Solutions / Payments, Invoicing & Finance
Payments, Invoicing & Finance
Payments, Invoicing & Finance Solutions
Payments, invoicing and accounting tools help you get paid and keep clear books. Start with what you are working on, see the main paths side by side and, where we list a suitable option, go to the provider when you are ready.
- Start from your situationFive business contexts
- Same criteria throughoutEight dimensions for every option
- Trade-offs up frontWhat to watch for, stated plainly
Which area are you working on?
Choose the closest match. Each context sets out the questions to ask, the main solution paths and, where we list one, a suitable option.
Taking payments
Accepting card and wallet payments so the money reaches you reliably.
Invoicing and getting paid
Sending correct invoices and being paid on time.
Managing bookkeeping and business finances
A reliable record of money in and out, ready for tax and for your accountant.
Charging customers on a recurring basis
Charging customers on a schedule, and coping when a payment fails.
Operating across currencies or countries
Payments, invoices and tax for customers in other countries.
Find the solution that fits
Work through the context that matches yours. For the full decision, read the Payments, Invoicing & Finance guide.
Taking payments
Customers pay by card or wallet at your checkout, and you need the money to reach you reliably. Taking a card payment involves several parties: a gateway that passes card details securely, a processor that routes the payment and a bank that settles it. Many providers bundle these roles, which makes comparison harder. A payment provider handles a checkout; payment links take a payment without a full shop. Either way, compare the full fee structure, payout timing and the approval your business type needs.
More about this context
Customers pay by card or wallet at your checkout, and you need the money to reach you reliably.
Taking a card payment involves several parties: a gateway that passes card details securely, a processor that routes the payment and a bank that settles it. Many providers bundle these roles, which makes comparison harder.
How the paths differ
A payment provider accepts and routes card and wallet payments from a checkout. Payment links take a payment without a full shop. In both cases, compare the full fee structure including refunds and disputes, payout timing and the approval your business type needs.
Supporting detail
Questions to ask yourself. 4 questions to settle first
- Where will customers pay: your checkout, a payment link, in person?
- Which countries and currencies must you support?
- What is the full fee structure, including refunds and disputes?
- How quickly do funds reach you, and could they be held?
Why this decision matters. What is at stake
Payments touch cash flow, customer trust and card-data responsibilities. Fees, approval requirements and payout timing differ between providers, and are easy to miss in a headline rate.
Before choosing. A short checklist
- Check supported countries and currencies, and the approval your business type needs
- Ask for the full fee structure, including refunds and dispute fees
- Ask about payout timing, and whether reserves or holds are possible
- Card data is governed by a security standard (PCI DSS) and responsibilities are shared (this page is not compliance advice)
Want the full background? The money flow: what happens when a customer pays
Choose the path that fits
Select a path to see why it fits and what to watch for.
Integrated payment provider / checkout
Accepts and routes card and wallet payments from your checkout.
Best fit
- Checkout payments
- Countries it supports
Main thing to check
The full fee structure, including refunds and disputes
No-code payment links
A link or button that takes a payment without a full online shop.
Best fit
- Occasional payments
- A small number of things to sell
Main thing to check
It does not manage stock, orders or customers
Integrated payment provider / checkout
Why choose it
- It accepts and routes card and wallet payments
- Many providers bundle the steps, so you do not manage each one
- Funds settle to you on the provider’s payout schedule
Best when
- Customers pay by card or wallet at your checkout or through a payment link
- You sell in countries the provider supports
Watch for
- Check supported countries and currencies, and the approval your business type needs
- Ask for the full fee structure, including refunds and dispute fees
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- It accepts and routes card and wallet payments
- Many providers bundle the steps, so you do not manage each one
- Funds settle to you on the provider’s payout schedule
Fits when
- Customers pay by card or wallet at your checkout or through a payment link
- You sell in countries the provider supports
Watch for
- Check supported countries and currencies, and the approval your business type needs
- Ask for the full fee structure, including refunds and dispute fees
- Ask about payout timing, and whether reserves or holds are possible
- Card data is governed by a security standard (PCI DSS) and responsibilities are shared (this page is not compliance advice)
A payment provider. A payment gateway securely passes the card details from your checkout to a processor, which routes the payment through the card networks to the customer’s bank. Many providers bundle these roles into one product.
