Mollie vs GoCardless

Mollie and GoCardless are closely tied, because GoCardless's own about page calls it a Mollie company. They still sell different things. Mollie takes cards, SEPA Direct Debit, bank transfer and local methods with no monthly fee, and lists a rate for each method. GoCardless collects from bank accounts at 1% plus 20p on its Standard tier, capped at GBP 4, and is better for repeat billing than for one-off shop checkouts. One is Dutch by registration with the central bank, the other a London entity.

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Both are reviewed in full in our payment processing software ranking: Mollie and GoCardless.

1. 01

   Card rates by card origin at Mollie

   Mollie charges 1.80% plus EUR 0.25 on EEA consumer cards, 2.90% plus EUR 0.25 on EEA commercial cards and 3.25% plus EUR 0.25 on cards from outside the EEA. American Express is 2.90% plus EUR 0.25. Only successful transactions are charged, with no monthly fee and no minimum. The spread between a consumer and a non-EEA card is large, so your buyer mix decides the real average cost.

   Depends on the buyer

2. 02

   Capped percentages on bank debit

   GoCardless lists Standard at 1% plus 20p, Advanced at 1.25% plus 20p and Pro at 1.4% plus 20p, excluding VAT. UK domestic payments are capped at GBP 4, GBP 5 and GBP 5.60 respectively. International payments cost 2% plus 20p on Standard. An extra 0.3% applies to Direct Debit transactions over GBP 2,000. Mollie's SEPA Direct Debit is a flat EUR 0.35, which can be cheaper on small euro amounts.

   Depends on the buyer

3. 03

   Add-ons, payouts and the extras

   GoCardless charges GBP 50 a month to show your business name on bank statements and GBP 150 a month for a fully custom checkout. Mollie includes Payment Links, Invoicing, Checkout and Recurring at no extra cost, though it allows only 5 free payouts a month, then EUR 0.25 each, and 1% on payouts in a non-primary currency. Mollie keeps the useful features inside the base fee, and charges for payouts instead.

   Edge: Mollie

4. 04

   In-person sales and checkout reach

   Mollie sells terminals as a one-time purchase: EUR 95 for the Tap model and EUR 350 for mobile and fixed ones, with Tap to Pay on your own phone free. Its Pro in-person plan is EUR 20 a month per terminal. GoCardless lists no card terminals and focuses on Pay by Bank and recurring bank payments, collecting from 30+ countries into a UK bank account. A shop with a counter needs Mollie.

   Edge: Mollie

5. 05

   Scale pricing and who you call

   Mollie offers volume pricing above EUR 100,000 a month, and we found none of those rates published. GoCardless offers a custom plan for businesses with GBP 1m or more in annual revenue or bespoke needs, and also hides the price, asking you to contact sales. Neither lists a free plan or trial. Both ask a growing business to negotiate, so neither one is clearer than the other at scale.

   Depends on the buyer

6. 06

   Licences and where they sit

   Mollie B.V. is licensed as an electronic money institution by the Dutch Central Bank, and Mollie UK Ltd is registered with the FCA. Its about page does not name a headquarters city. GoCardless Ltd is at Sutton Yard, 65 Goswell Road, London, authorised by the FCA under the Payment Services Regulations 2017. If you want a European licence on the page, Mollie states it directly.

   Edge: Mollie

Is GoCardless a competitor of Mollie, or part of it?

GoCardless's about page describes it as a Mollie company. They are still sold as separate products with separate pricing pages. Mollie's own pages we read do not describe the relationship.

Which is cheaper for a monthly subscription taken in euros?

Mollie's SEPA Direct Debit is EUR 0.35 per transaction, and GoCardless's UK domestic Standard rate is 1% plus 20p capped at GBP 4.

International GoCardless payments cost 2% plus 20p on Standard. For small euro amounts Mollie's flat fee is likely lower, but check your own average payment.

Do I need a monthly contract with either one?

Mollie states no monthly fee, no minimum costs and no lock-in contracts. GoCardless lists no setup costs and no monthly fees on Standard, Advanced and Pro. Its add-ons and custom plan do carry fees.

• Mollie pricing page: card, SEPA, terminal and payout fees, included features and the EUR 100,000 volume threshold.
• Mollie about page: the Dutch Central Bank electronic money licence and the FCA-registered UK entity.
• GoCardless pricing page: tier rates and caps, international and over-GBP 2,000 surcharges, the two monthly add-ons and the custom plan.
• GoCardless about page: London entity address, FCA authorisation and the description as a Mollie company.