PayPal vs Adyen
type: Article
description: Adyen is a pure payment processing platform optimized for high-volume enterprise transactions with lower fees (1.25-2.5%), while PayPal is a diversified fintech ecosystem offering payments, invoicing, and lending with higher merchant fees (2.2-3.49%) but broader consumer adoption and simpler setup.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-08T16:15:17.461Z
date created: 2026-07-08T16:15:17.461Z
date modified: 2026-07-08T16:15:17.507Z
content reference time: 2026-07-08T16:15:17.507Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: PayPal
about: Adyen
abstract: Adyen is a pure payment processing platform optimized for high-volume enterprise transactions with lower fees (1.25-2.5%), while PayPal is a diversified fintech ecosystem offering payments, invoicing, and lending with higher merchant fees (2.2-3.49%) but broader consumer adoption and simpler setup.
text: Transaction Fee Structure. Primary Market Focus. Global Payment Methods Supported. Setup Complexity. Multi-Product Ecosystem. Monthly Minimum Fee. Chargeback Protection Coverage
conclusion text: Choose PayPal if you're a small-to-mid-sized merchant seeking simplicity, quick setup, diverse financial services, and don't process massive transaction volumes. Choose Adyen if you're an enterprise merchant processing high volumes, prioritize lower fees through scale, need advanced customization, and require extensive international payment method coverage.
additional property: Credit/Debit Card Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 2.99% | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Withdrawal to Bank Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Free | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Countries Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 200+ | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 4.1 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Peer-to-Peer Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Free (bank account) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Transaction Limit (Weekly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: No published limit | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Business Tools
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Invoicing, payment collection, reports | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Transfer Speed (to Bank)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 2-3 business days | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Fraud Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Comprehensive buyer/seller protection | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Social Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Basic transaction history | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Biometric Authentication
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 50% (2026 target) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Complex with business verification | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Instant Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 1.99% + $0.25 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Standard Transfer Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 1-2 business days | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Global User Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 432 million users | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Buyer Protection Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 180 days | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Crypto Assets Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Cryptocurrency checkout only | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Merchant Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 3.7 million merchants | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Average Transaction Speed (Domestic P2P)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 1,440-4,320 minutes (1-3 business days) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: P2P Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: $0 (friends/family with bank account) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Supported Countries
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 200+ countries | Adyen: 190+ markets
  value reference: PayPal
additional property: Active User Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 435 (global) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Buyer Protection Coverage Maximum
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: $100,000 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Merchant Acceptance Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 15+ million merchants | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Goods & Services Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Participating US Financial Institutions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Direct signup (not institution-dependent) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Active Registered Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 435 million | Adyen: 500+ million (via partners)
  value reference: Adyen
additional property: Domestic US P2P Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Free | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Annual Payment Volume
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: $936 billion | Adyen: $520+ billion
  value reference: PayPal
additional property: Settlement Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 24-48 hours standard | Adyen: Real-time available
  value reference: Adyen
additional property: Fraud Detection Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 98.2% | Adyen: 99.7%
  value reference: Adyen
additional property: Minimum Annual Volume Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: No minimum | Adyen: $0.5-1M typical
  value reference: PayPal
additional property: API Integration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 3-7 days typical | Adyen: 2-4 weeks enterprise
additional property: Standard Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 2.2-3.49% | Adyen: 1.25-2.5%
  value reference: Adyen
additional property: Annual Cost on $100k Transaction Volume
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: $2,203 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Developer API Satisfaction Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 85% | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Standard Settlement Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 1-2 days | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Fraud Detection Chargeback Reduction
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Basic AVS/CVV only (~8%) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 5-15 minutes | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 100+ | Adyen: 150+
  value reference: Adyen
additional property: In-Person Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 2.99% + $0.30 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Online Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 2.99% + $0.30 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Countries Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 190+ | Adyen: 195+
  value reference: Adyen
additional property: Minimum POS Hardware Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: $0 (optional) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Year Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 1998 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Inventory Management Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: Basic (PayPal Tracking) | Adyen: N/A
additional property: International Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: $4.99-7.99 | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Exchange Rate Markup
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 2-3% | Adyen: N/A
additional property: Multi-Currency Account Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: PayPal: 10-15 currencies | Adyen: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/paypal
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/paypal
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/adyen
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/adyen
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/paypal-vs-adyen)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/paypal-vs-adyen)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-adyen
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-venmo
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cash-app-vs-paypal
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/zelle-vs-paypal
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-braintree
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-square
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-wise
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/adyen-vs-stripe
teaches: How to choose between PayPal and Adyen
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: PayPal vs Adyen — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

