Top B2B payment gateways (and how they differ from B2C)

Globally, B2B payments are estimated to be worth £1.58 trillion per year.

Business payments are higher-value, lower-frequency, and require more approvals than B2C payments. This is why manual bank transfers have always been the default choice.

However, innovation is changing the way businesses make payments. Invoicing and requesting payment to your bank is fine, but it’s one option in a widening pool of payment methods. Meeting your customers where they are – with their preferred way of paying – is an easy win for B2B vendors.

This article explains the merits of choosing a B2B-specific payment gateway, reviews six of the best options on the market, and puts them into context with different use cases.

Key takeaways

• Open banking and fintech innovation mean there are more ways to pay than ever.

• B2B payment gateways unlock modern payment methods for your customers, improving time to pay and relationships.

• Any B2B payment gateway is helpful, but it’s most valuable when part of a unified financial platform.

What are B2B payment gateways?

When you buy a consumer product, you have a checkout page with different payment options. The system that securely handles your payment details and processes the transaction is a payment gateway.

A B2B payment gateway is much the same as a B2C one – it’s a way for your business to safely and securely take card and digital payments from other businesses.

A quick look at the top six B2B payment gateways

1. Airwallex: The global payments and financial platform for growing businesses

2. GoCardless: Cornering the market for Direct Debits and bank transfers

3. Stripe: Financial infrastructure for the internet’s businesses

4. BILL: Focused on accounts payable and receivable, especially for larger businesses

5. Adyen: Delivers granular data about your business, customers and finances

6. NomuPay: The gateway for high-risk industries

What to look for in a B2B payment gateway

Choosing a gateway ultimately depends on what your business needs and what your customers want. When you’re researching, however, you should consider these key factors before narrowing down your options.

Supported payment methods

Invoicing and waiting for a bank transfer is fast becoming outdated. Today, there are hundreds of payment methods available to businesses and consumers (Airwallex supports over 160 of them).

A gateway that lets your customers pay with their preferred method can reduce payment times and simplify your accounts receivable process.

For the largest businesses, bank transfers remain popular. However, in B2B eCommerce, credit card and digital wallet payments are preferred.

A gateway that allows payments via credit card, debit card, Direct Debit, digital wallet, and bank transfer is good for business.

Transaction fees and pricing

Payment gateways typically use one of two fee structures: interchange+ (or interchange++) or blended pricing. The former is a variable rate and the latter is fixed.

On top of this, you’ll usually be charged a gateway fee that incorporates the cost of fraud and security protocols used on each payment.

We’ve written a detailed guide explaining these pricing models, if you’re interested.

Airwallex, for example, uses blended pricing. We charge:

• A transaction fee of 1.30%

• A gateway fee of £0.20

The right model for you will depend on lots of factors, from pure cost controls to your need for transparent financial reporting.

Security and compliance

Your gateway will be processing a large volume and value of transactions – security is non-negotiable.

Any secure and reliable gateway should be able to demonstrate its compliance with schemes and protocols including:

• PCI DSS

• SSL and/or TLS

• PSD2

• SOC1 and SOC2

• 3D Secure (or other multi-factor authentication methods)

• Chargeback and fraud protection policies

If you can’t find this information, ask them directly. If they can’t provide evidence, you should consider your choice very carefully.

Integration and API capabilities

A payment gateway should integrate seamlessly into your existing systems, not feel like an awkward add-on.

Before signing up to a payment gateway, check that it integrates with your:

• Enterprise Resource Planning system

• Accounting software

• Invoicing software (if separate)

• Any team, project, or workplace management systems

Payment gateways with API capabilities give you the freedom and flexibility to integrate payments across your business’ interfaces. They also simplify reporting and reconciliation.

Multi-currency and cross-border capabilities

If you’re doing business internationally, your gateway should be able to handle currencies, FX, and local settlement.

If it can’t, you risk making life harder for your customers and more expensive for your business.

