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Key takeaways‍

• The right payment solutions for platforms can improve customer experience, boost retention, and unlock new revenue streams.
• SaaS platforms could greatly benefit from a fully managed payments provider that takes on vendor onboarding, compliance, risk - enabling them to scale without the operational burden.
• We review the top 5 solutions shaping payment processing for platforms in 2025.

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Why choosing the right payment solution matters

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As software becomes the backbone of business, platforms and marketplaces are more than just software products, they’re mission-critical infrastructure to operate the business. Whether you’re running a management software, SaaS platform, or a marketplace, your payment solution is a crucial part of your success.

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A well-chosen payment solution allows you to:

• Onboard new merchants quickly and seamlessly
• Support multiple payment methods - cards, wallets, direct debit, and bank transfers
• Free yourself compliance and risk management
• Scale with speed and confidence
  

On the other hand, poor payment infrastructure leads to failed transactions, unhappy customers, and increased churn. For digital-first businesses, payments are no longer just operational, they’re strategic. (For more on this shift, see why software platforms must fully embed payments).

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What to look for: key features in modern payment platforms

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Not all online payment gateway providers are created equal. When evaluating a solution, keep these features in mind:

• Monetisation – Turn payments into a revenue stream with branded checkout, flexible pricing, and value-added services.
  
• Ease of implementation – Developer-friendly APIs and straightforward workflows that minimise engineering effort.
  
• Quick integration – Fast setup to start onboarding merchants, supporting unified payment methods and recurring billing from day one.
  
• Fully managed – Compliance, fraud protection, and risk (PCI DSS, GDPR, AML, PSD2) handled end-to-end as a service.

Platforms that adopt these features not only improve online payment processing, they also turn payments into a competitive advantage.

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The top 5 payment solutions for platforms in 2025

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Based on functionality, scalability, and relevance to digital-first ecosystems, these are the top solutions to consider in 2025:

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1. Unipaas

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Unipaas is the best payment solution for management software, marketplaces, and vertical SaaS platforms - with unique advantages for industries like childcare, education, gyms, and field services. The platform is tailored to each vertical, with built-in compliance and flexible merchant onboarding. Unlike generic payment providers, Unipaas goes further by offering go-to-market support to optimize onboarding funnels, accelerate merchant acquisition, and provide platforms with a dedicated success manager. 

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Strengths:

• One future-proof stack for all payment needs like cards, wallets, open banking, direct debit and even Tax-Free Childcare.
• Simple APIs and native components to speed up implementation and minimize engineering effort.
• Handles compliance, onboarding, payouts, risk, and reporting, including a dedicated success team. 

Considerations:

• Not positioned for hobby projects or very small-scale use cases.
• Physical POS system coming soon
  
  

2. Adyen for platforms

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Adyen offers a strong online payment gateway built for large enterprises and platforms with complex requirements. Its unified commerce approach supports in-person, online, and mobile payments under one system.

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Strengths:

• Omnichannel support across POS and online merchant experience.
• Advanced risk management with fraud prevention and dispute handling built in.
• Enterprise-ready and dedicated high-touch support.
  

Considerations:

• Overkill for smaller and medium SaaS platforms
  
• Implementation complexity and higher cost
  
  

3. PayPal for marketplaces

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PayPal is widely recognised and trusted by consumers, making it a strong option for platforms that rely on instant credibility. Their payment solutions for platforms and marketplaces allow for vendor onboarding, split payments, and integration with PayPal wallets.

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Strengths:

• Global brand recognition that has a trust
• Built-in wallet support for PayPal and Venmo
• Relatively quick setup designed to enable go-live with overhead.
  

Considerations:

• Limited customisation for complex SaaS platforms
• Fees can be high for cross-border transactions

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4. Airwallex

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Airwallex is a global payment solution that lets you accept payments in more than 160 payment methods across 180 countries. Airwallex allows to settle payments in the same currency that your customers pay in, saving costly exchange rates. It’s easy to open an account with local bank details in Airwallex, without having to go to a bank or complete any complicated paperwork.

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Strengths:

• Low-cost international transfers 
• Extensive global reach to convert, send, and hold funds
• Combining accounts, payments, and more
  

Considerations:

• Limited currency options compared to traditional banks.
• Only available for business accounts, excluding sole proprietors.
  
  

5. Stripe Connect

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Stripe remains one of the most popular payment solutions for splatforms and marketplaces. With its powerful APIs, Stripe Connect supports multi-vendor payouts, recurring billing, and global expansion.

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Strengths:

• Developer-friendly APIs
• Global coverage with 135+ currencies
• Supports subscriptions and on-demand marketplaces
  

Considerations:

• Higher fees compared to some competitors
• Complex to customise beyond standard use cases
  
  

How to get started with your preferred payment solution

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Once you’ve identified the right provider, here’s how to move forward:

1. Define your use cases - SaaS subscriptions, one-off payments, or multi-merchants marketplaces all have different needs.
   
   
2. Evaluate APIs and integration scope - Ensure the solution offers clear amd simple developer documentation and fits your tech stack.
   
   
3. Prioritise compliance - Select a provider that handles regulations and reduces your liability.
   
   
4. Run a pilot project - Test core flows (onboarding, transactions, payouts) with a subset of users before scaling.
   
   
5. Monitor and optimise - Use real-time reporting to refine payment flows and vendor experiences.
   

The right payment solutions for platforms don’t just process transactions; they unlock growth.

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FAQ

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What is an embedded payment solution for SaaS platforms?

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An embedded payment solution for SaaS platforms is a payment system fully integrated into your software, allowing your merchants or users to accept and manage payments directly within your platform. 

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Which payment providers support multi-merchant payouts?

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Unipaas, Stripe Connect, PayPal for Marketplaces, Adyen for Platforms, all support multi-merchant onboarding, KYC/KYB compliance, and automated payouts. 

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How do platforms choose the best payment solution?

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Platforms should look for a solution that fits their vertical, supports all payment types, and reduces operational complexity. The solution should be fully embedded and future-proof - handling cards, wallets, open banking, compliance, risk, and payouts - while also benefiting from go-to-market support, seamless onboarding, and tools to boost conversion and revenue.

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How quickly can I integrate embedded payments into my platform?

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The right embedded payment provider is designed for fast, developer-friendly integration with simple APIs and intuitive workflows. Unipaas is designed to enable platforms to be able to start accepting payments no more than days or weeks, while minimizing engineering effort and technical complexity.

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Are payment solutions customizable for different platforms?

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Yes. Many solutions are modular, allowing platforms to select only what they need. Embedded-first providers like Unipaas specialise in tailoring flows for specific industries.

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