No-code payment links
Why choose it
- Quick to start
- Works for services, invoices and one-off sales
Best when
- You take occasional payments or sell a small number of things
Watch for
- Check fees and what customers see at payment
- It does not manage stock, orders or customer records
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- Quick to start
- Works for services, invoices and one-off sales
Fits when
- You take occasional payments or sell a small number of things
Watch for
- Check fees and what customers see at payment
- It does not manage stock, orders or customer records
A link or button that takes a payment without a full online shop.
Compare the main paths
Show the comparison. The paths side by side
| What to look at | Payment provider | Payment links |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Accepts and routes card and wallet payments from a checkout | Takes a payment through a link or button, without a full shop |
| Best suited to | Customers paying at your checkout or through a link | Occasional payments or a small number of things to sell |
| Set-up | Several roles, often bundled into one product | Quick to start |
| Main thing to check | Fees including refunds and disputes; payout timing and holds | Fees and what customers see at payment |
No option listed yet
We’re currently reviewing suitable options for this area.
Invoicing and getting paid
Service businesses and freelancers do the work and then have to chase the payment. Correct, sent and tracked invoices, with reminders and an easy way to pay, shorten that. An invoicing tool creates, sends and tracks invoices and payment status, often with payment links and reminders. It often stops short of full bookkeeping and tax reporting, so how it relates to your accounting is part of the choice.
More about this context
You do work for clients and then have to chase the payment, so you need invoices that are correct, sent and tracked.
Service businesses and freelancers do the work and then have to chase the payment. Correct, sent and tracked invoices, with reminders and an easy way to pay, shorten that.
How the paths differ
An invoicing tool creates, sends and tracks invoices and payment status, with reminders and a way to pay each invoice. That is different from a generic payment link, which takes a payment without an invoice. It often stops short of full bookkeeping and tax reporting, so how it relates to your accounting is part of the choice.
Supporting detail
Questions to ask yourself. 4 questions to settle first
- How many invoices do you send, and how often do they go unpaid?
- Which tax fields does your region require?
- Do you need payment links and reminders?
- Will invoicing stay separate from bookkeeping, or should they connect?
Why this decision matters. What is at stake
Late or incorrect invoices delay payment and create work. Invoicing here means issuing invoices and collecting payment against them; taking a payment with no invoice is a different route. An invoicing tool often stops short of full bookkeeping and tax reporting, so how the two relate is part of the decision.
Before choosing. A short checklist
- Check the tax fields for your region
- Check templates, reminders, payment links and export
- An invoicing tool often stops short of full bookkeeping and tax reporting
Want the full background? Invoicing or accounting? How they relate
The path that fits
Why it fits and what to watch for.
An invoicing tool
Creates, sends and tracks invoices and payment status, often with payment links and reminders.
Best fit
- Service businesses and freelancers
- Getting paid on time
Main thing to check
Tax fields for your region
An invoicing tool
Why choose it
- Invoices look professional and are tracked
- Reminders help you chase payment
- Payment links make paying easier
Best when
- Service businesses and freelancers who need to get paid on time
- You have a manageable number of customers
Watch for
- Check the tax fields for your region
- Check templates, reminders, payment links and export
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- Invoices look professional and are tracked
- Reminders help you chase payment
- Payment links make paying easier
Fits when
- Service businesses and freelancers who need to get paid on time
- You have a manageable number of customers
Watch for
- Check the tax fields for your region
- Check templates, reminders, payment links and export
- An invoicing tool often stops short of full bookkeeping and tax reporting
An invoicing tool: it creates, sends and tracks invoices and payment status, often with payment links and reminders.
No option listed yet
We’re currently reviewing suitable options for this area.
Managing bookkeeping and business finances
A spreadsheet and an invoice template stop giving a reliable record as volume and tax obligations grow, and the record is also the base for tax filings and for your accountant. Accounting software keeps a full record of receivables, payables and the ledger, often with invoicing, inventory and payroll modules, bank connections and accountant access. An accountant or bookkeeper adds expertise on rules and filings; agree which software they work in so you do not choose twice.
More about this context
Volume and tax obligations are growing, and a spreadsheet and an invoice template no longer give a reliable record.
A spreadsheet and an invoice template stop giving a reliable record as volume and tax obligations grow. The record is also the base for tax filings and for your accountant.
How the paths differ
Accounting software keeps a full record of receivables, payables and the ledger, often with invoicing, inventory and payroll modules, bank connections and accountant access. Working with an accountant or bookkeeper adds expertise on rules and filings; agree which software they work in so you do not choose twice.
