions are processed the same way. For Dutch card payments, Buckaroo always charges a fixed amount per transaction, regardless of the purchase amount.
When comparing payment solutions, it pays to look beyond the price per transaction. The points below give you a more complete picture of the total costs.
| Ask your PSP | Why | At Buckaroo |
|---|---|---|
| What does a transaction cost per payment method? | iDEAL, credit cards and foreign cards have very different rates. A fixed amount doesn't grow with your revenue, a percentage does. | iDEAL from €0.199 in a bundle, card payments €0.12 without a bundle, credit card 1.35% |
| What are the fixed monthly costs? | Subscriptions and fees keep running, even in a quiet month. | PCI Compliance Fee €0.95 per month, plus a terminal subscription if you have a payment terminal |
| Are there any one-time costs? | Setup fees are rarely included in the "from" price. | Registration €58.00 one-time |
| What does a reversal cost? | Refunds and chargebacks can be substantial and are often overlooked. | Refund €0.12, Mastercard or Visa chargeback €50.00 |
| When do you get paid out? | The payout period affects your working capital. Faster payouts sometimes cost extra. | 7 Day Payout is optional for €2.70 per month |
| Does your rate drop with volume? | Without tiered pricing, you keep paying the same per transaction as you grow. | Transaction bundles: from €0.12 down to €0.063 per card transaction |
| What is the contract term? | A longer term lowers your monthly amount, but you're often tied to a contract for longer. | Leases run for 1, 3 or 5 years. The longer the term, the lower the monthly cost |
Prices as of July 16, 2026, all amounts excluding VAT. View the full pricing.
Clear pricing matters just as much as a sharp price. Always check that all costs are clearly listed in the pricing, including any additional costs and conditions. That way, you avoid surprises later on. All Buckaroo rates are listed on the pricing page.
2. Does the range of payment methods suit your target audience?
The payment methods you offer affect your conversion rate. If a payment method your customers expect is missing, they may drop off. At the same time, an unnecessarily large selection doesn't always make for a better user experience. So choose the payment methods that match your customers' preferences and the markets you operate in.
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Dutch online store. iDEAL is the foundation. There's little debate about that.
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Consumer sales. Klarna, Riverty, in3 or Billink. Buy now, pay later (BNPL) lowers the barrier to ordering.
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Across borders. Credit cards for international sales, Bancontact for Belgium.
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In-store. Contactless with a card, phone or watch.
Don't just look at what's possible today, but also at developments over the coming years. For example, iDEAL will be integrated into Wero, the new European payment solution, over the next few years. A payment provider that's prepared for this makes the switch easier when the change is rolled out. For independent information about the Dutch payments market, visit the Dutch Payments Association, Betaalvereniging Nederland.
3. Integrations: connecting to your online store or POS system
An attractive rate only matters if the payment solution fits well with your existing system. So check in advance whether a ready-made plug-in is available for your e-commerce platform, POS system or other software. Custom work can make implementation more complex and more expensive.
Buckaroo offers plug-ins for platforms including WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, Lightspeed, Shopware 6 and PrestaShop. If your system isn't on the list, ask about the API and how much work an integration involves.
For a physical store, the connection to your POS system is just as important. An integrated payment terminal picks up the purchase amount automatically, so there's no need to enter it manually. That reduces the risk of input errors and ensures your POS and card payment reports match automatically.
4. Unified commerce: online and in-store under one roof
If you sell both online and in a physical store, bringing both payment flows together with a single payment provider can offer many advantages. If you work with different providers, you often end up with multiple dashboards, invoices and reports that you have to compare. That takes time and makes your financial overview less clear.
With one payment provider, online and card payments are managed centrally. You get one overview of all transactions, one point of contact and reports that match up. That simplifies both day-to-day management and your financial administration.
For the concrete benefits, see what the move to unified commerce actually delivers and the advantages of an omnichannel payment strategy. Not sure if you're ready? Then read this article.
5. Advanced features: grow with subscriptions and credit management
When choosing a payment provider, don't just look at what you need today, but also at the options for the future. As your business grows, the demands on your payment setup often change too. A provider that grows with you saves you from having to switch later.
Think of features such as:
- Subscriptions. Process recurring payments automatically, so customers don't have to enter their payment details again and again.
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Credit management. Support with sending, following up on and collecting invoices.
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Split payments. Automatically divide payments among multiple recipients, for example for platforms and marketplaces.
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Fraud prevention. Extra security to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions.
For businesses that work with subscriptions, a platform model or international online sales, these are often not extras but essential parts of the payment solution. So look beyond the current options and also consider the functionality you may need in the future. Want to know more? Read our whitepapers.
Conclusion: choose based on your growth ambitions
Don't compare payment providers only on the price of an iDEAL transaction, but on the full picture. Look at all costs, the payment methods your customers actually use, the available integrations with your software and the options to grow with you as your business changes.
Want to know which providers are out there and how they compare? Then read what a payment provider is and does.
Frequently asked questions about choosing a payment provider
What should you look for when choosing a payment provider?
When comparing payment providers, pay attention to five points: the full pricing structure (not just the price per iDEAL transaction), the payment methods that suit your target audience, the available integrations with your online store or POS system, the option to manage online and in-store payments with one payment provider, and the functionality you may need in the future.
What hidden costs does a payment provider have?
A starting price doesn't always give a complete picture of the costs. So always ask about every cost item, such as any registration fees, monthly PCI fees, fees for refunds and chargebacks, surcharges for faster payouts and subscription fees per payment terminal. That way you know exactly where you stand up front and avoid surprises later.
How many payment methods do I need?
Choose the payment methods that suit your target audience and the markets you operate in. For most Dutch online stores, iDEAL is the most important payment method. If you sell to consumers, buy now, pay later can help increase conversion. If you also target other countries, credit cards and local payment methods, such as Bancontact in Belgium, are often a logical addition. A clear checkout with the right payment methods usually works better than a wide range that hardly gets used.
Can I manage online payments and card payments with one provider?
Yes. This is called unified commerce: online payments and card payments are managed within one payment environment. This gives you one overview of all transactions, reports that match up better and one point of contact. With Buckaroo, you can handle both the payments in your online store and those at the checkout counter with the same provider.
Do I have to sign a multi-year contract?
That depends on the solution you choose. For online payments, a subscription you can cancel monthly is available. If you choose a payment terminal, you can lease it for 1, 3 or 5 years. The longer the term, the lower the monthly fee. You can also buy a payment terminal, in which case it becomes your property right away.
How much does a chargeback cost?
At Buckaroo, a chargeback for Mastercard or Visa costs €50.00 and a refund costs €0.12. Amounts like these rarely show up in comparisons, yet they can add up quickly if you have many reversals. So ask about them explicitly.
Curious how Buckaroo scores on these five points?
You'll find our rates clearly listed on our website. Have questions or want advice on which solution suits your business best? We're happy to help, with no obligation.