• Fine: Letting customers pay in local currency.

• Good: As above, plus local payment methods.

• Great: All of the above, plus multi-currency accounts, like-for-like settlement, and global spend management.

Payout and settlement speed

Your payment gateway holds funds in your merchant account, ready to release when the payment has cleared.

Some gateways offer near-instant or same-day payouts. Others will have you waiting several days.

Depending on how quickly you need to access your funds, payout times could be a deciding factor in your search for a payment gateway.

Best B2B payment gateway in the UK (2025)

There are dozens of B2B payment gateways, but we’ve narrowed it down to six of the best on the market for UK companies.

Airwallex

• Key features: A unified, global financial platform supporting your spend, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, FX, and more. ¹

• Transaction fees and pricing: 1.30% + £0.20 for UK cards ²

• Availability (supported countries): 180+ countries ³

• Supported payment methods and currencies: 130+ currencies ⁴ in 160 payment methods ⁵

• Security and compliance: GDPR, PCI DSS, SOC1, SOC2, 3D Secure ⁶

• Ideal use cases: If you’re currently or plan to be trading internationally

GoCardless

• Key features: Bank transfer specialist, offering one-off A2A payments and Direct Debits

• Transaction fees and pricing: 1% + £0.20 ⁷

• Availability (supported countries): 31 countries ⁸

• Supported payment methods and currencies: Eight currencies ⁹, two methods (bank debit and instant pay) ¹⁰

• Security and compliance: Fraud protection scales with your subscription. GDPR, ISO27001, SSL, Direct Debit Guarantee ¹¹

• Ideal use cases: Businesses with repeat customers, with whom Direct Debits are best used

Stripe

• Key features: Multiple payment methods, including billing subscriptions, invoices, and card payments

• Transaction fees and pricing: 1.90% + £0.20 for corporate cards ¹²

• Availability: 47+ countries with local acquiring ¹³

• Supported currencies: 135+ currencies ¹⁴ and 58 payment methods ¹⁵

• Security/compliance: PCI Service Provider Level 1, MFA, and PCI DSS compliant ¹⁶

• Ideal use cases: If your customers use a wide variety of payment methods

BILL

• Key features: An all-in-one accounts payable and accounts receivable platform, tailored for larger businesses

• Transaction fees and pricing: 2.9% for card payments ¹⁷

• Availability (supported countries): 130+ countries ¹⁸

• Supported payment methods and currencies: 106 currencies ¹⁹

• Security and compliance: SOC1, SOC2, TLS, PCI DSS, and MFA ²⁰

• Ideal use cases: For businesses with high transaction volumes or that want to closely monitor cash flow

Adyen

• Key features: Data-rich platform that gives businesses deep insight into their finances

• Transaction fees and pricing: Interchange rate + 0.60% + £0.11 for cards ²¹

• Availability (supported countries): 91 countries ²²

• Supported payment methods and currencies: 97 payment methods ²³, 150+ currencies ²⁴

• Security and compliance: PCI DSS, PIN, P2PE, and 3DS; SOC 2; and IS0 27001 ²⁵

• Ideal use cases: A business that wants detailed data on its trading and finances

NomuPay

• Key features: Dedicated high-risk merchant accounts

• Transaction fees and pricing: Not shown on website

• Availability (supported countries): 196 countries ²⁶

• Supported payment methods and currencies: 198 payment methods ²⁷

• Security and compliance: PCI DSS; email, IP and device ID hotlists ²⁸; MFA and 3D Secure ²⁹

• Ideal use cases: Businesses operating in high-risk industries

Comparing the best B2B payment gateways in the UK

How B2B payment gateways differ from B2C

Not all payment gateways are built equally, nor are the businesses that use them.

The highest-rated, most-recommended B2C gateway might be utterly useless to a B2B business, because these two markets need such different features.

Why use Airwallex as your B2B payment gateway?

Whether you’re doing business at home or beyond your borders, any B2B business will find value in the Airwallex ecosystem.