PayPal
type: Thing
alternate name: Paypal
language: en-US
description: Diversified fintech platform providing payment processing, invoicing, lending, and working capital services.
image: ImageObject
  caption: PayPal
subject of: PayPal vs Adyen
image: ImageObject
  caption: PayPal

Adyen
type: Organization
language: en-US
description: Enterprise-grade payment processing platform designed for global merchants with high transaction volumes.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Adyen
subject of: PayPal vs Adyen
image: ImageObject
  caption: Adyen

PayPal vs Adyen — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for PayPal vs Adyen. Contains 88 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Credit/Debit Card Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Withdrawal to Bank Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Countries Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Peer-to-Peer Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Transaction Limit (Weekly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Limits
variable measured: Business Tools
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Transfer Speed (to Bank)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Speed
variable measured: Fraud Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Social Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Biometric Authentication
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Instant Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Standard Transfer Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Speed
variable measured: Global User Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Buyer Protection Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection
variable measured: Crypto Assets Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Merchant Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Average Transaction Speed (Domestic P2P)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: P2P Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Supported Countries
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Active User Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Buyer Protection Coverage Maximum
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection
variable measured: Merchant Acceptance Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Merchant Integration
variable measured: Goods & Services Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Participating US Financial Institutions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Active Registered Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale & Reach
variable measured: Domestic US P2P Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Payment Volume
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale & Reach
variable measured: Settlement Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Fraud Detection Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Minimum Annual Volume Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Requirements
variable measured: API Integration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Standard Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost on $100k Transaction Volume
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Developer API Satisfaction Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Standard Settlement Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Fraud Detection Chargeback Reduction
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: In-Person Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Online Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Countries Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Reach
variable measured: Minimum POS Hardware Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Hardware Investment
variable measured: Year Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Background
variable measured: Inventory Management Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: International Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: International Transfers
variable measured: Exchange Rate Markup
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: International Transfers
variable measured: Multi-Currency Account Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Transfer Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Payment Ecosystem
variable measured: Typical Savings on $1,000 Int'l Transfer (vs bank)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Value
variable measured: Supported Currencies
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: International
variable measured: International Transfer Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Transfer Speed
variable measured: Dispute Resolution Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Support
variable measured: Account Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Transfer Speed (Domestic)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Peer-to-Peer Transfer Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Buyer Protection Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audience Size
variable measured: Participating US Banks/Credit Unions
variable measured: Daily Transfer Limit (Typical)
variable measured: Per-Transaction Fixed Fee
variable measured: Average Setup Time
variable measured: Merchant User Base
variable measured: Chargeback Protection
variable measured: Monthly Minimum Fee
variable measured: Company Valuation
variable measured: Global Market Share
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-adyen)

PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for PayPal vs Adyen.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Coverage
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Limits
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Speed
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Protection
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Merchant Integration
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Scale & Reach
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Requirements
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Global Reach
has defined term: Hardware Investment
has defined term: Background
has defined term: International Transfers
has defined term: Payment Ecosystem
has defined term: Value
has defined term: International
has defined term: Transfer Speed
has defined term: Customer Support
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Audience Size
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Risk Management
has defined term: Financial Metrics
has defined term: Geographic Strength
has defined term: Product Features
has defined term: Target Market
has defined term: History
has defined term: Network Size
has defined term: Enterprise Adoption
has defined term: Scale
has defined term: Scale & Performance
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Deployment

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: coverage
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: limits
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: protection
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Merchant Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: merchant-integration
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale & Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-&-reach
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Requirements
type: DefinedTerm
term code: requirements
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Global Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: global-reach
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Hardware Investment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: hardware-investment
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Background
type: DefinedTerm
term code: background
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

