Switching PSP: When is an alternative to PayPal worth it in Switzerland?

Last verified: May 1, 2026  ·  Source: Payrexx Blog Comparison 2026

PayPal is globally known and easy to set up – however, for Swiss online shops, TWINT and PostFinance Pay are missing, and with a 3.4 % transaction fee, PayPal is the most expensive provider compared. All Swiss alternatives offer TWINT, lower fees and personal support – starting from EUR 355 per month for EUR 20’000 revenue.

As of: Q1 2026 – The cost information in this guide is based on the Comparison of Swiss Payment Providers 2026. Prices and conditions are subject to change – please check the current tariffs directly with the respective provider.

This guide shows you what PayPal offers, what factual differences exist compared to Swiss providers, and whether PayPal makes sense as a supplement or as a standalone solution.

1. What PayPal offers

With over 400 million users worldwide, PayPal is one of the best-known payment providers. Its strengths lie in global brand recognition, trust among buyers and simple setup with no monthly fixed costs. For international transactions and buyers who prefer PayPal as a trusted payment method, PayPal is indisputably relevant.

PayPal charges no monthly fee. The transaction fees are a fixed 0.55 EUR plus 3.4 % per transaction – the highest value among all providers compared. With a monthly revenue of EUR 20’000, this results in total costs of around EUR 790, and with a revenue of EUR 100’000, around EUR 3’950.

TWINT and PostFinance Pay are not supported by PayPal – a critical gap for Swiss online shops. Support is provided exclusively via email and chat, without a personal contact person in Switzerland.

2. When a switch makes sense

PayPal is suitable as an additional payment method for internationally oriented shops. As a standalone solution for Swiss online shops, however, PayPal has several critical gaps.

No TWINT

TWINT is the most widely used mobile payment method in Switzerland with over 5 million active users. Swiss online shops that do not offer TWINT lose a significant share of their potential customer base. Not a single other provider compared leaves out TWINT.

No PostFinance Pay

PostFinance Pay is very popular, especially among Swiss retail customers and in the B2C segment. PayPal also does not support this method. Consequently, the two most important Swiss payment methods are completely missing from PayPal's offering.

Highest transaction fees

At 3.4 %, PayPal is significantly more expensive than all other providers compared. Payrexx (1.35–1.65 %), PostFinance (1.55 %) or wallee (1.55 %) are about twice as cheap, depending on the plan. With a monthly revenue of EUR 100’000, this means a cost difference of over EUR 2’000 monthly.

Lowest Google rating

At 1.6 stars (56 reviews), PayPal has the lowest Google rating of all providers compared. This primarily reflects criticism of support processes and account suspensions.

No personal support

PayPal only offers email and chat support for Comerciantes, with no Swiss contact person. In case of dispute procedures or account problems, this can lead to long processing times.

Headquarters USA

PayPal is legally headquartered in the USA. Transaction and customer data are processed Outside Switzerland. This is relevant for companies with Swiss data residency requirements or EU GDPR sensitivity.

3. Overview of alternatives

All the following providers support both TWINT and PostFinance Pay – the two most important Swiss payment methods that PayPal does not offer. Sorted by total costs at EUR 20’000 monthly revenue.

Payrexx – from EUR 355/month at 20K

Swiss payment facilitator with 16 payment methods – including TWINT, PostFinance Pay, Samsung Pay, Reka, Centi and Pay by Bank. No fixed costs in the Free plan, integrated e-commerce tools, free plugins, same-day onboarding. PayPal can also be activated as an additional payment method with Payrexx.

PostFinance – from EUR 365.90/month at 20K

Swiss payment facilitator with direct bank connection and very high brand awareness. TWINT and PostFinance Pay are of course included. One-time setup costs of EUR 199–249.

wallee – from EUR 369.95/month at 20K

Modular architecture, TWINT and PostFinance Pay included. Well-suited for technically proficient Comerciantes. PayPal can be integrated as an additional method.

Worldline – from EUR 378/month at 20K

Combined acquirer and PSP solution with TWINT, PostFinance Pay and POS support. No monthly fee in the E-Payments package. Request individual conditions from sales.

Datatrans – from EUR 398/month at 20K

Established Swiss PSP. TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, but requires a separate acquirer agreement. Suitable for enterprise.

saldiaPay – from EUR 449/month at 20K

TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, saldiaApps for accounting and logistics. Personal support, Google rating 4.7 stars.

zahls.ch – from EUR 489/month at 20K

Transparent pricing, TWINT and PostFinance Pay included, e-commerce tools. Highest Google rating (5.0 stars).

Stripe – from EUR 640/month at 20K

TWINT yes, PostFinance Pay no. Sensible for internationally oriented shops with a developer team. Less suitable as a PayPal alternative for Swiss clientele.

Keep PayPal as a supplement

Many Comerciantes decide not to replace PayPal, but to offer it as an additional payment method alongside a Swiss PSP. This allows them to serve international customers without having to do without TWINT and PostFinance Pay. Payrexx, wallee, Worldline and Datatrans allow the integration of PayPal as an additional method.

4. How much does the change cost?

At EUR 20’000 monthly revenue, Payrexx at EUR 355 is around 55 % cheaper than PayPal (EUR 790). At a revenue of EUR 100’000, the difference is over EUR 2’370 monthly – a difference of almost EUR 28’000 annually.

Complete cost breakdown for all providers: Comparison of Swiss payment providers 2026 on the Payrexx Content Hub. You can find all 1v1 detailed comparisons in the Payrexx Comparison Hub.

5. Which alternative suits you?

The right alternative depends on your clientele, your technical resources and whether you want to keep PayPal as a supplement:

Checklist: Switching from PayPal to a Swiss PSP

• Verify TWINT and PostFinance Pay as mandatory methods for Swiss clientele

• Compare current transaction volume and costs with Swiss providers

• Decide: Replace PayPal or keep it as a supplement?

• Check plugin compatibility with shop system

• Clear PayPal account balance and open disputes before switching

• Start onboarding with the new provider (use free trial phase)

• Test the payment page fully before deactivating PayPal

• Plan customer communication if new payment methods become visible

As an alternative to PayPal, Payrexx offers TWINT, PostFinance Pay and all other Swiss payment methods – with a 30-day free trial, no monthly fee in the Free plan and with personal support.