Supporting detail
Questions to ask yourself. 4 questions to settle first
- Are volumes and tax obligations growing?
- Does your accountant need access?
- Do you need invoicing, payroll or inventory alongside the ledger?
- Can you export your data if you change tool?
Why this decision matters. What is at stake
A spreadsheet and an invoice template stop giving a reliable record as volume and tax obligations grow. The record is also the base for tax filings and for your accountant’s work.
Before choosing. A short checklist
- More set-up, and it needs consistent use
- Your data is held with the provider, so check control and export
- Check tax support for your region and accountant access
Want the full background? The tool classes: who does what
Choose the path that fits
Select a path to see why it fits and what to watch for.
Accounting software
A full record of receivables, payables and the ledger, often with invoicing and payroll modules.
Best fit
- Growing volume and tax obligations
- Bank connections
Main thing to check
Control and export of your data
Working with an accountant or bookkeeper
A professional who keeps or reviews the books, usually in the software you choose.
Best fit
- Tax filing and staff growing
- Books you want checked
Main thing to check
Agree which software they use
Accounting software
Why choose it
- A full record of money in and out
- Bank connections and accountant access
- Tax support for your region
Best when
- Businesses with tax filing, staff or growing complexity
- Volume and tax obligations are growing
Watch for
- More set-up, and it needs consistent use
- Your data is held with the provider, so check control and export
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- A full record of money in and out
- Bank connections and accountant access
- Tax support for your region
Fits when
- Businesses with tax filing, staff or growing complexity
- Volume and tax obligations are growing
Watch for
- More set-up, and it needs consistent use
- Your data is held with the provider, so check control and export
- Check tax support for your region and accountant access
Accounting software: it keeps a full record of receivables, payables and the ledger, often with invoicing, inventory and payroll modules.
Working with an accountant or bookkeeper
Why choose it
- Expertise on rules and filings
Best when
- Tax filing, staff or complexity are growing
- You want the books checked
Watch for
- Agree which software they work in, so you do not choose twice
- This site gives general information, not tax or accounting advice
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- Expertise on rules and filings
Fits when
- Tax filing, staff or complexity are growing
- You want the books checked
Watch for
- Agree which software they work in, so you do not choose twice
- This site gives general information, not tax or accounting advice
A professional who keeps the books or reviews them, usually working in the accounting software you choose.
How the two fit together
Show the comparison. The paths side by side
| What to look at | Accounting software | Accountant or bookkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| What it gives you | A full record of money in and out; bank connections; tax support for your region | Expertise on rules and filings |
| Best suited to | Tax filing, staff or growing complexity, with consistent use | Tax filing, staff or complexity growing, and books you want checked |
| Main thing to check | Your data is held with the provider: check control and export | Agree which software they work in; this site gives general information, not advice |
No option listed yet
We’re currently reviewing suitable options for this area.
Charging customers on a recurring basis
Customers pay on a schedule, so you need billing that keeps running, copes when a payment fails and handles upgrades and cancellations. Recurring billing charges customers on a schedule and follows a defined flow for failed payments and cancellations, instead of someone raising each invoice by hand. It does not manage customer relationships by itself, so the decision includes how it connects to your customer records.
More about this context
Customers pay on a schedule, so you need billing that keeps running and copes when a payment fails.
Customers who pay on a schedule need billing that keeps running, handles failed payments and copes with upgrades and cancellations. This is how recurring charges are collected; what you sell as a membership or subscription is covered under Ecommerce.
How the paths differ
Recurring billing charges customers on a schedule and follows a defined flow for failed payments and cancellations. It does not manage customer relationships by itself, so check how it connects to your customer records.
Supporting detail
Questions to ask yourself. 4 questions to settle first
- How do customers sign up, change plan and cancel?
- What happens when a payment fails?
- How are tax and proration handled?
- Does billing connect to your customer records?
Why this decision matters. What is at stake
Recurring revenue depends on billing that keeps running and handles failures, upgrades and cancellations cleanly. This is about how recurring charges are collected; what you sell as a membership or subscription, and the platform that delivers it, is an ecommerce decision. Recurring billing does not manage customer relationships by itself.
Before choosing. A short checklist
- Ask how failed payments are handled
- Ask about tax and proration
- Check the cancellation flow
- Recurring billing does not manage customer relationships
Want the full background? The money flow: what happens when a customer pays
The path that fits
Why it fits and what to watch for.