International Transfers
type: DefinedTerm
term code: international-transfers
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payment Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payment-ecosystem
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: value
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

International
type: DefinedTerm
term code: international
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Transfer Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: transfer-speed
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-support
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience-size
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Risk Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: risk-management
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Metrics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-metrics
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Geographic Strength
type: DefinedTerm
term code: geographic-strength
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-features
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Target Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: target-market
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: history
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Network Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: network-size
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-adoption
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale & Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-&-performance
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: PayPal vs Adyen — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-08T16:15:17.507Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: paypal-vs-adyen)
main entity: Which payment processor is cheaper: PayPal or Adyen?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Adyen is significantly cheaper for high-volume merchants, with fees as low as 1.25% compared to PayPal's 2.2-3.49% baseline. At $1M in monthly transactions, Adyen saves approximately $9,700-$22,000 annually. However, PayPal's all-in-one ecosystem may offset costs for SMBs avoiding multiple platform subscriptions.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Adyen harder to set up than PayPal?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, Adyen requires 2-4 weeks and technical developer involvement, while PayPal can be activated in under 5 minutes. PayPal is plug-and-play; Adyen requires API integration, custom development, and dedicated implementation support. Enterprise merchants benefit from Adyen's customization; SMBs prefer PayPal's simplicity.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which processor supports more payment methods globally?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Adyen supports 150+ payment methods across 195 countries versus PayPal's 100+ methods in 190+ countries. Adyen's breadth is superior for merchants requiring extensive local payment options (e.g., regional digital wallets, bank transfers, and buy-now-pay-later solutions).
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use PayPal or Adyen for invoicing and lending?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: PayPal offers integrated invoicing, working capital loans, and early payment discounting. Adyen focuses exclusively on payment processing and does not provide invoicing or lending products. PayPal's ecosystem is broader; Adyen requires third-party integrations for complementary services.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which processor has better fraud protection?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both offer strong fraud prevention, but Adyen uses proprietary machine learning models and real-time risk scoring optimized for enterprise fraud patterns. PayPal's fraud tools are comprehensive but less customizable. For enterprise merchants processing $100M+ annually, Adyen's advanced modeling provides an edge; PayPal suffices for most SMBs.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between PayPal and Adyen
type: HowTo
description: Adyen is a pure payment processing platform optimized for high-volume enterprise transactions with lower fees (1.25-2.5%), while PayPal is a diversified fintech ecosystem offering payments, invoicing, and lending with higher merchant fees (2.2-3.49%) but broader consumer adoption and simpler setup.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Transaction Fee Structure
step: Consider: Primary Market Focus
step: Consider: Global Payment Methods Supported
step: Consider: Setup Complexity
step: Consider: Multi-Product Ecosystem
step: Consider: Monthly Minimum Fee
step: Consider: Chargeback Protection Coverage
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose PayPal if you're a small-to-mid-sized merchant seeking simplicity, quick setup, diverse financial services, and don't process massive transaction volumes. Choose Adyen if you're an enterprise merchant processing high volumes, prioritize lower fees through scale, need advanced customization, and require extensive international payment method coverage.

Consider: Transaction Fee Structure
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Transaction Fee Structure: PayPal has 2.2-3.49% + $0.30 per transaction, while Adyen has 1.25-2.5% (volume-dependent).

Consider: Primary Market Focus
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Primary Market Focus: PayPal has Mid-market & SMB merchants, while Adyen has Enterprise & high-volume merchants.

Consider: Global Payment Methods Supported
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Global Payment Methods Supported: PayPal has 190+ countries, 100+ payment methods, while Adyen has 195+ countries, 150+ payment methods.

Consider: Setup Complexity
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Setup Complexity: PayPal has Simple plug-and-play integration, while Adyen has Requires dedicated technical integration.

Consider: Multi-Product Ecosystem
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Multi-Product Ecosystem: PayPal has Payments, invoicing, working capital, lending, while Adyen has Payment processing focus only.

Consider: Monthly Minimum Fee
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Monthly Minimum Fee: PayPal has $0 (no minimum), while Adyen has $0 (no minimum).

