Worldpay Alternative for UK Businesses: Pay by Bank in 2026

Worldpay is one of the longest-standing payment processors in the UK, but for many businesses it has become synonymous with long contracts, opaque pricing, and fees that are difficult to unpick. The Payment Systems Regulator’s market review into card schemes and processing fees found that UK businesses were paying significantly more than they should be. This finding has prompted many to look more closely at what else is available.

If you are looking for a Worldpay alternative UK businesses can actually switch to without the hassle, here is how five of the most widely used providers compare.

The main Worldpay alternatives for UK businesses

Take a look at five payment providers available to UK businesses today, and see which one suits your business best. 

Atoa

Atoa is a payment provider that uses open banking and the Faster Payments network to take payments directly from a customer’s bank account, cutting out the card networks entirely.

• Pay by Bank fees start at 0.6% per transaction plus a small authorisation fee
  
  
• Money lands in your account instantly, with no delays or holding periods
  
  
• No contracts to sign, no setup fees, and no hidden costs
  
  
• Customers pay by opening their banking app and approving the payment with Face ID, fingerprint, or passcode
  
  
• Atoa also supports card payments, including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
  
  
• Available in-store, online, and for remote payments through QR codes, payment links, and integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Xero, and QuickBooks
  
  
• Pay by Bank transactions carry no chargeback risk
  
  
• FCA, ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified

Stripe 

Stripe has built a strong reputation as a payments platform for businesses that want flexibility and global reach. It is API-driven and works well for teams that have developers on hand to manage the setup and customisation.

• UK card fees: 1.5% + 20p per transaction
  
  
• Broad integration library covering most major ecommerce and accounting platforms
  
  
• Funds typically arrive within two business days of a transaction
  
  
• Not the most straightforward option for businesses without technical resource
  
  
• No native Pay by Bank option for UK merchants

Square 

Square started as a card reader business and has grown into a fuller point-of-sale platform, particularly popular in retail and food and drink.

• In-person fees: 1.75%; online fees: 2.5%
  
  
• Card reader included free when you sign up
  
  
• Most accounts receive funds the next business day
  
  
• The dashboard is clean and simple to navigate, though integrations are more limited than some rivals

PayPal 

PayPal is widely recognised by consumers, which can help with checkout conversion, but its standard fee structure is among the higher end for UK businesses.

• Standard commercial transaction fee: 2.9% + 30p
  
  
• In-person card present transactions: 1.75%
  
  
• Funds are held or frozen without notice in some cases
  
  
• No instant settlement; payout timelines vary
  
  
• Better suited to lower-volume or consumer-facing businesses

GoCardless 

GoCardless does one thing well: collecting recurring payments by Direct Debit. It is not trying to be an all-in-one payment provider, and that focus shows in how the product is built.

• Fees: 1% + 20p per transaction, capped at £4
  
  
• Customers need to authorise a Direct Debit mandate before any payment can be taken
  
  
• No support for card payments or in-person transactions
  
  
• Works best for businesses with predictable, repeat billing cycles

Comparison table

Which Worldpay alternative is right for your business?

The right choice depends on how your business takes payments and what you need to improve. Stripe and Square are solid all-rounders, though their fees are higher than Pay by Bank. GoCardless works well for recurring billing but is not built for one-off or in-person payments. PayPal has strong consumer recognition but its fees and settlement times make it a harder sell for businesses processing regular transactions.

If transparent pricing, instant settlement, and no contract are the priority, Atoa is worth a closer look. You can book a demo with the Atoa team to see how it fits into your business.