We’ve spent a long time building our product to provide everything international businesses need – the work is never done, but we’ve come a long way.

As a B2B payment gateway, Airwallex offers some of the most competitive rates on transactions and FX. The beauty is, you might not even need FX. With our multi-currency accounts and like-for-like settlement, you can earn, keep, and spend your money in each country and currency.

On top of that, we’ve got spend management tools, global corporate card issuance, and powerful APIs. You can build on, from, and with Airwallex.

FAQs about B2B payment gateways

Can B2B payment gateways support cross-border payments?

Many can, while some have specific georestrictions. If you’re doing business internationally, cross-border payments are vital. If possible, you should find a payment gateway that also supports local currency transactions and like-for-like settlements.

How do B2B payment gateways integrate with accounting systems?

A good B2B payment gateway will offer integrations with accounting software, so you can accurately and automatically track your payments and spend.

Gateways usually integrate with other software through APIs, webhooks, and bespoke solutions.

For example, Airwallex integrates with eight popular accounting services. You can also DIY automations with tools like Zapier.

What fees should I expect from a B2B payment gateway?

Different payment gateways use different fee structures, but you’ll commonly find some or all of:

• Transaction fees (e.g. Airwallex charges 1.30% for card payments)

• Gateway fees (e.g. Airwallex charges £0.20)

• Platform subscription (e.g. Airwallex charges from £0 to bespoke enterprise pricing)

• Chargeback and refund fees

• Setup fees (one-off)

• Termination fees (if you end a contract early)

Can B2B payment gateways handle recurring invoices and subscription payments?

Yes, many can, but not all. You’ll need to check the website of each provider to confirm.

For reference, you can find out more about Airwallex’s subscription management.

Payment gateways are good for business

Digital payments are growing in popularity, while cash and cheques are going in the other direction. Equally, innovations in bank payments (like Faster Payments, A2A, and open banking) are gathering speed.

If you’re still sending invoices with your account details attached, you might be making life harder for your customers and cash flow.

There’s a place for every payment method, but without a B2B payment gateway, you won’t be able to offer some of the most popular choices for businesses in 2025.

Integrating a payment gateway into your accounts receivable process gives your customers more ways to pay. The easier it is for them, the more likely you are to get paid quickly and consistently.

Sources and references

1. https://airwallex.com

2. https://www.airwallex.com/uk/terms/fee-schedule

3. https://www.airwallex.com/uk/payments

4. https://www.airwallex.com/docs/payments__supported-currencies

5. https://www.airwallex.com/uk/payments/

6. https://security.airwallex.com/

7. https://gocardless.com/pricing/

8. https://gocardless.com/faq/merchants/international-payments/

9. https://gocardless.com/faq/merchants/international-payments/

10. https://gocardless.com/

11. https://gocardless.com/faq/merchants/security/#:~:text=Our%20financial%20data%20server%20is,27001%20certification%20for%20information%20security

12. https://stripe.com/gb/pricing

13. https://stripe.com/gb

14. https://stripe.com/gb

15. https://docs.stripe.com/security?locale=en-GB

16. https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-methods/overview?locale=en-GB

17. https://www.bill.com/product/pricing#business

18. https://help.bill.com/direct/s/article/360007172671

19. https://help.bill.com/direct/s/article/360007172671

20. https://www.bill.com/product/security

21. https://www.adyen.com/pricing/

22. https://www.adyen.com/en_GB/accept-payments

23. https://www.adyen.com/en_GB/payment-methods/

24. https://docs.adyen.com/account/supported-currencies/

25. https://help.adyen.com/knowledge/security/security-principles/what-are-the-adyen-security-certifications

26. https://nomupay.com/support/what-payment-methods-do-you-accept/

27. https://nomupay.com/support/what-payment-methods-do-you-accept/

28. https://nomupay.com/secure-payment/

29. https://nomupay.com/fraud-risk/