Consider: Chargeback Protection Coverage
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Chargeback Protection Coverage: PayPal has Up to 100% coverage via Seller Protection, while Adyen has Up to 100% coverage via Chargeback Protection.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: PayPal vs Adyen
review body: Adyen is a pure payment processing platform optimized for high-volume enterprise transactions with lower fees (1.25-2.5%), while PayPal is a diversified fintech ecosystem offering payments, invoicing, and lending with higher merchant fees (2.2-3.49%) but broader consumer adoption and simpler setup.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: PayPal vs Adyen

Average Transfer Speed
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 1-3 business days | Adyen: N/A

Merchant Acceptance
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 29+ million | Adyen: N/A

Typical Savings on $1,000 Int'l Transfer (vs bank)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: $20-30 savings | Adyen: N/A

Supported Currencies
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 25 currencies | Adyen: N/A

International Transfer Speed
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 1-5 business days | Adyen: N/A

Dispute Resolution Time
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 60 days | Adyen: N/A

Account Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 10-15 minutes | Adyen: N/A

Transfer Speed (Domestic)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 1,440-4,320 minutes (1-3 days standard) | Adyen: N/A

Peer-to-Peer Transfer Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 1.9% + $0.30 | Adyen: N/A

Buyer Protection Coverage
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: $2,500 | Adyen: N/A

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 435 | Adyen: N/A

Participating US Banks/Credit Unions
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A (standalone platform) | Adyen: N/A

Daily Transfer Limit (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: $20,000+ | Adyen: N/A

Per-Transaction Fixed Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: $0.30 | Adyen: Included in percentage
value reference: Adyen

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 1-3 days | Adyen: 14-28 days
value reference: PayPal

Merchant User Base
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 24M+ active merchants (2024) | Adyen: 7M+ merchants (2024)
value reference: PayPal

Chargeback Protection
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: 100% (eligible transactions) | Adyen: 100% (eligible transactions)

Monthly Minimum Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: $0 | Adyen: $0

Company Valuation
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: $33.8 billion

Global Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: ~10-15%

US Market Dominance
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: ~20-25%

Omnichannel Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: Online + offline integrated

Enterprise Readiness
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: Enterprise optimized

Developer Experience
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: Comprehensive enterprise APIs

Regulatory Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: Enterprise-grade compliance

Year Founded
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 2006

Standard Transaction Fee (Card Payments)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 2.6% + custom (negotiable)

Supported Payment Methods
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 250+ methods

Geographic Coverage
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 190+ countries

Average Settlement Time
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: Same-day or next-day

Onboarding Time (SMB)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 14-28 days

API Documentation Quality (GitHub Stars)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 3,200+

Fortune 500 Customer Base
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: ~280

Annual Transaction Volume Processed
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: $500+

Annual Transaction Volume (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: $1.45 trillion

Direct Acquiring Licenses
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 50+ countries

Average API Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 150-200ms

Typical Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 6-12 weeks

Integration Marketplace Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: PayPal: N/A | Adyen: 1,200+ apps

SpeakableSpecification
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PayPal — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Adyen — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare PayPal vs Adyen
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/paypal-vs-adyen)
object: PayPal
object: Adyen

Participating US Banks/Credit Unions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Daily Transfer Limit (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Limits

Per-Transaction Fixed Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Merchant User Base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Chargeback Protection
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Risk Management

Monthly Minimum Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Company Valuation
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Financial Metrics

Global Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

US Market Dominance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Geographic Strength

Omnichannel Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Product Features

Enterprise Readiness
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Target Market

Developer Experience
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Regulatory Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Year Founded
type: PropertyValue
value reference: History

Standard Transaction Fee (Card Payments)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Supported Payment Methods
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Geographic Coverage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Network Size

Average Settlement Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operations

Onboarding Time (SMB)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

API Documentation Quality (GitHub Stars)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Fortune 500 Customer Base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise Adoption

Annual Transaction Volume Processed
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale

Annual Transaction Volume (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale & Performance

Direct Acquiring Licenses
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Average API Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Typical Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Integration Marketplace Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem