Complete Guide to Adyen

Global Payment Platform for International Businesses

Everything you need to know about Adyen - the unified payment platform powering some of the world's largest enterprises with global payment processing, risk management, and financial services.

Published: March 2, 2025 Author: Global Payment Experts Reading Time: 20 minutes

What is Adyen?

Adyen is a global payment platform that provides businesses with a unified solution for accepting payments anywhere in the world. Founded in 2006 in Amsterdam and now publicly traded (ADYEN), Adyen has established itself as the payment platform of choice for large enterprises and international businesses operating across multiple markets.

Unlike many payment processors that rely on multiple third parties, Adyen operates a single integrated platform that handles the entire payment flow from front-end checkout to settlement. This unified approach allows businesses to manage their global payment operations through a single system, reducing complexity and improving efficiency.

How Adyen Works

Adyen functions as an end-to-end payment platform that connects businesses directly to relevant payment methods, card networks, and banking systems around the world. The platform handles authorization, processing, fraud prevention, and settlement through a single integration.

Setting Up an Adyen Integration

Implementing Adyen typically involves:

1. Applying for an Adyen merchant account
2. Completing the underwriting process for your business model
3. Choosing the right integration approach for your needs
4. Configuring your payment setup for each market you operate in
5. Testing thoroughly in the sandbox environment
6. Going live and processing real transactions
7. Optimizing your payment setup based on performance data

Key Adyen Statistics

• Processes over €500 billion in payment volume annually
• Supports transactions in 150+ currencies
• Accepts payments in 190+ countries
• Offers 250+ payment methods globally
• Used by major companies like Uber, eBay, Spotify, and Microsoft
• Publicly traded on Euronext Amsterdam (ADYEN)

Adyen's Core Products and Features

Adyen offers a comprehensive suite of global payment solutions:

Unified Commerce

Seamlessly connect online, mobile, and in-store payment data through a single platform.

Global Payment Methods

Access to 250+ payment methods including cards, wallets, and local payment options.

Risk Management

Advanced machine learning fraud prevention with customizable rules.

Revenue Optimization

Tools to increase authorization rates and reduce payment costs.

Adyen for Platforms

Solutions for marketplaces and platforms to facilitate payments between users.

Financial Products

Capital, card issuing, and banking services through Adyen's banking license.

Data & Analytics

Comprehensive reporting and insights into global payment performance.

Point of Sale

Integrated POS solutions for unified online and offline commerce.

Payment Methods Supported by Adyen

Adyen supports an extensive range of global payment methods:

Credit & Debit Cards

All major card networks including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, and local cards.

Digital Wallets

Apple Pay, Google Pay,支付宝 (Alipay), 微信支付 (WeChat Pay), and many others.

Bank Transfers

SEPA, ACH, domestic bank transfers in 30+ countries, and real-time payment schemes.

Buy Now, Pay Later

Installment options like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm in relevant markets.

Local Payment Methods

Country-specific options like iDEAL (Netherlands), BLIK (Poland), and Boleto (Brazil).

Cash & Voucher

Cash payment options through convenience stores and voucher systems.

Adyen Fees and Pricing

Adyen uses an interchange++ pricing model that provides transparency into actual costs:

Standard Processing Fees

Component	Fee	Description
Interchange	Varies by card	Pass-through fee set by card networks
Scheme Fees	Varies by card	Pass-through fee set by card networks
Adyen Margin	Negotiated	Adyen's fee for processing (typically 0.10% - 0.20%)
Payment Method Fee	Varies by method	Additional fee for specific payment methods
Fixed Fee	€0.10 - €0.15	Per-transaction fixed component

Additional Services Fees

Service	Fee
Chargebacks	€15.00 per dispute
Currency Conversion	0.5% - 1.0% markup
Advanced Fraud Protection	€0.05 - €0.10 per transaction
POS Terminal Rental	€15 - €30 per month
Dedicated Support	Included for enterprise

Pro Tip

Adyen's interchange++ pricing model can be more cost-effective for large enterprises than blended pricing models, especially for businesses with high volumes of domestic debit cards or other low-interchange payment methods. However, it requires more analysis to understand your true costs. Use Adyen's revenue optimization tools to lower your effective processing costs through higher authorization rates and smarter routing.

Industries Served by Adyen

Adyen is particularly well-suited for these industries:

Retail & E-commerce

Global retailers needing unified online and in-store payment capabilities.

Marketplaces & Platforms

Large marketplaces facilitating payments between buyers and sellers globally.

Travel & Hospitality

Airlines, hotels, and travel companies with international customers.

Digital Content & SaaS

Subscription businesses with global customer bases.

Food Delivery & Mobility

On-demand services operating across multiple countries.

Adyen's Global Reach

Adyen operates as a truly global payment platform:

Global Acquiring

Direct acquiring relationships in 40+ countries across 6 continents

Local Entities

Local legal entities in key markets for compliance and settlement

Settlement Currencies

20+ settlement currencies to minimize FX costs

Global Support

24/7 support in multiple languages across time zones

Adyen vs. Other Payment Processors

Adyen compares favorably to other enterprise payment solutions:

Feature	Adyen	Stripe	PayPal Pro
Global Coverage	Excellent (190+ countries)	Good (40+ countries)	Good (200+ countries)
Payment Methods	250+ options	135+ options	100+ options
Pricing Model	Interchange++	Blended	Blended
Unified Commerce	Excellent	Good	Fair
Enterprise Focus	Excellent	Good	Fair
Banking License	Yes	No	Yes

Implementation and Integration Options

Adyen offers multiple integration approaches for different needs:

API Integration

Direct integration with Adyen's comprehensive APIs for full customization.

Hosted Payment Pages

Pre-built checkout pages that can be customized to match your branding.

Mobile SDKs

SDKs for iOS and Android to build native payment experiences.

Platform Plugins

Pre-built integrations for e-commerce platforms like Magento, Shopify, and Salesforce.

Point of Sale

Integrated POS solutions for in-store payments with the same platform.

Important Consideration

Adyen is primarily focused on enterprise clients with significant payment volumes. Smaller businesses may find the implementation complexity and minimum requirements prohibitive. Additionally, while Adyen offers extensive global capabilities, businesses should verify specific payment method availability in their target markets as offerings can vary by country.

Security and Compliance Features

Adyen employs enterprise-grade security measures:

PCI Compliance

Level 1 PCI DSS certified - the highest level of payment security

Tokenization

End-to-end tokenization to secure sensitive payment data

3D Secure 2.0

Advanced authentication protocol for reduced friction and fraud

Regulatory Compliance

Compliance with global regulations including PSD2, GDPR, and local requirements

Future of Adyen

Adyen continues to expand its financial technology offerings:

• Expansion of banking services through its European banking license
• Enhanced data and analytics capabilities
• Additional payment method integrations
• Improved revenue optimization tools
• Expansion into new geographic markets
• Enhanced platform capabilities for marketplaces

Final Recommendation

Adyen is an excellent choice for large enterprises and international businesses that need a unified payment platform with global capabilities. Its end-to-end approach, extensive payment method support, and enterprise-focused features make it particularly valuable for businesses operating across multiple markets and sales channels. While its implementation complexity and focus on large volumes may not suit smaller businesses, for enterprises with sophisticated payment needs, Adyen offers a powerful solution that can streamline global payment operations and provide valuable insights into payment performance.