Subscription and recurring billing
Charges customers on a schedule and follows a defined flow for failed payments and cancellations.
Best fit
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Renewals on a schedule
Main thing to check
How failed payments are handled
Subscription and recurring billing
Why choose it
- Charges happen on schedule without manual invoices
- Failed payments and cancellations follow a defined flow
Best when
- You sell subscriptions or memberships that renew on a schedule
Watch for
- Ask how failed payments are handled
- Ask about tax and proration
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- Charges happen on schedule without manual invoices
- Failed payments and cancellations follow a defined flow
Fits when
- You sell subscriptions or memberships that renew on a schedule
Watch for
- Ask how failed payments are handled
- Ask about tax and proration
- Check the cancellation flow
- Recurring billing does not manage customer relationships
Recurring billing: it charges customers on a schedule.
No option listed yet
We’re currently reviewing suitable options for this area.
Operating across currencies or countries
Each market has its own invoicing, tax and e-invoicing rules, and they differ widely and keep changing. Multi-currency payments and invoices let customers pay in their own currency with invoices that carry each market’s required details. E-invoicing and tax readiness covers local structured-invoice and tax rules. Check the current rules of each tax authority where you are registered, and ask your accountant what to prepare.
More about this context
Each market has its own invoicing, tax and e-invoicing rules, and they differ widely and are still changing.
Each market has its own invoicing, tax and e-invoicing rules, and they differ widely and keep changing.
How the paths differ
Multi-currency payments and invoices let customers pay in their own currency with invoices that carry each market’s required details. E-invoicing and tax readiness covers local structured-invoice and tax rules. Check the current rules of each tax authority where you are registered, and ask your accountant what to prepare.
Supporting detail
Questions to ask yourself. 4 questions to settle first
- Which countries and currencies do you sell or invoice in?
- Do any of your markets require structured electronic invoices?
- How is currency conversion charged?
- Where are you registered for tax?
Why this decision matters. What is at stake
Each market has its own invoicing, tax and e-invoicing rules, and they differ widely and keep changing. Getting payments, invoices and tax handling right for each market is part of the platform choice.
Before choosing. A short checklist
- Check the current rules of each tax authority where you are registered
- Ask your accountant what to prepare
- Ask how currency conversion is charged
- This is general information, not tax or legal advice
Want the full background? E-invoicing and e-signatures: rules differ by country
Choose the path that fits
Select a path to see why it fits and what to watch for.
Multi-currency payments and invoices
Payments in your customers’ currencies, and invoices that carry each market’s required details.
Best fit
- Selling in several countries
- Invoicing in several currencies
Main thing to check
How currency conversion is charged
E-invoicing and tax readiness
Tools and set-up that cover each market’s local e-invoicing and tax rules.
Best fit
- Markets that require structured e-invoices
- Local tax rules
Main thing to check
Current rules of each tax authority
Multi-currency payments and invoices
Why choose it
- Payments in the currencies your customers use
- Invoices that carry each market’s required details
Best when
- You sell or invoice in several countries
Watch for
- Ask how currency conversion is charged
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- Payments in the currencies your customers use
- Invoices that carry each market’s required details
Fits when
- You sell or invoice in several countries
Watch for
- Ask how currency conversion is charged
Payments in the currencies your customers use, and invoices that carry each market’s required details.
E-invoicing and tax readiness
Why choose it
- Invoices meet local requirements
Best when
- Some of your markets require structured electronic invoices
Watch for
- Check the current rules of each tax authority where you are registered
- This is general information, not tax or legal advice
Full decision detail
Why it helps
- Invoices meet local requirements
Fits when
- Some of your markets require structured electronic invoices
Watch for
- Check the current rules of each tax authority where you are registered
- This is general information, not tax or legal advice
Tools and set-up that cover each market’s local e-invoicing and tax rules.
What each one covers
Show the comparison. The paths side by side
| What to look at | Multi-currency payments and invoices | E-invoicing and tax readiness |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Payments in customers’ currencies; invoices with each market’s details | Local structured e-invoice and tax rules |
| Best suited to | You sell or invoice in several countries | Some of your markets require structured electronic invoices |
| Main thing to check | How currency conversion is charged | The current rules of each tax authority; general information, not tax or legal advice |
No option listed yet
We’re currently reviewing suitable options for this area.
Want to know what sits behind each option? See how we evaluate payments and finance tools